Ulefone Armor X9 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Clash of Titans

The Ulefone Armor X9 Pro is a rugged, budget-friendly phone built to withstand the toughest conditions. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, represents the pinnacle of smartphone technology, offering unparalleled performance and a premium experience. Can a budget-tough phone compete with a flagship powerhouse?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 13 Pro Max utterly dominates in performance, camera quality, and overall user experience. The Armor X9 Pro's strength lies in its incredible durability and affordability. Choose the iPhone for top-tier features; choose the Armor for rugged reliability on a budget.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor X9 Pro Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 281, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2643, A2644, A2645
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644
SpeedHSPA 21/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641
Launch
Announced2021, September 072021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 07Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions158 x 77.5 x 13.9 mm (6.22 x 3.05 x 0.55 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight235 g (8.29 oz)240 g (8.47 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 compliantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~63.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetMediatek MT6762D Helio A25 (12 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal64GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single5 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single5 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radio, RDS, recordingNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging10W wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsRed, Black, GreenGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
Models-A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 160 EUR€ 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     1.20 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Armor X9 Pro

  • Extremely durable and rugged
  • Affordable price
  • Water and dust resistant
  • Long battery life

  • Low performance
  • Basic camera
  • Low-resolution display
  • Slow charging

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance (A15 Bionic)
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Stunning display with ProMotion
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Premium build quality

  • High price
  • No expandable storage
  • Can be fragile despite being an iPhone

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a stunning Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 1050 nits, offering vibrant colors and exceptional clarity. The Armor X9 Pro's display is adequate but lacks the resolution, brightness, and advanced features of the iPhone. Contrast ratio is infinite on the iPhone, a significant advantage.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features like Cinematic mode, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Armor X9 Pro's camera is functional but produces noticeably inferior results, especially in low light.

Performance

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro Max is in a different league compared to the Mediatek Helio A25 in the Armor X9 Pro. Expect lightning-fast app loading, smooth multitasking, and effortless gaming on the iPhone. The Armor X9 Pro can handle basic tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings around 121 hours. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max charges significantly faster with its PD2.0 fast charging and MagSafe wireless charging capabilities.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor X9 Pro is ideal for construction workers, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone needing a phone that can survive drops, dust, and water. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is perfect for users who demand the best possible camera, performance, and ecosystem integration, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Armor X9 Pro waterproof?
Yes, the Ulefone Armor X9 Pro is IP68 rated, meaning it's dustproof and waterproof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
❓ How much storage does the iPhone 13 Pro Max have?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is available in storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. However, it does not offer expandable storage via microSD card.
❓ What kind of charging does the Armor X9 Pro support?
The Ulefone Armor X9 Pro supports 10W wired charging.
❓ Does the iPhone 13 Pro Max support wireless charging?
Yes, the iPhone 13 Pro Max supports both MagSafe (15W) and Qi2 (requires iOS 17.2) wireless charging.