After the Armor 10 and Armor 9, the new Ulefone Armor 11T Smartphone promises to be a worthy successor. It claims to be a very solid rugged handset, together with truly useful features, all while keeping your wallet safe and sound. For example, you might have heard that thermal imaging is now popular amongst rugged phones, and the Armor 11T did not miss this trend. If you are curious about the other features it has, make sure to keep an eye on this review.
| Size | 163.8 x 81.6 x 14.2 mm |
| Weight | 295 grams |
| Operating system | Android 11 |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 256GB UFS 2.1 |
| Rear camera | 48MP, 13MP, 20MP, 2MP, 2MP |
| Front camera | 16MP |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 |
| Battery | 5.2Ah |
Armor 11T: Design
While the Armor 9 and Armor 10 amazed us with their unconventional design, the Armor 11T kept it rather safe. It has fewer edges and screws, and it misses the flaps that protect the USB Type-C port on the bottom edge. Overall, it has a tidier look, and it is also smaller and lighter, in comparison with its predecessors.
On the front of the phone you will find a teardrop notch that hosts the selfie camera, under an oleophobic screen. For extra protection, the display is covered by a Gorilla Glass 5 layer. Also, the octagonal shape successfully protects the display corners, which are the most fragile part of the phone. On the bottom, next to the connector, is a dual-SIM tray, that replaces the usual microSD slot. On the left edge, it will be impossible to not notice the bright orange button. This one can be customized to fit whatever preferences you have. On the opposite side, there are the volume buttons, the power one and a fingerprint scanner.
On the back of the phone, there are five camera sensors, plus a flash LED. Two of the sensors are dedicated to thermal imaging and are right next to the flash. This is definitely not a great move, as that protruded area is more exposed to scratches. Also, on the back you will notice the “powered by Flir” inscription and the Ulefone logo.
Armor 11T: Hardware
In terms of hardware, the Armor 11T is a hybrid between the Armor 9 and Armor 10. It has the same processor, memory, storage, depth sensor, macro lens and front camera as the Armor 9 and the same FLIR Lepton thermal sensor from the Armor 10. One aspect that could be a little disappointing is that the display is only HD+ instead of full HD+. With this, come advantages and disadvantages. The advantages would be that the price is lower and the battery consumption is also reduced.
On the other hand, the pictures will most likely be slightly blurry, which may come across as an inconvenience. Other than this, the pixel density of the screen stands at 282ppi, which is a third less than the older Armor 9. In addition, the battery is also weaker compared to its younger brothers, a 5200mAh one. Two things that do not miss are the Wi-Fi 5 connectivity plus NFC.
Aside from this, inside the box you will find a tempered glass, a 18W power supply unit, together with a bright red, 1M long USB cable. More than this, you will also notice that there is an audio adaptor and two small rubber flaps. Their purpose is to cover the USB port, since they are not incorporated. While the downside is that they can be easily misplaced, we guess that this is better than nothing.
Performance
On synthetic benchmarks, the Android 11 on the Armor 11T performed surprisingly well. Therefore, the numbers are some of the best noted on rigged smartphones so far. It simply passed its rivals, proving its worth as a mobile platform. Now, the question is, is Google’s newest iteration of Android OS the cause?
While we give that a thought, here a few more facts. You can charge the Armor 11T wirelessly, even though there is no indicator on the body to tell you that. On the other hand, the flapless Type-C connector is both good and bad: good for the convenience, but bad because it can be really easy to short circuit your phone if the port is wet.
In conclusion, the Armor 11T is a worthy successor for its brothers Armor 10 and Armor 9. It is a very solid rugged handset that will not break your wallet. Of course, the small price comes with a reason, and the biggest one is the HD+ display. This can be a real disadvantage, especially when you consider the options you get with other smartphones. Nevertheless, the ABS plastic finish is also not something to look forward to, but if you can get over these things, it is a great phone. You can find it on AliExpress for a great deal, so do not miss your chance!
