Ulefone Power Armor 14 vs. Blackview BV8800: A Deep Dive into Rugged Smartphone Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users prioritizing performance and faster charging, the Blackview BV8800 is the clear winner. Its Helio G96 chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Ulefone’s Helio G35, and the 33W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, the Ulefone offers wireless charging, a feature absent in the BV8800.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Power Armor 14 | Blackview BV8800 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE |
| - | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 15 | 2021, December 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 15 | Available. Released 2022, January 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 175.6 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) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 358.2 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 compliant | IP68/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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~70.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, Doke-OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-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 |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | 20 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.78", 1.0µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 15W wireless | 33W wired, 31% in 30 min, 100% in 90 min Reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 10000 mAh | 8380 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, Orange, Green |
| Price | About 230 EUR | About 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
- Wireless charging offers convenient power-up options.
- Rugged design provides excellent drop and water resistance.
- Potentially lower price point for budget-conscious buyers.
- Helio G35 chipset delivers noticeably slower performance.
- Slower 18W wired charging takes longer to replenish the battery.
Blackview BV8800
- Helio G96 chipset provides a significantly smoother user experience.
- 33W fast charging minimizes downtime.
- Higher display brightness improves outdoor visibility.
- Lacks wireless charging convenience.
- May be slightly more expensive than the Ulefone Power Armor 14.
Display Comparison
Both devices share a contrast ratio of 1348:1, suggesting similar visual depth. However, the Blackview BV8800 boasts a measured peak brightness of 501 nits, which will provide better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Ulefone Power Armor 14, whose brightness is not specified. While both are likely to use IPS LCD panels given the price point, the BV8800’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor usability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the BV8800’s overall focus on performance, it’s reasonable to assume a more capable image signal processor (ISP) is integrated into the Helio G96, potentially leading to better image processing and low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing tactic, offering minimal practical benefit due to the small sensor size.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Blackview BV8800’s MediaTek Helio G96, with its 2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, represents a significant architectural upgrade over the Ulefone Power Armor 14’s Helio G35. The G96’s Cortex-A76 cores offer substantially higher single-core performance, crucial for app responsiveness, while the G35 relies on older Cortex-A53 cores. This translates to smoother multitasking and a more fluid user experience on the BV8800. The G96 also benefits from a more modern GPU, improving gaming performance.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 199 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Blackview BV8800’s 33W wired charging is a game-changer. Achieving 31% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 90 minutes significantly reduces downtime compared to the Ulefone Power Armor 14’s slower 18W wired charging. The Ulefone does offer 15W wireless charging, a convenience feature the BV8800 lacks, but the speed is considerably slower than the BV8800’s wired charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Ulefone Power Armor 14 if you prioritize wireless charging convenience and are comfortable with a more basic level of performance for everyday tasks. Buy the Blackview BV8800 if you need a more responsive experience for gaming or demanding applications, and value faster wired charging to minimize downtime in the field. The BV8800 is the better choice for users who frequently rely on their phone for work or entertainment while away from a power source.