The rugged smartphone market caters to a specific need: durability. However, within this niche, priorities diverge. The Ulefone Armor Mini 2 prioritizes extreme compactness, while the Blackview BV9800 Pro aims for a balance of power and resilience. This comparison dissects their core differences, helping you determine which aligns best with your lifestyle.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing pocketability and basic functionality, the Ulefone Armor Mini 2 offers a compelling, ultra-compact solution. However, the Blackview BV9800 Pro is the clear winner for those needing more processing power, faster charging, and a more versatile user experience, justifying its larger footprint.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, January 18 | 2019, October 28. Released 2019, November |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, January 29 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 138 x 62.5 x 16.6 mm (5.43 x 2.46 x 0.65 in) | 168.5 x 81 x 14.8 mm (6.63 x 3.19 x 0.58 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 158 g (5.57 oz) | 322 g (11.36 oz) |
| | IP68/IP69K water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m
Flashlight
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-proof glass | - |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~20.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 256K colors | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6261D | Mediatek MT6771V/CT Helio P70 (12 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | - | Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 4MB 4MB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Phonebook | Yes | - |
| | eMMC | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Thermal imaging, LED flash |
| Single | 0.3 MP | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, thermal assisted camera
FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.4 | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio, built-in antenna | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | No | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS | - |
| Sensors | No | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | MP4 player
MP3/WAV/AAC player
Organizer | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable | 6580 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Gray, Camouflage | Black, Orange |
| Price | About 40 EUR | About 340 EUR |
Ulefone Armor Mini 2
- Extremely compact and pocketable
- Highly durable build quality (expected of the brand)
- Simple and easy to use
- Very limited processing power
- Likely poor camera performance
- Limited app compatibility
Blackview BV9800 Pro
- Significantly more powerful processor
- Faster 18W charging
- Better camera capabilities
- Larger and heavier than the Mini 2
- May be less convenient for one-handed use
- Potentially higher price point
Display Comparison
Display specifications are absent for the Ulefone Armor Mini 2, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given its focus on compactness, it likely features a smaller, lower-resolution panel. The Blackview BV9800 Pro, while not specified, benefits from its larger size, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience. The absence of details like refresh rate or panel type on both devices suggests a focus on cost-effectiveness over premium display features. Users prioritizing media consumption will likely find the BV9800 Pro more suitable, assuming it has a reasonably sized and bright display.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are limited for both devices. However, the disparity in processing power suggests the Blackview BV9800 Pro will deliver superior image processing capabilities. While both may feature multiple lenses, the P70’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) will handle noise reduction, dynamic range, and overall image quality more effectively. The Ulefone Armor Mini 2’s camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, but will struggle in low-light conditions or with complex scenes. The BV9800 Pro, with its more powerful chipset, offers the potential for more detailed and vibrant photos.
Performance
The performance gap is significant. The Ulefone Armor Mini 2’s Mediatek MT6261D is a basic feature phone chipset, designed for calls and texts, not demanding applications. In contrast, the Blackview BV9800 Pro’s Mediatek Helio P70 (12nm) is an octa-core processor featuring Cortex-A73 and A53 cores. This translates to a vastly superior experience for multitasking, app loading, and even light gaming. The P70’s 12nm process also implies better power efficiency compared to older, larger node chipsets. Users needing to run navigation apps, use productivity tools, or capture photos without significant lag will find the BV9800 Pro essential.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for the Ulefone Armor Mini 2, but its compact size suggests a smaller battery. The Blackview BV9800 Pro supports 18W wired charging, a significant advantage over the likely slower charging capabilities of the Mini 2. While battery life depends heavily on usage, the P70’s power efficiency, combined with potentially larger battery capacity, gives the BV9800 Pro an edge in longevity. Users who rely on their phone throughout the day will appreciate the faster charging and potentially longer runtime of the BV9800 Pro.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor Mini 2 if you need an incredibly small, durable phone for essential communication and occasional use – think construction workers needing a backup device or hikers wanting minimal weight. Buy the Blackview BV9800 Pro if you prefer a more capable smartphone experience with better performance for apps, media consumption, and occasional gaming, alongside robust build quality and faster charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Helio P70 in the Blackview BV9800 Pro capable of handling demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio P70 is a capable mid-range chipset. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it should be able to run PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. However, extended gaming sessions may lead to some thermal throttling, impacting sustained performance.
❓ Given the Ulefone Armor Mini 2's basic chipset, can it reliably run modern navigation apps like Google Maps?
Running Google Maps on the Ulefone Armor Mini 2 will likely be a compromised experience. The MT6261D chipset has limited processing power, which could result in slow map loading times, laggy navigation, and potential app crashes. It's best suited for basic communication rather than resource-intensive applications.
❓ How does the ruggedness of the Ulefone Armor Mini 2 compare to the Blackview BV9800 Pro, considering both are IP68 rated?
Both phones boast IP68 ratings, meaning they are dustproof and waterproof. However, the BV9800 Pro's larger size and potentially more robust construction materials may offer slightly better protection against drops and impacts. The Mini 2's compactness could make it more vulnerable to damage from concentrated impacts.
