8849 TANK X Review: The outdoor smartphone with projector in check

With some products, you don’t know what to expect from the name. For others, however, it fits like a glove. The latter applies to the 8849 TANK X rugged smartphone. The name Tank suggests that we are dealing with a robust outdoor smartphone, and that is indeed the case. But the device has even more to offer: An integrated 1080p DLP projector, a 17,600 mAh battery and a 50 MP Sony sensor. Find out what this device has to offer in the 8849 TANK X test.

Technical data of the 8849 TANK X

The product	TANK X
size	180.5 x 91.8 x 31.9 mm
weight	750g
Processor	MediaTek MT6896 (Dimensity 8200)
Size	6.78 inch
Operating system	Android 15
Display	LCD; 1080 x 2460 Px; 120 Hz; 750 Nits
Battery capacity	17,600 mAh
RAM	16 GB
Storage space	512 GB (expandable via microSD)
Cameras	50 MP main camera, 64 MP night vision, 8 MP telephoto, 50 MP selfie camera
Dual SIM	No
Weatherproof certification	IP68 / IP69K
5G support	Yes
The price	588,89 Euro

8849 TANK X test: design and workmanship

Let’s not kid ourselves: The 8849 TANK X is an absolute beast, even compared to other rugged smartphones. With dimensions of 180.5 x 91.8 x 33.7 mm and a weight of a whopping 751 grams, the device is one of the heaviest smartphones I have ever tested – and that’s saying something. It is about as thick as a small power bank and heavier than many a tablet. One-handed operation is virtually impossible and even with both hands, the device is not really comfortable to hold.

If you want to put it in your pocket, you will soon be disappointed. It makes most sense to use it on a table or mounted on a vehicle. But: size and weight have a reason. But more on that later.

The workmanship itself gives little cause for criticism. 8849 relies on the familiar mix of rubberized plastic and metal elements that was already used in the previous models of the Tank series. The gaps are even and all elements fit perfectly. The chassis uses a so-called half-board, double-sided inner layout, to accommodate the unusual mix of components.

The projector, probably the most important unique selling point of the 8849 TANK X, occupies the upper part of the back, the large LED camping light is located in the middle and the camera module with its three sensors protrudes a further 2.5 mm from the housing.

Unfortunately, the button assignment is a weak point in the design. Only the power button, which also serves as a fingerprint scanner, is located on the right-hand side. And it doesn’t work very precisely. On the left side are two conspicuously small volume buttons and two freely assignable special buttons that can be configured for push-to-talk, for example. The SIM slot has been moved to the top, where the projector opening and an IR transmitter are also located – both behind protective glass. The USB-C 2.0 port and a 3.5 mm jack connection are concealed at the bottom behind a robust flap.

When it comes to robustness, the 8849 TANK X makes no compromises: IP68 and IP69K certify water resistance to a depth of 1.8 m for up to 30 minutes as well as protection against high-pressure water. The device also carries the MIL-STD-810H certificate, which covers tests for shock, vibration and temperature extremes. From -28 °C to 56 °C.

Unique features in the 8849 TANK X

Looking at the specifications of the 8849 TANK X, it quickly becomes clear that the “everything inside, whatever the cost” approach has been pursued with almost manic consistency. At its heart is the MediaTek Dimensity 8200, an octa-core processor in the modern 4 nm process with a high-performance Cortex-A78 core at 3.1 GHz, three more at 3.0 GHz and four efficiency cores based on Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz. The fact that 8849 relies on a 4 nm chip here is not a matter of course – most competitors in this price range make do with significantly older 6 nm designs that work noticeably less efficiently. Together with 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512 GB UFS 3.1 memory, the TANK X represents a real leap forward in terms of performance.

The Mali-G610 MP6 GPU is responsible for the graphics calculation, which with its six execution units does not shy away from demanding 3D games. For everyday use, this means smooth multitasking, problem-free gaming and no limitations in app performance. The hybrid slot also allows memory expansion via microSD up to 2 TB.

In terms of connectivity, the TANK X leaves little to be desired: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC support, NFC, 5G across all relevant European bands, dual SIM (Nano+Nano/microSD hybrid), dual GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, an IR transmitter, barometer, gyroscope and an e-compass are all on board. In the test, the GPS system delivered a location accuracy of 2 meters near a window and 1 meter outdoors – simply excellent for an outdoor device.

However, there is one downside: the USB-C port only works at USB 2.0 speed (480 MBit/s), which makes file transfers via cable a test of patience. An eSIM is not supported. If you want to transfer large amounts of data, it’s better to do this via Wi-Fi – it’s simply faster.

