Best rugged phones of 2023: waterproof, shockproof and IP68 smartphones

Which rugged smartphone is better ro buy in 2023?

A significant number of mobile electronics fans around the world are asking such a question. It is very difficult to choose a strong, stylish and functional phone regardless of the price category. It’s easy to get confused in the abundance of the diverse gadgets from dozens of manufacturers even for an experienced fan of Android-devices, trying to follow all the innovations of the market. That is why Unite4Buy tried to make TOP-10 the best standards-rugged IP68 smartphones of 2023. In the rating there are phones of different price segments, which will allow to select a reliable and functional mobile assistant for most part of the audience. Also, it should not be forgotten that IP68 protection is not panning against the fatal consequences of severe phone falls. Glass screens remain quite fragile, what protections don 't try to apply to them, so still treat your mobile assistant with care.

The best rugged smartphones of 2023 under 200 usd:

• Ulefone Armor X10;
• Doogee S35T

The best protected smartphones of 2023 under 300 usd:

• Ulefone Power Armor 14;
• Oukitel WP16;
• Blackview BV8800;
• Oukitel WP17

The Best Protected Smartphones of 2023 outside the price segments:

• Ulefone Power Armor 14;
• Oukitel WP15 5G;
• Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G;
• Doogee V20.

1. Doogee V20

Pros:

• high-quality main AMOLED screen;
• auxiliary AMOLED screen for displaying notifications;
• Mediatek Dimensity 700 CPU performance is enough for modern games;
• a very good triple photo module at 64MP, suitable even for evening shooting;
• impressive autonomy of 10-12 hours of active screen time;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• beautiful and thoughtful design;
• support for 5G networks;
• wireless charger

Cons

• performance could be slightly better

Extra features

• auxiliary AMOLED screen for displaying notifications;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• support for 5G networks;
• wireless charger

Doogee V20 becomes the best secure smartphone, charming with its unusual design. Next to the triple camera is an additional AMOLED display that shows not only the date and time, but also notifications. The texture of the back panel, stylized as carbon fiber, the frames of the AMOLED panels, which are reasonable for an IP68 phone, and the thickness of the case, favorably distinguish the gadget from rivals. The main 6.43-inch screen, as mentioned above, is also made using AMOLED technology and combines a high resolution of 2400x1080 pixels, good brightness and contrast settings. On such a display, videos, photos, and games look great. The launch of the latter is occupied by such technical characteristics as the Mediatek Dimensity 700 CPU, 8GB of RAM, the Mali G57MC2 video accelerator. The smooth gameplay of Genshin Impact may not be the name of the game, but it's possible to enjoy the most demanding Android game. As much as 256GB of internal storage has been allocated, but at the same time, the manufacturer has not forgotten about the slot for MicroSD cards. The processor used is renowned for its energy efficiency, so an impressive 6000mAh battery provides a corresponding couple of days of active interaction with the device. As for photo capabilities, 64-, 20- and 8-megapixel modules do not upset even evening shots, the only significant problem of which is noise. It is difficult to find fault with detailing and color reproduction, given the asking price tag. Important for millions of people, contactless NFC payments and wireless charging turn the device into a mobile assistant that cannot be parted with.

Today's best Doogee V20 prices

Doogee V20 Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best Doogee V20 prices: Aliexpress / DEZEWI Store	322.36€ ($344.75)	View deal
Sunsky	324.47€ ($347.00)	View deal
Banggood	340.36€ ($364.00)	View deal
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2. Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G

Pros:

• an excellent Mediatek Dimensity 800 processor, with which even high graphics settings are sometimes available in modern games;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• wireless charger;
• 5G support;
• excellent 6.36-inch OGS screen;
• autonomy at the level of 10-12 hours of active screen time;
• wonderful triple camera at 48MP;
• body design not without attractive features;
• as much as 256GB of ROM

