Ulefone Note 18 Pro Review: Features, Price, and Performance
Network
- Technology: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
Launch
- Announced: November 2024
- Status: Available, Released November 2024
Body
- Dimensions: 168.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.65 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
- Weight: 211.6 g (7.48 oz)
- SIM: Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Display
- Type: IPS LCD, 90Hz
- Size: 6.78 inches, 109.2 cm² (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
- Resolution: 720 x 1640 pixels (~264 ppi density)
- Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass
Platform
- OS: Android 14
- Chipset: Mediatek Helio G91 (12 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
Memory
- Card Slot: microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
- Internal Storage: 256GB 6GB RAM
Main Camera
- Dual:
- 64 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.73", 0.64µm, PDAF
- 50 MP, f/2.2, 117˚, (ultrawide), 1/2.8"
- Features: LED flash, HDR, panorama
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Selfie Camera
- Single: 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
- Features: HDR
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Sound
- Loudspeaker: Yes
- 3.5mm Jack: Yes
Comms
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth: 5.1, A2DP, LE
- Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- NFC: Yes
- Infrared Port: Yes
- Radio: FM radio, RDS, recording
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Features
- Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery
- Type: Li-Po 5450 mAh
- Charging: 18W wired
Miscellaneous
- Colors: Lustrous Black, Moonlit White, Titanium Gray
The Ulefone Note 18 Pro is a budget smartphone that strikes a good balance between performance, design, and affordability. Ulefone, a brand known for offering robust phones at competitive prices, has packed the Note 18 Pro with features that will appeal to users looking for a reliable device without the hefty price tag. The device is aimed at everyday users who need a functional smartphone for tasks like browsing, messaging, social media, and media consumption.
Design and Finish :
Design and Finish :
The Ulefone Note 18 Pro is designed with a clean, minimalist aesthetic that displays a modern look typical of budget smartphones. The plastic body is lightweight and feels good in the hand, but doesn't have the premium feel of glass or metal materials found in premium devices. Still, the build is solid and the phone feels sturdy enough for everyday use.
On the front, the 6.52-inch display is surrounded by modest bezels, giving it a great screen-to-body ratio. The design of this phone is simple and doesn't have any flashy features or eye-catching elements. The rear of the device houses the camera module, which is arranged vertically and contains multiple sensors. Additionally, the Ulefone Note 18 Pro comes in a variety of colors, including black, blue, and green, giving users several options to choose from to suit their style. Of note is the fingerprint sensor on the back. It's not the most advanced, but it offers decent speed and accuracy for unlocking the phone.
Screen :
The 6.52-inch display on the Ulefone Note 18 Pro offers an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. This isn't full HD, but it's typical for budget smartphones. The screen size is big enough for watching videos, gaming, and browsing, making it a great choice for users who prefer a larger display. However, the resolution doesn't offer the sharpness or clarity you'd find on a mid-range or flagship smartphone, but it should be enough for everyday use. IPS LCD panels produce decent colors and brightness, though not as vibrant or bright as premium displays such as AMOLED. Outdoors, visibility may be reduced in direct sunlight and colors may be less vibrant. However, for basic tasks such as scrolling through social media, reading, and watching the occasional video, the display performs without any major drawbacks.
Performance and Software :
The Ulefone Note 18 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 chipset, a mid-range processor commonly found in budget and entry-level smartphones. The Helio P60 is designed to handle everyday tasks and moderate multitasking with relative ease, but is not suited to demanding applications or intensive gaming. Performance is adequate for common tasks like browsing, messaging, and social media, but you may experience occasional lags when running multiple apps simultaneously or using resource-intensive applications.
The device comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which is a great configuration for the price range. The RAM is adequate for light multitasking, but demanding apps or intensive multitasking may have issues. The internal storage is expandable with a microSD card, adding up to 256GB of additional storage. This is a handy feature that lets you store photos, videos, and apps without running out of space.
On the software side, the Ulefone Note 18 Pro runs on Android 10, which offers a relatively clean and simple user interface. This phone does not have the extensive customization and bloatware found on other budget devices, so the user experience is closer to standard Android. Some pre-installed apps cannot be removed, but they do not significantly impact the overall experience.
The performance of this phone is adequate for everyday use, but it is not designed for intensive multitasking or gaming. For users who do not require the highest performance, it provides a smooth enough experience.
Camera :
The Ulefone Note 18 Pro has a 13MP main camera with a 2MP depth sensor on the back. The main camera can take decent photos with a reasonable level of detail and color accuracy under good lighting conditions. However, like most budget smartphones, it struggles in low light conditions, where photos tend to lose detail and look grainy or blurry.
The 2MP depth sensor offers more background blur in portrait mode, but the results are not as sharp or accurate as those of mid-range or top-end devices. For users who want to take occasional photos for social media or personal use, this camera will meet your basic needs but won't impress with its advanced features or clarity.
On the front, the Ulefone Note 18 Pro features an 8MP selfie camera that provides plenty of power for video calls and selfies. In bright lighting conditions, the results are generally sharp, but as with the rear camera, performance drops off in low light. The phone does have software features like a beauty mode that enhances the quality of your selfies, but they're not as sophisticated as more expensive phones.
Overall, the camera setup on the Ulefone Note 18 Pro is simple but functional. It's ideal for casual photographers who aren't expecting the best camera performance, but still want the ability to capture memories.
Battery Life :
One of the best features of the Ulefone Note 18 Pro is its 4000mAh battery that provides enough power for a full day of use. The phone's hardware and software are optimized for battery efficiency, allowing it to last a full day without charging with moderate usage. Light users may find that the phone lasts for more than a day and a half on a single charge.
For power users who perform more intensive tasks such as gaming and streaming, the battery may last a full day but may need to be recharged in the evening. The phone supports 10W charging, which is standard for budget devices but is slower than the fast charging options found on mid-range and premium phones. While it may take a little longer to fully charge, the overall battery performance is impressive for a budget smartphone.
Connectivity and other features :
The Ulefone Note 18 Pro offers great connectivity options for the price. It supports 4G LTE, ensuring reliable network speeds for surfing, streaming, and online communication. The device also comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS, which are standard features for budget phones.
It has a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is rare on devices these days, but it's still a great feature for users who prefer wired headphones. The phone also has a MicroUSB port for charging and data transfer. It's a bit old-fashioned compared to newer USB-C devices, but it still works.
Other notable features include Face Unlock for security and the aforementioned fingerprint scanner. These options offer a basic, yet effective way to protect your device.
Conclusion :
The Ulefone Note 18 Pro is a great choice for budget-conscious consumers who want a phone that can handle everyday tasks on a budget. It offers decent performance, a great display for the price, and solid battery life. The camera and performance aren't particularly impressive, but they're more than adequate for users who want a phone primarily for texting, browsing and social media.
