The RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro Hides an Action Camera Inside a Rugged Phone

If you buy something from a link in this article, we may earn a commission. Learn more

If your outdoor trips regularly require both a smartphone and an action camera, that’s two devices to carry and charge before you leave. RugOne’s answer is more ambitious than adding another lens to the back of a rugged phone: it built a removable action camera into the handset itself.

Price: From $999
Where to Buy: Rugone

The RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro is a rugged Android phone with a 39-gram action camera docked in its back. Pull the module out and you can wear it, mount it to outdoor gear, or attach it magnetically to a suitable metal surface. Put it back and the phone recharges it. It’s a clever answer to a real gear problem, though you’ll have to accept a 477-gram phone and a detachable camera that tops out at 2.7K rather than 4K.

Add The Gadgeteer on Google Add The Gadgeteer as a preferred source to see more of our coverage on Google.
ADD US ON GOOGLE

The action camera comes out

The removable camera sits in a recess on the back of the Xsnap 7 Pro and connects magnetically when docked. A physical lock keeps it securely docked in the phone.

That gives you a shooting option a conventional smartphone camera can’t offer. Instead of attaching the whole phone to a helmet, bike, or chest mount, you can remove the 39-gram module and leave the 477-gram handset somewhere safer. It’s a substantial difference when you want first-person footage without strapping nearly half a kilogram of smartphone to yourself.

PetaPixel reports that the camera can remain connected to the phone through RugOne’s Xsnap Go app at a claimed range of up to 50 meters. You can use the phone to control recording and change modes remotely, which could be useful when the camera is mounted somewhere the handset would be awkward to place.

The detachable camera tops out at 2.7K

The module records up to 2.7K video at 30 frames per second with a 133-degree field of view. PetaPixel reports that it uses a Type 1/2.7 image sensor. The compact design makes the camera easy to carry and mount, but its video specifications fall short of what you can get from a higher-end 4K action camera.

RugOne lists SteadyX electronic stabilization, 360-degree Horizon Lock, distortion correction, FreeFrame video, time-lapse, slow motion, pre-recording, loop recording, and HDR photography. Those options give the module flexibility, but none changes its 2.7K recording ceiling.

The camera has 64GB of built-in storage, which RugOne says holds up to eight hours of 1080p footage. The module is rated for only up to 40 minutes of standalone recording per charge, and you can transfer footage to the phone when you need to free up space.

The phone doubles as a charging station

That 40-minute rating sounds restrictive, but the camera can recharge whenever it’s docked in the Xsnap 7 Pro. The phone’s 9,300mAh battery serves as an energy reserve for the module, eliminating the need to carry a separate charging case.

RugOne claims the handset can recharge the camera up to 20 times, for around 800 minutes of cumulative recording across repeated shooting and charging sessions. That does not mean 800 minutes of uninterrupted recording. It’s also a manufacturer estimate, not independently verified battery performance; the phone’s display, cellular connection, navigation, and other apps will draw from the same battery.

For the handset, RugOne specifies 45W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The large battery supports both the phone and its most distinctive accessory, but it contributes to the Xsnap 7 Pro’s considerable weight.

It still has smartphone cameras

The detachable module doesn’t replace the phone’s conventional camera system. The Xsnap 7 Pro has a 50-megapixel main camera with a Samsung ISOCELL GN9 sensor and optical image stabilization. RugOne lists 4K video recording for this camera, even though the removable action camera is limited to 2.7K.

There’s also a 64-megapixel infrared night-vision camera paired with dedicated IR LEDs. The infrared illumination is intended to help it see in darkness rather than relying entirely on visible ambient light. PetaPixel described a brief demonstration as looking more like footage from a night-vision security or trail camera. That’s a useful way to set expectations, but the camera’s actual range and image quality need more extensive testing.

A 32-megapixel front camera rounds out the setup for selfies and video calls.

Ruggedness brings serious bulk

RugOne gives the phone IP68 and IP69K ratings and cites MIL-STD-810H testing. The company says the handset can withstand immersion in up to two meters of water for 30 minutes and drops from 1.5 meters onto concrete. Separately, RugOne rates the detachable camera for submersion to five meters without an additional housing; that deeper rating does not apply to the phone.

Those claims aren’t a reason to treat either device as indestructible. RugOne warns that water resistance can diminish with normal wear, and liquid damage isn’t covered by its warranty. That matters if you plan to use the camera or phone around rivers, beaches, or other wet environments.

The everyday compromise is harder to overlook: the Xsnap 7 Pro measures approximately 172.5 × 83.4 × 19.1mm and weighs 477 grams with the camera attached. That’s a lot to carry in a pocket all day. The weight makes more sense if the phone lets you leave a separate action camera—and its charging gear—at home.

Who is the Xsnap 7 Pro for?

RugOne lists a $999 U.S. retail price and has said global retail availability is planned for October 2026, following its Kickstarter launch. That’s the announced plan, rather than confirmation that retail units are already on sale everywhere.

The Xsnap 7 Pro makes the strongest case for itself if you already take both a rugged phone and an action camera outdoors. Having a small camera docked, charging, and ready to remove could be convenient for cycling, hiking, camping, or work that calls for hands-free footage.

It’s a tougher sell if you mainly want an excellent conventional smartphone camera. The detachable module’s 2.7K/30fps limit won’t satisfy everyone who uses a dedicated 4K action camera, and 477 grams is a significant amount of phone to carry for a feature you might rarely use.

Price: From $999
Where to Buy: Rugone

The Xsnap 7 Pro isn’t the sleekest phone or a substitute for a high-end action camera. Its appeal is simpler: the small camera is already there, charged and ready to detach when a phone would be awkward to mount. If you often carry both devices outdoors, that convenience may justify the bulk. If you don’t, it’s a lot of extra phone to carry.

Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter today. No ads, no spam, just links to our latest articles!