Doogee S98 vs. Ulefone Armor 9E: A Deep Dive into Rugged Smartphone Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and faster charging, the Doogee S98 emerges as the better choice. Its Helio G96 chipset, while both chips are 12nm, offers a slight CPU performance edge and benefits from 33W wired and 15W wireless charging, a significant advantage over the Ulefone Armor 9E’s 18W wired charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Doogee S98 | Ulefone Armor 9E |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 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, 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 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 18 | 2020, September 08. Released 2020, September 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 28 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 172 x 82 x 15.5 mm (6.77 x 3.23 x 0.61 in) | 168.2 x 82 x 15 mm (6.62 x 3.23 x 0.59 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 320 g (11.29 oz) | 324 g (11.43 oz) |
| - | IP68/IP69K 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 | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 500 nits (peak) | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | PowerVR GM9446 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 130˚ (ultrawide) 20 MP, f/1.8, (night vision), 2 infrared night vision lights | - |
| Video | 1440p, 1080p | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Unspecified | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector |
| 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 | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeter |
| - | Endoscope mount (camera sold separately) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired 15W wireless | 18W wired |
| Type | 6000 mAh | Li-Po 6600 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange, Red | Black |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 290 EUR |
Doogee S98
- Faster processor with newer architecture (Helio G96)
- 33W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Likely improved image processing capabilities
- Potentially higher price point
- Rugged design may add bulk
Ulefone Armor 9E
- Potentially lower price point
- Rugged design for durability
- Solid performance for everyday tasks
- Slower processor (Helio P90)
- Slower 18W wired charging only
- Older chipset may lack advanced features
Display Comparison
Neither device's display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the S98's positioning, it likely features a higher resolution panel and potentially a higher refresh rate. The Armor 9E, being an older model, may utilize a standard 60Hz panel. Both will likely prioritize durability with Gorilla Glass or similar protection, but the S98 may benefit from improved color accuracy due to its newer chipset's image signal processor.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the Helio G96’s ISP in the Doogee S98 likely offers superior image processing capabilities, resulting in better dynamic range and noise reduction. Both phones likely feature multiple rear cameras, but the S98’s ISP will likely extract more detail from the primary sensor. The inclusion of features like AI scene detection and improved HDR processing are more probable on the S98 due to its newer chipset.
Performance
The Doogee S98’s Mediatek Helio G96 chipset features a dual-core Cortex-A76 configuration clocked at 2.05 GHz, paired with six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. This contrasts with the Ulefone Armor 9E’s Helio P90, which utilizes a dual-core Cortex-A75 setup at 2.2 GHz alongside six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. While the P90’s A75 cores have a slightly higher clock speed, the G96’s newer A76 architecture generally provides better single-core performance and improved efficiency. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother overall system responsiveness on the S98. The G96 also benefits from a more modern GPU, offering a better gaming experience.
Battery Life
Battery capacity isn't specified for either device, but the charging capabilities are a clear differentiator. The Doogee S98 supports 33W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, allowing for significantly faster top-ups compared to the Ulefone Armor 9E’s 18W wired charging. This means the S98 can recover a substantial amount of battery life in a shorter time, a crucial advantage for users who rely on their phone throughout the day. The addition of wireless charging on the S98 also provides added convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Doogee S98 if you need a rugged phone with a more modern chipset for smoother multitasking and gaming, and if the convenience of wireless charging is important. Buy the Ulefone Armor 9E if you prioritize a potentially lower price point and are less concerned with the latest processor generation, focusing more on core rugged functionality.