UMIDIGI Crystal belongs to the budget segment of smartphones with a “frameless” design, in the style of Xiaomi Mi Mix. The model is presented in two configurations, which differ in performance, memory capacity, and, accordingly, cost. This review covers all the key features of the device, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the differences between both versions.
Contents of delivery
In addition to the smartphone, the box contains a power adapter (5V/1A), a Type-C cable for charging and connecting to a PC, a transparent silicone case and a user manual. The device is supplied in shipping films on the front and back panels. Additional film, which acts as a protector during everyday use, can be found in an envelope made of thick paper. There is also a metal tool for removing the SIM tray, and special wipes for cleaning the glass before gluing the protective film.
Appearance, ergonomics
The smartphone is available in a single color scheme. This can hardly be considered a disadvantage, since in terms of design, UMIDIGI Crystal is able to compete with more expensive models. The glossy surface of its body is harmoniously combined with a matte black metal frame, angular shapes, as well as 2.5D glass curved at the edges, covering the front and back parts devices.
The body of the product turned out to be quite weighty (180 grams), due to the metal frame and glass panels. However, thanks to the reduction in the width of the top frame, the dimensions of the 5.5-inch UMIDIGI Crystal can be compared with a regular 5-inch smartphone: 141.3 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm. Due to the minimization of usable area, there was only free space above the screen for installing a speaker. To place the remaining elements, the manufacturer had to resort to various non-standard solutions.
For example, the front camera module has been moved to the bottom frame. The LED event indicator located in the central part of the lower frame is implemented in a rather unusual way. The user learns about the presence of missed notifications thanks to the pulsating glow of a thin LED “strip”.
The proximity and light sensors are located in the least expected place - on the top edge, next to the 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting headphones. In order for the proximity sensor to work correctly during a telephone conversation, you need to tilt the lower end of the device slightly to the side, away from you. Unusually, however, the mere fact of the presence of these sensors is already a plus when it comes to a budget “frameless” model.
Alternatively, to lock the screen during a telephone conversation, you can use a mechanical power button, which is placed on the left side edge, next to the adjustment rocker volume. Both buttons are metal and press quite softly. Due to the tight fit with the slots on the side edge, the buttons do not “rattle” when shaken.
On the opposite edge there is a combination tray that can simultaneously accommodate two Nano SIM cards or one NanoSIM in combination with a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 256 GB.
In the central part of the bottom edge there is space for a symmetrical USB Type-C port that supports OTG technology. There are perforations on both sides of the connector, behind which the main speaker and microphone are hidden.
On the back panel there is a dual main camera module, a flash LED and a 360-degree fingerprint scanner. Taking into account the cost of a smartphone, the accuracy and speed of fingerprint recognition can be considered acceptable.
Display
In addition to design, the list of strengths of UMIDIGI Crystal includes a high-quality 5.5-inch screen, with FullHD resolution and an IGZO matrix from Sharp. The widescreen display with an aspect ratio of 16:9 is made using technology that provides no air gap, reduced touch response time, increased accuracy and sensitivity touchscreen. The touch layer recognizes up to 5 simultaneous touches.
The screen is capable of transmitting a rich and contrasting image, with bright, pleasant colors. The ability to manually adjust color temperature is supported. The viewing angles are not maximum, but very good; when tilting the device, the image remains readable. The brightness reserve is more than sufficient for working outdoors in daylight conditions. The minimum brightness threshold is slightly too high; there is not enough “Reading Mode” for using the device at night.
The display uses highly wear-resistant glass – Gorilla Glass 4. Features of the composition and processing technology of tempered glass contribute to a significant increase in resistance to scratches and abrasions during operation. The glass can be easily cleaned from greasy stains and fingerprints, and a finger easily glides over its surface, which indicates the presence of an oleophobic layer.
Hardware platform
The basic version of UMIDIGI Crystal is equipped with a MediaTek MT6737T chipset, with 4 Cortex-A53 cores and a maximum frequency of up to 1.5 GHz. The integrated Mali-T720 MP2 GPU is responsible for graphics processing. The “stuffing” is budget-friendly, but at the same time it has a sufficient power reserve to ensure a good level of device performance at performing typical everyday tasks, such as taking notes, browsing the web, communicating via instant messengers, watching videos, etc. d. The chipset is complemented by 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory.
The extended version features a more powerful “filling”, represented by an 8-core SoC – MediaTek MT6750T (with a frequency of up to 1.5 GHz), as well as a Mali-T860 MP2 video accelerator. In addition, the device received double the amount of RAM (4 GB), due to which it is significantly ahead of the “younger” version in terms of speed and multitasking capabilities. Thanks to the fairly spacious storage capacity of 64 GB, owners of the “advanced” configuration can Feel free to use two SIM cards, since the need to install a MicroSD drive comes down to minimum.
There should be enough free space to install all the necessary applications and several resource-intensive games. Fortunately, the model based on the MT6750T chipset has good gaming potential: Asphalt 8 and GTA: San Andreas run smoothly even at maximum graphics settings. To play WoT Blitz comfortably, you need to reduce the quality of shadows, textures, and set the graphic settings to medium. Under intense and prolonged use, the case may become hot. However, throttling is not observed since the maximum processor temperature remains within acceptable limits.
