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Ulefone Armor X Smartphone Review

This cookie does not crumble. The Ulefone Armor X is a robust outdoor smartphone that brings Android Oreo. You can order the entry-level device as a Chinese import for about 200 Euros (~$232; starting from $155 in the US). In addition to the current software, this device brings all that is necessary in extreme surroundings. Our review shows how the Armor X fares in the comparison with other rugged smartphones.

Until now, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Ulefone had only a few devices represented in our test area. However, one thing the "Paris," "Metal," and "Power 3" models had in common is that they offered relatively good equipment for a low price. However, there were always some reasons for complaints such as the camera or the display.

Now the Ulefone Armor X not only tries to raise the equipment to a higher level, but also to be sufficiently robust for being suited for any outdoor use imaginable. Inside it has a Mediatek MT6739 SoC which is supported by a PowerVR GE8100 graphics unit. Both of these hardware components can be found in entry-level devices and rely on 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of eMMC flash storage in the Armor X.

The main competitors of our test unit not only include affordable entry-level smartphones, but primarily robust outdoor devices. In our test, the Armor X must therefore face phones such as the Nomu M6, the Blackview BV9000 Pro, the Oukitel WP5000, and the CAT S31. The performance of all the comparison devices is in the lower mid-range. Only the Armor X is already equipped with Android 8.

Ulefone Armor X (Armor X Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT6739 4 x 1.5 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.50 inch 2:1, 1440 x 720 pixel 293 PPI, Capacitive, IPS, Corning Gorilla 3, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 11 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: Audio combo port, Card Reader: MicroSD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Gyroscope, acceleration sensor, proximity sensor, compass
Networking
802.11a/b/g/n (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.1, 2G GSM: 1900/1800/850/900(B2/3/5/8), 3G WCDMA: 2100/850/900(B1/5/8), 4G FDD-LTE: 2100/1800/2600/900/800(B1/3/7/8/20), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 14 x 163 x 76.6 ( = 0.55 x 6.42 x 3.02 in)
Battery
21.71 Wh, 5500 mAh Lithium-Polymer, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 20 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 250 h
Operating System
Android 8.1 Oreo
Camera
Primary Camera: 8 MPix 8+5MP (13MP interpolated), ƒ/2.0, dual flash
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix 8MP interpolated, ƒ/2.4
Additional features
Speakers: single speaker, Keyboard: Onscreen, Keyboard Light: yes, Display protector, SIM tool, connection cover tool, charger, USB cable, Outdoor Toolbox, 12 Months Warranty, SAR head: 0.282 W/kg, SAR body: 0.894 W/kg, IP68, fanless, ruggedized
Weight
256 g ( = 9.03 oz / 0.56 pounds), Power Supply: 66 g ( = 2.33 oz / 0.15 pounds)
Price
200 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - Chinese IP68 smartphone

Ulefone uses a robust plastic case in the Armor X, which is enforced on the sides and around the dual camera with metal. All the control elements and connections are waterproof to fulfill the requirements of the IP68 certification. In order to open the port covers, you need a special tool, like a flat-head screwdriver, which is included with the phone. Our subjective impression of the Armor X is very good. The case really appears to be able to withstand water, sand, and drops. 

In addition to the black color of our test unit called "Dark Gray," the Ulefone Armor X is also available in "Rose Gold" color. Due to the 2:1-format, the width of the hefty device is not too extreme, so you can still operate it with one hand. However, short thumbs will have the problem that they cannot cover the whole width of the display. 

Size Comparison

167 mm / 6.57 inch 82 mm / 3.23 inch 14 mm / 0.551 inch 277 g0.611 lbs163 mm / 6.42 inch 76.6 mm / 3.02 inch 14 mm / 0.551 inch 256 g0.564 lbs163 mm / 6.42 inch 82 mm / 3.23 inch 12 mm / 0.4724 inch 253 g0.558 lbs146 mm / 5.75 inch 74.4 mm / 2.93 inch 12.6 mm / 0.4961 inch 200 g0.4409 lbs144 mm / 5.67 inch 74 mm / 2.91 inch 10 mm / 0.3937 inch 182 g0.4012 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Equipment - Robust entry-level smartphone

Ulefone has equipped the Armor X with the MT6739 entry-level SoC from Mediatek and a PowerVR GE8100 GPU. Together with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB flash storage, the users have what is necessary for smooth system operation. In addition to the IP68 certification we already mentioned, the Ulefone Armor X has a fingerprint sensor and a push-to-talk button on the right side, as well as a wireless-charge sensor on the back. Behind a waterproof cover is the SIM card slot where you can insert either a NanoSIM and an SD card or two NanoSIM cards.

