Ulefone Armor 17 Pro vs Power Armor 18: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison

Ulefone is known for its incredibly durable smartphones, and the Armor 17 Pro and Power Armor 18 are prime examples. Both offer rugged designs and long battery life, but which one delivers the best overall experience? This detailed comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Power Armor 18 edges out the Armor 17 Pro thanks to its slightly more powerful Dimensity 900 chipset and potentially improved camera capabilities (though both are likely decent). Both are excellent choices for those needing a tough phone, but the 18 offers a bit more performance.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor 17 Pro Ulefone Power Armor 18
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2022, October 312022, December 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 31Available. Released 2022, December 05
Body
Dimensions172.7 x 80.4 x 12.5 mm (6.80 x 3.17 x 0.49 in)175.2 x 83.4 x 18.8 mm (6.90 x 3.28 x 0.74 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight290 g (10.23 oz)409 g (14.43 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 compliantIP68/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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~75.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120HzIPS LCD, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 12Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesTriple-LED flash, HDR, panoramaHexa-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Triple108 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 lights108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC
RadioWireless FM radio, RDS, recordingWireless FM radio, RDS, recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer
 MagSafe compatible accessories-
Battery
Charging66W wired, 53% in 15 min 15W wireless Wireless reversed66W wired, 52% in 30 min 15W wireless 5W wireless reversed
TypeLi-Po 5380 mAhLi-Po 9600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack
PriceAbout 260 EURAbout 400 EUR

Ulefone Armor 17 Pro

  • Fast 66W wired charging
  • Reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially more compact design
  • Rugged and durable build

  • Less powerful chipset than Power Armor 18
  • Potentially slightly lower camera quality
  • May have slightly shorter battery life

Ulefone Power Armor 18

  • More powerful Dimensity 900 chipset
  • Potentially better camera performance
  • Likely larger battery capacity
  • Rugged and durable build

  • Slightly larger and heavier
  • 66W charging slightly slower than advertised (52% in 30 min)
  • 5W reverse wireless charging

Display Comparison

Both phones likely feature similar ruggedized displays, probably around 6.5-6.8 inches with a resolution of 1080p+. Expect good outdoor visibility due to their brightness, but don't anticipate flagship-level color accuracy or refresh rates. The Armor 17 Pro might have a slightly more compact form factor, making it easier to handle for some.

Camera Comparison

While both phones likely feature multi-lens camera systems (likely including a main sensor, ultrawide, and potentially a macro lens), the Power Armor 18's more powerful chipset could translate to better image processing and overall camera quality. Expect decent image quality in good lighting conditions from both, but low-light performance might be a differentiator.

Performance

The Power Armor 18's Dimensity 900 chipset holds a clear advantage over the Armor 17 Pro's Helio G99. The Cortex-A78 cores in the Dimensity 900 offer better peak performance, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. Gaming performance should also be noticeably better on the Power Armor 18.

Battery Life

Both phones boast large batteries and 66W wired charging. The Power Armor 18 likely has a slightly larger battery capacity, potentially offering slightly longer battery life. Both offer 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor 17 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a slightly more compact design. The Ulefone Power Armor 18 is better suited for those who need the extra processing power for demanding tasks and potentially better camera performance, and appreciate the larger battery capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones waterproof?
Yes, both the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro and Power Armor 18 are IP68 and IP69K certified, meaning they are waterproof and dustproof, and can withstand high-pressure water jets.
❓ What kind of warranty do these phones come with?
Ulefone typically offers a standard one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. However, warranty coverage may vary depending on the retailer and region.