Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G smartphone review - Massive workhorse with unusual features
Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! Wanted:
- News translator (DE-EN)
- Review translation proofreader (DE-EN)
Details here
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80.1 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2024 | Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G Dimensity 6100+, Mali-G57 MP2 | 577.5 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2408x1080 | |
83.4 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2023 | Oukitel WP30 Pro Dimensity 8050, Mali-G77 MP9 | 414 g | 512 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.78" | 2460x1080 | |
81.9 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2022 | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro SD 778G 5G, Adreno 642L | 235 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2408x1080 | |
82.3 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2023 | Nokia XR21 SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 231 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.49" | 2400x1080 |
Case and equipment - Powerful, well-protected chassis
When you see the Oukitel WP33 Pro for the first time, you will immediately realize that this is not a slim business smartphone that you can carry around in your suit pocket. It's much more of a robust outdoor phone that won't break in difficult situations thanks to its non-slip casing, bulky shape, and slightly recessed screen.
However, at 577.5 grams and with a 2.72-centimeter thick casing, the Oukitel phone is an exception even among rugged phones. That’s why the manufacturer included a hand strap with a metal ring for attachment to a carabiner, backpack, or belt: In any case, the phone cannot be transported comfortably in a normal trouser pocket.
On the other hand, the phone is very resistant, dust and water do not bother it, as guaranteed by the IP68/IP69K certification. The MIL-STD-810H tests have also been passed, meaning that some military specifications are met. However, the manufacturer can decide for itself which tests are passed, so this certification could be more meaningful. The manufacturer specifies a drop height of 1.50 meters, which the device should survive without any problems.
The smartphone fits snugly in the hand but is pleasantly shaped and very sturdy. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5
The smartphone comes with NFC and e-SIM support, as well as 256 GB of mass storage and 8 GB of RAM. However, there is no microSD reader for memory expansion and there are only two nano-SIM slots in the card slot.
Communication, software and operation - Can be used worldwide
The Oukitel WP33 Pro is a 5G cell phone that can also be used when traveling thanks to its numerous supported frequencies in the LTE and 5G range. Practical: On the website you can read under "Frequencies" which providers the phone is guaranteed to work with in many countries. During our two-week test phase, the cell phone reception was always at a good level in numerous spot checks but did not reach the level of high-end smartphones.
Wi-Fi networks can be accessed at a maximum of Wi-Fi 5 speed, and there are certainly better-equipped rugged phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro or the Nokia XR21. A gigabit internet connection cannot really be utilized with our test device, but the device achieves the usual data throughput for its equipment, which remains very stable throughout the test.
The system is based on Android 13, Oukitel does not change much here either and only pre-installs a few of its own apps and no third-party advertising apps. The security patches are from November 2023 at the time of testing, so they are no longer completely up-to-date. There are supposed to be sporadic updates for 3 to 5 years, not exactly a reliable statement for buyers.
It is annoying that there is no Widevine certification, which means you cannot watch streaming content from the major providers in high quality.
If you hold the phone in your hand for a long time, the heavy weight can cause arm fatigue. However, it is generally very easy to use and the touchscreen is precise, while the sensitivity is ok right up to the corners. There are two hardware buttons for volume control, which are quite far apart. This is a clever solution, as you can feel and operate them easily even when wearing gloves.
The other hardware buttons are also quite large and easy to find: There is a freely configurable button on the left-hand side of the housing, which can be assigned to the flashlight or a sound recording, for example. If desired, it can also simply start a selected app.
On the right is the standby button, which also contains the fingerprint sensor for biometric unlocking of the phone. Unlocking works very reliably and quickly when touched. Conveniently, you can even trigger some special functions by touching the fingerprint sensor if you want to: for example, you can quickly access the home screen or answer calls. There is also facial recognition, which works reliably but is not quite as secure due to the pure 2D recognition via the front camera.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
Oukitel WP30 Pro | |
Nokia XR21 | |
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
Oukitel WP30 Pro | |
Nokia XR21 | |
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro |
Cameras - Can also be used in the dark
The main camera has a resolution of 64 megapixels, but usually only uses 1/4 of the resolution in order to gain more light intensity via larger pixels. It takes decent photos in mid-range quality with nice bokeh in close-ups and a reasonable amount of detail. A little more contrast would be desirable, as the photos appear cloudy. In very low light, the sharpness could be better and the dynamic range in bright and dark areas also leaves something to be desired.
