Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro vs Nokia XR21: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Battle

Rugged phones are built to withstand the toughest conditions, appealing to adventurers, workers, and anyone prone to dropping their devices. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro, known for its extreme durability, and the Nokia XR21, offering a blend of ruggedness and modern features. Let's see which one comes out on top.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia XR21 wins this comparison. While the Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro boasts impressive durability, the XR21’s superior chipset, faster charging, and overall smoother performance make it the more compelling choice for most users, despite a slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro	Nokia XR21

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71
5G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	eMMC 5.1	-

Launch
Announced	2022, September 16	2023, May 03
Status	Available. Released 2022, September 16	Available. Released 2023, June 11

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	173.4 x 83.4 x 18.3 mm (6.83 x 3.28 x 0.72 in)	168 x 78.6 x 10.5 mm (6.61 x 3.09 x 0.41 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight	405 g (14.29 oz)	231 g (8.15 oz)
	IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810G compliant Flashlight with a dedicated button Accessory connector (ulefone endoscope, microscope)	IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 60 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m MIL-STD-810H compliant

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~271 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density)
Size	5.93 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~62.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~77.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 450 nits (typ), 550 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12	Android 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	Unspecified
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	16 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro)	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, second LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm	16 MP, f/2.4 (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes (122-decibel)	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	Wireless FM radio, RDS, recording	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector	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/6, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	18W wired 5W reverse wired	33W wired, PD2.0, QC3
Type	Li-Po 9600 mAh	Li-Po 4800 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Black/Orange	Midnight Black, Pine Green
Price	About 220 EUR	About 570 EUR

Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro

Exceptional battery life
Extremely rugged and durable
Affordable price

Outdated chipset
Lower display quality
Slow charging

Nokia XR21

Modern and powerful chipset (Snapdragon 695 5G)
Faster charging (33W)
5G connectivity
Better display quality

Smaller battery capacity than Ulefone
Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Nokia XR21 features a 6.43-inch FHD+ display, offering a sharper and more vibrant viewing experience compared to the Power Armor 16 Pro's likely lower resolution display (specifications are not readily available, but generally Ulefone prioritizes durability over display quality). The XR21's display also benefits from better color accuracy and brightness.

Camera Comparison

The Nokia XR21 typically offers a more refined camera experience with better image processing and potentially higher resolution sensors. While both phones likely feature decent cameras for their price range, the XR21 is expected to deliver superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Specific camera specs are needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

Here, the Nokia XR21 shines. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset is significantly more powerful than the Ulefone's Helio G25. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the XR21. The XR21's 6nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro is known for its large battery capacity (likely 8500mAh, based on previous Ulefone models), offering exceptional battery life. However, the Nokia XR21's 4470mAh battery, combined with the Snapdragon 695's efficiency, can still provide a full day of use, and charges much faster with 33W charging.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro is ideal for those prioritizing absolute ruggedness and a massive battery above all else, and who are on a tight budget. The Nokia XR21 is perfect for users who want a durable phone with a modern processor, 5G connectivity, and a better overall user experience, willing to spend a bit more.