Ulefone Armor 5S vs. Ulefone Armor 7E: A Deep Dive into Rugged Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Ulefone Armor 7E is the superior choice. Its Helio P90 chipset delivers a substantial performance boost over the Armor 5S’s Helio P23, translating to smoother multitasking and improved gaming. While both offer 10W wireless charging, the 7E’s 15W wired charging provides a quicker top-up, making it the more practical option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Armor 5S | Ulefone Armor 7E |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat7 300/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, July. Released 2019, July | 2020, March 30. Released 2020, March 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 76 x 12.6 mm (6.23 x 2.99 x 0.50 in) | 165.9 x 81 x 13.6 mm (6.53 x 3.19 x 0.54 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 290 g (10.23 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 | IP68 dust/water resistant Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1512 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~286 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.85 inches, 85.7 cm2 (~71.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6763 Helio P23 (16 nm) | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G71 MP2 | PowerVR GM9446 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF 2 MP | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | 5-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording | Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeter | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate, baroceptor, coulombmeter |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 10W wired 10W wireless | 15W wired 10W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | - | About 250 EUR |
Ulefone Armor 5S
- Lower price point makes it accessible.
- Rugged design provides excellent durability.
- Supports both wired and wireless charging.
- Helio P23 chipset feels dated and slow.
- Slower 10W wired charging.
- Limited performance for demanding apps.
Ulefone Armor 7E
- Significantly faster Helio P90 chipset.
- Faster 15W wired charging.
- Improved performance for gaming and multitasking.
- Higher price compared to the Armor 5S.
- May experience some thermal throttling under extreme load.
- Rugged design adds bulk.
Display Comparison
Neither Ulefone provides display specs beyond resolution in their marketing. However, given the price points, we can assume both utilize IPS LCD panels. The key difference lies in the processing power driving them. The Armor 7E’s Helio P90 will offer a smoother experience when scrolling and navigating the UI, even if the panels themselves are similar. The Armor 5S, with its older chipset, may exhibit slight lag in demanding UI transitions.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. Both phones likely feature similar sensor configurations focused on practicality rather than high-end photography. However, the Armor 7E’s more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor) within the Helio P90 chipset will likely result in better image processing, particularly in low-light conditions. Expect improved noise reduction and dynamic range on the 7E. The presence of a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in the P90 could also enhance scene recognition and AI-powered camera features.
Performance
The core differentiator is the chipset. The Ulefone Armor 7E’s MediaTek Helio P90 (12nm) represents a significant leap over the Armor 5S’s Helio P23 (16nm). The P90 utilizes a more modern CPU architecture – Cortex-A75 cores alongside A55 cores – compared to the Armor 5S’s all-A53 configuration. This translates to a roughly 40-50% performance increase in CPU-intensive tasks. The P90’s GPU is also considerably more powerful, making it a better choice for gaming. The 12nm process node of the P90 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
While battery capacity isn’t specified, both phones support 10W wireless charging. The Armor 7E’s 15W wired charging is a clear advantage. This means a significantly faster 0-100% charge time compared to the Armor 5S’s 10W wired charging. The more efficient Helio P90 in the 7E may also contribute to slightly better battery life, even with similar capacity, due to reduced power consumption during typical usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor 5S if you prioritize a lower initial cost and your usage is limited to basic tasks like calls, texts, and light app usage. It’s a solid entry point into the rugged phone world. Buy the Ulefone Armor 7E if you need a phone capable of handling demanding applications, moderate gaming, and appreciate faster charging speeds. The P90 chipset provides a noticeable upgrade for power users and those who want a phone that will remain responsive for longer.