Umigidi Bison X10 Full Review
Umidigi is a fan of the outdoor segment, so they are bringing the Umidigi Bison X10 onto the market. This device offers everything an outdoor phone should have. Robustness is demonstrated by multiple certifications. Longevity is also proven, thanks to the well-sized battery. The device is priced in mid-range. It is not a device that can be bought with extravagant frills. Umidigi refers to this offspring as “The stylish adventurer”. The design seems to be the primary focus. We’ve seen the Umidigi Bison X10 perform in practice, and we think it looks stylish. The price of this phone ranges from $129 to $149 depending on the RAM and other specifications.
Processing and Design
The most trendy smartphones in the technology world have been outdoor smartphones. However, this has a more stylish design than other representatives from the same genus. The Umidigi Bison X10 measures 169.7 x 82.x 12.9 mm. The device weighs 282g, which is less than other competitors. It is constructed from an aluminum frame with rubberized corners. The back is high-quality and makes a strong impression.
MIL-STD-810G and IP68 &IP69K are two certifications that confirm the device’s durability, especially in terms of dust and water. The Umidigi Bison X10’s matte-black design feels very good, and it is easily distinguished from a standard smartphone. Umidigi’s printed logo “BISON X”, gives the device an individual touch. The rectangular camera module extends almost one millimeter beyond the case and is flanked by three microphone holes.
The frame contains five buttons: volume up/down, power, and 2 smart keys. Each smart keys have three functions. The power button does more than just serve as a power switch. It also houses the fingerprint scanner. It is very easy to locate. The SIM card slot can also easily be reached from the side. A fingernail usually suffices. The upper edge has an additional surprise: an AUX connector. The front is completely covered with glass, but the manufacturer doesn’t reveal the exact type of glass.
The Umidigi Bison is an outdoor device with a high screen-to-body ratio. The camera’s front is protected by a waterdrop notch. The manufacturer was also able to place a small notification LED over the display. The Umidigi Bison X10 appears to be a mix of an outdoor device and a smartphone. This combination of the glamouring design and robust construction is amazing.
Scope and Delivery Options
There are three color options available for the Umidigi X10 Pro. “Storm Gray”, Supersonic Yellow”, and Hack Black are available. It can be described as grey, yellow or black. The only difference between the colors are the rubber components at the lower and upper edges.
Two memory versions are available. You can choose from 128GB (only in Storm Gray), or 64GB. The main memory of 4GB applies to both versions. The Pro Bison X10 version has more memory, an infrared thermometer and everything else is the same. Delivery is the same for all devices.
In addition, the packaging also contains a charging adapter with a USB cable and a quick-start guide. Also, a protective film has been attached to the device.
Screen
The Umigidi Bison X10 measures 6.53 inches in size, which is an average size for smartphone screens. It is a nice smartphone screen since HD+ is the only resolution (1600 x720) and it is distributed at a ratio of 20%. Accordingly, the pixel density of 268 pixels per inch is achieved. Anybody who has ever used a smartphone that had a full HD display before will see the difference. But the display isn’t pixelated. The content is sufficiently sharp, and the low-resolution battery saves you money.
It is more important to consider the brightness. It should not exceed 260 lux. This is far too low for an outdoor device. These devices are intended for outdoor use. They should also be suitable for sun exposure. It is difficult to see the display in direct sunlight. The screen image refreshes every 60 seconds. This is still a standard-setting for the lower middle class. It is particularly useful when using an outdoor smartphone as the main focus is battery life.
On the other hand, colors are beautifully displayed. The colors look natural and are sharp for an IPS panel. The Umidigi Bison X10 is a master at balancing contrasts and maintaining a stable viewing angle. The display can be customized to your liking. MiraVision makes it possible to change the color temperature, contrast, saturation, and other parameters. It is easy to adjust. The screen is responsive to touch inputs and can recognize up to 10 fingers simultaneously. However, the screen can only recognize 5 fingers at a time. This should not be a problem. The display is protected by a lip at the edge.
To protect your screen, we recommend using a protective glass or film.
Power and Performance
Mediatek’s Helio P60 is the processor running in the Umidigi Bison X10 (which has been available for three years). There are two clusters for the eight cores of this CPU. The cores of the ARM Cortex A73 and ARM Cortex A53 clocked at speeds up to 2 GHz. Despite being older, the processor can handle 95% of tasks without any issues. Apps open quickly and scrolling through chat histories or mobile websites does not cause any annoying stuttering.
While the performance is good for the price range, it’s not great. The GPU ARM Mali G72MP3 can tackle graphic challenges at speeds up to 800 MHz. It occasionally fails to meet the demands of 3D games. You can still enjoy smooth gaming if you reduce the detail. Because of the HD+’s lower resolution, not much power is needed. For multitasking, the 4GB RAM seems sufficient.
The Umidigi Bison X10 can open multiple apps simultaneously without causing any trouble. The benchmark A1SD measured the main memory at 5.5 GB/s. This is not an exceptional value. With 239 MB/s of reading and 87MB/s for writing, the 64/128GB internal storage is not the fastest. Since there are few restrictions in practice, overall performance is good for the Umidigi Bison X10.
System
Umidigi Bison X10 has Android 11 – a very up-to-date operating system. This version is nearly identical to the stock one. The system was only modified by the manufacturer. A toolbox is included with many functions. You will find an altimeter, decibel meter and compass as well as a barometer, pedometer, and other functions. The App drawer can also be activated. You can also configure the additional buttons in this menu to store flashlights, SOS signals, and other apps. The buttons can be pressed once, twice, or for a long time to activate the function.
Cameras
The trend towards multi-camera setups is not limited to outdoor smartphones. The Umidigi Bison X10 has four camera sensors. Although there appear to be five-camera sensor openings at the back of the device, only three are occupied by cameras sensors. One is reserved for flash, and the other for visual enhancement or any other purpose. These cameras are the ones available:
- Main camera: 20MP, F/1.75
- Ultra wide-angle: 8MP ultra wide-angle, FOV 120deg
- Macro Camera: 5MP, 3cm shooting distance
- Front camera: 8 MP, F/2.2
Daylight Shots
The main camera, which measures up to 20 megapixels, performs well throughout the day. It is impossible to draw comparisons with flagships. The quality is good for this price range. Images will be sharp enough if there is sufficient light. The colors appear more natural than sharp and the dynamic range of the images is average. HDR mode appears to be fake. It hardly produces better results. Sometimes the focus takes a little longer but it mostly works reliably.
Ultra wide-angle
This ultra-wide-angle camera is still available for use. The recordings are sharp enough when viewed on a smartphone screen. The entire thing looks blurry on larger screens. While dynamic range and color can be captured, they are not sufficient. The performance in lower light is what is most surprising. This is where the quality isn’t as low as you might expect.
Night shots
The night shots were quite surprising. Night mode was tested in three modes: “Automatic”, “Night Mode” and “Ultra-wide angle”. Night mode yields the best results, while ultra-wide-angle produces the worst night shots. Night mode photos were brighter but muddier. Automatic mode produces sharper images. The best night-time color rendition and detail fidelity were achieved by the ultra-wide-angle lens. Unfortunately, the night image quality is not great. Our expectations were slightly exceeded for the Umidigi Bison X10 at the same price. At least, not with the ultra-wide-angle camera.
Portraits
The portraits show clearly the differences between cheaper devices. The blurred background and sharp objects in the foreground are often difficult to distinguish. Too much can be seen in sharp areas, making the images almost appear to have been combined. Portraits are worse than bad.
Selfies
The 8 MP front-facing camera is not able to capture good results. There are few details captured. This is not the best for selfie-lovers. It’s sufficient for a quick self-portrait in between or a short video call. It is not always easy to see the line between portraits.
Macros
Macro shooting is fun. With the Umidigi Bison X10, macro shooting is possible. It’s not easy to get a good close-up. Because it is difficult to find the right distance, most images end up blurry. The pictures are not very attractive, and the colors are very dull.
Video Recordings
Full HD (1080p) video can be captured with the main and front cameras. The result in both cases is usable but not very good. There is no stabilization as expected. The videos are also blurred. This is why it’s sufficient for viewing on a smartphone. You quickly lose the joy of recording on larger screens.
Connectivity and Communication
As with any decent smartphone made over the years, Umidigi Bison X10 can also support dual SIM. Unfortunately, 5G is not supported. Instead, the device transmits using 4G, 3G, and 2G. LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is currently available. This range supports all frequencies or bands that are required:
4G bands: – B1 / /3 /4/5 /7 /8/13 /17//18/19 /26 /28A/28B/66/B34/38 /39/40/41
The phone is also equipped for international use. VoLTE support is available on both SIM card slots. There is no reason to be unhappy about the signal strength. This Umidigi is at a standard level. Excellent call quality for audio recordings as well as calls.
Mobile communication can also be done via WiFi 5 or Bluetooth 4.2. NFC is another option. All of these channels worked flawlessly when tested. The WLAN can be used in full power throughout the apartment. A Bluetooth headset can also be paired easily as usual.
The Umidigi Bison X10 can also be used for navigation and location determination. It supports GPS and Glonass as well as Beidou, and Galileo. All the necessary sensors are also available. An e-compass facilitates navigation. Additionally, a proximity sensor and an acceleration sensor are included. The fingerprint scanner passed the test without any problems.
Battery life
Umidigi understands that outdoor smartphones need long battery lives. The battery has a capacity of 6150 mAh, which is very impressive. With this, the phone can be used for a long period of time. The Umidigi Bison X10 Pro has a runtime that is comparable to a similar device. Although the device didn’t break any records in the PCMark battery testing, it still had plenty of power. This is especially true when the device weighs in at a fraction of other models. In actuality, the device lasts for two days. It is possible to use more or less depending upon usage. This is because the display saves energy. Due to the lower resolution, which doesn’t use a lot of power, and the frugal refresh rate and low brightness, it is not very energy-intensive.
The Umidigi Bison X10’s battery can be charged at 10 watts. The device takes around 1 minute to charge each percentage point from 0% to 80%. After that, it slows down a little. After about 1 hour 50 minutes, the device is fully charged. The device can be charged in two hours to give you up to 15 hours of battery life.