Cons

• outdated version of Android Q

Extra features

• NFC (contactless payments);
• wireless charger;
• 5G support

Silver gets a productive Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G. The appearance of the gadget is distinguished by rigor and minimalism. A neat camera block that does not protrude from the case, a metal frame with a fingerprint sensor located on it, and reasonable display frames for the IP68 segment leave a pleasant impression on the exterior of the device. The 6.36-inch IPS screen, small in its diagonal, is characterized by excellent image clarity at FullHD + resolution, and the brightness and contrast values ​​\u200b\u200bdo not fail. Technical characteristics are better than those of other representatives of the rating. The Mediatek Dimensity 800 CPU, 8GB RAM and the Mali G57-MC4 video accelerator guarantee the smooth operation of all existing Android games, including Genshin Impact and Fortnite. Support for 5G networks and low power consumption continue the list of advantages of the processor. The battery capacity of 5280mAh may not break records, but it will provide a stable 9-10 hours of active screen time. 256GB is a serious amount of internal storage that does not need a microSD card slot. There are no questions and three main cameras, led by a 48-megapixel Sony IMX582 module. Daytime photos with their abundance of details and accurate color reproduction will not be criticized, and evening shots are not inferior in quality to those of opponents. Wireless charging, NFC contactless payments are the final touches to the portrait of an almost perfect secure Android smartphone at an affordable price.

Today's best Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G prices

Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G prices: Banggood	336.61€ ($359.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Desoon	351.98€ ($376.42)	View deal
Aliexpress / Blackview Authorizing Store	364.66€ ($389.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / RTDC	370.27€ ($395.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Blackview Official Store	592.19€ ($633.32)	View deal
Amazon	Check on Amazon	View deal

3. OUKITEL WP15 5G

Pros:

• good performance of the Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor;
• support for 5G networks
• not devoid of brightness OGS-display;
• support for contactless payments (NFC);
• high-quality triple camera, with which it is easy to take night shots;
• incredible 20 hours of active screen time on a single battery charge;
• thoughtful design, from which it is difficult to take your eyes off.

Cons

• huge dimensions of the device;
• low display resolution

Extra features

• support for 5G networks
• support for contactless payments (NFC)

The incredibly long-playing Oukitel WP15 became the bronze medalist of the rating. The 15600mAh battery will surprise even sophisticated Android users, because the battery life of the gadget is almost twenty hours of active screen time. Of course, the use of such a battery affected the dimensions of the phone. The thickness of almost two and a half centimeters and the weight of 500 grams make the phablet relevant only for the male part of the population. At the same time, the design of such an impressive bar is quite beautiful. The carbon texture of the back panel, an attractive triple camera unit look nice, it’s a pity that the 13MP selfie camera cannot be transferred to the IPS display itself. The 6.52-inch OGS-screen does not strike the imagination with its resolution (HD +), but it does not lag behind opponents in terms of brightness and contrast. The technical characteristics were the Mediatek Dimensity 700 CPU, 8GB of RAM and the Mali G57MC2 video adapter. Support for 5G networks has appeared, the energy efficiency of the chipset has increased. The processor performance is enough to not notice the slightest lags of Android 11. With games, the situation is slightly worse, but it’s quite possible to play the same Genshin Impact. A huge amount of information will fit on 128GB of ROM, but the expansion with MicroSD cards has not been removed from the device either. 48-, 2- and 0.3-megapixel cameras, led by the once flagship Sony IMX582 sensor, will delight you with high-quality daytime photos with an abundance of small details, and evening shots sometimes turn out to be quite good. NFC contactless payments are an important feature in a modern Android phone, they are present in the device in question. Thus, if you put up with the size of the smartphone and the shortcomings of the IPS screen, then the mobile assistant will bring only positive emotions.

