Ulefone Armor 12 Review

Design, build and controls

First things first. As a ruggedized smartphone, the Ulefone Armor 12 has several qualities that have to be summarized here. For starters, the device has an IP68 rating denoting resistance to water and dust. More specifically, the model can withstand a soak in water up to 1.5 meters of depth for up to 30 minutes. It can also survive being buried in 1 meter of concrete for 24 hours and still function without problems. The IP69K rating means the device is protected against water pressure and extreme temperatures. The MIL-STD-810G military rating certifies that it meets the military standard for resistance to dust, shock, water, humidity, drops. The Armor 12 is tested to withstand drops from up to 1.2 meters of height. In addition, it can survive low-pressure conditions (57kPa) for up to 4 hours at temperatures of 25℃. The device works in a high humidity environment (50%-90%), within a wide range of temperatures (23-60℃), for up to 6-8 hours. For up to 20 hours it can withstand 1120W/m² of solar radiation at a temperature of 49℃. Finally, it can withstand an acidic atmosphere with pH 4.17 at 35℃ - 2 hours of spraying or 22 hours of storage in such conditions. The Ulefone Armor 12 has a solid build and uses advanced sealing technology for waterproofness. A high-density macro-molecule coating for all environmentally exposed parts is adopted, including for the USB Type-C port which does not have a protective cap, the microphones and pressure relief hole, the hybrid dual SIM tray, which has a red rubber sealant on the inside, and the physical buttons. The smartphone's body combines a metal chassis with a tough polycarbonate case and a TPU cover that ensures a stable grip and additional cushioning for protection against drops. Last but not least, the body has an anti-bacterial silver ion coating. The body is available in a gray color with black accents and in a black color with orange accents. We are reviewing a gray version. The Ulefone Armor 12 has a tall and wide body - 175.9 mm and 82.5 mm, respectively. However, for a ruggedized smartphone, it feels lightweight and thin, even if it weighs 296 grams and is 14.25 mm thick. The display occupies the front of the handset and is encapsulated in a hard polycarbonate casing. Its rim protrudes from the glass surface as an additional protection feature. The display has thick bezels - 3 mm side ones, 5 mm for the top, and 8 mm for the bottom. The top bezel has a V-shaped notch for the 16MP front camera. To the right of the notch, the light and proximity sensors are located, followed by the LED notification light. The earpiece is tucked between the glass and the polycarbonate casing. The bottom bezel is bare. You can choose from an on-screen gesture or on-screen navigation bar navigation. Choosing gestures is suitable in case you need more screen estate. Both variants are customizable. The rear shell is entirely covered with a rubbery coating that also covers the top and bottom frame, all four corners, and partially the side frames. The top-left corner houses the camera module with three of the cameras aligned vertically while the dual-tone LED flash and the fourth camera are aligned vertically to their right. Below this module, there's a black-colored strip with a microphone hole, pressure relief hole, the Ulefone logo, 5G and AI camera signs, CE mark. The bottom of the rear shell is occupied by the two linear stereo speakers. The speaker grill holes have an X-like shape. The same X shape icon is imprinted in the camera module as a decoration in orange color. The top frame has an indented area without a specified purpose. The bottom one houses the USB Type-C port and a microphone hole. The right bottom corner has a special area for attaching the hand strap. The left frame is the home to the hybrid, dual-SIM tray and the customizable button. The right frame is where you'll find the Volume Up/Down button and the Power one. The Power button has an embedded capacitive fingerprint sensor. The side frames are made of metal and have an X-shaped decoration that has not only aesthetic purpose but also makes handling more comfortable as the device is less slippery.