Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro Design Highlights

Design, build and controls

The design of the Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro is completely identical to that of the non-Pro version. At a first glance, it is obvious this is a ruggedized device with a somewhat elegant flair to it, compared to other 360-degree protected smartphones. The model is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, IP69K rated for protection against water pressure and extreme temperatures, and MIL-STD-810G certified for meeting the military standards for resistance to dust, shock, water, humidity, drops. The detailed rugged qualities of the model are fully described in the Power Armor 14 review. The two models have identical footprints that are very close to that of another Ulefone smartphone - the Armor 12, except for the depth and weight. The Power Armor 14 Pro is 82.5 mm wide, 175.6 mm tall, 17.2 mm thick, and weighs 358.2 g.

The Ulefone Power Armor 14 Pro uses metal, tough polycarbonate, and TPU to ensure it survives various environmental challenges. The case housing the display and the rear shell are made of gray-colored polycarbonate. On the front, it protrudes from the display surface to provide additional protection, while the vertical sides of the rear shell slope sideways to make for a more comfortable grip. The metal frame is partially visible on the two vertical sides of the smartphone attached with several screws to the chassis. It has a repetitive X-pattern for decoration that is repeated on the black plastic element that surrounds the camera module on the back of the handset. The top and bottom frame as well as the four reinforced corners are covered by soft TPU that provides additional cushioning during drops.

The display occupies most of the front of the handset and has an oleophobic coating that actually does a decent job. The bezels are thick, measuring 3 mm on the vertical sides, 5 mm on the top, and 8 mm on the bottom. The top bezel has a V-shaped notch for the 16MP front camera. The light and proximity sensors are located to the left of the notch, while the LED notification light is to its right. The waterproof receiver is tucked between the glass and the polycarbonate casing. The bottom bezel is bare. You can choose from on-screen gestures or on-screen navigation bar navigation. Choosing gestures is suitable in case you need more screen estate. Both variants are customizable.

The polycarbonate rear shell has two "U" arcs underlining the upper half of the body where the camera module is located, surrounded by an X-patterned thinner plastic that's indented compared to the tougher polycarbonate covering the rest of the body. The Ulefone logo is imprinted there in a pastel, dark pink color. The same color is used for the frame of the camera module. A pressure relief hole is seen to the right of the module.

The top frame has an indented area without a specified purpose and a 3.5 mm jack covered by a rubber protective cap. The bottom one houses the USB Type-C port, a microphone hole, and a powerful speaker. The USB Type-C port has a protective cap also attached with a bolt to the chassis. The hybrid-, dual-SIM tray is located on the left frame. It can be easily removed with fingers and has a red sealing band. Below it, you will see the customizable button design in the same pastel, dark-pink color. It can be configured to activate the PtP app (Zello) and also have other apps associated to it depending on whether it is pressed once, twice, or long-pressed. The right frame is where you'll find the signature pink Volume Up/Down button and the Power button with an embedded capacitive fingerprint sensor. The Power button has a dark-pink outline.