The Oukitel WP500 Ultra is a rugged 5G phone with a 640 x 512 thermal camera. It also has a hardware privacy switch. Oukitel announced it in late May 2026, and sales started on its official store on June 9, 2026. On Oukitel’s global store, its list price is $1,099.99, while launch-week buyers saw an early-bird price of $699.99. It sits at the top of the brand’s rugged lineup, above the standard WP500, which drops the thermal camera.
Design and display
This is a large and heavy tool phone. It measures 177.2 x 82.6 x 22.9 mm and weighs 414.3 g. The body carries IP68 and IP69K ratings, and Oukitel states MIL-STD-810H compliance. A camping light sits on the back. The side holds a fingerprint reader, a custom button and the Privacy Kill Switch. One slide of that switch turns off the cameras, the microphones and GPS.
The 6.78-inch IPS LCD has a 1080 x 2460 resolution, 396 ppi and a 120Hz refresh rate. Brightness is rated at 550 nits, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 covers the panel. Widevine L1 support allows full-resolution streaming.
Performance
The phone runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8300, a 4 nm octa-core chip. Its top core runs at 3.35 GHz, and the GPU is a Mali-G615 MP6. It ships in one version with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Up to 24GB of storage can act as virtual RAM. There is no microSD slot, so the internal 1TB is all you get.
Cameras
The thermal camera is the main feature. Oukitel lists a 640 x 512 sensor whose images are AI-upscaled to 1440 x 1080. An 8MP fusion camera adds visible detail to the heat map. The detection range runs from -20°C to 550°C, which suits electrical checks, building inspections and night search.
For regular photos, the main camera uses a 108MP Samsung HM6 sensor with an f/1.68 lens. It records 4K video at 30 fps. An 8MP night vision camera works with an infrared fill light. On the front, a 32MP Sony IMX616 camera records 1080p video.
Battery and charging
A 10,000mAh battery powers the phone. It supports 45W wired charging. Oukitel quotes 50% in 35 minutes and a full charge in about 135 minutes. The phone can also charge other devices over a cable. However, it does not support wireless charging. A charger comes in the box.
Software and updates
The WP500 Ultra ships with Android 16 and supports Gemini. Oukitel also adds its own AI Beacon tools for translation, document reading and image questions. The company has not published a promise for Android upgrades or security patches. Connectivity includes dual Nano-SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC.
Should you buy the WP500 Ultra?
The phone makes sense for electricians, inspectors and field workers who need a thermal camera in their pocket. The fast chip and 1TB of storage also help with heavy apps and large thermal files. On the other hand, it is very heavy and lacks a headphone jack and a memory card slot. Update support is also unclear. Buyers who do not need thermal imaging can choose a lighter and cheaper rugged phone.
