Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro vs Blackview BV8800: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Battle

Rugged phones are built to withstand the toughest conditions, appealing to adventurers, construction workers, and anyone needing a durable device. Today, we pit two contenders against each other: the Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro and the Blackview BV8800. Which one offers the best blend of durability, performance, and features?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Blackview BV8800 edges out the Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro thanks to its faster charging, slightly more powerful chipset, and potentially better camera capabilities. Both offer rugged build quality, but the BV8800 provides a more modern and efficient experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro Blackview BV8800
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, 401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 -CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2022, March 092021, December 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 09Available. Released 2022, January 10
Body
Dimensions175.6 x 82.5 x 17.2 mm (6.91 x 3.25 x 0.68 in)176.2 x 83.5 x 17.7 mm (6.94 x 3.29 x 0.70 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight358.2 g (12.63 oz)367 g (12.95 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m 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-810H compliant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3-
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~70.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm)Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm)
GPUMali-G52 MC2Mali-G57 MC2
OSAndroid 12Android 11, Doke-OS 3.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide) 20 MP, f/1.8, (IR camera), 2 IR emitters Auxiliary lens
Single16 MP, f/2.216 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple20 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.78", 1.0µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps1440p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single16 MP, f/2.216 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio, RDS, recordingFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging18W wired 15W wireless33W wired, 31% in 30 min, 100% in 90 min Reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 10000 mAh8380 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack, Orange, Green
PriceAbout 260 EURAbout 350 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 199h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1348:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -29.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 254849 (v8), 288964 (v9) GeekBench: 1752 (v5.1) GFXBench: 10fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro

  • Rugged and durable design
  • Affordable price point
  • Decent battery life
  • Wireless charging

  • Slower charging speed
  • Less powerful chipset
  • Camera performance potentially lacking
  • Older chipset architecture

Blackview BV8800

  • Faster charging (33W)
  • More powerful chipset (Helio G96)
  • Reverse wired charging
  • Higher display brightness
  • Potentially better camera

  • Potentially higher price
  • Rugged design can be bulky
  • Specific camera specs unknown

Display Comparison

Both phones feature robust displays, likely with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The Blackview BV8800 boasts a measured 501 nits brightness, which is a significant advantage for outdoor visibility. While both have a 1348:1 contrast ratio, the BV8800's higher brightness gives it a clearer edge in sunlight. Screen size and resolution are likely similar, around 6.3-6.5 inches with FHD+ resolution.

Camera Comparison

Camera specifications are not fully detailed for either device. However, the Helio G96 in the BV8800 generally supports more advanced camera features and image processing capabilities. Both likely offer multiple rear cameras (wide, ultrawide, macro) and a front-facing camera for selfies. Real-world camera performance will depend on software optimization.

Performance

The Blackview BV8800's MediaTek Helio G96 chipset offers a noticeable performance boost over the Ulefone's Helio G85. The G96's Cortex-A76 cores provide better single-core performance, while both have six Cortex-A55 cores for efficient multitasking. Expect smoother app loading and gaming on the BV8800.

Battery Life

Both phones advertise impressive endurance ratings (199h). However, the Blackview BV8800's 33W wired charging is significantly faster than the Ulefone's 18W. The BV8800 also includes reverse wired charging, a useful feature for topping up other devices.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a balance of affordability and ruggedness, particularly those who don't need the absolute fastest performance. The Blackview BV8800 is a better choice for those seeking faster charging, a more powerful processor, and potentially superior camera performance, even if it comes at a slightly higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones waterproof?
Both phones are marketed as rugged and likely offer IP68 or IP69K ratings for water and dust resistance, but confirm the specific rating before submerging them.
❓ What operating system do they run?
Both phones likely run Android 12 or 13, but specific versions may vary. Check the manufacturer's website for the latest information.