Cubot KingKong AX vs. Ulefone Armor 17 Pro: A Rugged Showdown

The rugged smartphone market is heating up, offering increasingly capable devices for outdoor enthusiasts and demanding work environments. Both the Cubot KingKong AX and the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro leverage the efficient Mediatek Helio G99 chipset, but diverge significantly in charging capabilities and overall endurance, making a direct comparison crucial for informed buyers.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained uptime, the Cubot KingKong AX’s impressive 30:30h endurance and 900 charge cycles offer peace of mind. However, the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro’s 66W charging – capable of a 53% charge in just 15 minutes – and wireless charging options make it the superior choice for those who need rapid power replenishment.

PHONES
Phone Names Cubot KingKong AX Ulefone Armor 17 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2024, March2022, October 31
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, AprilAvailable. Released 2022, October 31
Body
Dimensions172 x 80.9 x 12.7 mm (6.77 x 3.19 x 0.5 in)172.7 x 80.4 x 12.5 mm (6.80 x 3.17 x 0.49 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight296 g (10.44 oz)290 g (10.23 oz)
 -IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810G compliant
Display
ProtectionMohs level 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~75.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~75.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120HzIPS LCD, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Mali-G57 MC2
OSAndroid 14Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual100 MP, (wide), PDAF 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flashTriple-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm
Triple-108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52”, 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 8 MP, (night vision), 2 infrared night vision lights
VideoYes1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single32 MP16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm
VideoYes1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackUnspecifiedYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioUnspecifiedWireless FM radio, RDS, recording
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -MagSafe compatible accessories
Battery
Charging33W wired66W wired, 53% in 15 min 15W wireless Wireless reversed
Type5100 mAhLi-Po 5380 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack
PriceAbout 240 EURAbout 260 EUR
EU LABEL
Battery30:30h endurance, 900 cycles-
EnergyClass E-
Free fallClass A (270 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Cubot KingKong AX

  • Exceptional battery endurance (30:30h)
  • High battery cycle count (900 cycles)
  • Efficient Mediatek Helio G99 chipset

  • Slower 33W charging
  • Lacks wireless charging capabilities

Ulefone Armor 17 Pro

  • Ultra-fast 66W wired charging (53% in 15 min)
  • Convenient 15W wireless charging
  • Reverse wireless charging for accessory power

  • Potentially shorter overall battery life (unspecified mAh)
  • May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load (speculative)

Display Comparison

Both devices share the same Mediatek Helio G99 chipset, meaning display differences won't dramatically impact performance. However, details like panel type, brightness, and refresh rate (not specified in the provided data) would be crucial differentiators. Given the rugged focus, we can assume both utilize durable, scratch-resistant glass, but the absence of specifics prevents a deeper analysis of viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The provided data lacks camera specifications. In this segment, sensor size, aperture, and image processing algorithms are critical. Without this information, it’s impossible to assess camera quality. However, given the rugged nature of these phones, we can expect a focus on durability rather than cutting-edge camera technology. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on either device is likely a marketing feature with limited real-world utility.

Performance

Both the Cubot KingKong AX and the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro are powered by the Mediatek Helio G99 (6nm) with an Octa-core CPU configuration (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). This means core performance will be nearly identical. The 6nm process node offers a good balance of power efficiency and performance, suitable for demanding tasks. Thermal management, however, is unknown; a larger chassis on the Ulefone *could* provide better heat dissipation, but this is speculative without testing data. RAM speed (LPDDR4X vs LPDDR5) is not specified, but would be a key performance factor.

Battery Life

The Ulefone Armor 17 Pro distinguishes itself with a significant charging advantage. Its 66W wired charging, capable of reaching 53% in 15 minutes, drastically reduces downtime compared to the Cubot KingKong AX’s 33W charging. The addition of 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging further enhances the Ulefone’s versatility. While the Cubot KingKong AX boasts a potentially longer overall endurance of 30:30h, the Ulefone’s faster charging mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery capacity, making it more convenient for users who frequently need to recharge.

Buying Guide

Buy the Cubot KingKong AX if you need maximum battery longevity and are willing to trade off charging speed. This phone is ideal for multi-day expeditions or work scenarios where access to power is limited. Buy the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro if you prioritize quick charging, wireless convenience, and the flexibility of reverse wireless charging, making it perfect for users who need to top up quickly between tasks or share power with other devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the 66W charging on the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro compare to standard charging speeds in rugged phones?
66W charging is significantly faster than the typical 18W-33W charging found in many rugged smartphones. This allows the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro to replenish its battery much more quickly, minimizing downtime and making it ideal for users who need to get back up and running quickly.
❓ What does the 900 charge cycle rating of the Cubot KingKong AX mean for long-term battery health?
A 900 charge cycle rating indicates that the battery is designed to retain a significant portion of its original capacity after being fully charged and discharged 900 times. This suggests the Cubot KingKong AX will experience less battery degradation over its lifespan compared to phones with lower cycle ratings.
❓ Is the Mediatek Helio G99 chipset capable of handling demanding games on these phones?
The Mediatek Helio G99 is a capable mid-range chipset that can handle most mobile games at medium to high settings. However, sustained gaming performance may be limited by thermal throttling, especially in rugged phones with less optimized cooling systems. The lack of specific thermal management details makes it difficult to predict performance accurately.
❓ Does the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro's reverse wireless charging work with all Qi-compatible devices?
Yes, the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro's reverse wireless charging is compatible with any device that supports the Qi wireless charging standard. This allows you to use the phone as a portable power bank to charge other smartphones, earbuds, or other Qi-enabled accessories.