There is a 3.5 mm port to connect a headset or external audio devices. The charging cable is connected via a micro-USB port, which can also be used for data transfer with the USB-2.0 standard.

Left side: volume keys, power button
Left side: volume keys, power button
Right side: fingerprint sensor, push-to-talk button, SD/SIM card slot
Right side: fingerprint sensor, push-to-talk button, SD/SIM card slot

Software - Outdoor smartphone with Android 8.1

Users of the Ulefone Armor X get an unmodified version of Android 8.1 with the security patches on the level of April 5, 2018. The only software addition from the manufacturer is an Outdoor Toolbox app with tools such as a compass, a level, and a plumb bob. If more than one user needs to get access to the Armor X, you can set up various user accounts. We were unable to find any indication of being able to move apps to an SD card or formatting the storage cards as internal storage in the settings menu.

Communication and GPS - Ulefone Armor X with LTE

The Ulefone Armor X can connect to GSM, 3G, and LTE networks. All the usual networks in Germany are supported, including the LTE band 20, which is not a given in Chinese smartphones. With the corresponding network coverage, we did not notice any abnormalities in the reception. In addition, there are Bluetooth 4.1 and an NFC sensor for data transfer in close proximity.

While our test unit can access WLAN networks using the 2.4 and 5-GHz bands, the users have to do without the fast ac standard. During our testing, the Armor X achieves data transfer rates of about 100 MBit/s and thus positions itself in the middle of the field of our comparison devices.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Oukitel WP5000
Mali-T880 MP2, Helio P25, 64 GB eMMC Flash
109 MBit/s +6%
Ulefone Armor X
PowerVR GE8100, MT6739, 16 GB eMMC Flash
103 MBit/s
Blackview BV9000 Pro
Mali-T880 MP2, Helio P25, 128 GB eMMC Flash
99.8 MBit/s -3%
Nomu M6
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737T, 16 GB eMMC Flash
42 MBit/s -59%
CAT S31
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
39.3 MBit/s -62%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +283%
Oukitel WP5000
Mali-T880 MP2, Helio P25, 64 GB eMMC Flash
114 MBit/s +16%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
Mali-T880 MP2, Helio P25, 128 GB eMMC Flash
111 MBit/s +13%
Ulefone Armor X
PowerVR GE8100, MT6739, 16 GB eMMC Flash
98.3 MBit/s
CAT S31
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
41.6 MBit/s -58%
Nomu M6
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737T, 16 GB eMMC Flash
31.7 MBit/s -68%
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test indoors
GPS Test indoors

The Armor X can use GPS and GLONASS to locate its own position. We were able to determine our location outdoors with an accuracy up to 5 meters (~16.4 ft) with the GPS Test app. Indoors we lost the connection very quickly and were unable to reestablish it. 

The GPS in our test unit has to prove itself in our obligatory bike tour, where we compare its measured route with that of the Garmin Edge 500. It turns out that the locating works sufficiently well when the view is clear. But, as soon as some houses or small overpasses hinder the satellite signal, the Armor X is not able to record the route accurately anymore.

Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Ulefone Armor X
Ulefone Armor X
Ulefone Armor X
Ulefone Armor X
Ulefone Armor X
Ulefone Armor X

Telephone Functions and Voice Quality - Hollow voice quality in the Armor X

Ulefone uses the standard Android app for phone calls, which can be operated as usual. While the conversation partners sound a little hollow, they are still easily understandable. Things look different in the speakerphone function, where voices sound very tinny and distort from as low as slightly above 50% volume. Therefore, while the volume is theoretically very high, at that level, the speaker is mostly an unpleasant scratchy noise.

Cameras - Ulefone outdoor smartphone for simple snapshots

Front camera image
Front camera image

Ulefone has equipped the Armor X with an 8+5 MP dual camera system on the back and a 5 MP front camera. With the latter, you can record selfies in mediocre quality. In addition, the fixed focus requires a long arm, since otherwise the images become blurry. With an aperture of 2.4, the light sensitivity also leaves something to be desired, causing indoor pictures to turn out slightly too dark in regular daylight.

The main camera also records images too dark, the details appear slightly washed out, and the color transitions are blurry. While close-ups turn out slightly more detailed, when looking closer, the details are hardly reproduced either. In bad light conditions, the camera becomes almost unusable. The recorded object can hardly be seen and is also blurry. The options menu hardly offers any manual settings to counteract this. Besides the image quality and a glimmer filter, there are hardly any adjustment options worth mention.

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.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
ColorChecker Passport
ColorChecker Passport

The picture of the ColorChecker Passport confirms the impression of our test images: the camera of the Armor X records colors too dark, with dark gray and black tones appearing slightly too bright. While this problem remains under controlled light conditions, the effect is not as strong anymore. The reproduction of our test chart is sharp with all the details in the center and becomes blurry only at the bottom edges.

Accessories and Warranty - Chinese smartphone with wireless charging

Ulefone UF002 Qi wireless charger (white)
Ulefone UF002 Qi wireless charger (white)
Ulefone UF002 Qi wireless charger (black)
Ulefone UF002 Qi wireless charger (black)

The box of the Armor X includes a SIM tray tool, a tool to open the port covers, and the USB quick charger with the corresponding MicroUSB cable. Ulefone also includes a protective display cover in the smartphone package. Since the Armor X is equipped with a wireless charge sensor, Ulefone also offers a charging pad that is compatible with the Qi standard and can be purchased for about $20 in black or white colors. 

Ulefone offers a warranty period of 12 months to the buyers of the Armor X. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Operation - GBoard in the Ulefone Armor X

Google's GBoard is available to the users of the Armor X for the input of text messages. This allows you to enter text quickly and without complications, with the vibration feedback hardly being noticeable. Even though the virtual keys are a little further apart in landscape format, they can be easily reached with both thumbs. The touchscreen responds to input directly and does not show any irregular behavior.

The fingerprint sensor on the right side of the Chinese smartphone responds very quickly and can be reached easily. During our testing period, we rarely missed the right position with the thumb the first time. Unlocking the device in this way does not take any longer than swiping over the screen from the bottom to the top.

Display

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

For the display of the Armor X, Ulefone uses an IPS panel with a resolution of 1440x720 pixels. With a brightness of about 540 cd/m² in combination with the rest of the measurements, the display is adequate for this device class. In order to fulfill the requirements outdoors, Ulefone has equipped the Armor X additionally with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

545
cd/m²
560
cd/m²
543
cd/m²
532
cd/m²
564
cd/m²
531
cd/m²
525
cd/m²
556
cd/m²
512
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 564 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 540.9 cd/m² Minimum: 25.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 564 cd/m²
Contrast: 1524:1 (Black: 0.37 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
88.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.1
Ulefone Armor X
IPS, 1440x720, 5.50
Nomu M6
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Oukitel WP5000
IPS, 1440x720, 5.70
Blackview BV9000 Pro
IPS, 1440x720, 5.70
CAT S31
IPS, 1280x720, 4.70
Screen
-5%
-73%
-12%
10%
Brightness middle
564
610
8%
506
-10%
621
10%
784
39%
Brightness
541
578
7%
503
-7%
598
11%
750
39%
Brightness Distribution
91
90
-1%
86
-5%
91
0%
92
1%
Black Level *
0.37
0.31
16%
0.97
-162%
0.64
-73%
0.45
-22%
Contrast
1524
1968
29%
522
-66%
970
-36%
1742
14%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.1
6.8
-33%
9.4
-84%
5.5
-8%
4.28
16%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.6
13.4
-40%
19.9
-107%
10
-4%
8.75
9%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.4
6.8
-26%
13
-141%
5.1
6%
6.1
-13%
Gamma
2.1 105%
2.08 106%
2.59 85%
2.52 87%
2.49 88%
CCT
7755 84%
8003 81%
10219 64%
7362 88%
7175 91%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
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 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Our measurements attest to a good contrast ratio of 1524:1 and a mediocre black value of 0.37 for the Armor X. In everyday life, these results show in well-delineated colors, although the black tones do not appear very saturated. In addition, the portion of blue tones is too high in the display, while the red tones are represented too little.

CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Color Depth
CalMAN - Color Depth
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
16.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 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. » 33 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
43.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22.4 ms rise
↘ 20.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 68 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The Armor X can be easily used outdoors. In shady areas or on cloudy days, the display contents are easily readable due to its sufficient brightness. However, the display cannot compete with direct sunlight, and in addition, there are also reflections of the surroundings or the sky, making the contents hard to see.

Outdoor use
Outdoor use

The display of the Ulefone Armor X has very stable viewing angles. As long as there are no reflections hindering the view, the contents can be read from any viewing angle without any problems.

Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability

Performance - Entry-level smartphone with Android Oreo

The performance of the Ulefone Armor X is targeted towards users with lower demands. The built-in Mediatek MT6739 SoC is designed for simple smartphones, and so is the integrated PowerVR GE8100 graphics unit. Together with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB eMMC flash storage, the components of the Armor X can ensure a smooth operation of Android Oreo version 8.1.

In the benchmarks, our test unit performs in the lower middle of the field of the comparison devices, and in graphics-heavy tests, it often only suffices for last place. Compared to the results of other devices with the Mediatek MT6739, the Armor X achieves values that are slightly below the average.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
37586 Points
Nomu M6
38372 Points +2%
Oukitel WP5000
57489 Points +53%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
64441 Points +71%
CAT S31
24865 Points -34%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (25012 - 38060, n=13)
33655 Points -10%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
46435 Points
Nomu M6
43350 Points -7%
Oukitel WP5000
78088 Points +68%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (26874 - 46951, n=13)
41995 Points -10%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
4298 Points
Nomu M6
4263 Points -1%
Oukitel WP5000
4947 Points +15%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
4465 Points +4%
CAT S31
3080 Points -28%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (3742 - 5136, n=11)
4323 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +251%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
3184 Points
Nomu M6
3116 Points -2%
Oukitel WP5000
4174 Points +31%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
3865 Points +21%
CAT S31
2300 Points -28%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (2467 - 5377, n=16)
3206 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +241%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
206 Points
Nomu M6
707 Points +243%
Oukitel WP5000
1409 Points +584%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
1370 Points +565%
CAT S31
1 Points -100%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (162 - 637, n=15)
291 Points +41%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +2669%
System (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
1491 Points
Nomu M6
1245 Points -16%
Oukitel WP5000
3225 Points +116%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
3238 Points +117%
CAT S31
899 Points -40%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (1103 - 1526, n=15)
1294 Points -13%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +545%
Memory (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
900 Points
Nomu M6
704 Points -22%
Oukitel WP5000
1229 Points +37%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
1028 Points +14%
CAT S31
328 Points -64%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (420 - 1039, n=15)
768 Points -15%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +592%
Graphics (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
188 Points
Nomu M6
383 Points +104%
Oukitel WP5000
1120 Points +496%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
1121 Points +496%
CAT S31
256 Points +36%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (18 - 190, n=15)
160.5 Points -15%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +7294%
Web (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
7 Points
Nomu M6
742 Points +10500%
Oukitel WP5000
888 Points +12586%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
945 Points +13400%
CAT S31
10 Points +43%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (7 - 624, n=15)
165.4 Points +2263%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +21143%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
662 Points
Nomu M6
656 Points -1%
Oukitel WP5000
863 Points +30%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
828 Points +25%
CAT S31
437 Points -34%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (571 - 675, n=14)
632 Points -5%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +665%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
1847 Points
Nomu M6
1819 Points -2%
Oukitel WP5000
3943 Points +113%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
3818 Points +107%
CAT S31
1135 Points -39%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (1418 - 1896, n=14)
1733 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +634%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
1416 Points
Nomu M6
1081 Points -24%
Oukitel WP5000
2663 Points +88%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
2635 Points +86%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (1125 - 1460, n=12)
1328 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +648%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
4188 Points
Nomu M6
6679 Points +59%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
10258 Points +145%
CAT S31
5291 Points +26%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (3392 - 4339, n=17)
3912 Points -7%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
3585 Points
Nomu M6
6036 Points +68%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
10023 Points +180%
CAT S31
5042 Points +41%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (2878 - 4346, n=17)
3398 Points -5%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
10195 Points
Nomu M6
10647 Points +4%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
11176 Points +10%
CAT S31
6396 Points -37%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (7103 - 10981, n=17)
9367 Points -8%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
156 Points
Nomu M6
279 Points +79%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
1008 Points +546%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (120 - 211, n=17)
157.5 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points +2140%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
129 Points
Nomu M6
262 Points +103%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
921 Points +614%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (102 - 185, n=17)
131.6 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points +2881%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
581 Points
Nomu M6
960 Points +65%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
1505 Points +159%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (445 - 690, n=17)
567 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points +414%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
107 Points
Nomu M6
183 Points +71%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
685 Points +540%
CAT S31
0 Points -100%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (80 - 221, n=17)
104.9 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points +2391%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
87 Points
Nomu M6
149 Points +71%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
600 Points +590%
CAT S31
0 Points -100%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (65 - 185, n=17)
85.4 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points +2952%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
585 Points
Nomu M6
945 Points +62%
Oukitel WP5000
Points -100%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
1353 Points +131%
CAT S31
560 Points -4%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (486 - 690, n=17)
567 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points +433%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
9.2 fps
Nomu M6
20 fps +117%
Oukitel WP5000
31 fps +237%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
31 fps +237%
CAT S31
9.8 fps +7%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (8.2 - 15, n=17)
10.1 fps +10%
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps +802%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
5.9 fps
Nomu M6
11 fps +86%
Oukitel WP5000
24 fps +307%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
21 fps +256%
CAT S31
5.6 fps -5%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (4.9 - 6.1, n=17)
5.64 fps -4%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +4036%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
5.1 fps
Nomu M6
8.9 fps +75%
Oukitel WP5000
18 fps +253%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
17 fps +233%
CAT S31
4.3 fps -16%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (4.4 - 10, n=16)
5.61 fps +10%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +1292%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
2.7 fps
Nomu M6
4.1 fps +52%
Oukitel WP5000
11 fps +307%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
10 fps +270%
CAT S31
1.9 fps -30%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (2.2 - 2.8, n=14)
2.56 fps -5%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +5011%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
3.3 fps
Nomu M6
6 fps +82%
Oukitel WP5000
15 fps +355%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
15 fps +355%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (2.6 - 6.7, n=16)
3.51 fps +6%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +1715%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
1.6 fps
Nomu M6
2.5 fps +56%
Oukitel WP5000
6.8 fps +325%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
6.9 fps +331%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (1.3 - 1.7, n=16)
1.494 fps -7%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +5944%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
1.6 fps
Oukitel WP5000
7.3 fps +356%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
8.2 fps +413%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (1.1 - 2.6, n=15)
1.553 fps -3%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +2581%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Ulefone Armor X
0.9 fps
Oukitel WP5000
4.1 fps +356%
Blackview BV9000 Pro
4.1 fps +356%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (0.6 - 0.91, n=14)
0.826 fps -8%
Average of class Smartphone (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +6411%

Legend

 
Ulefone Armor X Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Nomu M6 Mediatek MT6737T, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Oukitel WP5000 Mediatek Helio P25, ARM Mali-T880 MP2, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Blackview BV9000 Pro Mediatek Helio P25, ARM Mali-T880 MP2, 128 GB eMMC Flash
 
CAT S31 Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 MSM8909, Qualcomm Adreno 304, 16 GB eMMC Flash

The Armor X also places in the lower middle of the field in the browser benchmarks. The performance is on a level that can be expected from the Mediatek MT6739. In everyday operation, websites are rendered quickly, and only loading of media contents takes a little longer.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +974%
Blackview BV9000 Pro (Chrome Mobile 53)
32.42 Points +79%
Oukitel WP5000 (Chrome 66)
26.91 Points +48%
Nomu M6 (Chrome 65)
18.97 Points +5%
Ulefone Armor X (Chrome 66)
18.15 Points
Average Mediatek MT6739 (13.4 - 18.5, n=14)
16.7 Points -8%
CAT S31
12.44 Points -31%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +964%
Oukitel WP5000 (Chrome 66)
5132 Points +63%
Blackview BV9000 Pro (Chrome Mobile 53)
4155 Points +32%
Nomu M6 (Chrome 65)
3333 Points +6%
Ulefone Armor X (Chrome 66)
3151 Points
Average Mediatek MT6739 (2093 - 3386, n=15)
2945 Points -7%
CAT S31
2010 Points -36%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
CAT S31
17828 ms * -12%
Average Mediatek MT6739 (13599 - 18154, n=16)
16427 ms * -3%
Blackview BV9000 Pro (Chrome Mobile 53)
16298 ms * -3%
Ulefone Armor X (Chrome 66)
15876 ms *
Nomu M6
12915 ms * +19%
Oukitel WP5000 (Chrome 66)
10209 ms * +36%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +90%

* ... smaller is better

Users who can do without the dual-SIM functionality can use the microSD card reader to expand the storage. While this card reader is one of the better representatives of this price range, it is not particularly fast. Using our Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 reference storage card, the Armor X places in the upper middle of the field of comparison devices.

The internal flash storage is also not one of the fastest, but achieves values in the storage benchmark that are only barely below the average of all the smartphones we tested.

Ulefone Armor XNomu M6Oukitel WP5000Blackview BV9000 ProCAT S31Average 16 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-23%
51%
88%
-10%
-20%
1430%
Sequential Read 256KB
255.3
223
-13%
257.5
1%
244.7
-4%
71.1
-72%
164.5 ?(9.66 - 294, n=256)
-36%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
475%
Sequential Write 256KB
82.8
91
10%
162.1
96%
174.6
111%
62.1
-25%
43 ?(8.74 - 106.3, n=256)
-48%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
1201%
Random Read 4KB
14.7
12.78
-13%
66.9
355%
72.6
394%
14.28
-3%
21.7 ?(2.49 - 62.1, n=256)
48%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
1539%
Random Write 4KB
10.17
11.38
12%
9.89
-3%
12.72
25%
14.81
46%
8.08 ?(0.49 - 44.9, n=256)
-21%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
2506%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
81.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
28.69 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-65%
21.11 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-74%
76.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-6%
81.8
0%
59.1 ?(8.1 - 87.7, n=137)
-27%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
62.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
18.72 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-70%
20.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-67%
68.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
9%
59.5
-5%
39.8 ?(6.38 - 65.8, n=137)
-36%

Games - Simple games on the outdoor smartphone

The PowerVR GE8100 graphics unit in the Ulefone Armor X is suited for simple games or games with low graphics settings. However, you have to accept some longer wait times in this. The "Temple Run 2" and "Dead Trigger" games we tested ran smoothly and could be controlled well with the touchscreen. In games that are controlled by the position sensor, this responds reliably, but the reaction could have been a little faster.

Temple Run 2
Temple Run 2
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2

Emissions - Speaker with below-average sound

Temperature

In daily operation, the Ulefone Armor X hardly heats up and only gets marginally warmer under load. The highest temperature we measured is barely 39 °C (102 °F), which can be called normal. The outdoor smartphone does not stand out with unusual temperature developments in everyday life.

Max. Load
 37.3 °C
99 F
37.5 °C
100 F
34.1 °C
93 F
 
 34.4 °C
94 F
38.9 °C
102 F
35.9 °C
97 F
 
 33.9 °C
93 F
38.1 °C
101 F
36 °C
97 F
 
Maximum: 38.9 °C = 102 F
Average: 36.2 °C = 97 F
31.4 °C
89 F
33.3 °C
92 F
36.4 °C
98 F
30.8 °C
87 F
33.2 °C
92 F
38.4 °C
101 F
30.3 °C
87 F
32.3 °C
90 F
38 °C
100 F
Maximum: 38.4 °C = 101 F
Average: 33.8 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  31.7 °C = 89 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.2 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.9 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.4 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.2 °C / 90 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat map - top
Heat map - top
Heat map - bottom
Heat map - bottom

Speaker

PinkNoise
PinkNoise

Although the speaker of the Ulefone smartphone can get relatively loud, the sound becomes very distorted beginning at half the possible volume. An added factor is that the sounds below the high mids drop sharply and everything above is unbalanced. At moderate volumes, voices still can be easily understood, but music or background noises are getting lost. Users of the Armor-X outdoor smartphone should therefore use a headset or external speakers.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.231.72532.931.33137.232.74031.730.35039.635.36328.329.88027.329.610026.927.612526.7281602428.820020.927.825020.936.131519.543.840018.552.350017.559.563017.564.180015.771.2100015.877.8125016.676.9160015.874.1200015.474.1250015.576.431501677.1400015.878.950001678630016.370.2800016.361.61000016.2721250016.472.21600016.459SPL28.687.3N1.166median 16.4median 70.2Delta2.214.435.235.732.939.637.238.431.74039.64028.331.627.334.726.932.626.730.32430.820.93620.94119.551.818.561.917.567.817.573.715.781.215.882.316.67915.873.115.470.715.571.81670.515.874.61678.116.382.216.37916.272.716.464.516.462.328.689.31.178.9median 16.4median 71.82.213.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseUlefone Armor XOukitel WP5000
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Ulefone Armor X audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 38.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 7.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (26.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 64% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 30% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 79% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 17% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Oukitel WP5000 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 34.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 46% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 65% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 28% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life - Outdoor smartphone with long battery life

