Samsung's next XCover rugged phone may add built-in RFID scanning
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC0 Samsung's Galaxy XCover line has always been the tough phone for people who work with their hands — construction crews, warehouse teams, field technicians. Now, a new chipset and trademark filing hint that the next XCover could gain an unusual addition: built-in RFID or barcode-style scanning, turning the phone into a data-collection tool as well as a rugged handset. What the hints suggest Rugged phones already stand apart with reinforced frames, glove-friendly touchscreens and batteries you can swap in the field. Adding a scanner would push the XCover further into professional territory. Warehouse workers scan inventory, delivery drivers log packages, and maintenance crews check asset tags — all tasks that currently need a separate handheld scanner. A phone that does both jobs would cut the kit workers carry and let scan data flow straight into the company's apps, without a sync step at the end of the shift. Why it matters for field work...