Looking for a tough phone that can withstand drops, dust, and water? The Blackview BV5200 Pro and Ulefone Armor 8 are both contenders in the rugged smartphone arena. But which one offers the best value and performance for your needs?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Ulefone Armor 8 edges out the BV5200 Pro thanks to its superior Helio P60 chipset, offering noticeably better performance. While both are rugged, the Armor 8's slightly faster processor and quicker charging make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 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 | 2022, December 05 | 2020, August 17. Released 2020, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 05 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 77.9 x 13.7 mm (6.36 x 3.07 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 | 268 g (9.45 oz) | 282 g (9.95 oz) |
| | IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m
MIL-STD-810H compliant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2 m
MIL-STD-810G compliant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~72.6% 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 (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio G35 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 12, Doke-OS 3.0 | Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", PDAF
Secondary unspecified camera | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | - |
| Triple | - | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | 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, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Unspecified | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeter |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5180 mAh | Li-Po 5580 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange, Green | Black, Orange, Red |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 200 EUR |
Blackview BV5200 Pro
- Budget-friendly
- Rugged and durable
- Reverse wired charging
- Large battery
- Lower performance chipset
- Slower charging
- Potentially lower camera quality
- Less refined software
Ulefone Armor 8
- Better performance chipset (Helio P60)
- Faster charging (15W)
- Potentially better camera
- Durable build quality
- Slightly more expensive
- May lack reverse charging
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large, durable displays, likely with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The Armor 8 might have a slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to its more advanced chipset, but both are designed for outdoor visibility. Expect resolutions around 720+ HD.
Camera Comparison
The Armor 8 likely has a slightly better camera system due to the more powerful chipset. Expect improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Both phones will likely feature multiple rear cameras (wide, macro, depth) but image quality will be a key differentiator. Expect around 13-16MP main sensors.
Performance
The Ulefone Armor 8's Helio P60 chipset is a significant upgrade over the BV5200 Pro's Helio G35. The P60's Cortex-A73 cores provide a noticeable boost in processing power, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance. The BV5200 Pro will handle basic tasks adequately, but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones boast large batteries (likely around 5000-6000mAh). The Armor 8's 15W charging is faster than the BV5200 Pro's 10W charging, meaning quicker top-ups. Battery life will be comparable under moderate usage, but the Armor 8's efficiency may give it a slight edge.
Buying Guide
The Blackview BV5200 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a budget-friendly rugged option with reverse charging capabilities. The Ulefone Armor 8 is better suited for those needing a smoother user experience, slightly better camera performance, and faster charging, even if it comes at a slightly higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones waterproof?
Yes, both phones are IP68 and IP69K certified, meaning they are waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof.
❓ What operating system do they run?
Both phones typically run Android 10 or 11, with custom UIs from Blackview and Ulefone respectively.
❓ Do they support NFC?
The Ulefone Armor 8 typically includes NFC for contactless payments, while the BV5200 Pro may or may not, depending on the specific variant.
