Ulefone Armor 12 5G vs. Power Armor 18: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison

Ulefone is known for its incredibly durable smartphones, built to withstand the harshest conditions. The Armor 12 5G and Power Armor 18 are two of their latest offerings, both boasting rugged designs and 5G connectivity. But which one is the better choice for your needs?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Ulefone Power Armor 18 takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster charging (66W), more powerful Dimensity 900 chipset, and reverse wireless charging. While the Armor 12 5G is a solid option, the Power Armor 18 offers a noticeable performance and charging advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Armor 12 5G	Ulefone Power Armor 18

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 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, 71
5G bands	1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2021, August 14	2022, December 05
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 23	Available. Released 2022, December 05

Body
Build	Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	175.9 x 82.5 x 14.3 mm (6.93 x 3.25 x 0.56 in)	175.2 x 83.4 x 18.8 mm (6.90 x 3.28 x 0.74 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	296 g (10.44 oz)	409 g (14.43 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/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810H compliant Accessory connector (ulefone endoscope, microscope)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~264 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size	6.52 inches, 104.4 cm2 (~71.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)	Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Mali-G68 MC4
OS	Android 11	Android 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	Hexa-LED flash, HDR, 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	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Triple	-	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video	1440p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.2	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
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 (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC
Radio	Wireless FM radio, RDS	Wireless FM radio, RDS, recording
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeter	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer

Battery
Charging	18W wired 15W wireless	66W wired, 52% in 30 min 15W wireless 5W wireless reversed
Type	Li-Po 5180 mAh	Li-Po 9600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black/Orange, Gray/Black	Black
Price	About 370 EUR	About 400 EUR

Ulefone Armor 12 5G

5G Connectivity
More Compact Design
Rugged and Durable Build
Wireless Charging

Slower Charging
Less Powerful Chipset
Potentially Lower Battery Life

Ulefone Power Armor 18

Faster Charging (66W)
More Powerful Dimensity 900 Chipset
Reverse Wireless Charging
Larger Battery Capacity
Excellent Ruggedness

Larger and Heavier
Potentially Less Ergonomic

Display Comparison

Both phones feature similar ruggedized displays, likely around 6.5-6.8 inches with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. Expect good outdoor visibility, but don't anticipate flagship-level color accuracy or brightness. The Power Armor 18's Dimensity 900 might offer slightly smoother scrolling and animations due to its increased processing power.

Camera Comparison

Camera specs are likely similar, with both phones featuring a multi-lens setup including a primary sensor (likely 48MP), an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. Image quality will be decent in good lighting conditions, but don't expect flagship-level photography. The Power Armor 18's more powerful processor *could* lead to slightly better image processing.

Performance

The Power Armor 18's Dimensity 900 chipset is a clear winner here. It's built on a more efficient 6nm process compared to the Armor 12 5G's 7nm Dimensity 700, resulting in better performance and potentially improved battery efficiency. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Power Armor 18.

Battery Life

The Power Armor 18 boasts a significantly larger battery capacity (likely 6000-7000mAh) and a vastly superior charging speed of 66W wired. The Armor 12 5G's 18W wired charging is considerably slower. The Power Armor 18's reverse wireless charging is a valuable addition for topping up accessories.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor 12 5G is ideal for users prioritizing 5G connectivity and a slightly more compact design, who don't need the absolute fastest charging speeds. The Ulefone Power Armor 18 is perfect for those who demand maximum performance, incredibly fast charging, and the added convenience of reverse wireless charging, even in a rugged package.