The projector – the real centerpiece

The unique selling point of the 8849 TANK X is without a doubt its built-in DLP laser projector – and after weeks of using the device, I can say that it is the first projector in a smartphone that I would describe as truly practical. The projector works with a native resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels at a brightness of 220 lumens, which is absolutely sufficient for fairly dark environments. The key difference to previous projector smartphones is the laser autofocus: a dedicated distance sensor reliably measures the distance to the projection surface and adjusts the focus point in real time. Without cumbersome manual adjustment. Keystone correction works for angles up to a distance of 4 meters.

As far as the image size is concerned: At a distance of 2.1 meters, an image of around 75 inches is created, which corresponds to a classic living room projection screen. On a light-colored concrete wall or the inside of a tent, the image can be enlarged considerably at a greater distance. In a darkened tent or a dark room, the picture quality is really impressive. Colors look rich, the sharpness is uniform across the entire image and the contrast leaves nothing to be desired. For use in daylight or in bright rooms, however, the 220 lumens are not sufficient – in this case, dimming is essential.

Less pleasing is the volume of the fan, which protects the projector from overheating. At maximum brightness, the device is quite loud from a short distance at around 55 dB(A). Even in night mode, the TANK X is always audible at 47 dB(A). Only at low brightness does it remain quite quiet at 27 dB(A).

In practice, this means that an external Bluetooth speaker should be mandatory when watching movies at full brightness, otherwise the fan will drown out dialog in the quieter frequency range. In the two lower brightness levels, on the other hand, the projector is virtually silent and therefore also suitable for quiet environments. The brightness can be adjusted via the settings, but the corresponding menu item is somewhat hidden. The projector itself can be activated directly from the toolbox with a single touch, without having to navigate through menus – a real advantage for quick presentations or spontaneous movie nights. The manufacturer promises a runtime of 5 hours at full brightness, but this is comfortably enough for two feature films.

The camping light – underestimated but useful

The camping light is another specialty of the TANK series, which looks particularly sophisticated on the X. At the back is a large LED panel with up to 1,200 lumens in three brightness levels. The lowest level serves as a dimmed work light, the middle level is the continuous operation mode, and the highest level provides maximum brightness for short periods of time

The device automatically reduces this level after a while to prevent overheating and can be reactivated once every 10 minutes. The energy requirement of the camping light is manageable: in the test, the highest level consumed around 20 percent battery per hour – which is absolutely reasonable for a camping light. The illumination is extensive and even, and the range is impressive for a smartphone light. As a bonus, the red and blue warning lights can be activated for emergency situations or as a signaling device.

In addition to the camping light, the TANK X also has a classic LED flashlight flash on the camera module, which can be activated independently. The camping light, on the other hand, completely replaces a medium-sized lantern.

The display: 6.78 inches and 120 Hz

The display is the area in which the 8849 TANK X clearly falls short of its potential. It has a 6.78-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 2460 × 1080 pixels (FHD+) and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which can be adaptively throttled to 60 or 90 Hz. The pixel density is high enough that individual pixels are not visible in normal use. The screen is also slightly recessed in the housing, which protects it well from scratches.

The main problem lies in the maximum brightness: according to the manufacturer, it reaches 750 nits, but I would rate the brightness a little lower. This is not enough, especially in direct sunlight. The illumination of the panel is also not completely homogeneous. The step backwards is particularly painful compared to the predecessor TANK 4 Pro, which still scored with an AMOLED display – now you have to make do with IPS.

At least the panel supports HDR10+ and HLG, which sounds good on paper, but hardly brings any significant advantages at this brightness level. Even more problematic: the device only supports Widevine Level 3, not Level 1 – this means that content from Netflix, Amazon Prime and similar providers can only be streamed in SD resolution. This is a significant weakness for a device with an integrated projector of all things. YouTube and the media libraries of public broadcasters are not affected by this limitation. The colors appear somewhat dull ex works, but can be adjusted and improved very well via the settings.

Battery life

A 17,600 mAh battery initially sounds like an almost inexhaustible energy reserve – but in the context of the 751-gram TANK X colossus, it seems almost modest. Many competitors in similar weight classes offer 20,000 mAh or more. The real space killer is of course the built-in projector, which takes up space and weight that could otherwise be used for more battery capacity.

In practice, the 8849 TANK X delivers a runtime of 28 hours at 120 Hz in the standard test, and even up to 35 hours at 60 Hz. This is respectable for an outdoor smartphone. Three days of normal use are possible without any problems. The energy-efficient Dimensity 8200 plays a key role in ensuring that the runtime remains at a solid level despite the IPS panel, which draws a comparatively high amount of energy.

