{"id":6910,"date":"2020-07-01T19:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T19:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/garfnet.org.uk\/cms\/?p=6910"},"modified":"2025-02-06T17:21:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T17:21:17","slug":"ulefone-3w-ruggedised-smartphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/garfnet.org.uk\/cms\/2020\/07\/01\/ulefone-3w-ruggedised-smartphone\/","title":{"rendered":"Ulefone 3w ruggedised smartphone"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently purchased an unlocked Chinese Ulefone Armor 3W<\/a> ruggedised smartphone – c\/w Mediatek chipset, 8-core 64-bit CPU, dual unlocked SIM slots, 256GiB TF slot and 10300mAH battery. I have quite a soft-spot for cheap generic Chinese phones. Of course, one has to choose the product quite carefully. You need to ensure your preferred device is not hobbled, or encumbered with masses of bloatware.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you want to make the device really<\/em> useful then one also needs to be prepared to a little work oneself – especially if you wish to root<\/a> the device. Because of its high power and relatively low cost, I did not feel particularly scared about experimenting with my new Ulefone via ADB <\/a> (Android Debug Bridge). If one is successful, then  the device becomes a seriously useful handheld computer at a bargain-basement price. And if I had bricked the device <\/a> , well, it would have been an annoying <\/i> financial loss, but hardly an earth-shattering one.<\/p>\n

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18mm thick and weighing around 360 grams, it’s a bit of a paving-slab<\/em> lump in your pocket TBH, but it’s as tough as old boots. And it’s water and dust resistant to IP69K<\/a> – which means I can get it very grubby, covered in mud, engine oil, compost, soot, grease etc. and simply wash it off afterwards in the sink with some Swarfega or detergent.<\/p>\n

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The main camera is a single 21MP Sony camera module. It’s not exactly the planet’s greatest camera, but for most practical purposes, it’s good enough. Means I always have a camera with me. Also means that when I dismantle a piece of equipment for repair or maintenance, I can photograph the disassembly, so that I can reassemble it again safely and easily. This is also  handy for identifying spare parts correctly.<\/p>\n

This particular device currently has a 512GB MicroSD card for additional data storage. This means I can store copies of all my service literature, circuit diagrams, maps etc. etc. I have to say for the sorts of things for which I need quick but useful snaps, it’s actually pretty good…<\/p>\n

\"PCB<\/a>
PCB close-up shot with Ulefone Armor 3w<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whilst I don’t use my ruggedised smartphone for studio photography as a camera per se<\/em>, I do sometimes tether<\/em> my real camera (Lumix DMC-GX7<\/a>) to it via Wi-Fi, using Panasonic’s excellent Image App<\/a>. I would also add that on Android devices, often one can squeeze some extra performance from your smartphone’s camera module by the use of a third party camera app. My personal favourite is a free open source app called Open Camera<\/a>,<\/em> available from the F-Droid open source app repository – no fee, no ads, no trackers and no hidden nasties:-<\/p>\n