Doogee S89 vs. Ulefone Armor 17 Pro: A Head-to-Head Rugged Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and fast charging, the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro is the clear winner. Its newer Mediatek Helio G99 chipset, built on a 6nm process, provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Doogee S89’s Helio P90, coupled with significantly faster 66W wired charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Doogee S89 | Ulefone Armor 17 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 22 | 2022, October 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 28 | Available. Released 2022, October 31 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 172 x 86 x 19.4 mm (6.77 x 3.39 x 0.76 in) | 172.7 x 80.4 x 12.5 mm (6.80 x 3.17 x 0.49 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 400 g (14.11 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~65.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~75.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.1 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GM9446 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Triple-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 130˚, (ultrawide) 20 MP, f/1.8, (night vision), 4 infrared night vision lights | 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 |
| Video | 1440p, 1080p | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | Wireless 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/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | MagSafe compatible accessories | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired 15W wireless | 66W wired, 53% in 15 min 15W wireless Wireless reversed |
| Type | 12000 mAh | Li-Po 5380 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange | Black |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 260 EUR |
Doogee S89
- Proven reliability of the Helio P90 platform.
- Rugged design for durability.
- Wireless charging support.
- Older chipset with lower performance.
- Slower 33W wired charging.
- Less efficient power consumption.
Ulefone Armor 17 Pro
- Faster and more efficient Mediatek Helio G99 chipset.
- Ultra-fast 66W wired charging.
- Wireless reversed charging capability.
- Potentially higher price point.
- Newer chipset may have initial software quirks.
- Rugged design may add bulk.
Display Comparison
Neither device's display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the Armor 17 Pro's focus on newer technology, it's reasonable to assume it may feature a slightly more modern panel. Rugged phones often prioritize durability over display quality, so expect standard IPS LCDs in both cases. Bezels are likely to be substantial on both to contribute to drop protection.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the chipset difference suggests the Armor 17 Pro likely benefits from a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the G99, potentially leading to better image processing and noise reduction. Both phones likely feature multiple cameras, but the quality of the main sensor and the effectiveness of any optical image stabilization (OIS) will be the key differentiators. We can assume both will include standard wide, ultrawide, and potentially macro lenses, but the sensor size and aperture will dictate image quality.
Performance
The Ulefone Armor 17 Pro’s Mediatek Helio G99 (6nm) represents a substantial architectural leap over the Doogee S89’s Helio P90 (12nm). The G99 utilizes Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz, compared to the P90’s Cortex-A75 cores at 2.1 GHz. This translates to a roughly 15-20% performance increase in CPU-intensive tasks. More importantly, the 6nm process node of the G99 offers significantly improved power efficiency and thermal management, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature the same 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, the G99’s overall architecture provides a more modern and capable platform.
Battery Life
While both phones offer 15W wireless charging, the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer. Ulefone claims a 53% charge in just 15 minutes, drastically reducing downtime. The Doogee S89’s 33W charging is respectable, but significantly slower. Battery capacity isn’t specified for either, but the G99’s superior power efficiency means the Armor 17 Pro is likely to achieve comparable or better battery life despite potentially having a similar or even smaller battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Doogee S89 if you prioritize a proven, if slightly older, platform and are less concerned with pushing the phone to its performance limits. It’s a solid choice for basic rugged phone functionality. Buy the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro if you need a more responsive experience for gaming, multitasking, or demanding applications, and value the convenience of incredibly fast charging – especially useful when you're relying on your phone in the field.