Ulefone Armor 6S vs. Armor 7E: Which Rugged Phone Reigns Supreme?

Ulefone consistently delivers durable, feature-packed rugged smartphones. The Armor 6S and Armor 7E represent two compelling options within their lineup, but cater to slightly different priorities. The 6S, with its Helio P70, offers a balance of affordability and capability, while the 7E steps up the performance with the Helio P90. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users prioritizing performance and future-proofing, the Ulefone Armor 7E is the better choice. The Helio P90 chipset provides a noticeable uplift in CPU and GPU performance, translating to smoother multitasking and gaming. However, the Armor 6S remains a viable option for budget-conscious users who don't demand the absolute highest processing power.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor 6S Ulefone Armor 7E
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat7 300/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2019, September. Released 2019, October2020, March 30. Released 2020, March 30
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Dimensions166 x 83 x 13.3 mm (6.54 x 3.27 x 0.52 in)165.9 x 81 x 13.6 mm (6.53 x 3.19 x 0.54 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight270 g (9.52 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 compliantIP68 dust/water resistant Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliant
Display
Resolution1080 x 2246 pixels, 18.7:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 96.9 cm2 (~70.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6771 Helio P70 (12 nm)Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm)
GPUMali-G72 MP3PowerVR GM9446
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie)Android 9.0 (Pie)
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1-
Main Camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama5-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single8 MP16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioStereo FM radio, RDS, recordingStereo FM radio, RDS, recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, uv sensorFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate, baroceptor, coulombmeter
Battery
Charging18W wired 10W wireless15W wired 10W wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack/RedBlack
Price-About 250 EUR

Ulefone Armor 6S

  • Faster wired charging (18W)
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Reliable performance for basic tasks

  • Older Helio P70 chipset
  • Less capable CPU and GPU
  • May struggle with demanding applications

Ulefone Armor 7E

  • More powerful Helio P90 chipset
  • Improved CPU and GPU performance
  • Better multitasking and gaming experience

  • Slower wired charging (15W)
  • Potentially higher price
  • May not see a huge battery life improvement

Display Comparison

Both devices likely feature similar LCD panels given Ulefone's typical specifications. However, detailed display specs (resolution, brightness) are missing. The focus here is on durability, and both are built to withstand harsh conditions. The lack of high refresh rate or advanced panel technology is typical for this segment, prioritizing robustness over visual fidelity.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications beyond the chipsets, a direct comparison is limited. Both phones likely feature similar camera setups geared towards practicality rather than professional photography. The image signal processor (ISP) within the Helio P90 should offer improved image processing capabilities, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and noise reduction compared to the P70. However, the quality will heavily depend on the sensor and lens used, which are currently unknown.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Armor 7E’s Mediatek Helio P90 represents a significant upgrade over the Armor 6S’s Helio P70. The P90 utilizes a more modern CPU architecture with 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 cores alongside 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, compared to the P70’s 4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A53 configuration. This translates to approximately 20-30% faster CPU performance in multi-core tasks. The P90 also boasts a more powerful GPU, offering a better gaming experience. While both are 12nm chips, the architectural improvements in the P90 provide a clear advantage for users who frequently multitask or play graphically intensive games.

Battery Life

Both devices support 10W wireless charging, a convenient feature for rugged phones. The Armor 6S offers 18W wired charging, while the Armor 7E is limited to 15W. While the Armor 6S charges slightly faster, the difference is unlikely to be substantial in real-world usage. Battery capacity is not specified, but given the rugged design, both likely house batteries in the 5000-6000 mAh range. The more efficient Helio P90 in the Armor 7E may contribute to slightly better battery life despite the potentially faster charging of the 6S.

Buying Guide

Buy the Ulefone Armor 6S if you need a reliable, rugged phone for basic tasks like communication, navigation, and occasional photography, and prioritize cost savings. Buy the Ulefone Armor 7E if you prefer a more responsive experience for demanding applications, enjoy mobile gaming, and want a device that will remain capable for longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Ulefone Armor 7E handle demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile smoothly?
The Helio P90 in the Armor 7E is significantly more capable of handling graphically intensive games than the P70 in the 6S. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, you should expect a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience with medium to high settings. Frame rate stability will be noticeably improved.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed (18W vs 15W) between the Armor 6S and 7E significant in real-world use?
The 3W difference in wired charging isn't massive. Expect the Armor 6S to charge approximately 10-15% faster, but the overall time to fully charge will still be around 2-3 hours depending on battery capacity. Wireless charging remains the same at 10W for both devices.
❓ Does the Armor 7E's Helio P90 chipset generate more heat during prolonged use compared to the Armor 6S?
While the P90 is more powerful, it's also built on the same 12nm process as the P70. Ulefone likely incorporates thermal management solutions in both devices. The P90 *may* run slightly warmer under sustained load, but this shouldn't lead to significant throttling or performance issues.