Blackview BV5100 vs. Ulefone Armor 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Rugged Smartphone Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and smoother multitasking, the Ulefone Armor 8 Pro emerges as the better choice. Its Helio P60 chipset offers a noticeable performance uplift over the BV5100’s Helio P22, making it more suitable for demanding applications and a more fluid daily experience. However, the BV5100 remains a viable option for basic use cases where budget is the primary concern.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Blackview BV5100 | Ulefone Armor 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat7 300/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, November 13. Released 2020, November | 2021, April 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, April 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.4 x 77.7 x 13.7 mm (6.28 x 3.06 x 0.54 in) | 166 x 81.8 x 15 mm (6.54 x 3.22 x 0.59 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 275 g (9.70 oz) | 282 g (9.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~67.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~67.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762V/WD Helio P22 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, Panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide) 0.3 MP | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired Wireless | 15W wired |
| Type | 5580 mAh | Li-Po 5580 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange, Green, Yellow | Black, Orange, Red |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 190 EUR |
Blackview BV5100
- Potentially faster charging (18W)
- More affordable price point
- Rugged design for durability
- Significantly weaker processor (Helio P22)
- Less responsive user experience
- Limited multitasking capabilities
Ulefone Armor 8 Pro
- More powerful processor (Helio P60)
- Smoother multitasking and app performance
- Better overall responsiveness
- Slower charging speed (15W)
- Higher price compared to BV5100
- May experience slightly reduced battery life under heavy load
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a cutting-edge display. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket. However, detailed display specs (resolution, brightness) are missing. The focus here is on ruggedness, not visual fidelity. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both, prioritizing screen protection. Color accuracy is likely standard for budget-friendly devices, and neither is expected to feature high refresh rates or advanced features like LTPO.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. Both phones likely feature multiple rear cameras, but the quality will heavily depend on sensor size and image processing. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing tactic, offering minimal practical benefit. The primary sensor’s resolution and aperture are crucial, but absent from the provided data. The Armor 8 Pro’s slightly more powerful chipset *could* contribute to faster image processing, but this is speculative without further information.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Ulefone Armor 8 Pro’s MediaTek Helio P60 is a significant step up from the Blackview BV5100’s Helio P22. The P60 features a more powerful CPU configuration – 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 cores alongside 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 cores – compared to the BV5100’s 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 setup. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user interface on the Armor 8 Pro. While both are 12nm chips, the architectural improvements in the P60’s cores provide a tangible performance advantage. Users who frequently switch between apps or use moderately demanding applications will benefit from the Armor 8 Pro’s superior processing power.
Battery Life
Both devices offer adequate battery capacity for their intended use. The Blackview BV5100 supports 18W wired charging, while the Ulefone Armor 8 Pro is limited to 15W. This means the BV5100 *should* charge slightly faster, potentially offsetting any battery life differences. However, the P60’s more efficient architecture in the Armor 8 Pro might partially mitigate the charging speed disparity. Real-world battery life will depend heavily on usage patterns, but both should comfortably last a full day with moderate use.
Buying Guide
Buy the Blackview BV5100 if you need a supremely affordable, extremely durable phone for essential communication – calls, texts, and basic navigation – and aren’t concerned with demanding apps or gaming. Buy the Ulefone Armor 8 Pro if you prefer a more responsive experience, occasionally use more intensive applications, or value slightly faster charging speeds, and are willing to spend a bit more for the performance boost.