Ulefone Armor 3W vs. Power Armor 13: Which Rugged Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users prioritizing performance and future-proofing, the Ulefone Power Armor 13 is the clear winner. Its Helio G95 chipset and 33W charging significantly outperform the Armor 3W’s Helio P70 and 18W charging. However, the Armor 3W remains a viable option for those on a tighter budget who don't need the extra processing power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Armor 3W | Ulefone Power Armor 13 |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat7 300/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2021, July 22 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, July 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 79.2 x 18.2 mm (6.49 x 3.12 x 0.72 in) | 183.7 x 85.4 x 20.8 mm (7.23 x 3.36 x 0.82 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 365 g (12.87 oz) | 492 g (1.08 lb) |
| 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 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 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~64.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P70 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Penta | - | 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 | 21 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.4", 1.12µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | - |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, coulombmeter | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeter |
| - | Infrared distance measure (error range: 1~20m, ±10mm; 20~40m, ±25mm) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 33W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 10300 mAh | Li-Po 13200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black/Orange | Black |
| Price | - | About 300 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 296h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1306:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -28.3 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 294194 (v8), 351678 (v9) GeekBench: 1610 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Ulefone Armor 3W
- More affordable price point
- Rugged design for durability
- Acceptable battery life for basic use
- Outdated Helio P70 chipset
- Slow 18W wired charging only
- Limited performance for demanding tasks
Ulefone Power Armor 13
- Faster Helio G95 chipset for improved performance
- 33W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Higher price compared to the Armor 3W
- Camera specifications lack detail
- Still utilizes an IPS LCD panel
Display Comparison
Both devices share a contrast ratio of 1306:1, suggesting similar visual depth. However, the Power Armor 13 boasts a measured peak brightness of 401 nits, indicating a noticeably brighter display in direct sunlight compared to the Armor 3W, which lacks published brightness data. While both are adequate for outdoor visibility, the Power Armor 13 offers a superior viewing experience in challenging lighting conditions. Panel technology details are missing for both, but given the price points, expect IPS LCDs on both devices.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing. This suggests a similar level of camera performance geared towards casual use. The absence of details makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Power Armor 13’s more powerful chipset could potentially enable more sophisticated image processing algorithms, leading to slightly better image quality. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both is largely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Armor 3W utilizes the Mediatek Helio P70, built on a 12nm process, featuring an octa-core CPU with Cortex-A73 and A53 cores clocked at 2.1 GHz. The Power Armor 13 steps up to the Helio G95, also 12nm, but with a more modern CPU configuration: two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.05 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. The A76 cores in the G95 offer a significant architectural improvement over the A73 cores in the P70, resulting in faster single-core performance and improved efficiency. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Power Armor 13.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 296 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the Power Armor 13’s charging capabilities are vastly superior. It supports 33W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and even 5W reverse wireless charging – features entirely absent on the Armor 3W, which is limited to 18W wired charging. This means the Power Armor 13 can be charged significantly faster, and its wireless charging options offer added convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor 3W if you need a highly durable phone for basic tasks like communication, navigation, and light media consumption, and your budget is a primary concern. Buy the Ulefone Power Armor 13 if you prioritize smoother multitasking, gaming, faster charging speeds (including wireless), and a more responsive user experience, even if it means a higher upfront cost.