Cameras
The smartphone has a dual photo module, which includes a 13 MP main sensor with autofocus support, and a 5 MP secondary sensor. In theory, the second image sensor should be used to capture bokeh images. In fact, background blur in this model is implemented exclusively in software.
The main camera allows you to record videos in FullHD resolution. Focusing is carried out by tap, electronic stabilization is supported. UMIDIGI Crystal does not belong to the category of camera phones; accordingly, pictures and videos of acceptable quality can only be obtained in daylight conditions. The camera copes best with portrait and subject photography - the resulting frames are distinguished by a good level of sharpness, contrast and detail.
Due to periodic autofocus errors, some frames are blurred. To be on the safe side, it is advisable to immediately view the results obtained, or take 2-3 frames at a time. When shooting in the dark, grain and noise appear in the photo - the result is comparable to the level of budget smartphones. The flash is not particularly powerful, but the LED is bright enough to illuminate nearby objects. The interface of the standard shooting application does not have an HDR mode.
Using the front 5-megapixel camera, equipped with a fixed focus, you can take good selfies even indoors, with an artificial light source. The front module is also perfect for video calling and recording Stories on Instagram.
Autonomy
The energy source in UMIDIGI Crystal is a built-in battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. In terms of autonomy, there are some differences between both smartphone configurations due to the difference in the level of power consumption of single-chip systems. For owners of the extended version, a fully charged battery will last about a day of moderate use.
The basic version demonstrates slightly better autonomy under identical loads. In moderate-active use mode, recharging will be required once every one and a half days. Accordingly, the battery discharges more slowly in other operating scenarios - in games, when playing videos, etc. There is no fast charging function. Using the included power adapter, the process of replenishing the battery capacity lasts just over three hours.
Software
UMIDIGI Crystal runs on 64-bit Android 7.0 Nougat OS, with support for OTA updates. The operating system interface is identical to the stock one, the shell works quickly, without any slowdowns. The firmware is multilingual and relatively “clean”; it does not contain third-party pre-installed applications. However, the manufacturer has integrated into the system some software add-ons designed to expand the standard functionality of the OS.
Such software add-ons include the ability to record screen video and create regular and “long” screenshots. The preview window contains a menu that allows you to save the screenshot without changes, or use the basic image editing functions integrated into the shell. The manufacturer has also provided the ability to set a ban on the automatic launch of certain applications when the system starts.
The section responsible for fine-tuning the on-screen buttons deserves special attention. The user can add or remove additional control elements, change their location according to at your own discretion, temporarily hide the navigation bar, or completely disable it via settings. Depending on your settings, the virtual Home button reacts differently to certain gestures. For example, you can activate the one-handed control mode using a double tap, and use a long press to turn on the flashlight.
Sound
The external speaker has a solid volume reserve, while demonstrating the usual sound quality, with a predominance of high frequencies. The smartphone has a pre-installed Audio FX utility, which allows you to achieve higher sound quality of the music being played when using good headphones. Additionally, UMIDIGI Crystal supports FM receiver.
When talking on the phone in a noisy environment, the user may experience insufficient speech volume in the auditory speaker. The problem is not hardware, but rather software, therefore, you can raise the maximum volume level to an acceptable level by editing the corresponding values in the engineering menu.
Wireless interfaces
The smartphone supports 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks, in all necessary bands (LTE Bands 1/3/7/20). The LTE Cat.4 module provides access to the mobile Internet with incoming/outgoing traffic speeds of up to 150/50 Mbit/s. There are no problems with signal reception and communication quality. The dual-band Wi-Fi module a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) works flawlessly. Supports wireless communication between devices via Bluetooth version 4.0.
UMIDIGI Crystal copes well with the function of a mobile navigator, thanks to the correct operation of the satellite navigation module, with support for GPS and GLONASS. The speed of searching and connecting to satellites is acceptable, the location accuracy is within normal limits. There is a geomagnetic sensor responsible for the functioning of the digital compass.
Advantages and disadvantages of UMIDIGI Crystal
Pros:
- high-quality display from Sharp;
- nice design, good assembly;
- metal frame, protective glass Gorilla Glass 4;
- LED event indicator supported;
- there are light and proximity sensors;
- decent level of performance and speed;
- “clean” and current version of the OS, with useful add-ons;
- impressive amounts of memory in the “older” configuration;
- Protective film and silicone case included.
Minuses:
- rather mediocre main camera;
- not the loudest speaker (fixable);
- very easily soiled surface of the case.
Review results
UMIDIGI Crystal can be described as a stylish, beautiful phablet, with a gorgeous screen and a very attractive price tag. The extended version will certainly be of interest to those who are looking for an inexpensive and fairly productive “frameless” camera, in which there is no need to divide the combined slot between SIM and MicroSD, thanks to the solid volume of internal drive. At the same time, the basic configuration also has significant advantages: better energy efficiency and an even more affordable price.
