Ulefone Armor X9 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: A Clash of Titans

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Today, we pit the rugged Ulefone Armor X9 against the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 10. One prioritizes durability and outdoor use, while the other focuses on a balanced experience with a great display and camera. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is the clear winner for most users. Its superior chipset, display, camera, and significantly faster charging outweigh the Armor X9's ruggedness. However, if you need a truly durable phone that can withstand extreme conditions, the Ulefone Armor X9 is a solid, albeit basic, choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Armor X9	Xiaomi Redmi Note 10

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 - International
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 28	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
Speed	HSPA 21/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/150 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India

Launch
Announced	2021, September 07	2021, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 07	Available. Released 2021, March 16

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	158 x 77.5 x 13.9 mm (6.22 x 3.05 x 0.55 in)	160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	235 g (8.29 oz)	178.8 g (6.31 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 compliant	IP53, dust and splash resistant (market/region dependent)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size	5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~63.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Super AMOLED, 450 nits (typ), 1100 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762D Helio A25 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SDM678 Snapdragon 678 (11 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Adreno 612
OS	Android 11	Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 14

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad	-	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	5 MP	-
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	5 MP	13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio, RDS, recording	FM radio, recording
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	10W wired	33W wired, 50% in 25 min, 100% in 74 min
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Red, Black, Green	Shadow Black (Onyx Gray), Frost White (Pebble White), Aqua Green (Lake Green)
Models	-	M2101K7AI, M2101K7AG
Price	About 150 EUR	€ 159.99
SAR	-	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.59 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 110h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 218788 (v8) GeekBench: 2860 (v5.1) GFXBench: 7.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Armor X9

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

Low performance
Basic display
Slow charging
Limited camera capabilities

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10

Excellent display
Good performance
Capable camera
Fast charging
Modern design

Less durable than the Armor X9
May not be ideal for extreme outdoor conditions
Glass back is prone to scratches

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 10 boasts a significantly better display. Its 682 nits brightness and infinite contrast ratio offer a much more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience compared to the Armor X9's likely lower-quality panel. The Note 10's AMOLED display also provides richer colors and deeper blacks.

Camera Comparison

The Redmi Note 10's camera system is superior. While specific megapixel counts aren't provided for the Armor X9, the Note 10's Snapdragon 678 typically pairs with a capable camera setup, offering better image quality, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. The Note 10 likely has more advanced camera features.

Performance

The Snapdragon 678 in the Redmi Note 10 is a considerable upgrade over the Helio A25 in the Armor X9. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the Note 10. The Note 10's CPU architecture is also more efficient.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (110h). However, the Redmi Note 10's 33W fast charging is a game-changer, allowing for significantly quicker top-ups compared to the Armor X9's 10W charging. This makes the Note 10 more convenient for daily use.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Armor X9 is ideal for construction workers, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone needing a phone that can survive drops, dust, and water. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is perfect for everyday users who want a good camera, a vibrant display, and reliable performance without breaking the bank.