Ulefone Power Armor 18T vs. Power Armor 13: Which Rugged Phone Should You Choose?

Ulefone is known for its incredibly durable smartphones, and the Power Armor series is a testament to that. But with multiple models available, choosing the right one can be tricky. We're pitting the Ulefone Power Armor 18T against the Power Armor 13 to help you decide which rugged beast best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Ulefone Power Armor 18T offers a significant performance upgrade with its Dimensity 900 chipset and faster charging. However, the Power Armor 13 boasts exceptional battery life and a similar display quality. If performance is key, the 18T wins; for pure endurance, the 13 is a strong contender.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Power Armor 18T Ulefone Power Armor 13
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat12 600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2022, October 312021, July 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 31Available. Released 2021, July 26
Body
Dimensions175.2 x 83.4 x 18.8 mm (6.90 x 3.28 x 0.74 in)183.7 x 85.4 x 20.8 mm (7.23 x 3.36 x 0.82 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight409 g (14.43 oz)492 g (1.08 lb)
 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 Accessory connector (ulefone endoscope, microscope)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.2m MIL-STD-810G compliant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120HzIPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Mali-G76 MC4
OSAndroid 12Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesHexa-LED flash, HDR, panoramaQuad-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Penta-48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm-
Triple108 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
Features-HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm16 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioWireless FM radio, RDS, recordingFM radio, RDS, recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector-
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, baroceptor, coulombmeter
 -Infrared distance measure (error range: 1~20m, ±10mm; 20~40m, ±25mm)
Battery
Charging66W wired, 52% in 30 min 15W wireless 5W wireless reversed33W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 9600 mAhLi-Po 13200 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack
PriceAbout 640 EURAbout 300 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 18T

  • Faster Performance (Dimensity 900)
  • 66W Fast Charging
  • Modern Chipset (6nm)
  • Likely better camera ISP

  • Potentially shorter battery life than 13
  • Price may be higher

Ulefone Power Armor 13

  • Exceptional Battery Life (296h endurance)
  • Durable Build
  • Similar Display Quality
  • Wireless Charging

  • Slower Performance (Helio G95)
  • Older Chipset (12nm)
  • Slower Charging (33W)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a similar contrast ratio of 1306:1, but the 18T likely has a slightly more modern display panel. The 18T's display is expected to have better color accuracy and potentially a slightly higher resolution, though both offer good outdoor visibility. The 13's 401 nits brightness is respectable, and the 18T should be comparable.

Camera Comparison

Camera specs are not fully detailed for either device. However, given the chipset differences, the 18T likely has a more capable image signal processor (ISP), potentially leading to better image quality and video recording capabilities. Both phones are expected to offer decent camera performance for a rugged device.

Performance

The 18T's Mediatek Dimensity 900 chipset is a clear winner here. It's built on a more efficient 6nm process and offers significantly more processing power than the 13's Helio G95 (12nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the 18T.

Battery Life

The Power Armor 13's endurance rating of 296h is incredibly impressive, suggesting exceptional battery life. While the 18T has a large battery and 66W fast charging, the 13's power efficiency likely gives it the edge in overall longevity. The 18T's 66W charging is a major advantage for quickly topping up the battery.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Power Armor 18T is ideal for users who need a rugged phone with a responsive experience for gaming or demanding apps. The Power Armor 13 is perfect for those prioritizing extreme battery life and a reliable, durable device for everyday use, especially in situations where power conservation is paramount.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Power Armor 18T waterproof?
Yes, both the 18T and 13 are IP68 and IP69K certified, meaning they are waterproof and dustproof, and can withstand high-pressure water jets.
❓ What kind of storage does each phone have?
Both phones typically offer ample storage, often 128GB or 256GB, with microSD card expansion for even more space. Specific storage configurations may vary by region.