Ulefone Armor 17 Pro vs. Armor 12 5G: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison

Ulefone is known for its incredibly durable smartphones, and the Armor 17 Pro and Armor 12 5G are prime examples. But which one offers the best blend of toughness, features, and performance? This detailed comparison will help you decide which rugged phone is right for your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Ulefone Armor 17 Pro takes the lead thanks to its significantly faster charging, more powerful chipset, and generally improved performance. While the Armor 12 5G offers 5G connectivity, the 17 Pro's overall package makes it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Armor 17 Pro	Ulefone Armor 12 5G

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
5G bands	-	1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2022, October 31	2021, August 14
Status	Available. Released 2022, October 31	Available. Released 2021, August 23

Body
Build	-	Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame
Dimensions	172.7 x 80.4 x 12.5 mm (6.80 x 3.17 x 0.49 in)	175.9 x 82.5 x 14.3 mm (6.93 x 3.25 x 0.56 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	290 g (10.23 oz)	296 g (10.44 oz)
	IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810G compliant	IP68 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 5	-
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)	720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~264 ppi density)
Size	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~75.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.52 inches, 104.4 cm2 (~71.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)	Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Mali-G57 MC2
OS	Android 12	Android 11

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Triple-LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-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, (wide), 1.0µm	16 MP, f/2.2
Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52”, 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 8 MP, (night vision), 2 infrared night vision lights	-
Video	1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps	1440p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm	16 MP, f/2.2
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with dual speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Wireless FM radio, RDS, recording	Wireless FM radio, RDS
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
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
	MagSafe compatible accessories	-

Battery
Charging	66W wired, 53% in 15 min 15W wireless Wireless reversed	18W wired 15W wireless
Type	Li-Po 5380 mAh	Li-Po 5180 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black	Black/Orange, Gray/Black
Price	About 260 EUR	About 370 EUR

Ulefone Armor 17 Pro

Faster Performance (Helio G99)
66W Fast Charging
Wireless & Reverse Wireless Charging
Potentially Better Camera
Modern Chipset

Potentially Higher Price
Rugged Design Can Be Bulky

Ulefone Armor 12 5G

5G Connectivity
More Budget-Friendly
Rugged and Durable
Wireless Charging

Slower Performance (Dimensity 700)
Slow 18W Charging
Likely Inferior Camera
Older Chipset

Display Comparison

Both phones feature ruggedized displays, likely with Corning Gorilla Glass for scratch resistance. The Armor 17 Pro likely has a slightly larger display and potentially a higher resolution, though specific details are needed. Expect similar brightness and viewing angles, prioritizing durability over premium display quality.

Camera Comparison

Camera specs are often a weak point in rugged phones. The Armor 17 Pro likely boasts a more capable camera system, potentially with a higher resolution main sensor and improved image processing. Expect both phones to perform adequately in good lighting conditions, but struggle in low light. Specific megapixel counts and features would need to be confirmed.

Performance

The Armor 17 Pro's Mediatek Helio G99 chipset (6nm) offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Armor 12 5G's Dimensity 700 (7nm). The G99's architecture and manufacturing process contribute to faster processing speeds and better graphics performance, making it smoother for gaming and demanding apps. Both have the same CPU core configuration, but the G99's GPU is superior.

Battery Life

The Armor 17 Pro's 66W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are also valuable additions. The Armor 12 5G's 18W wired charging is significantly slower. Battery capacity is likely similar between the two, but the 17 Pro's charging speed makes a huge difference in usability.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor 17 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize performance, fast charging, and a modern chipset. The Armor 12 5G is a good option for those specifically needing 5G connectivity and a slightly more budget-friendly rugged phone, but are willing to compromise on speed and charging.