Today's best OUKITEL WP15 5G prices

OUKITEL WP15 5G Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best OUKITEL WP15 5G prices: Banggood	271.16€ ($289.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Oukitel Franchise Store	280.51€ ($299.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / OUKITEL Official Store	286.12€ ($305.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / RTDC	288.93€ ($309.00)	View deal
Aliexpress / Desoon	317.91€ ($339.99)	View deal
Amazon	Check on Amazon	View deal

4. Ulefone Power Armor 13

Pros:

• amazing in its brightness and contrast OGS-panel;
• modern processor Mediatek Helio G95 for successful launch of games;
• support for NFC (contactless payments);
• incredible 15-20 hours of active screen time on a single battery charge;
• wireless charger;
• high-quality main cameras with a main module of 48MP, suitable even for evening shooting;
• 256GB of ROM

Cons

• huge weight and thickness of the case;
• getting the perfect evening shot with the main cameras is still unlikely to succeed

Extra features

• NFC (contactless payments);
• wireless charging

The fourth line of the TOP-10 of the best is taken by the huge Ulefone Power Armor 13. This smartphone is suitable only for men, because it is difficult to imagine a fragile female palm squeezing a bar weighing almost half a kilogram. But there is still an excuse for the overweight of the phablet and its huge thickness. So, in addition to moisture protection, the phone has a fantastic 13200mAh battery, with which even 3-4 days of active use of the device become a reality. The battery is characterized by both wired and wireless charging, but this process is best done at night, because it takes more than 4-5 hours. The exterior itself was not without attractive features like a well-designed camera unit, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, or a small eye of a 16-megapixel selfie camera in the display. The 6.81-inch IPS screen is endowed with only a standard refresh rate, but don't get upset right away. The remaining parameters, namely resolution (FullHD +), brightness and contrast, are no worse than those of opponents. And technical characteristics in terms of performance even surpass analogues. The Mediatek Helio G95 CPU, 8GB of RAM and the Mali G76MC4 graphics accelerator, although they are of respectable age, still provide the opportunity to try out almost all resource-intensive games, as well as enjoy the smoothness of less demanding applications and the Android 11 interface. 256GB of ROM with which MicroSD is also pleasantly surprised. -cards are unlikely to come in handy. The photo opportunities of 48-, 8- and 2-megapixel photomodules are not unlimited, however, the vast majority of daytime and even evening shots can be uploaded to social networks or kept as a keepsake without shame. NFC contactless payment improves the functionality of a balanced, high-tech, albeit very massive device.

Today's best Ulefone Power Armor 13 prices

Ulefone Power Armor 13 Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best Ulefone Power Armor 13 prices: Aliexpress / Ulefone Official Store	308.56€ ($329.99)	View deal
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5. OUKITEL WP17

Pros:

• technical characteristics are enough for a comfortable frame rate in most demanding games;
• large 8300mAh battery for 12+ hours of active screen time;
• impressive three main cameras in 64 MP, suitable for evening shooting;
• OGS-screen pleases with brightness and contrast;
• picture refresh rate at 90Hz;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• eye-pleasing design

Cons

• In the evening, however, successful photos and videos are not always obtained.

Extra features

• picture refresh rate at 90Hz;
• NFC (contactless payments)

The new Oukitel WP17 opens the top five. The gadget is noticeably different from the previous representatives of the TOP 10 in its design. The strict features of the body, the uniform texture of the back panel, the minimalistic camera block, the not very wide screen bezels and the 16-megapixel selfie camera located in the corner of the display make the smartphone look like analogues without moisture protection and increased durability. The side fingerprint sensor also enhances the outdoor experience. The 6.78-inch IPS screen is characterized by FullHD + resolution and, as a result, good picture clarity. Other advantages of the applied OGS-display are the image refresh rate of 90Hz, as well as a decent margin of brightness. The technical specifications were the popular Mediatek Helio G95 CPU, 8GB of RAM and the Mali G76MC4 graphics chip. Although the bundle can hardly be called new, it still copes even with resource-intensive games, demonstrating a fairly stable frame rate even in Genshin Impact, albeit with minimal graphics presets. It is unlikely that anyone will find the low autonomy provided by the 8300mAh battery. You will have to charge your mobile assistant only once every two days, or even more. 64-, 20- and 2-megapixel photomodules are comparable in photo capabilities to those of Android smartphones without water and dust protection at a similar price. Daytime shots are usually pleasing with both detail and excellent color reproduction; evening shots do not always upset with an abundance of noise. Contactless NFC payments and a reasonable pricing policy of the manufacturer put the device on high positions in the TOP-10.

