Ulefone Armor 16 Pro vs. Armor 9: The Ultimate Rugged Phone Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Ulefone Armor 9 takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Helio P90 chipset and comparable battery life. While the 16 Pro boasts a newer chipset, the P90's performance advantage makes it the better choice for most users seeking a rugged device.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro | Ulefone Armor 9 |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| eMMC 5.1 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 16 | 2020, June 29. Released 2020, June 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 16 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Front glass, aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 173.4 x 83.4 x 18.3 mm (6.83 x 3.28 x 0.72 in) | 168.2 x 82 x 15 mm (6.62 x 3.23 x 0.59 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 405 g (14.29 oz) | 320 g (11.29 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 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.93 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~62.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GM9446 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Thermal imaging, heat palettes, temp. spot meter, quad-LED flash, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes (122-decibel) | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Wireless FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector (endoscope) |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeter |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 5W reverse wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 9600 mAh | Li-Po 6600 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Black/Orange | Black |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 148h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1541:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -30.1 LUFS (Below average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 197000 (v8) GeekBench: 1498 (v5.1) GFXBench: 7.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro
- Slightly newer design
- Potentially better software support
- Reverse wired charging
- Weaker chipset
- Shorter battery life
- Less powerful camera
Ulefone Armor 9
- Significantly more powerful chipset (Helio P90)
- Exceptional battery life (148h endurance)
- Good contrast ratio display
- Rugged design
- Older design
- Potentially less frequent software updates
- Camera performance likely average
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a nominal contrast ratio of 1541:1, suggesting good image quality. However, the Armor 9 likely has a slightly better display due to its older, more refined panel technology. Resolution and brightness are likely similar, but the Armor 9's display might offer slightly more accurate colors.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs are not detailed, but the Armor 9's likely has a slightly better image processing pipeline due to its older chipset. Both phones likely offer decent image quality in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance will likely be a weakness on both devices. Video recording capabilities are likely similar.
Performance
This is where the Armor 9 shines. Its Helio P90 chipset is considerably faster than the Armor 16 Pro's Helio G25. Expect smoother performance in games, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the Armor 9. The Armor 16 Pro will handle basic tasks adequately, but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Armor 9 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 148 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The Armor 16 Pro's battery capacity is likely similar, but the less efficient Helio G25 chipset will result in shorter battery life compared to the Armor 9.
Buying Guide
The Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a slightly newer design and potentially better software support, but who aren't heavily reliant on demanding applications. The Ulefone Armor 9 is a better fit for those needing a more powerful processor for gaming or multitasking, and who appreciate exceptional battery endurance.