Kyocera DuraForce Ultra vs. Ulefone Armor 11T 5G: A Deep Dive into Rugged 5G Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and broader wireless charging compatibility, the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra emerges as the better choice. While the Ulefone Armor 11T 5G offers a potentially faster chipset on paper, the Snapdragon 765G in the DuraForce Ultra provides a more refined experience and the added convenience of Qi wireless charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Kyocera DuraForce Ultra | Ulefone Armor 11T 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 48, 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 | 2, 5, 66, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 11 | 2021, May 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May | Available. Released 2021, June 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 74.9 x 16 mm (6.5 x 2.95 x 0.63 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 |
| Weight | 278 g (9.81 oz) | 293 g (10.34 oz) |
| - | 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 | Sapphire Shield | Oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~443 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~62.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 800 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Mali-G57 MP4 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 | Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 24 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.0, 16mm, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm | - |
| Features | Dual-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 FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) 5 MP 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Unspecified | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/e/i/k/r/v, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted); unspecified sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired 10W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | About 860 EUR | About 590 EUR |
Kyocera DuraForce Ultra
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G offers balanced performance and efficiency.
- Qi wireless charging provides convenience and compatibility.
- Proven durability from Kyocera's rugged phone expertise.
- Potentially lower peak CPU performance compared to Dimensity 800.
- Display specifications are likely basic.
Ulefone Armor 11T 5G
- MediaTek Dimensity 800 offers potentially faster processing speeds.
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds.
- Rugged design for durability in harsh environments.
- Slower 10W wireless charging.
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load.
- MediaTek chipset may lack the refinement of Qualcomm's offering.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a cutting-edge display. Details regarding panel type, resolution, and refresh rate are absent from the provided data, suggesting both likely utilize standard LCD panels. However, the focus on ruggedness suggests durability is prioritized over display quality. The absence of LTPO or high refresh rates is expected. Bezels are likely substantial on both to contribute to structural integrity. Color accuracy is unlikely to be a key selling point for either.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. Both phones likely feature multi-camera setups geared towards versatility rather than exceptional image quality. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and apertures suggests neither device will excel in low-light photography. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is likely a marketing tactic, offering minimal practical benefit due to the small sensor size and limited detail capture. Image processing will likely differ, with Kyocera potentially favoring more natural tones and Ulefone potentially boosting saturation for a more vibrant look.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Kyocera DuraForce Ultra utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, built on a 7nm process, featuring a tri-cluster CPU configuration with Kryo cores designed for efficiency and performance. The Ulefone Armor 11T 5G employs the MediaTek Dimensity 800, also on a 7nm process. While the Dimensity 800's Cortex-A76 cores offer higher clock speeds (2.0 GHz vs 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime), the Snapdragon 765G’s architecture is generally considered more efficient and better optimized for sustained performance. The Snapdragon’s Adreno 620 GPU is also a strong performer. The Armor 11T’s Mali-G52 MC4 GPU, while capable, typically lags behind the Adreno 620 in demanding gaming scenarios. The Snapdragon 765G’s integrated 5G modem also benefits from Qualcomm’s extensive experience in cellular technology.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified, making a direct mAh comparison impossible. However, the charging capabilities reveal a significant difference. The DuraForce Ultra supports both wired and Qi wireless charging, offering flexibility. The Armor 11T 5G is limited to 18W wired charging and a slower 10W wireless charging standard. This means the DuraForce Ultra will likely offer faster wireless charging speeds and broader compatibility with wireless charging pads. While a larger battery capacity on the Armor 11T could offset the slower charging, the Snapdragon 765G’s efficiency may allow the DuraForce Ultra to achieve comparable battery life with a smaller capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra if you need a reliably performing 5G rugged phone with proven durability and the convenience of Qi wireless charging, even if it means sacrificing peak theoretical performance. Buy the Ulefone Armor 11T 5G if you prioritize potentially faster processing speeds for demanding tasks and are comfortable with a slower, less common wireless charging standard, and are willing to potentially manage thermal throttling under sustained load.