Today's best OUKITEL WP17 prices

OUKITEL WP17 Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best OUKITEL WP17 prices: Aliexpress / RTDC	213.46€ ($228.29)	View deal
Banggood	215.05€ ($229.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Oukitel Franchise Store	224.41€ ($239.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / OUKITEL Official Store	224.41€ ($239.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / OUKITEL Authorizing Store	224.41€ ($239.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Desoon	233.76€ ($249.99)	View deal
Amazon	Check on Amazon	View deal

6. Blackview BV8800

Pros:

• stylish design and good ergonomics;
• OGS-screen pleases with a rich picture at FullHD + resolution;
• picture refresh rate at 90Hz;
• 8380mAh battery is enough for 12-13 hours of active screen time;
• technical characteristics excellent for the price range of IP68 smartphones;
• 50MP triple camera provides wonderful photographic opportunities for daytime shooting;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, rare in the price range

Cons

• case thickness;
• getting a good evening shot is still not always easy

Extra features

• picture refresh rate at 90Hz;
• NFC (contactless payments)

Almost reached the top five rugged smartphones amazing Blackview BV8800. The Blackview designers did their job well. Let us still have the same thick monoblock due to a capacious battery and moisture protection, a circular arrangement of four cameras, a tactilely pleasant rubberized case with bright memorable colors and a side fingerprint sensor looks beautiful. The picture displayed by the 6.58-inch IPS screen is much more interesting than that of the previous rating models. The high resolution of FullHD +, the image refresh rate increased to 90 hertz, and the brightness and contrast values ​​\u200b\u200bgood for the value category characterize the OGS display exclusively on the positive side. Significant progress is in the technical specifications. The Mediatek Helio G96 CPU with 8GB of RAM and the Mali G57MC2 graphics accelerator scores an already shameful 350,000 points in the Antutu benchmark, so even playing Genshin Impact does not seem like something fantastic, although the graphics settings will have to be screwed to the minimum level. A rather energy efficient processor helps the 8380mAh battery provide about 12 hours of active screen time. Of course, the representative of the middle price segment could not do without 128GB of ROM and a slot for MicroSD cards. 50-, 8- and 2-megapixel photomodules are suitable for both daytime and evening shooting. Of course, obtaining a detailed frame in excellent lighting is easier for the sensors, however, night shots are not completely drowned in noise. NFC contactless payments and a more than reasonable price tag will be the final arguments in order to take a closer look at buying a device.

Today's best Blackview BV8800 prices

Blackview BV8800 Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best Blackview BV8800 prices: Aliexpress / Blackview Official Store	0.00€ ($0.00)	View deal
Sunsky	233.76€ ($250.00)	View deal
Banggood	270.23€ ($289.00)	View deal
Aliexpress / Desoon	280.51€ ($299.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Blackview Authorizing Store	298.46€ ($319.19)	View deal
Amazon	Check on Amazon	View deal

7. OUKITEL WP16

Pros:

• pleasing to the eye design of a protected case;
• support for NFC contactless payments;
• technical characteristics are enough to run many games;
• excellent for the price category 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM;
• 10600mAh battery will give about 15 hours of active screen time;
• good dual main photomodule;
• bright and high contrast OGS display

Cons

• not the most modest dimensions of the case;
• for evening shooting, the main camera is still poorly suited

Extra features

• NFC (contactless payments)

