Ulefone Armor 7E vs Armor 12 5G: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison

Looking for a tough phone that can handle anything you throw at it? Ulefone's Armor series is renowned for its durability. We're pitting the Ulefone Armor 7E against the newer Ulefone Armor 12 5G to see which offers the best blend of ruggedness and features.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Ulefone Armor 12 5G is the clear winner, offering a significant performance boost thanks to its 5G connectivity and more efficient chipset. While the Armor 7E remains a solid, budget-friendly option, the 12 5G's future-proofed technology and improved specs make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor 7E Ulefone Armor 12 5G
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, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, March 30. Released 2020, March 302021, August 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 23
Body
Build-Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame
Dimensions165.9 x 81 x 13.6 mm (6.53 x 3.19 x 0.54 in)175.9 x 82.5 x 14.3 mm (6.93 x 3.25 x 0.56 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight290 g (10.23 oz)296 g (10.44 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliant
Display
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~264 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.52 inches, 104.4 cm2 (~71.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)
GPUPowerVR GM9446Mali-G57 MC2
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie)Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC
Internal128GB 4GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Features5-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-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-16 MP, f/2.2
Triple48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1440p@30fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with dual speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioStereo FM radio, RDS, recordingWireless FM radio, RDS
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, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate, baroceptor, coulombmeterFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, coulombmeter
Battery
Charging15W wired 10W wireless18W wired 15W wireless
TypeLi-Po 5500 mAhLi-Po 5180 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack/Orange, Gray/Black
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 370 EUR

Ulefone Armor 7E

  • More affordable
  • Rugged and durable design
  • Decent battery life
  • Wireless charging

  • Older chipset
  • Lower performance
  • Less advanced camera
  • No 5G connectivity

Ulefone Armor 12 5G

  • 5G connectivity
  • Faster performance
  • Improved camera system
  • More modern design
  • Efficient chipset

  • More expensive
  • Wireless charging slightly slower

Display Comparison

Both phones feature ruggedized displays, likely with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The Armor 12 5G likely has a slightly larger display and potentially a higher resolution, offering a more immersive viewing experience. Expect similar brightness and outdoor visibility due to the rugged nature of the screens.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer multiple rear cameras, the Armor 12 5G likely boasts a more advanced camera system with improved image processing. Expect better low-light performance, more detail, and potentially features like optical image stabilization (OIS) on the Armor 12 5G. The Armor 7E's camera is adequate for basic photography.

Performance

The Armor 12 5G's Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset (7nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Armor 7E's Helio P90 (12nm). The Dimensity 700's Cortex-A76 cores provide significantly better single-core performance, while the 7nm process offers improved power efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Armor 12 5G.

Battery Life

Both phones offer substantial battery capacities, typical for rugged devices. Charging speeds are similar, with 18W wired and 15W wireless charging on the Armor 12 5G, and 15W wired and 10W wireless on the Armor 7E. Battery life will depend on usage, but the Armor 12 5G's more efficient chipset could provide slightly better longevity.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor 7E is ideal for users on a tight budget who primarily need a durable phone for basic tasks and don't require 5G. The Ulefone Armor 12 5G is perfect for those who want a rugged phone with 5G connectivity, better performance for gaming and multitasking, and a more modern feature set.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Armor 12 5G waterproof?
Yes, both the Ulefone Armor 7E and Armor 12 5G are IP68 and IP69K certified, meaning they are waterproof and dustproof.
❓ What kind of storage does the Ulefone Armor 12 5G have?
The Ulefone Armor 12 5G typically comes with 128GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card.