Videos can be recorded in 1440p at a maximum of 30 fps, and only 30 frames per second are possible at 1080p. The autofocus is usually fast, but still visible. The exposure is also set very quickly. The resulting videos are of decent quality for the price range.
The 2-megapixel macro camera has a very low resolution but is useful for snapshots. The third lens at the back is more interesting: a 20-megapixel night vision camera, which can take photos even in complete darkness with the help of infrared LEDs. This does not work over huge distances, but objects can still be easily recognized at 10 meters. Our test image shows a fairly sharp image of the subject, but of course only in black and white.
There is a 32-megapixel camera on the front, which actually uses the full resolution in standard mode. When magnified, the low-quality camera glass becomes visible, which makes the image appear blurrier. Overall, the dynamic range in dark areas such as hair is rather mediocre. The camera can therefore be used for snapshots, but those who value very high-quality selfies will have to look elsewhere.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraLow LightDisplay - Bright, but bluish
The screen has an extended Full HD resolution, but can only display a maximum of 60 frames per second. This is noticeable when scrolling websites or texts and the system also appears somewhat less fluid overall.
In terms of brightness, however, the screen of the Oukitel WP33 Pro is impressive: Instead of the 450 cd/m² maximum that specified by the manufacturer, we even measured up to 539 cd/m². This puts our test device in the pole position in the comparison field. However, the reflective screen often makes it difficult to read outdoors or in very bright environments.
We are also less pleased with the color reproduction, which is characterized by a strong blue cast. Nevertheless, the display manages without PWM at very low brightness, so that even sensitive people can use the phone.
|
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 539 cd/m²
Contrast: 1078:1 (Black: 0.5 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.88 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 12.9 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
96.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 1.597
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G IPS, 2408x1080, 6.6" | Oukitel WP30 Pro IPS, 2460x1080, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro PLS, 2408x1080, 6.6" | Nokia XR21 TFT-LCD, 2400x1080, 6.5" | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Response Times | 15% | 20% | -17% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 32.5 ? | 26.5 ? 18% | 31 ? 5% | 42.05 ? -29% |
Response Time Black / White * | 21.6 ? | 19 ? 12% | 14 ? 35% | 22.54 ? -4% |
PWM Frequency | 55100 | |||
Screen | 17% | 11% | 29% | |
Brightness middle | 539 | 429 -20% | 510 -5% | 503 -7% |
Brightness | 517 | 417 -19% | 495 -4% | 487 -6% |
Brightness Distribution | 90 | 94 4% | 92 2% | 94 4% |
Black Level * | 0.5 | 0.4 20% | 0.46 8% | 0.45 10% |
Contrast | 1078 | 1073 0% | 1109 3% | 1118 4% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 11.88 | 5.93 50% | 7.41 38% | 2.4 80% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 17.9 | 10.14 43% | 13.26 26% | 6.6 63% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 12.9 | 5.8 55% | 10.6 18% | 1.9 85% |
Gamma | 1.597 138% | 2.142 103% | 2.518 87% | 2.22 99% |
CCT | 9933 65% | 8187 79% | 10050 65% | 6602 98% |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | 16% /
16% | 16% /
13% | 6% /
20% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
21.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 10.8 ms rise | |
↘ 10.8 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 43 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
32.5 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 17.5 ms rise | |
↘ 15 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 40 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM not detected | |||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
Performance, emissions and battery life - Troublemaker and endurance runner
The MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ is an SoC from 2023, which, however, has only a few changes compared to the older Dimensity 700. The processor section is exactly the same, but the SoC is manufactured using the slightly more efficient 6 nm process and should therefore work a little more efficiently.
Compared to other outdoor phones, however, the Oukitel WP33 Pro performs less convincingly in our benchmarks: it almost always comes last. In everyday use, you can navigate through the system quite smoothly, but occasional stutters are not uncommon. When surfing the Internet, you have to accept waiting times when loading large websites. The UFS 2.2 memory is also not the fastest; the memory controller is probably the limiting factor here.
