Ulefone Armor X10 vs. Motorola Defy (2021): The Ultimate Rugged Phone Battle

Need a phone that can withstand drops, dust, and water? The Ulefone Armor X10 and Motorola Defy (2021) are both built tough, but which one offers the best overall package? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Defy (2021) takes the crown. While the Armor X10 is a budget-friendly option, the Defy's superior chipset, brighter display, faster charging, and overall build quality make it the more compelling choice for those needing a truly rugged and reliable device.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Armor X10	Motorola Defy (2021)

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 - LATAM
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA
Speed	HSPA 21/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/150 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 66 - LATAM

Launch
Announced	2021, December 24	2021, June 17
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 24	Available. Released 2021, July 25

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	158.2 x 76.7 x 14.6 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.57 in)	169.8 x 78.2 x 10.9 mm (6.69 x 3.08 x 0.43 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	256 g (9.03 oz)	232 g (8.18 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 35 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m MIL-SPEC 810H compliant

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~295 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~63.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~76.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Adreno 610
OS	Android 11	Android 10

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	32GB 4GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	Dual-LED flash	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, f/2.2	-
Triple	-	48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	5 MP, f/2.2	8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS
Radio	FM radio, RDS, recording	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	10W wired	20W wired
Type	Li-Po 5180 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black/Gray	Black, Green
Models	-	XT2083-9
Price	About 130 EUR	About 280 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 129h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1896:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-29.7 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 177314 (v8), 164592 (v9) GeekBench: 5403 (v4.4), 1511 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Armor X10

Affordable
Rugged design
Decent battery life (claimed)

Slow performance
Low brightness display (likely)
Slow charging
Basic camera

Motorola Defy (2021)

Durable and waterproof
Faster performance
Brighter display
Faster charging
Good battery life (claimed)

Higher price
Design can be bulky

Display Comparison

The Motorola Defy (2021) boasts a significantly brighter display at 436 nits compared to the Armor X10's likely lower brightness (spec not provided, but typical for budget rugged phones). Both offer a high contrast ratio (1896:1), but the Defy's brightness advantage makes it easier to see in direct sunlight. The Defy also likely has better color accuracy.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Motorola Defy (2021) is expected to have a superior camera system due to its more powerful chipset and likely better image processing. The Armor X10's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, but don't expect high-quality images.

Performance

The Motorola Defy (2021)'s Snapdragon 662 chipset is a clear winner over the Armor X10's Helio A22. The Defy's octa-core processor and 11nm manufacturing process provide noticeably faster performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. The Armor X10's quad-core processor will feel sluggish by comparison.

Battery Life

Both phones claim impressive endurance ratings (129h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Motorola Defy (2021)'s 20W charging is significantly faster than the Armor X10's 10W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor X10 is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize affordability and basic functionality in a rugged package. The Motorola Defy (2021) is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, construction workers, or anyone needing a durable phone with better performance, a brighter screen, and faster charging.