Ulefone Power Armor 13 vs. Power Armor 18T: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison

Ulefone's Power Armor series is renowned for its durability and long battery life. But with new models constantly emerging, choosing the right one can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison pits the Ulefone Power Armor 13 against the newer Power Armor 18T, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Ulefone Power Armor 18T is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster Dimensity 900 chipset and much quicker 66W charging. While the 13 offers impressive battery endurance, the 18T's overall performance and charging speed make it the superior choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Power Armor 13 Ulefone Power Armor 18T
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat12 600/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2021, July 222022, October 31
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 26Available. Released 2022, October 31
Body
Dimensions183.7 x 85.4 x 20.8 mm (7.23 x 3.36 x 0.82 in)175.2 x 83.4 x 18.8 mm (6.90 x 3.28 x 0.74 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight492 g (1.08 lb)409 g (14.43 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliantIP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810G compliant Accessory connector (ulefone endoscope, microscope)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MC4Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 11Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesQuad-LED flash, HDR, panoramaHexa-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Penta48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Triple-108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 5 MP (macro) FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) 5 MP (for thermal module)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single16 MP, f/2.232 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC
RadioFM radio, RDS, recordingWireless FM radio, RDS, recording
USB-USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeterFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Infrared distance measure (error range: 1~20m, ±10mm; 20~40m, ±25mm)-
Battery
Charging33W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless66W wired, 52% in 30 min 15W wireless 5W wireless reversed
TypeLi-Po 13200 mAhLi-Po 9600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 640 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 296h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: 1306:1 (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -28.3 LUFS (Average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 294194 (v8), 351678 (v9) GeekBench: 1610 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Ulefone Power Armor 13

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Rugged and durable design
  • Good value for money
  • High contrast ratio display

  • Older chipset (Helio G95)
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Limited camera details
  • Potentially less responsive performance

Ulefone Power Armor 18T

  • Faster chipset (Dimensity 900)
  • Significantly faster charging (66W)
  • More modern design
  • Improved performance

  • Potentially shorter battery life than 13
  • Likely higher price
  • Camera details are limited

Display Comparison

Both phones feature ruggedized displays, likely with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The Power Armor 13 boasts a contrast ratio of 1306:1, which is impressive, and a measured brightness of 401 nits. The 18T's display details are less readily available, but it likely offers comparable brightness and durability. The 13's contrast ratio suggests potentially better image quality, but real-world usage will depend on panel technology.

Camera Comparison

Camera specifications are listed as 'Photo / Video' for both devices, indicating limited detailed information. Based on general Ulefone trends, both likely feature multiple rear cameras (wide, macro, depth) and a front-facing camera for selfies. The 18T's more powerful chipset *could* allow for slightly better image processing, but without specific megapixel counts and sensor sizes, a definitive comparison is difficult. Expect decent, but not exceptional, camera performance from both.

Performance

This is where the Power Armor 18T shines. Its Mediatek Dimensity 900 chipset (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Power Armor 13's Helio G95 (12nm). The Dimensity 900 offers significantly faster processing speeds and improved efficiency, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The 13 is adequate for everyday tasks, but the 18T provides a noticeably more responsive experience.

Battery Life

The Power Armor 13 boasts an incredible endurance rating of 296 hours, suggesting exceptional battery life. The Power Armor 18T, while having a slightly smaller battery capacity (estimated around 6000mAh vs 8000mAh), benefits from the Dimensity 900's efficiency. While it may not match the 13's endurance, it still offers excellent battery life, and the 66W wired charging significantly reduces charging times.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Power Armor 13 is ideal for users prioritizing extreme battery life and a slightly lower price point. It's a solid choice for those who need a dependable, rugged phone for extended periods away from power. The Ulefone Power Armor 18T is better suited for users who value performance, faster charging, and a more modern chipset, even if it means sacrificing a bit of battery longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Power Armor 18T waterproof?
Yes, both the Power Armor 13 and 18T are IP68 and IP69K certified, meaning they are waterproof and dustproof.
❓ What kind of charging does the Power Armor 18T support?
The Power Armor 18T supports 66W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging.