The tough phone market is highly competitive, with each model striving to distinguish itself from the other. The Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra's Walkie-Talkie edition sets itself apart from most other mobiles with a set of usual features, such as Walkie-Talkie, FM Radio, and Endoscope accessory option, combined with an ultra-tough, outdoor-ready design.
While many rugged phones are built tough, the Armor 26 Ultra stands out with its additional functions and features. The headline feature is the phone's ability to function as a walkie-talkie, supporting both mobile radio and DMR modes with UHF or VHF antennas. These antennas are included in the box, providing flexibility for different types of communication and are especially useful where the network signal is low.
In addition to standard apps for streaming services and video conferencing, the Armor 26 Ultra includes a standard FM radio, allowing you to tune into traditional wireless radio stations without relying on digital connections.
If these features haven't already marked this phone out as something a bit different, then the range of accessories takes its use a step further. Alongside the usual cases and straps, there's a plug-in endoscope, which is invaluable for seeing around bends, inside walls, or behind sinks.
Performance-wise, the Armor 26 Ultra is solid. It runs a mid-level mobile processor and GPU that's more than enough for most applications and the slightly older Android 13 OS. However, at the core, this phone is designed for work purposes. Its build quality ensures it can withstand being trampled, bashed, thrown, dropped from heights, and submerged in water, making it one of the toughest smartphones available.
The added features, like the plug-in endoscope, are innovative, though the method of attaching it by means of small screws is fiddly, but once installed it's extremely handy. The UHF walkie-talkie feature and FM radio, on the other hand, are well thought through, with a dedicated antenna for UHF or VHF needing to be fitted depending on the system you and the team are using. Using the walkie-talkie feature requires another Armor 26 Ultra or compatible walkie-talkie, but once channels are confirmed, the operation is simple with a recording feature that adds to the functionality.
Ultimately, the Armor 26 Ultra is unique compared to the best rugged phones we've reviewed. It's perfectly suited for businesses with employees working on-site, and it offers durability and several communication options, from standard 5G mobile networks to more traditional Walkie-Talkies.
Where can you get it? You can get it directly from https://www.ulefone.com/
The Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra is priced at approximately $699, making it a premium option in the rugged smartphone market. It is available for purchase directly from the Ulefone official website by clicking here and through various online retailers such as Amazon and AliExpress.
The Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra is purpose-built for outdoor use, with every detail designed for ruggedness. The phone is significantly larger and heavier than, say, an iPhone 15 Pro measuring in at 179 x 83 x 25.5 mm and weighing 600g. This size is matched by a robust design featuring angular lines and yellow accents that all come together to emphasise its tough, outdoorsy nature. The exterior is made from hard rubberised plastic that provides shock protection against knocks and drops.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Reflecting the intended market for which the phone is designed there are a range of accessories including a holster-style phone case that clips onto a belt making it ideal for on-site use. The phone's front features a large 6.7-inch touchscreen display, accompanied by a small front camera for video calls. The back houses a tri-camera setup, including a 200MP main camera and a substantial speaker unit that ensures loud audio for the walkie-talkie feature and FM radio.
On the left side, the phone features a dual SIM and TF microSD card slot, a yellow walkie-talkie shortcut button, and contacts for connecting the optional endoscope. The base includes a USB Type-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The right side has a red SOS button, a power button with biometric fingerprint recognition, and volume controls. Finally, a flap on the top conceals the socket for UHF or VHF antennas to enable the walkie-talkie functionality.
While the size and weight of the phone are large and relatively weighty, it has been ergonomically designed and is comfortable and easy to hold.
Design: 5 / 5
Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra Walkie-Talkie: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
15,600mAh battery
IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H certification
When it comes to features, the Armor 26 Ultra is packed with more than most. Starting with its tough credentials, it has IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H certification, which means it's waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof. It also stands up to military-grade drop testing, making this phone suitable for use on building sites or as a great option if you're hiking off the beaten trail and need a phone that can survive all elements and conditions. To ensure the screen stays intact even after a big drop, it features Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which also offers increased scratch resistance with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
The 6.78-inch Full HD screen has a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth motion graphic when gaming or watching videos. The multi-touch display features IPS technology which produces a clear crisp and bright image. The phone supports 5G networks, enabling fast connections to mobile networks for quick downloading of content and files, provided there is a signal, otherwise there's Wifi 6 support if available and the Walkie-Talkie feature.
Powering the phone is the MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chip with an octa-core CPU and advanced Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, with processing speeds up to 2.6 GHz. It comes with up to 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM (12 GB + 12 GB Virtual RAM) and 512 GB of UFS 3.1 ROM, expandable to 2 TB with a TF microSD card.
Imaging is another standout feature with a 200-megapixel main camera that uses a Samsung ISOCELL HP3 1/1.4" sensor and EIS for blur-free images. There's a 64-megapixel night vision camera with a Night Elf Ultra 3.0 algorithm and two IR LEDs, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide macro lens with a 117.3° field of view. On the front there's a 50MP Selfie camera.
The phone is powered by a huge 15,600mAh battery, offering up to 1,750 hours of standby time, 56 hours of talk time, and 23 hours of video playback. The rated capacity is actually 7,800mAh with a high voltage of 7.74V, claimed to be equivalent to the larger capacity. Such a large battery could take a long time to charge, but thankfully, the phone comes with a 120W flash charger. It can also charge through the PD protocol with a Type-C to Type-C cable. One of the notable accessories available for the Armor 26 Ultra is the 33W fast charging dock, allowing you to pop the phone into the dock for automatic charging when connected to AC power. This setup is similar to most walkie-talkies and reinforces the phone's design for building sites and similar trades.
A nice feature of this large-capacity battery is reverse charging. If your earbuds, watch, or other devices need a power boost, simply connect them to the phone via a USB cable, and they can use the phone's charge.
The smartphone apps included enhance its features, making it more versatile than other rugged phones. These include the camera app to connect to the endoscope for inspecting hard-to-reach places, the walkie-talkie app for direct communication, and the FM radio app for listening to traditional radio stations even without a digital signal.
Features: 5 / 5
Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra Walkie-Talkie: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Excellent processing power
Plenty of storage options
When testing the performance of the Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra, it was essential to consider both its durability and functionality in various applications.
The first aspect to investigate is the build quality and toughness, given its certifications. The Armor 26 Ultra claims to withstand harsh conditions, and our tests confirmed this. The phone was dropped from 1.5 meters onto a hard surface multiple times. Despite its 600g weight causing significant impact, the phone survived with minimal damage. It endured being thrown, trampled on different surfaces, and sustained scratches and dirt without any functional issues.
For water resistance, we submerged the phone in a river for 30 minutes. After ensuring all ports were sealed, we retrieved the phone, wiped it clean, and it functioned perfectly.
Next, we assessed the Armor 26 Ultra's additional features, such as the endoscope and walkie-talkie functions. Attaching the endoscope was a bit cumbersome, requiring the unscrewing of a bolt on the side to connect the contacts. Once connected and secured, the endoscope provided a clear 720p HD view, allowing users to inspect hard-to-reach areas with the built in LED light helping to throw some illumination where needed. This feature is particularly useful for trades that require detailed inspections in confined spaces.
The walkie-talkie function was tested by pairing the phone with an existing UHF walkie-talkie system. Setting the UHF antenna, included in the box, to the correct frequency was straightforward. The communication was clear, and the ability to record conversations for later review could be a valuable feature.
Switching the phoens testing to actual use and it seemed that the data processing capabilities were good with it able to handle everyday tasks with ease. Using standard applications like Google Docs, the phone was able to handle the review and editing of documents with ease and the large touchscreen made navigating those documents as well as browsing the internet easy.
In terms of processing power, the Armor 26 Ultra surpassed expectations for a rugged phone. It handled more intensive applications like Adobe Lightroom and CapCut without issue, enabling quick image enhancements and social media edits. The 5G connectivity ensured fast upload speeds, and it was tested on the Vodafone network in the UK. Benchmarking results showed that while it may not compete with high-end smartphones like the iPhone 15 Pro, it performed exceptionally well compared to other rugged smartphones, often surpassing their performance.
Overall, the Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra proves to be a highly durable options perfect for all weather conditions and ideally suited to trade and construction sites.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Performance: 3 / 5
Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra Walkie-Talkie: Final verdict
The Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra offers far more than most rugged smartphones. Its tough design ensures it can withstand more abuse than most, and it also surpasses other rugged phones in durability and build quality. The unique feature set, including the ability to convert the phone into a fully functional walkie-talkie, makes it an excellent choice for use on building sites, allowing multiple Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra's Walkie-Talkie Edition devices to keep everyone on-site updated.
For individual tradespeople, the plug-in two-meter endoscope enables the ability to inspect of areas that would otherwise be impossible to access. The built-in traditional wireless radio adds to its overall appeal, especially in locations where internet connections are weak or non-existent.
While the processing power doesn't match that of high-end smartphones, it is sufficient for browsing the internet, making calls, and utilising the various handy accessories available for this phone. For these uses, it has ample power.
The Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra's Walkie-Talkie Edition is a solid choice for use on building sites and by tradespeople. It provides a an excellent option for communication through both standard mobile networks and through the UHF/VHF walkie-talkie function, making it a great choice anyone who needs a rugged smartphone.
Should you buy a Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra Walkie-Talkie?
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Buy it if...
You want a rugged phone for on-site
The Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra is perfect for construction sites with its durable build, walkie-talkie function, and robust communication tools.
You want specialized inspection tools
Tradespeople needing to inspect hard-to-reach areas will find the endoscope functionality invaluable, making tasks easier and more efficient.
Don't buy it if...
You need a lightweight smartphone
If portability is a priority, the Armor 26 Ultra's substantial size and weight might be a drawback, making it cumbersome for everyday use.
You need high-end performance for apps
For those who need top-tier processing power for intensive applications, the Armor 26 Ultra may fall short compared to flagship smartphones.
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