Armor 34
Armor 34: underwater recording advertised, only paid remedies offered I bought an Armor 34 directly from the Ulefone Official Store on 5 September 2025 and received it in Norway on 16 September. I also own a Ulefone rugged tablet and have generally liked their products. This review concerns my experience with the phone’s water resistance and the handling of my complaint. I chose the Armor 34 partly because Ulefone expressly advertises underwater photography and video recording alongside its IP68 rating. On 10 September 2026, I used it during a controlled river-rescue training exercise as a firefighter. It was submerged in fresh water approximately five or six times, about 20 cm deep, for no more than five seconds each time. Both waterproof covers were properly closed. The phone worked afterwards and was not charged that night. The following morning, the touchscreen began malfunctioning and the display showed discolouration. I reported the problem immediately and supplied the photographs and videos requested by support. Their replies were prompt. However, they repeatedly stated that liquid damage is excluded regardless of immersion depth or duration. They also cited expiry of their 12-month commercial warranty, calculated from purchase, although the fault was reported less than a year after delivery. On 14 September, they estimated repair at approximately USD 124, with the final price dependent on receiving and inspecting the phone. Total shipping costs were not clarified. A paid replacement was also mentioned without a price. They proposed checking for manufacturing or sealing defects, but simultaneously stated that no free repair or replacement could be offered for liquid ingress. They did not explain what responsibility they would accept if a manufacturing defect were confirmed. I initially considered contributing financially towards a solution. I have now decided not to return the phone under these conditions. It has not been physically inspected by Ulefone, so the precise cause remains unconfirmed. The product page does include a liquid-damage exclusion in its notes. My concern is the expectation created by advertising underwater recording while excluding the resulting damage even for the brief, shallow use I described and documented. As a customer who relied on that capability when choosing the phone, I feel misled. Ulefone says it will close the case if I do not return the device. As of 14 September 2026, I consider the complaint unresolved.