If you’ve ever wished your smartphone could survive the same adventures you do, the Ulefone Armor 24 might be exactly what you’re looking for. I’ve been testing this powerhouse for a few days, and it’s one of the most rugged devices I’ve handled. From its mammoth battery to its military-grade toughness, this phone feels purpose-built for anyone who works or plays in extreme environments.

Built Like a Tank

The first thing you notice when you pick up the Armor 24 is its size and weight. At 181.2 mm tall, 87 mm wide, 27.5 mm thick, and a hefty 647 grams, this isn’t your typical slim glass-and-metal smartphone. It feels solid, reassuringly heavy, and clearly engineered to withstand punishment.

It’s rated IP68 and IP69K for water and dust resistance, and carries MIL-STD-810H certification for shock and environmental stress. In plain English, that means it can handle splashes, dust, drops, and even being submerged in 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, this is exactly the kind of peace of mind I want from a device.

Battery Life That Won’t Quit

The Armor 24 houses a staggering 22,000mAh battery – one of the largest you’ll find in any smartphone. Ulefone claims up to 1300 hours of standby time and 100 hours of talk time, and in my testing, it easily lasted several days with heavy use. It supports 66W fast charging and 10W reverse charging, so you can even top up other devices in a pinch.

If you’re hiking, camping, or working on a site far from power outlets, this battery alone makes the Armor 24 worth considering.

A Built-in Floodlight

Another standout feature is the integrated LED light bar, which can produce up to 1000 lumens of brightness. It’s bright enough to illuminate a work area or a campsite and far outshines the tiny flashes most phones call “torches.” Combined with its IPX8 waterproofing, this is a genuinely useful tool when you’re off the grid.

Performance and Display

Under the hood, the Armor 24 runs on the MediaTek Helio G96 processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB via microSD). This isn’t a gaming flagship, but it handles multitasking, streaming, and everyday apps smoothly.

The 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz display is bright, sharp, and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It’s a nice contrast to the rugged exterior – smooth, colourful, and responsive.

Cameras with Night Vision

You get a 64MP main camera and a 64MP night vision camera on the back, plus a 16MP front camera. The main shooter delivers crisp, detailed shots in daylight, while the night vision camera uses infrared to capture clear images in total darkness. It’s a clever addition that suits the Armor 24’s outdoorsy, practical personality.

Security and Connectivity

The phone offers a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock, both of which are fast and reliable. It supports dual SIM 4G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC with Google Pay, and multiple GPS systems, so you’re always connected and trackable even in remote areas.

Final Thoughts

The Ulefone Armor 24 is not for everyone. It’s big, heavy, and unapologetically utilitarian. But if you’re an adventurer, field worker, or just someone who’s tired of fragile phones that can’t survive real-world conditions, this is a device you can depend on.

With its military-grade ruggedness, huge battery, powerful light, and solid performance, the Armor 24 stands out as one of the most capable rugged smartphones available in South Africa right now.

If you’re looking for a phone that can go where you go – and keep going – the Ulefone Armor 24 deserves a serious look.