Choosing a budget smartphone can be tricky. The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro promises rugged durability, while the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) offers a familiar brand and potentially longer battery life. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone comes out on top.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro wins on durability and a slightly more modern chipset. However, the Galaxy J3 (2016) boasts exceptional battery endurance and the reliability of the Samsung brand. It depends on your priorities: ruggedness or longevity.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 28 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat7 300/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 08. Released 2020, September 08 | 2016, March 31. Released 2016, May 06 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.5 x 13.9 mm (6.22 x 3.05 x 0.55 in) | 142.3 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Micro-SIM· Micro-SIM + Micro-SIM· Nano-SIM (USA models only) |
| Weight | 235 g (8.29 oz) | 138 g (4.87 oz) |
| | 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 | - | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~63.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 - USA |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762V/WD Helio P22 (12 nm) | Spreadtrum SC9830Exynos 3475 Quad (28 nm) - USA |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-400Mali-T720 - USA |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) or Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 8GB 1.5GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, Panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.2, AF
5 MP, f/2.2, AF - USA |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 2 MP (USA)
5 MP, f/2.2 (all other regions) |
| Video | - | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.0/4.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio, RDS, recording (market dependent) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 77 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 349 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 22 h |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange, Red | White, Black, Gold |
| Models | - | SM-J320H, SM-J3109, SM-J320FN, SM-J320P, SM-J320F, SM-J320M, SM-J320Y, SM-J320A, SM-J320G, SM-J327T1, SM-J320V, SM-J320YZ, SM-J320W8, SM-J320ZN, SM-J320N0, SM-J320R4 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.17 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.48 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 66h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.523 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 64dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 68dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 326Basemark X: 1424 |
Ulefone Armor X5 Pro
- Rugged and durable design
- More modern chipset (Helio P22)
- Water and dust resistant
- Android OS (likely newer than J3)
- Lower battery life
- Basic camera
- 10W charging is slow
- Potentially less brand recognition
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
- Exceptional battery life (66h endurance)
- Samsung brand reliability
- Decent display contrast (reported)
- Compact size
- Outdated chipset (Spreadtrum/Exynos)
- Slower performance
- Older Android version
- Less durable design
Display Comparison
Both phones feature relatively basic displays. The Galaxy J3 (2016) has a reported 'infinite' contrast ratio, which is likely a marketing term, but suggests decent viewing angles. The Armor X5 Pro likely has a more modern panel, but resolution and brightness are likely comparable and not exceptional. Expect adequate, but not stunning, visuals on either device.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality on both phones is expected to be basic. The Galaxy J3 (2016) likely has a slightly better image processing pipeline due to Samsung's experience, but the Armor X5 Pro might offer slightly better hardware. Expect decent photos in good lighting conditions, but struggles in low light.
Performance
The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro's Mediatek Helio P22 offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Galaxy J3's Spreadtrum SC9830/Exynos 3475. The Helio P22's octa-core architecture and 12nm process should result in smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. The J3 will feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
The Galaxy J3 (2016) is the clear winner here. Its endurance rating of 66 hours is exceptional for a phone of its age. The Armor X5 Pro's 10W charging and smaller battery capacity suggest significantly shorter battery life.
Buying Guide
The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro is ideal for those needing a tough phone for outdoor work, construction, or anyone prone to dropping their device. The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) is a good choice for users prioritizing long battery life and a dependable, albeit older, smartphone experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Ulefone Armor X5 Pro waterproof?
The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro is typically IP68 or IP69 rated, meaning it's water and dust resistant, but check the specific model's rating for exact details.
❓ What Android version does the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) run?
The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) originally shipped with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and may have received an update to Android 7.0 (Nougat).