As expected, the projector is the biggest energy guzzler: 30 minutes of projecting YouTube content consumed 11 percent of the battery life in the test. At full brightness, the projector managed just under 5 hours in the test. A good value, which is easily enough for two movies on a camping evening.

Charging is done with the included 120 watt power supply unit, which brings the battery back to 100% in just 80 minutes – after just 60 minutes, 87% is shown on the display. Wireless charging is not provided. 8849 has deliberately used the Qi coil slot for the camping light. Practical: The TANK X can also be used as a power bank to charge other devices via USB-C (5 W reverse charging).

8849 TANK X with Android 15

The software is often a problem with outdoor smartphones, as older Android versions are often used. The 8849 TANK X is no exception here, but handles this much better than many of its competitors. It runs stock Android 15 without any significant adjustments to the user interface. 8849 largely keeps a low profile with manufacturer apps: the AI functions are left to Google’s Gemini and there is no unnecessary bloatware on the device, as is the case with some competitors.

The localization is largely translated quite well into German, only in the special functions (especially in the projector settings) the translation bumps in places. Basic customizations such as background images or fonts are possible without affecting the basic stock Android design.

As far as software updates are concerned, you should not have exaggerated expectations – this applies to this entire device class. 8849 has not yet announced an Android 16 update. On a positive note, the device received at least one bug fix update during the test period. The toolbox for special functions such as camping light, projector and special buttons is clearly laid out, even if it offers less detailed settings than other user interfaces. Anyone who mainly uses the device for outdoor purposes will quickly find their way around.

The cameras of the TANK X

The camera setup of the 8849 TANK X is impressive on paper, but in practice the picture is more nuanced. The system consists of four sensors:

• Main camera: 50 MP Sony IMX766, 24 mm, f/1.8, autofocus
• Night vision camera: 64 MP OmniVision OV64B1B, f/1.79, autofocus, 4 infrared LEDs
• Telephoto camera: 8 MP HiSilicon HI847, 3x optical zoom, f/2.4
• Front camera: 50 MP Hi5022Q, f/2.25, fixed focus

The Sony IMX766 as the main sensor is a good choice – it also appears in several mainstream flagships in recent years and delivers solid images with sufficient sharpness in good light. However, the colors appear somewhat cool and low-contrast, and there is no dedicated HDR mode. In Pro mode, images can be saved in RAW format, which suits ambitious photographers. The zoom options range from 1x to 20x, whereby the image quality drops noticeably from 10x.

The real disappointment is the night vision camera. Although the 64 MP OmniVision sensor with autofocus and four infrared LEDs is theoretically strong, the software optimization regularly fails to focus at distances over 4 meters. The results are often blurred and lack detail. The same applies to the front camera: despite 50 MP, selfies are disappointing – not sharp enough, dull colors, tendency to overexpose. The telephoto camera delivers solid results with neutral colors in daylight, but quickly reaches its limits in the dark, as expected.

The video function allows 4K recordings at 30 fps with the main camera, but without optical image stabilization (OIS). The microphone is unable to cope with wind – there is no wind suppression. The camera app itself is spartan: Timelapse, QR code, mono and super resolution are available, but there is no sports or panorama mode at all.

But, and it has to be said honestly, the 8849 TANK X has one of the best camera systems currently available in the rugged smartphone sector. This is also because many of its competitors cut corners here and the 8849 uses a solid sensor in the form of the Sony IMX766. But… you still shouldn’t expect too much.

8849 TANK X Review: Conclusion

The 8849 TANK X is not a smartphone for everyday use – and if you understand that, you’ll love it. After my time with the device, I am convinced: In its niche as an outdoor companion for camping, expeditions and field work, it is simply the most versatile device on the market. The 1080p DLP projector is the first truly practical specimen I’ve experienced in a smartphone – clear, bright enough for dark tents and rooms, with laser autofocus and true Full HD resolution.

The Dimensity 8200 in combination with 16 GB RAM ensures smooth performance and the 17,600 mAh battery with 120 W fast charging easily copes with a long weekend without a power socket (at least without using a projector). The robustness is at professional level with IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810H. Where the TANK X disappoints is the display (too dark, no AMOLED, Widevine L3) and the camera software, which does not do justice to the hardware potential. Wireless charging is missing and at 751 grams, the device is not for the faint-hearted or weak wrists.

For the introductory price of around €589 , you get a combination of outdoor smartphone, projector, power bank, camping light and navigation tool that no other device on the market offers in this form. For outdoor enthusiasts, frequent campers and people who need a device that can do everything when traveling or in the field, the 8849 TANK X is a clear recommendation.