The Ulefone Note 18 Pro: A Budget Workhorse with Compromises You Can Feel
Let’s cut to the chase: The Ulefone Note 18 Pro isn’t here to dazzle you with flagship specs. It’s here to survive your daily grind. After two weeks with this phone, here’s the unfiltered truth about where it shines – and where it stumbles.
The Screen: Big, Bold… and Blurry?
That 6.78-inch OLED screen sounds impressive on paper, but here’s the catch: its 720p resolution. At this size, you’ll notice icons and text aren’t razor-sharp. It’s like watching a 1080p movie blown up on a budget projector – colors pop thanks to OLED’s contrast, but fine details get fuzzy. The 90Hz refresh rate? Nice for scrolling Instagram, but don’t expect buttery-smooth gaming. That 21:9 aspect ratio makes it great for widescreen Netflix binges, though you’ll need two hands to reach the top corners.
Performance: A Reliable Mule, Not a Racehorse
The MediaTek Helio G91 chip is like your dependable old pickup truck – it’ll get you there, but don’t expect Formula 1 speeds. Basic apps run fine, but load up Google Maps while streaming Spotify and you’ll feel the occasional stutter. Gaming? Stick to casual titles like Candy Crush. Genshin Impact chugs at low settings, with the Mali-G52 GPU working overtime. The 6GB RAM keeps 5-7 apps in memory, but heavy multitaskers will hit walls.
Battery Life: The Real MVP
Here’s where Ulefone nails it. That 5,450mAh battery lasts two full days if you’re not glued to TikTok. Even with the screen at 90Hz, I got:
- 12 hours of screen-on time
- 35 hours of mixed use (calls, Spotify, light browsing)
- 8 hours of GPS navigation
Downside? 18W charging feels glacial in 2025. 0-100% takes nearly 2 hours – enough time to watch an entire movie on that stretched screen.
Cameras: Daylight Hero, Nighttime Zero
The 64MP main camera takes decent shots in sunlight – leaves look crisp, skies have depth. But step indoors and it falls apart. My late-night pizza photos looked like abstract art. The 50MP ultrawide? It’s really just a 12MP sensor using pixel binning. That 32MP selfie cam? Solid for Zoom calls, but skin tones run warm. No OIS means shaky 4K videos – you’ll want a gimbal.
Design: Built Like a Toy Truck
The polycarbonate back feels like a kids’ meal prize. It’s lightweight (211g is light for this size), but flexes if you press hard. The “splash-resistant” rating isn’t IP-certified – I wouldn’t test it in the rain. No LED notifications means constantly waking the screen to check messages.
Who’s This For?
Buy it if:
- You need 2-day battery life
- You watch more videos than play games
- You’re rough on phones and need a cheap replacement
Avoid it if:
- You care about camera quality
- You’re a mobile gamer
- You want 5G future-proofing
The Verdict: My Personal Take
As someone who carries two phones daily, I’d use the Note 18 Pro as a backup – perfect for hiking trips or music festivals where battery life trumps all. But as a main phone? The camera and performance limits would frustrate me. At €149, it’s a steal for light users, but power users should stretch their budget another €50.
Ulefone’s playing the long game here – literally. This phone won’t wow anyone, but it’ll outlast your weekend. Just don’t expect it to be the life of the party.
