Ulefone Armor 30 vs. Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: A Deep Dive into Rugged Performance

The rugged smartphone market caters to a specific need: durability. Both the Ulefone Armor 30 and the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro aim to deliver on that promise, but they take different approaches. The Ulefone prioritizes raw performance with a newer chipset and faster charging, while the Samsung leverages brand recognition and a more established software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone best suits demanding users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing performance and battery longevity, the Ulefone Armor 30 emerges as the stronger choice. Its Helio G100 chipset and 66W charging significantly outperform the Galaxy XCover Pro’s aging Exynos 9611 and 15W charging. However, Samsung’s software support and established brand reputation remain compelling for those valuing long-term updates and ecosystem integration.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor 30 Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - International
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 711, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66 - Canada
Launch
Announced2025, June2020, January
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, June 16Available. Released 2020, January
Body
Dimensions181.3 x 84.9 x 21.2 mm (7.14 x 3.34 x 0.83 in)159.9 x 76.7 x 10 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight506 g (1.12 lb)218 g (7.69 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 35 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5, Mohs level 4Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~387 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.95 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~74.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~79.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120Hz, 700 nits (peak)IPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
ChipsetMediatek Helio G100 (6 nm)Exynos 9611 (10 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Mali-G72 MP3
OSAndroid 15Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal512GB 12GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual-25 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF 64 MP, f/1.8, (night vision), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, 4 infrared lights 50 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm-
Video1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (118dB)Yes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioWireless FM radio, RDS, recordingFM radio (market/region dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector pinsUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/k/v/r, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -ANT+
Battery
Charging66W wired 10W reverse wired15W wired
TypeLi-Po 12800 mAhLi-Po 4050 mAh, removable
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack
Models-SM-G715FN/DS, SM-G715FN, SM-G715F, SM-G715W, SM-G715U, SM-G715U1
Price€ 379.99 / $ 297.49 / £ 269.99About 120 EUR
SAR EU-0.47 W/kg (head)     1.23 W/kg (body)
EU LABEL
Battery138:30h endurance, 1000 cycles-
EnergyClass A-
Free fallClass A (270 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Ulefone Armor 30

  • Significantly faster charging (66W)
  • More powerful and efficient chipset (Helio G100)
  • Exceptional battery endurance (138:30h)

  • Less established brand reputation
  • Software updates may be less frequent

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

  • Established brand and software ecosystem
  • Potential for longer software support
  • Familiar user interface

  • Slower charging (15W)
  • Older and less powerful chipset (Exynos 9611)
  • Likely lower battery endurance

Display Comparison

Neither device boasts a cutting-edge display. Details on panel type and resolution are missing for both, but the focus here is clearly on durability, not visual fidelity. The lack of information prevents a detailed comparison, but we can assume both utilize hardened glass for impact resistance. The XCover Pro’s market positioning suggests a focus on practicality over premium display features.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs beyond the chipsets, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market segment suggests both phones prioritize functionality over photographic excellence. The Ulefone Armor 30 likely focuses on providing a usable camera for documentation and quick snapshots, while the XCover Pro aims for similar practicality. The absence of information regarding sensor size and image stabilization makes it difficult to assess image quality, but it’s unlikely either phone will compete with flagship camera systems.

Performance

The Ulefone Armor 30’s Mediatek Helio G100 (6nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro’s Exynos 9611 (10nm). The G100’s Cortex-A76 cores, clocked at 2.2 GHz, offer a substantial performance advantage over the XCover Pro’s Cortex-A73 cores at 2.3 GHz. While clock speed isn’t everything, the newer architecture and smaller node size of the G100 translate to improved efficiency and sustained performance under load. This means the Armor 30 will likely handle demanding applications and multitasking more smoothly. The Exynos 9611, while capable, is showing its age and may struggle with modern, resource-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The Ulefone Armor 30’s endurance rating of 138:30h is a standout feature, suggesting exceptional battery life. This, combined with the 66W wired charging, provides a compelling advantage over the Galaxy XCover Pro’s slower 15W charging. The Armor 30’s 1000 charge cycle claim also indicates a focus on long-term battery health. While the XCover Pro’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the slower charging speed suggests a longer time to full charge and potentially less overall endurance. For users who rely on their phone throughout the day and need quick top-ups, the Ulefone Armor 30 is the clear winner.

Buying Guide

Buy the Ulefone Armor 30 if you need a rugged phone that can handle demanding tasks, benefits from exceptionally fast charging, and offers superior battery endurance for extended field work. Buy the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro if you prefer a more polished software experience, value Samsung’s ecosystem integration, and prioritize a brand with a proven track record of software updates, even if it means sacrificing some raw performance and charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy XCover Pro tend to overheat during prolonged use, like gaming or video recording?
The Exynos 9611 is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load. While not catastrophic, users may experience performance drops during extended gaming sessions or when recording high-resolution video. The Ulefone Armor 30’s Helio G100, built on a more efficient 6nm process, is less prone to overheating and should maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the 1000 charge cycle claim of the Ulefone Armor 30 translate to real-world battery lifespan?
The 1000 charge cycle claim suggests the Armor 30’s battery is designed to retain a significant percentage of its original capacity even after being fully charged and discharged 1000 times. This indicates a focus on long-term battery health and should result in a longer usable lifespan compared to phones with batteries that degrade more quickly.
❓ Is the Ulefone Armor 30’s software experience significantly different from Samsung’s One UI?
Yes, the Ulefone Armor 30 likely runs a near-stock version of Android with some Ulefone customizations. This differs significantly from Samsung’s One UI, which is known for its feature-rich interface and extensive customization options. Users accustomed to One UI may find the Ulefone’s software simpler and less cluttered, but also lacking some of Samsung’s advanced features.