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

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Today, we pit a rugged, budget-friendly option – the Ulefone Armor X9 – against a premium powerhouse, the Apple iPhone 13. This comparison will help you decide which device best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 13 dominates in almost every category: performance, camera quality, display, and software. However, the Ulefone Armor X9 offers exceptional durability and affordability, making it ideal for those prioritizing ruggedness and a lower price point. The iPhone 13 is the clear winner for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Armor X9 Apple iPhone 13
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 - A2633, A2634, A2635
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 Sub6/mmWave - A2633
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, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2634, A2635
Launch
Announced2021, September 072021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 07Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158 x 77.5 x 13.9 mm (6.22 x 3.05 x 0.55 in)146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight235 g (8.29 oz)174 g (6.14 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)1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~63.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 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 (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal32GB 3GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
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)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), 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 3240 mAh (12.41 Wh)
Misc
ColorsRed, Black, GreenStarlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green
Models-A2633, A2482, A2631, A2634, A2635, iphone14,5
PriceAbout 150 EUR€ 304.00 / $ 249.97 / £ 248.00
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 89h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 775519 (v9) GeekBench: 4645 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Armor X9

  • Extremely durable and rugged
  • Affordable price
  • Long battery life (89h endurance)
  • Water and dust resistant

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

Apple iPhone 13

  • Exceptional performance (A15 Bionic)
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Premium design and build quality

  • High price
  • Limited customization compared to Android
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with a measured peak brightness of 802 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. The Armor X9's display is adequate for its price range but lacks the color accuracy and brightness of the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13's display offers a superior viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 13's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, video recording capabilities, and computational photography features. The Armor X9's camera is serviceable for casual snapshots but falls far short of the iPhone 13's performance in terms of detail, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities.

Performance

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 utterly crushes the MT6762D Helio A25 in the Armor X9. Expect lightning-fast app loading, smooth multitasking, and effortless gaming on the iPhone 13. The Armor X9 is functional for basic tasks but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

While both phones have an endurance rating of 89h, the iPhone 13's charging capabilities are vastly superior. It supports PD 2.0 fast charging (50% in 30 minutes) and wireless charging (MagSafe and Qi2), whereas the Armor X9 is limited to 10W wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor X9 is perfect for construction workers, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone needing a phone that can withstand harsh conditions. The Apple iPhone 13 is the choice for users seeking top-tier performance, a stunning camera, and a seamless iOS experience, regardless of budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Armor X9 waterproof?
Yes, the Ulefone Armor X9 is IP68 rated, meaning it's dustproof and waterproof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
❓ Does the iPhone 13 have expandable storage?
No, the iPhone 13 does not offer expandable storage. You must choose your storage capacity at the time of purchase.
❓ What type of charging does the Ulefone Armor X9 support?
The Ulefone Armor X9 supports 10W wired charging.
❓ What iOS version does the iPhone 13 ship with?
The iPhone 13 ships with iOS 15, and is upgradable to the latest iOS versions.