Ulefone Armor 12 5G vs Cat S61: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Ulefone Armor 12 5G offers significantly better performance thanks to its 5G connectivity and modern chipset. However, the Cat S61’s thermal imaging camera remains a unique selling point. For most users, the Armor 12 5G provides better value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Armor 12 5G | Cat S61 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - EU/ROW |
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EU/ROW |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 28, 29, 66 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 14 | 2018, February. Released 2018, June |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 23 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 175.9 x 82.5 x 14.3 mm (6.93 x 3.25 x 0.56 in) | 163 x 78 x 13 mm (6.42 x 3.07 x 0.51 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM (South Africa only)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 296 g (10.44 oz) | 250 g (8.82 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 | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 3m for 60 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m MIL-STD-810G compliant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~264 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 104.4 cm2 (~71.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 508 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Thermal imaging, heat palettes, temp. spot meter, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, PDAF, FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) |
| Video | 1440p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, SBAS |
| Radio | Wireless FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeter | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, indoor air quality sensor |
| - | Laser-assisted distance measurement tool | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 15W wireless | 18W wired, QC4 |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 888 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 35 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 5180 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black/Orange, Gray/Black | Black |
| Price | About 370 EUR | About 900 EUR |
Ulefone Armor 12 5G
- 5G Connectivity
- Superior Performance
- Larger Display
- Larger Battery
- Wireless Charging
- Potentially bulkier design
- Thermal imaging camera absent
Cat S61
- Thermal Imaging Camera
- More Compact Size
- Quick Charge 4 Support
- Rugged Design
- Outdated Chipset
- Lower Performance
- Smaller Display
- Smaller Battery
Display Comparison
The Ulefone Armor 12 5G boasts a larger 6.53-inch display with a higher resolution (1080 x 2400) compared to the Cat S61's 5.1-inch (1280 x 720) screen. While both are LCDs, the Armor 12 5G offers a more immersive viewing experience. The Cat S61's smaller size can be advantageous for one-handed use.
Camera Comparison
The Ulefone Armor 12 5G generally has a more versatile camera system with higher resolution sensors. While specific megapixel counts vary, the Armor 12 5G typically offers better image quality in various lighting conditions. The Cat S61's unique selling point is its FLIR thermal camera, which the Armor 12 5G lacks. This is a niche feature, but invaluable for certain applications.
Performance
Here's where the Armor 12 5G truly shines. Its Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset and Octa-core CPU provide a substantial performance boost over the Cat S61's Snapdragon 630. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Armor 12 5G. The 7nm process of the Dimensity 700 also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones offer decent battery life, but the Ulefone Armor 12 5G's larger battery capacity (typically 6000mAh vs Cat S61's 3000mAh) gives it a clear advantage. While the Cat S61 supports Quick Charge 4, the Armor 12 5G's 18W wired and wireless charging provides a convenient alternative.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor 12 5G if you prioritize performance, 5G connectivity, and a modern user experience. Buy the Cat S61 if you specifically need a thermal imaging camera and prefer a slightly more compact design, even with older hardware.