Ulefone Armor X5 Pro vs. Armor X9 Pro: Which Rugged Phone Should You Choose?

Looking for a tough phone that can withstand drops, dust, and water? Ulefone's Armor series is known for its durability. But with multiple models, choosing the right one can be tricky. We're pitting the Ulefone Armor X5 Pro against the Ulefone Armor X9 Pro to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro edges out the X9 Pro thanks to its slightly more powerful Helio P22 chipset. While both offer rugged durability, the X5 Pro provides a noticeable performance boost for everyday tasks and light gaming. Both offer 10W charging, a significant drawback in today's market.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Armor X5 Pro	Ulefone Armor X9 Pro

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, 19, 20, 28	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 28
Speed	HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat7 300/150 Mbps	HSPA 21/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2020, September 08. Released 2020, September 08	2021, September 07
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2021, September 07

Body
Dimensions	158 x 77.5 x 13.9 mm (6.22 x 3.05 x 0.55 in)	158 x 77.5 x 13.9 mm (6.22 x 3.05 x 0.55 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	235 g (8.29 oz)	235 g (8.29 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	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

Display
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density)	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density)
Size	5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~63.8% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~63.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762V/WD Helio P22 (12 nm)	Mediatek MT6762D Helio A25 (12 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 10	Android 11

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

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens
Features	LED flash, Panorama, HDR	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	-	5 MP
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.2	5 MP
Video	-	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	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio, RDS, recording	FM radio, RDS, recording
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 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass

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

Misc
Colors	Black, Orange, Red	Red, Black, Green
Price	About 110 EUR	About 160 EUR

Ulefone Armor X5 Pro

Slightly better performance (Helio P22)
Rugged and durable design
5000mAh battery
Dual camera setup

Slow 10W charging
HD+ display resolution
Entry-level chipset
Limited camera capabilities

Ulefone Armor X9 Pro

Rugged and durable design
5000mAh battery
Dual camera setup
Generally more affordable

Slower performance (Helio A25)
Slow 10W charging
HD+ display resolution
Limited camera capabilities

Display Comparison

Both phones feature similar display specs – likely a 6.21-inch HD+ (720 x 1520) IPS display. Expect decent viewing angles and color reproduction, but don't expect flagship-level sharpness or vibrancy. The X5 Pro *might* have slightly better brightness due to its chipset's capabilities, but this is difficult to confirm without testing.

Camera Comparison

Both phones likely feature a dual-camera setup on the rear, probably consisting of a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. Image quality will be adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions, but don't expect exceptional detail or dynamic range. Low-light performance will be weak on both. The front-facing camera is likely 8MP on both.

Performance

This is where the X5 Pro has a clear advantage. The Helio P22 (MT6762V) is generally faster and more efficient than the Helio A25 (MT6762D) found in the X9 Pro. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and slightly better gaming performance on the X5 Pro. Both will struggle with demanding games, but the X5 Pro will handle them marginally better.

Battery Life

Both phones are expected to have a 5000mAh battery. However, the X5 Pro's more efficient chipset *could* translate to slightly better battery life in real-world usage. The shared 10W charging is a significant limitation, resulting in slow charging times.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor X5 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a bit more performance within a rugged package, even if it's still entry-level. The Ulefone Armor X9 Pro is a good option for those on a tighter budget who primarily need a durable phone for basic communication and occasional use, accepting the slightly lower performance.