The latest Oukitel WP16 also got into the article. The smartphone pleasantly surprises with the ratio of price, functionality and autonomy. The latter reaches 12-15 hours of active screen time thanks to a 10600mAh battery, but it was not without its drawbacks. So, a huge battery seriously increased the thickness of the case, lowering its ergonomics. At the same time, the design of the device does not want to scold. It can be seen that the developer tried to study it. The truly original look of the dual camera, the transfer of the fingerprint scanner to the side face and the selfie camera to the corner of the screen are perfectly combined and form an attractive exterior. The 6.39-inch IPS-display displays a fairly rich picture that does not completely lose visibility in direct sunlight. However, the resolution of 1560x720 pixels affects the clarity of the image, small objects are blurry. The technical characteristics were the Mediatek Helio P60 CPU, as much as 8GB of RAM and the Mali G72MP3 video chip. The bunch, despite its venerable age, does an excellent job with Android 11, heavy browser pages, as well as not the most resource-intensive 3D games. Comfortable gameplay in PUBG is guaranteed. 12- and 20-megapixel photomodules produce detailed frames, not devoid of natural color reproduction. However, all of the above is relevant only for daytime shots, while the deterioration of lighting immerses all photos in noise. It is possible to store photos and videos on 128GB of ROM or MicroSD cards. NFC contactless payments are also rare for low-cost IP68 smartphones. Thus, the device is practically deprived of critical shortcomings and deserves the attention of the audience.

Today's best OUKITEL WP16 prices

OUKITEL WP16 Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best OUKITEL WP16 prices: Banggood	172.98€ ($184.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / Oukitel Franchise Store	185.13€ ($197.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / OUKITEL Official Store	195.23€ ($208.79)	View deal
Aliexpress / Desoon	196.35€ ($209.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / OUKITEL Authorizing Store	205.70€ ($219.99)	View deal
Aliexpress / RTDC	251.53€ ($269.00)	View deal
Amazon	Check on Amazon	View deal

8. Ulefone Power Armor 14

Pros:

• worthy design for the IP68 segment;
• about 15 hours of active screen time on a single battery charge;
• technical characteristics allow you to run even a number of modern games;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• for the asking price, the triple camera is very good;
• wireless charger;
• The 6.52-inch screen is not deprived of brightness and contrast

Cons

• low screen resolution;
• large body dimensions;
• the night photographic capabilities of the cameras are not surprising;
• processor performance within the price category could be slightly higher

Extra features

• NFC (contactless payments);
• wireless charger

The eighth line of the rating goes to the stylish Ulefone Power Armor 14. The design of the novelty is able to attract a large number of users thanks to the beautiful asymmetrical texture of the case, the original triple camera, the ergonomic side fingerprint sensor and the large, but still not huge display bezels. The 6.52-inch IPS panel turned out to be decent in terms of brightness and contrast, but with image clarity, everything is not so clear. The resolution of 1600x720 pixels is not enough for small fonts and objects to look loose. The technical specifications are presented by the Mediatek Helio G35 CPU, 4GB of RAM and the PowerVR GE 8320 video adapter. The performance of such a bundle will be enough for people who usually interact only with the browser, instant messengers and similar applications. The buyer will be able to play, for example, PUBG, but the most resource-intensive projects require a processor of a completely different level. 64GB of ROM are supplemented with a microSD card slot. 20 and 2-megapixel cameras are installed for a reason, this is quite a good tool for daytime photo shoots, the results of which will not be ashamed to be published on social networks. Of course, such words no longer apply to evening shots. The autonomy of the device is shocking. The 10000mAh battery close to the record in capacity also supports wireless charging, and guarantees about 15 hours of active screen time. Contactless NFC payments and many of the listed competitive advantages help to ignore the flaws in the appearance of the gadget and minor problems of the IPS screen. Excellent phablet for the money requested.

Today's best Ulefone Power Armor 14 prices

Ulefone Power Armor 14 Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best Ulefone Power Armor 14 prices: Sunsky	156.16€ ($167.00)	View deal
Banggood	166.44€ ($178.00)	View deal
Amazon	Check on Amazon	View deal

9. Doogee S35T

Pros:

• back panel design attractive for the IP68 segment and price category;
• high autonomy at the level of 10 hours of active screen time;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• compact dimensions of the protected case;
• 64GB of ROM, unusual for inexpensive phones;
• good technical characteristics for an affordable device;
• cameras are capable of good daytime shots

Cons

• technical specifications do not allow you to enjoy demanding games like Fortnite;
• evening photos will not please with the amount of noise;
• huge display bezels

