Rugged smartphones usually compete by adding bigger batteries, thicker rubber bumpers and increasingly extreme water-resistance ratings. The RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro is trying something much more interesting: part of its rear camera system can physically detach from the phone and become an action camera.
Shown at IFA 2026, the Xsnap 7 Pro combines a fully featured rugged Android handset with a removable 39g camera module that can be mounted away from the phone for POV footage, unusual angles or hands-free recording.
The Camera Pops Out of the Phone
The detachable module records up to 2.7K video at 30fps through a 133-degree ultrawide lens, with software stabilisation, horizon lock and distortion correction.
It has 64GB of its own storage and around 40 minutes of battery life when used independently. Dock it back into the phone and the Xsnap 7 Pro’s huge 9,300mAh battery can recharge it repeatedly.
The phone itself can also act as a wireless viewfinder and remote from up to around 50 metres away, which creates some genuinely useful possibilities for cyclists, hikers, motorsports enthusiasts or creators who want to position the camera somewhere they cannot comfortably hold a phone.
It’s Still a Serious Rugged Phone
The Xsnap 7 Pro is not relying entirely on the detachable-camera gimmick. It features a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400 chipset, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
There’s also a 50MP main camera with OIS and a separate 64MP infrared night-vision camera with dedicated IR LEDs.
The phone carries IP68 and IP69K protection and is designed to survive drops of up to 1.5 metres onto concrete. The removable camera module itself can reportedly operate underwater down to five metres without an additional housing.
This Is the Kind of Modularity Phones Should Explore
We’ve seen modular-phone concepts for years, but many asked users to attach accessories that solved problems they never really had.
A detachable action camera is different because it creates a capability that a normal smartphone physically cannot replicate. You can wear it, mount it, place it away from the phone and still use the phone as the screen and controller.
The main limitation is video quality. At 2.7K30, it won’t replace dedicated action cameras from GoPro, DJI or Insta360 for enthusiasts who care about 4K high-frame-rate footage. But having the camera integrated into the phone means you are much more likely to actually have it with you.
Global Launch Is Planned for October
RugOne plans to launch the Xsnap 7 Pro through Kickstarter on 7 September with an early-bird price of EUR799, followed by a broader global release in October at around US$999.
There is no confirmed Malaysian availability yet, but the idea itself is worth watching. Smartphone innovation does not always have to mean another AI feature or a slightly larger camera sensor. Sometimes changing what a phone can physically do is far more interesting.