Power Consumption

While the Ulefone Armor X consumes slightly more power than comparable devices, it is far from being a power hog. With a maximum power consumption of 5.4 watts under load, the smartphone remains slightly below the average of all the smartphones we tested, but we have seen devices with the Mediatek MT6739 that are a bit more energy efficient.

The included 10-watt charger completely recharges the 5500 mAh battery in about four hours. We were also able to test the wireless charge function with the Ulefone UF002 wireless charger. After 2 1/2 hours of using this, the battery was only charged up to 25%, resulting in a complete recharging duration that is correspondingly longer.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.01 / 0.06 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.22 / 2.07 / 2.14 Watt
Load midlight 4.92 / 5.4 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Ulefone Armor X
5500 mAh
Nomu M6
3000 mAh
Oukitel WP5000
5200 mAh
Blackview BV9000 Pro
4180 mAh
CAT S31
4000 mAh
Average Mediatek MT6739
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
31%
1%
-2%
18%
-14%
3%
Idle Minimum *
1.22
0.74
39%
1.18
3%
1.04
15%
0.73
40%
1.522 ?(0.87 - 2.8, n=16)
-25%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
27%
Idle Average *
2.07
1.49
28%
2.17
-5%
2.14
-3%
2.21
-7%
2.17 ?(1.6 - 3.5, n=16)
-5%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
30%
Idle Maximum *
2.14
1.51
29%
2.26
-6%
2.17
-1%
2.25
-5%
2.86 ?(1.68 - 6.3, n=16)
-34%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
24%
Load Average *
4.92
2.89
41%
3.68
25%
5.11
-4%
2.99
39%
4.73 ?(2.8 - 7, n=16)
4%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-13%
Load Maximum *
5.4
4.33
20%
6.06
-12%
6.37
-18%
4.12
24%
5.99 ?(3.5 - 11.9, n=16)
-11%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-53%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

In our realistic WLAN test, the Armor X achieves a very good battery life of 14 hours. However, this only puts the Ulefone smartphone in third place in our comparison list. Other outdoor devices achieve even longer runtimes with smaller batteries.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
14h 05min
Ulefone Armor X
5500 mAh
Nomu M6
3000 mAh
Oukitel WP5000
5200 mAh
Blackview BV9000 Pro
4180 mAh
CAT S31
4000 mAh
Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3
845
623
-26%
1189
41%
579
-31%
1074
27%

Pros

+ long battery life
+ fast fingerprint sensor
+ robust case with IP68 certification

Cons

- low system performance
- small internal storage
- apps cannot be moved onto the storage card

Verdict - Ulefone Armor X: Robust case and simple performance

Testing the Ulefone Armor X. Test unit provided by Ulefone
Testing the Ulefone Armor X. Test unit provided by Ulefone

In our test, the Ulefone Armor X showed itself as a simple smartphone, whose strength lies in the robust case rather than the system performance. Despite the not-so-good benchmark results, the Chinese smartphone can provide a smooth system operation. All the essential functions that are necessary in extreme situations are available and work well.

While the Ulefone Armor X is a simple smartphone that shines mainly through its robust case, the users should not have too many demands on the system performance.

Users who only expect the absolutely necessary from a smartphone and mainly value stability are well taken care of by the Armor X from Ulefone. We did not notice any major deficiencies. The large battery would probably last a little longer in another device, and we would have liked the ability to move apps to the storage card.

Ulefone Armor X - 06/15/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
83%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 91%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
41 / 60 → 68%
Weight
87%
Battery
97%
Display
84%
Games Performance
7 / 63 → 11%
Application Performance
35 / 70 → 50%
Temperature
90%
Noise
100%
Audio
63 / 91 → 69%
Camera
50%
Average
68%
78%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Mike Wobker, 2018-06-20 (Update: 2019-03-11)