Ulefone Armor 9 vs. Armor 10 5G: A Deep Dive into Rugged Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Ulefone Armor 10 5G is the superior choice. The Dimensity 800 chipset offers a significant performance uplift over the Helio P90, and the addition of 5G connectivity provides future-proofed data speeds. While the Armor 9 boasts slightly better endurance ratings, the Armor 10 5G’s performance benefits outweigh this difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Armor 9 | Ulefone Armor 10 5G |
| 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 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, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat12 600/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 29. Released 2020, June 29 | 2020, November 17. Released 2020, December 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.2 x 82 x 15 mm (6.62 x 3.23 x 0.59 in) | 176.5 x 82.8 x 14.6 mm (6.95 x 3.26 x 0.57 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 320 g (11.29 oz) | 328 g (11.57 oz) |
| 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 | 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 | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 800 (7 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GM9446 | Mali-G57 MP4 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, planned upgrade to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Thermal imaging, heat palettes, temp. spot meter, quad-LED flash, panorama | LED flash, Panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector (endoscope) | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeter | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeter |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired 15W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 6600 mAh | Li-Po 5800 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 420 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 148h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1541:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -30.1 LUFS (Below average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 197000 (v8) GeekBench: 1498 (v5.1) GFXBench: 7.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Ulefone Armor 9
- Longer battery endurance (148h rating)
- Potentially lower price point
- Established and stable platform
- Older, less powerful Helio P90 chipset
- No 5G connectivity
- Slower charging speeds (18W wired only)
Ulefone Armor 10 5G
- Significantly faster Dimensity 800 chipset
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
- Wireless charging convenience
- Potentially shorter battery life (depending on capacity)
- Slower charging speeds (15W wired/wireless)
- May be more expensive
Display Comparison
Both devices share a similar display profile, with the Ulefone Armor 9 listing a contrast ratio of 1541:1. However, detailed specifications like screen resolution, brightness (nits), and panel type are missing. Given the Armor series’ focus on outdoor visibility, we can infer both utilize IPS LCD panels. The Armor 10 5G’s newer chipset *could* support higher refresh rates, but this isn’t confirmed. The Armor 9’s contrast ratio suggests a standard LCD experience, while the Armor 10 5G has the potential for a more vibrant display if Ulefone chose to implement it.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight. Without sensor size, aperture, or megapixel counts, a detailed comparison is impossible. However, the Armor 10 5G’s more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor) within the Dimensity 800 chipset *should* result in better image processing, particularly in low-light conditions. The Armor series often includes a variety of lenses, but the usefulness of any 2MP macro lenses on either device is questionable. The Armor 10 5G’s processing power gives it an edge in computational photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Ulefone Armor 9’s MediaTek Helio P90 (12nm) features an octa-core CPU with a dual-cluster configuration (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). The Armor 10 5G, however, utilizes the MediaTek Dimensity 800 (7nm). This represents a significant leap in process technology – 12nm to 7nm – resulting in improved power efficiency and thermal performance. The Dimensity 800’s CPU configuration (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) also employs newer, more efficient Cortex-A76 cores. This translates to faster application loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance for the Armor 10 5G.
Battery Life
The Ulefone Armor 9 boasts an endurance rating of 148 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Armor 10 5G’s battery capacity isn’t specified, but its more efficient 7nm Dimensity 800 chipset mitigates the impact of potentially lower mAh. The Armor 9 supports 18W wired charging, while the Armor 10 5G offers both 15W wired *and* 15W wireless charging. Wireless charging adds convenience, but the slower charging speeds on the Armor 10 5G may offset some of the efficiency gains. The Armor 9’s higher endurance rating suggests it will last longer on a single charge under similar usage, but the Armor 10 5G’s wireless charging is a significant usability advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor 9 if you prioritize maximum battery life and already have a reliable 4G connection, and are on a tighter budget. Its established platform offers a stable experience. Buy the Ulefone Armor 10 5G if you need faster processing speeds for demanding apps, value 5G connectivity for future network upgrades, and appreciate the convenience of wireless charging.