Blackview Xplore 1 vs. Ulefone Armor 11 5G: A Rugged Showdown

The rugged smartphone market is heating up, offering increasingly capable devices for outdoor enthusiasts and demanding professionals. The Blackview Xplore 1, with its newer Dimensity 7050 chipset, challenges the established Ulefone Armor 11 5G, powered by the Dimensity 800. This comparison dives deep into the core differences, focusing on performance, battery endurance, and charging speeds to determine which phone delivers the best value for your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Blackview Xplore 1 emerges as the stronger choice. Its more modern Dimensity 7050 chipset, built on a 6nm process, provides a performance edge and potentially better thermal management, coupled with significantly faster 55W charging. While the Ulefone offers wireless charging, the Xplore 1’s superior endurance and speed outweigh this convenience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Blackview Xplore 1	Ulefone Armor 11 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 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, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2025, August 31	2021, February 18
Status	Available. Released 2025, September	Available. Released 2021, March 08

Body
Build	-	Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame
Dimensions	184 x 83 x 29.5 mm (7.24 x 3.27 x 1.16 in)	163.8 x 81.6 x 14.2 mm (6.45 x 3.21 x 0.56 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	638 g (1.41 lb)	295 g (10.41 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 5, Mohs level 7	Oleophobic coating
Resolution	1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density)	720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)
Size	6.78 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~71.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 700 nits	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm)	Mediatek Dimensity 800 (7 nm)
GPU	Mali-G68 MC4	Mali-G57 MP4
OS	Android 15, DokeOS 4.2	Android 10, planned upgrade to Android 11

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Dual	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF 20 MP, f/1.8, (night vision), 1/2.8", 2 infrared night vision lights	-
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Penta	-	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide) 20 MP, f/1.8, (night vision), 1/2.78", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	-	16 MP, f/2.0
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR, panorama
Single	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF	16 MP, f/2.0
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	-	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	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/6, dual-band	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, baroceptor

Battery
Charging	55W wired 5W reverse wired	18W wired 10W wireless
Type	20000 mAh	Li-Po 5200 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Orange	Black
Price	€ 369.99 / $ 276.61 / £ 369.99	About 480 EUR

EU LABEL
Battery	154:36h endurance, 800 cycles	-
Energy	Class C	-
Free fall	Class A (275 falls)	-
Repairability	Class B	-

Blackview Xplore 1

Faster and more efficient Dimensity 7050 chipset
Significantly faster 55W wired charging
Impressive 154:36h battery endurance and 800 charge cycles

Lacks wireless charging
Camera specifications unknown

Ulefone Armor 11 5G

Convenient 10W wireless charging
Established brand in the rugged phone market
Potentially lower price point

Older and less powerful Dimensity 800 chipset
Slower 18W wired charging
Battery endurance likely lower than Xplore 1

Display Comparison

Display specifications are absent from the provided data, but considering the target market, both likely feature durable, high-brightness panels. However, the Xplore 1’s newer chipset *could* support higher refresh rates or more advanced display technologies. The Armor 11 5G’s wireless charging suggests a focus on convenience, potentially at the expense of peak display brightness to manage power consumption.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are unavailable, but the rugged phone segment often prioritizes durability over cutting-edge camera technology. Both devices likely feature a main sensor, ultrawide, and potentially a depth or macro lens. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to assess image quality. However, the Xplore 1’s more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor) within the Dimensity 7050 could offer superior image processing capabilities, particularly in low-light conditions.

Performance

The Blackview Xplore 1’s Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Ulefone Armor 11 5G’s Dimensity 800 (7nm). The 7050 utilizes Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, compared to the Armor 11’s A76 cores at 2.0 GHz. This translates to a noticeable performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. The 6nm process also contributes to improved power efficiency, potentially reducing thermal throttling during sustained workloads. While the Armor 11 5G’s Dimensity 800 is still a capable chip, the Xplore 1 offers a more future-proof platform.

Battery Life

The Blackview Xplore 1 boasts an impressive 154:36h endurance rating and a claimed 800 charge cycles, indicating a focus on long-term battery health and usability. While the Ulefone Armor 11 5G’s battery capacity is unknown, its 18W wired and 10W wireless charging are significantly slower than the Xplore 1’s 55W wired and 5W reverse wired charging. The Xplore 1 can likely achieve a full charge in under an hour, while the Armor 11 5G will take considerably longer. The 800 charge cycles on the Xplore 1 also suggest a longer lifespan before significant battery degradation.

Buying Guide

Buy the Blackview Xplore 1 if you prioritize raw performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value faster charging speeds to minimize downtime. Buy the Ulefone Armor 11 5G if wireless charging is a must-have feature, and you prefer a slightly more established brand within the rugged phone space, accepting a performance trade-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Dimensity 7050 in the Blackview Xplore 1 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings?

The Dimensity 7050’s Cortex-A78 cores and improved GPU architecture are well-suited for demanding games. While sustained performance will depend on thermal management, it’s significantly more capable than the Dimensity 800 in the Ulefone Armor 11 5G, offering a smoother gaming experience at higher settings.

❓ How much faster is the 55W charging on the Blackview Xplore 1 compared to the 18W charging on the Ulefone Armor 11 5G?

The 55W charging on the Xplore 1 will drastically reduce charging times. Expect a full charge in approximately 60-75 minutes, whereas the Armor 11 5G’s 18W charging could take over 2 hours. This difference is substantial for users who need to quickly top up their battery.

❓ Does the Blackview Xplore 1’s battery health degrade quickly, even with the 800 charge cycle claim?

The 800 charge cycle claim is a strong indicator of long-term battery health. It suggests the battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 800 full charge/discharge cycles. This is significantly better than many smartphones and implies a longer usable lifespan for the Xplore 1’s battery.

❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Blackview Xplore 1 a significant drawback?

For users who heavily rely on wireless charging for convenience, it is a drawback. However, the Xplore 1’s significantly faster wired charging and superior battery endurance largely compensate for this omission. The time saved with faster charging often outweighs the convenience of wireless charging.