Ulefone Armor 12 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Rugged Choice or Mainstream Champion?

Choosing a new 5G phone can be overwhelming. Today, we pit the rugged Ulefone Armor 12 5G against the popular Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G. This comparison will help you decide which device best suits your needs, whether you prioritize durability or a more refined user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the overall winner, offering a superior display, camera, and software experience. However, the Ulefone Armor 12 5G is a compelling choice for those needing exceptional durability and a rugged design, sacrificing some polish for resilience.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor 12 5G Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2021, August 142021, August 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 23Available. Released 2021, September 01
Body
BuildFront glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions175.9 x 82.5 x 14.3 mm (6.93 x 3.25 x 0.56 in)159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight296 g (10.44 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliantIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~264 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.52 inches, 104.4 cm2 (~71.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 11Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single16 MP, f/2.232 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1440p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.232 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioWireless FM radio, RDSNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeterFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired 15W wireless25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5180 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack/Orange, Gray/BlackAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
Models-SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
PriceAbout 370 EUR£ 112.98 / € 249.47
SAR-0.72 W/kg (head)
SAR EU-0.88 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 113h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Armor 12 5G

  • Rugged and durable design
  • Water and dust resistant
  • Wireless charging
  • 5G connectivity

  • Lower display quality
  • Less powerful processor
  • Potentially lower camera quality
  • Slower wired charging

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Brighter and higher-quality display
  • More powerful processor
  • Superior camera system
  • Faster wired charging
  • Refined software experience

  • Less durable design
  • No wireless charging (potentially)
  • More fragile than Armor 12 5G

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significantly brighter display (800 nits) with a near-infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Ulefone Armor 12 5G's display is likely less bright and may have lower contrast, impacting outdoor usability. The A52s also likely has a higher resolution.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is expected to have a superior camera system, offering better image quality, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. The Ulefone Armor 12 5G's camera is likely adequate but won't match the A52s' performance. Samsung's image processing is also generally considered superior.

Performance

While both phones feature octa-core processors, the Snapdragon 778G 5G in the Galaxy A52s 5G generally outperforms the Dimensity 700 in the Ulefone Armor 12 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A52s. The A52s' CPU architecture is also more efficient.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the Galaxy A52s 5G achieving an endurance rating of 113h. The Ulefone Armor 12 5G's battery capacity is likely comparable, but the A52s' more efficient processor may contribute to slightly better real-world performance. Both support wired charging, but the A52s has faster 25W charging compared to the Armor 12 5G's 18W. The Armor 12 5G also offers wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Ulefone Armor 12 5G if you work in demanding environments, need a phone that can withstand drops and water, or simply prefer a rugged design. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you want a well-rounded phone with a great display, camera, and software, and don't require extreme durability.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Armor 12 5G waterproof?
Yes, the Ulefone Armor 12 5G is IP68/IP69K certified, meaning it's highly resistant to water and dust.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G have a microSD card slot?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage.