Ulefone Armor 3WT vs. Armor 9E: A Deep Dive into Rugged Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Ulefone Armor 9E is the superior choice. The Helio P90 chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift over the P70, translating to smoother multitasking and improved responsiveness. While both offer 18W charging, the 9E’s processing power justifies its slightly higher price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Armor 3WT | Ulefone Armor 9E |
| 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 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 / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2020, September 08. Released 2020, September 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 79.2 x 18.2 mm (6.49 x 3.12 x 0.72 in) | 168.2 x 82 x 15 mm (6.62 x 3.23 x 0.59 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 373.7 g (13.33 oz) | 324 g (11.43 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 External antenna | IP68/IP69K 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 | - | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~64.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~70.6% 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 (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P70 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | PowerVR GM9446 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 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 | 8 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 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, coulombmeter | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeter |
| - | Endoscope mount (camera sold separately) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 10300 mAh | Li-Po 6600 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | - | About 290 EUR |
Ulefone Armor 3WT
- More affordable price point
- Durable rugged design
- Sufficient for basic smartphone tasks
- Older Helio P70 chipset
- Slower performance compared to the 9E
- Less responsive user experience
Ulefone Armor 9E
- More powerful Helio P90 chipset
- Improved multitasking and app responsiveness
- Better performance for gaming and demanding apps
- Higher price compared to the 3WT
- May not offer a significant camera improvement without further specs
- Still utilizes a relatively basic LCD panel
Display Comparison
Both devices likely feature similar LCD panels given their market positioning, but detailed display specs (resolution, brightness) are unavailable. The focus here is on processing power impacting UI smoothness. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both, prioritizing durability over a sleek aesthetic. Color accuracy is likely standard for this price bracket, leaning towards practical rather than color-critical.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the processing power of the Helio P90 in the Armor 9E will likely contribute to faster image processing and potentially better noise reduction. The P90’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is more advanced, allowing for more sophisticated computational photography techniques. While both phones likely include standard features like HDR, the 9E will likely execute these algorithms more efficiently. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on both is largely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Ulefone Armor 9E’s MediaTek Helio P90 utilizes a more modern architecture with 2x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 cores and 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, compared to the Armor 3WT’s Helio P70 with 4x 2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x 2.1 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. The P90’s A75 cores offer a substantial IPC (Instructions Per Clock) improvement over the A73, resulting in faster single-core performance. The P90 also benefits from a more efficient manufacturing process, potentially leading to better sustained performance under load. This translates to quicker app launches, smoother scrolling, and a more responsive user experience on the 9E.
Battery Life
Both devices share 18W wired charging, meaning charge times will be comparable. The actual battery capacity is not specified, but the P90 in the Armor 9E is more power-efficient. This efficiency, combined with potentially optimized software, could result in similar or even slightly better real-world battery life on the 9E despite potentially having a similar capacity battery to the 3WT. The P90’s ability to complete tasks faster also reduces the overall time the processor is active, conserving battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor 3WT if you prioritize affordability and basic functionality for tasks like communication and light productivity. It’s ideal for users who need a durable phone for essential work but don’t demand high-end gaming or intensive app usage. Buy the Ulefone Armor 9E if you require a more responsive experience for demanding applications, occasional gaming, or frequent multitasking. The P90 chipset provides a significant performance boost for power users and those who want a phone that will remain fluid for longer.