Kyocera is known as a durable handset manufacturer. So when this handset maker launches a 5G-enabled handset, it will not be giving up one of the most distinctive features in its smartphone lineup.

Even better, the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G UW will be available in the US at CES 2021.

Verizon has not yet priced the DuraForce Ultra. But all we need to know about the phone's 5G performance is at the end of the name: UW means that the Kyocera phone will operate on Verizon's high-speed Ultra Wideband network, which is based on millimeter wave 5G and is capable of over 1Gbps download speeds in excess of 1 Gbps. This high-speed service is limited to certain areas of cities where Verizon has launched 5G, but the rest of the country can access Verizon's nationwide 5G low-speed coverage area.

The 5G compatibility of the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra is thanks to the Snapdragon 765G system-on-chip that powers the phone and its internal modem. This is the same processor found in 5G phones such as Google's Pixel 5, LG Velvet, and OnePlus Nord. All of these 5G-enabled phones have demonstrated solid performance, and we expect Kyocera Ultra to follow suit when the opportunity arises.

The real draw of the DuraForce Ultra 5G, however, is its ability to withstand all kinds of punishment, with an IP6X dust resistance rating and a military standard 810H rating, which indicates that it can withstand a 1.5 meter drop onto concrete. Kyocera's DuraForce Ultra 5G UW is also waterproof, with the ability to withstand being submerged in 6.5 feet of water for 30 minutes.

Even better, the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra is submersible, so you can use the phone while in the drink. Once back on dry land, the touchscreen can be operated with wet hands or gloves. Sapphire Shield Display Glass prevents scratches on both the 5.45" display and the rear camera array.

Other durability features on the DuraForce Ultra 5G are programmable buttons on the side of the handset that activate push-to-talk and emergency SOS calls. There is also a covert mode that keeps the handset's screen unlit and disables notifications, and a focus mode that disables non-work notifications for a set period of time.

Durability like that of the DuraForce Ultra 5G means that the phone is typically aimed at remote workers, first responders, and others who spend a lot of time in the field where crashes and mishaps are a daily occurrence. Kyocera's DuraForce Ultra 5G certainly does, but it may also appeal to extreme sports enthusiasts. Attach Kyocera's phone to your bike and record your ride. An on-screen action overlay also displays the ride's statistics.

A 4,500 mAh battery keeps the phone charged and can charge the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra via either USB, Qi wireless charging, or the charging contacts on the back of the device. Kyocera told us that the lithium polymer battery inside the phone is also durable and can absorb shock just like the rest of the device.

Kyocera has equipped the phone with a 24-megapixel main camera, a 16MP wide lens, and a time-of-flight sensor for fast focus and depth-of-field photography. On the front is an 8-megapixel camera, and the Super Night Vision feature is intended to take clear pictures in dark locations.

We still need to know more about how much Verizon will charge for this phone and how widely the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G UW will be available. But this device sounds like a candidate to jump to the top of our list for best waterproof phone once it arrives later this year.