Extra features

• NFC (contactless payments)

A line higher in the TOP 10 is the compact Doogee S35T. It was possible to achieve good ergonomics for an IP68 smartphone through the use of a small 5-inch IPS display. Unfortunately, the frames of the latter are huge, they seriously spoil the overall well-thought-out and nice exterior. They try to hide the imperfection of the design, a beautiful block of three cameras, a side fingerprint sensor, a matte texture of the back panel. The screen is characterized by a decent diagonal resolution of 1440x720 pixels, but the brightness and contrast values ​​give out the budget of the IPS panel. In direct sunlight, using the device is problematic. Technical characteristics turned out to be excellent for the price category. The fresh Unisoc T310 processor, coupled with 3GB of RAM and the PowerVR GT7200 video chip, do a better job not only with the Android Q interface, but also with games. If Genshin Impact is still not available for comfortable gameplay, then PUBG and World Of Tanks submit to the chipset. The ROM is allocated 64GB, so a number of users may not need a MicroSD card. The main 13 and 2-megapixel photomodules are ready to cope with daytime shooting, although the detail of the pictures and the amount of noise on them are far from ideal. But you should forget about the evening shots. The battery capacity is not a record, but the energy efficiency of the CPU and IPS screen help the 4350mAh battery show about a dozen hours of active screen time. NFC contactless payments further raise the relevance of the device and allow it to take a fairly high place among the best IP68 phones.

Today's best Doogee S35T prices

Doogee S35T Price

Store	Price	See Details
Today's best Doogee S35T prices: Sunsky	99.12€ ($106.00)	View deal
Aliexpress / DOOGEE Official Store	111.82€ ($119.59)	View deal
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10. Ulefone Armor X10

Pros:

• nice appearance of the back panel;
• NFC (contactless payments);
• good for the price range 5.45-inch IPS-screen;
• a large 5180mAh battery for 10-12 hours of active screen time;
• specifications supporting 4G;
• stereo sound

Cons

• the photographic abilities of the device are still very limited, you will have to forget about complex shooting scenarios;
• demanding games sometimes slow down even at the minimum graphics settings;
• photo opportunities are only enough to capture the text of documents

Extra features

• NFC (contactless payments);
• stereo sound

The latest Ulefone Armor X10 opens the TOP-10 of the best secure smartphones, pleasing with the ratio of price and functionality. The appearance of the smartphone is partially borrowed from the manufacturer's flagships. The stylish back panel with a matte texture and an interesting camera unit can be praised for its beauty and originality. Rarely in low-cost phones with IP68 protection, there is also a side fingerprint sensor. But the frames of the 5.45-inch IPS screen can only cause negative emotions, because we saw such a thickness only in Android devices five years ago. The display itself has an HD + resolution acceptable for the diagonal, the brightness and contrast are enough to work with the gadget indoors, but the situation changes dramatically in direct sunlight. The technical characteristics were the Mediatek Helio A22 CPU, 4GB of RAM and the PowerVR GE8320 video accelerator. This is a fully functional bundle for browsers, instant messengers and other applications that are not resource intensive. Of course, gamers will have to settle for mostly 2D games or old 3D projects. 32GB of ROM is strongly recommended to expand with MicroSD cards in order to avoid a sudden lack of memory. 13 and 0.3-megapixel cameras will help capture the text of documents, but full-fledged photo shoots with them will lead to mediocre pictures with an abundance of noise. The buyer will not be surprised by the 5-megapixel selfie camera. But in terms of autonomy, everything is gorgeous, because a huge 5180mAh battery is responsible for it. The active screen time counter often jumps the 10-12 hour mark. Stereo sound and NFC contactless payments are a good addition to the listed pluses. And if you are not particularly concerned about the gaming capabilities of the mobile assistant, as well as its photomodules, then the device should be considered for purchase.

Today's best Ulefone Armor X10 prices

Ulefone Armor X10 Price

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Today's best Ulefone Armor X10 prices: Sunsky	104.73€ ($112.00)	View deal
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