Ulefone Armor X31 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: A Deep Dive into Rugged Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term performance and battery life, the Ulefone Armor X31 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Dimensity 6300 chipset, built on a 6nm process, offers a significant architectural advantage over the Samsung’s older 10nm Exynos 9611, translating to better efficiency and sustained performance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Armor X31 Pro | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66 - Canada | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, December 21 | 2020, January |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, January 01 | Available. Released 2020, January |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 173.8 x 82 x 13.7 mm (6.84 x 3.23 x 0.54 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 10 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 306 g (10.79 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 35 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~79.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 25 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 0.8µm, PDAF 25 MP, f/1.8, (night vision), 2 infrared lights 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Wireless FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/k/v/r, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | ANT+ | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6050 mAh | Li-Po 4050 mAh, removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Black/Orange, Black/Green | Black |
| Models | - | SM-G715FN/DS, SM-G715FN, SM-G715F, SM-G715W, SM-G715U, SM-G715U1 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.47 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 81:30h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class A | - |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Ulefone Armor X31 Pro
- Superior chipset performance with the Dimensity 6300
- Exceptional battery endurance (81:30h)
- Faster charging (18W) and long-term battery health (1000 cycles)
- Brand recognition is lower than Samsung
- Software support may be less frequent than Samsung
Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro
- Established Samsung ecosystem and software support
- Familiar user interface
- Potentially better build quality and material selection
- Older and less efficient Exynos 9611 chipset
- Slower charging (15W)
- Likely shorter battery life compared to Ulefone
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a cutting-edge display. Details on panel type, resolution, and refresh rate are missing for both, but the focus here is clearly on durability, not visual fidelity. The absence of high refresh rates is expected in this segment. The real differentiator will be peak brightness for outdoor visibility, a spec not provided. However, given the rugged focus, both likely prioritize scratch resistance and viewing angles over color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse, but the focus on ruggedness suggests image quality isn't the primary selling point. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit. The real test lies in the main sensor’s performance in challenging lighting conditions, and image processing capabilities, which are unknown for both.
Performance
The Ulefone Armor X31 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6nm) represents a substantial leap forward compared to the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro’s Exynos 9611 (10nm). The 6nm fabrication process inherently offers better power efficiency and transistor density, allowing for more complex designs and improved performance per watt. The Dimensity 6300’s octa-core configuration (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) also features newer CPU core designs than the Exynos 9611’s (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53), resulting in faster single-core and multi-core performance. This translates to snappier app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience for the Ulefone, particularly in demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Ulefone Armor X31 Pro boasts an impressive 81:30h endurance rating, suggesting exceptional battery life. While the Samsung’s battery capacity is unknown, the less efficient Exynos 9611 chipset and slower 15W charging likely result in shorter runtimes. The Ulefone’s 18W charging, while not exceptionally fast, is still a step up and, combined with the larger endurance, means less frequent trips to the charger. The Ulefone also claims 1000 charge cycles, indicating a focus on long-term battery health.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Armor X31 Pro if you need a phone that can withstand harsh conditions *and* deliver consistently strong performance throughout a long workday, especially if you rely on demanding applications. Buy the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro if you prefer the familiarity of the Samsung ecosystem, value readily available software updates, and prioritize a more refined user experience over raw processing power.