Ulefone Power Armor 19 vs. Power Armor 18: Which Rugged Phone Should You Choose?

Ulefone's Power Armor series is renowned for its durability and feature-packed design. The Power Armor 19 and 18 are two of their latest offerings, both boasting rugged builds and impressive battery life. But which one offers the best overall package? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Power Armor 19 edges out the 18 thanks to its slightly more powerful Helio G99 chipset, offering a noticeable performance boost for gaming and demanding tasks. Both offer excellent battery life and ruggedness, making them strong contenders in the rugged phone market.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Power Armor 19	Ulefone Power Armor 18

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71
5G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1x	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2022, December 27	2022, December 05
Status	Available. Released 2022, December 27	Available. Released 2022, December 05

Body
Dimensions	175.2 x 83.4 x 18.8 mm (6.90 x 3.28 x 0.74 in)	175.2 x 83.4 x 18.8 mm (6.90 x 3.28 x 0.74 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	409 g (14.43 oz)	409 g (14.43 oz)
	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 Accessory connector (ulefone endoscope, microscope)	IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.5m MIL-STD-810H compliant Accessory connector (ulefone endoscope, microscope)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz	IPS LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)	Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Mali-G68 MC4
OS	Android 12	Android 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Hexa-LED flash, HDR, panorama	Hexa-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52”, 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video	1440p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.2µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC
Radio	Wireless FM radio, RDS, recording	Wireless FM radio, RDS, recording
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band

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

Battery
Charging	66W wired, 52% in 30 min 15W wireless 5W wireless reversed	66W wired, 52% in 30 min 15W wireless 5W wireless reversed
Type	Li-Po 9600 mAh	Li-Po 9600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black	Black
Price	About 400 EUR	About 400 EUR

Ulefone Power Armor 19

More powerful chipset (Helio G99)
Slightly better performance for gaming
Modern chipset
Rugged design
6000mAh battery
66W wired charging

Potentially higher price
Camera performance not exceptional
720+ resolution display

Ulefone Power Armor 18

Rugged design
6000mAh battery
66W wired charging
Reverse wireless charging
Potentially lower price

Less powerful chipset (Dimensity 900)
Slightly older chipset
Camera performance not exceptional
720+ resolution display

Display Comparison

Both phones likely feature similar 6.53-inch displays, probably IPS LCD panels with a 720+ resolution. While the Armor 19 *might* have slightly improved color accuracy due to the newer chipset, the difference will be minimal for most users. Expect decent viewing angles and brightness suitable for outdoor use, but not exceptional color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

Both phones likely feature a similar camera setup, probably a 48MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens. Image quality will be comparable in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is likely to be average on both devices. Video recording capabilities are likely to be similar, with 1080p recording at 30fps.

Performance

Here's where the Armor 19 takes a lead. The Mediatek Helio G99 generally outperforms the Dimensity 900 in CPU and GPU benchmarks. This translates to smoother app loading, better gaming performance, and a more responsive user experience. The Dimensity 900 is still capable, but the G99 offers a noticeable upgrade.

Battery Life

Both phones boast a massive 6000mAh battery, ensuring all-day battery life even with heavy usage. The 66W wired charging is a significant advantage, allowing for a quick recharge. Wireless charging (15W) and reverse wireless charging (5W) are also present on both devices.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Power Armor 19 is ideal for users who prioritize performance and a slightly more modern chipset for smoother multitasking and gaming. The Power Armor 18 remains a solid choice for those seeking a reliable, rugged phone with a proven track record and potentially a slightly lower price point.