However, the large casing allows the SoC to dissipate its waste heat quite well so the chassis only heats up noticeably in a few places: we measured 34.3°C at maximum. This is by no means critical and so it is not surprising that the processor and graphics unit can provide their full performance without any problems even after prolonged load. This is revealed by the 3DMark stress tests.
The phone's loudspeaker is located at the rear and is a powerhouse: although we did not reach the 136 dB specified by the manufacturer in our test, it was still a very loud 90.6 dB(A). This means you can make quite a racket and still hear what is being said or sung even in louder environments. The sound is reasonably balanced, especially if you turn the volume down a little, but still sounds distant.
Even better sound is available when connecting headphones or speakers via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.2, which works very reliably and smoothly. The phone also supports higher-quality codecs such as aptX HD or LHDC-V for wireless audio transmission.
The large case suggests it: The Oukitel WP33 Pro has a lot of battery capacity - 22.000 mAh to be precise - and the phone achieved runtimes of over 47 hours in our WLAN test. This means it lasts twice or even three times as long as the comparison devices and is ideal for longer trips away from power sources. You can even use the phone as a power bank and charge other devices via Wired Reverse Charging with up to 18 watts.
Up to 33 watts are used to recharge the battery. In any case, you should allow just under 5 hours for a full charge when the battery is completely empty.
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G | Oukitel WP30 Pro | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | Nokia XR21 | Average 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AndroBench 3-5 | 109% | 2% | -18% | 23% | 122% | |
Sequential Read 256KB | 482.1 | 1861.9 286% | 841.6 75% | 509.76 6% | 887 ? 84% | 1867 ? 287% |
Sequential Write 256KB | 515.6 | 1256.7 144% | 484.7 -6% | 465.31 -10% | 694 ? 35% | 1451 ? 181% |
Random Read 4KB | 253.9 | 271.3 7% | 170.6 -33% | 187.51 -26% | 228 ? -10% | 279 ? 10% |
Random Write 4KB | 288 | 283.2 -2% | 204.2 -29% | 167.51 -42% | 238 ? -17% | 311 ? 8% |
Temperature
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.3 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 30 °C / 86 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.4 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
Speaker
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (13.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 99% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 14% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Nokia XR21 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.1% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.2% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 27% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 47% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing | |
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G | |
Oukitel WP30 Pro | |
Average of class Smartphone (476 - 3244, n=203, last 2 years) | |
Nokia XR21 | |
Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Perfectly adapted to inhospitable places
The Oukitel WP33 Pro is certainly not a smartphone for everyone, but a tool for very specific usage scenarios: Many people will be put off by the heavy weight, the thick casing, and perhaps also the industrial design of the exterior.
However, this smartphone is not intended for use at a cozy, warm desk, but rather to be taken out into the wilderness, to a dusty construction site, or for water sports: Water, dust, and drops from moderate heights don't bother it and it can go a few days without charging. If necessary, it can even supply other devices with power via reverse charging.
You can take nice photos on your tours and in the dark there is the well-functioning night vision camera, whose viewfinder image can also be used for orientation in low light if necessary. Nice details such as support for e-SIMs, the fairly bright screen, and the many mobile phone frequencies, thanks to which you can also use the phone abroad, round off the good overall picture.
The somewhat slow SoC and WLAN can be criticized, and the memory is not the fastest either. The unclear update situation is difficult, but the comparatively low price of less than 400 euros should also be taken into account here, which puts these shortcomings into perspective.
The Oukitel WP33 Pro is a comparatively inexpensive outdoor phone with a huge battery, a loud speaker, and great qualities in the wild.
More performance is available with the Oukitel WP30 Pro from the same company, which also has an infrared camera. Much more discreet is the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro which can easily be placed on the table at a business meeting.
Price and availability
The Oukitel WP33 Pro is available directly from the manufacturer and costs around 285 euros. However, the price in the shopping cart is only displayed in dollars, so you bear the risk of the exchange rate.
Oukitel has warehouses in the EU, UK, and USA, so customers in these regions should not have to pay import fees or customs duties. The manufacturer does not want to completely rule out the possibility of shipping from China on its website. Fees could then be incurred.
If you prefer to play it safe, you can also get the phone from amazon.de, albeit at a significantly higher price of just under 400 euros.
Oukitel WP33 Pro 5G
- 02/06/2024 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
This is how Notebookcheck is testing
Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.