Somewhere in a boardroom, a designer must have asked, What if we glued a smartwatch to the back of a phone? Instead of being laughed out of the room, they got a green light, and now we have the Doogee S119—a rugged smartphone that wears its quirks like a badge of honor. Doogee isn’t new to unconventional designs, but this one is a bold move, even for them. Rather than a secondary display integrated smoothly into the phone’s design, the S119 has an actual, physical smartwatch embedded into its back, proudly sticking out like a sci-fi parasite. It’s part notification hub, part clock, and fully committed to making the camera bump situation worse.
The $239 smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer poses a rather strange question – do you just buy a smartwatch for that amount of money? Or buy a phone with a built-in smartwatch? No seriously, the S119 doesn’t have a secondary display on the back – it literally has a smartwatch protruding beyond the existing camera bump… and a literal bezel around the display. I appreciate it when a smartphone company tries taking risks in today’s fairly boring environment – but it’s hard to tell innovation from satire with something like this. At least that second screen makes for a nice viewfinder when clicking photos??
Designer: Doogee
But let’s not dismiss it outright. There’s a certain logic to it, if I could steel-man this argument for a second. A secondary display can be useful—foldables use them to show notifications and time at a glance, so you don’t have to open the main screen. But on a standard slab phone? The argument gets shakier. You still have to pick up the phone to check the time, which is objectively less convenient than, say, an actual smartwatch on your wrist. It also doesn’t really cut down on screen time if you’re still reaching for your device every few minutes. The concept isn’t without merit, but its practicality feels questionable.
That said, Doogee knows its audience. The S119 is built for people who like their phones rugged, functional, and a little bit over-the-top. It’s MIL-STD-810H certified, meaning it can survive drops, extreme temperatures, and dust like a champ. The 6.58-inch FHD+ LCD display (120Hz refresh rate) offers solid visuals, while the Helio G99 processor and 12GB RAM (expandable to 20GB via virtual RAM) ensure it won’t choke under pressure. With 256GB of storage (expandable via microSD), there’s plenty of space for apps, media, and whatever else rugged-phone users hoard.
Of course, no Doogee phone is complete without a monstrous battery, and the S119 delivers with a 10,800mAh unit. That’s the kind of endurance that makes power banks obsolete. It supports 33W fast charging, so you won’t be stuck waiting an eternity when you do need to juice up. The 64MP Samsung ISOCELL main camera, 16MP front camera, and 24MP night vision lens cover the photography side, though image quality probably won’t dethrone flagship competitors. This is a phone designed for durability first, photography second.
Now, about that secondary display. It’s a 1.3-inch circular LCD that mimics a smartwatch, showing time, notifications, fitness tracking data, and even music controls. Doogee claims it offers quick access to key information without unlocking the main screen, but again, you’re still picking up the phone to check it—something an actual smartwatch does better. Maybe it helps in situations where the phone is face-down, or perhaps it’s just another conversation starter for people who love unique tech. It could also be a makeshift selfie preview screen, but the placement makes that awkward.
So, who is this for? The S119 is clearly targeting a niche—outdoor adventurers, construction workers, or just anyone who wants a phone that can take a beating. It’s IP68 and IP69K rated, meaning it shrugs off water and dust with ease. At €219 ($239), it’s not absurdly expensive for a rugged phone, especially with these specs. But the smartwatch-back gimmick feels like a solution in search of a problem.
The post The Most Confusing Smartphone of 2025? Doogee S119 Slaps a Smartwatch on the Back first appeared on Yanko Design.