Smartphone manufacturer Ulefone on Monday unveiled the first real-life images and video showing the Ulefone Armor 5, what it claims is the world’s first smartphone with a display notch, thus seeking to maximize the screen real estate offered to consumers while still not making any compromises in terms of durability. The aesthetic is also meant to help the Ulefone Armor 5 differentiate itself from its rivals, with rugged handsets traditionally being bulky affairs with large bezels, whereas the upcoming device is meant to deliver a more elegant look with slim bezels and a tall aspect ratio that’s both suitable for single-handed use and can easily survive a drop or five.
The Chinese original equipment manufacturer refers to its rugged protections as a “tri-proof” design, claiming the Ulefone Armor 5 is also the world’s first rugged handset with an elongated display panel featuring a highly unconventional 18.9:9 image format. If not accounting for its notch, the tall screen found on the device is a more traditional 18:9 (2:1) affair that consumers should already be familiar with. The device is also equipped with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space, as well as a 13-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear plate of the Ulefone Armor 5 features a dual-camera setup using a 16-megapixel primary sensor supported by a 5-megapixel module, with the handset also being powered by a 5,000mAh battery with wireless charging capabilities based on the omnipresent Qi standard.
A fingerprint reader is also part of the package, together with face unlock support and all traditional advantages of Google‘s Android operating system. Ulefone says the Armor 5 will cost approximately $200, though the company has yet to attach a specific price tag to its upcoming rugged smartphone. Two colors of the device have been shown so far, with both featuring a unique colored wood effect, as can be seen in the images and video included below. The handset is expected to launch later this summer, with its exact release date being likely to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
