In a market dominated by OLED and AMOLED displays, where brightness, saturation, and fluid animations reign supreme, the Bigme HiBreak Pro Color takes a bold departure. Instead of dazzling visuals, it focuses on eye comfort, energy efficiency, and distraction-free use. At its core is a 6.13-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display, a choice that instantly sets it apart from conventional smartphones.
E Ink panels are best known from devices like the Amazon Kindle, prized for their paper-like readability and low strain during marathon reading sessions. Bigme extends this advantage to a full smartphone, pairing the Kaleido 3 screen with a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The display resolution stands at 824 × 1648, offering 300 ppi in monochrome and 150 ppi in color, with support for 4096 color shades. While colors appear softer compared to OLED, the payoff is in readability, energy savings, and an experience that feels more like ink on paper.
The Kaleido 3 display shines in practical use. Adjustable front lighting offers 36 levels of warm and cool tones, ensuring crisp text whether you’re under sunlight or in a dark room. A built-in light sensor fine-tunes brightness automatically, eliminating constant manual tweaks. Bigme’s SSS fast refresh technology pushes performance to 21 frames per second, mitigating the ghosting common with E Ink panels. While scrolling is less fluid than on mainstream displays, reading e-books, news articles, PDFs, or emails feels natural. Backed by a 4500mAh battery, the phone easily lasts days per charge, even with 5G enabled.
Despite the unconventional screen, the HiBreak Pro Color doesn’t compromise on performance. The Dimensity 1080 chipset—with two ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.6GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2GHz—handles everyday tasks with ease. The Mali-G68 MC4 GPU ensures Android 14 runs smoothly. Access to the Google Play Store means you can install productivity apps, e-reading tools, or communication platforms without restrictions. Connectivity is modern too: dual SIM with 5G and 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC for contactless payments, and even an IR blaster for remote control functions.
Cameras are functional rather than flashy. The 20MP rear camera doubles as a powerful document scanner, aided by built-in OCR (optical character recognition) that converts paper documents into searchable digital text. The 5MP front camera works for video calls but won’t satisfy selfie enthusiasts. Productivity-minded features, like customizable smart keys for quick access to apps or reading modes, highlight the phone’s utilitarian design philosophy.
Physically, the HiBreak Pro Color strikes a balance between sturdiness and portability. Weighing 193 grams with dimensions of 159.8 × 80.9 × 8.9mm, it fits comfortably in the hand. The leather-like textured black back offers grip, though the plastic build feels less premium than glass or metal competitors. The screen sits slightly recessed without protective glass, but Bigme includes a silicone case in the box. Dual speakers provide clear audio for podcasts and audiobooks, while the fingerprint sensor delivers reliable security. A built-in compass adds extra utility for outdoor or travel use.
Battery life is arguably the HiBreak Pro Color’s strongest suit. Thanks to the E Ink display’s frugal power draw, the 4500mAh battery stretches over multiple days between charges. 18W USB-C fast charging ensures quick top-ups when needed. Unlike OLED phones that drain energy for rich visuals, this device thrives on efficiency, making it ideal for readers, professionals, and travelers who value longevity over spectacle.
At $469 retail, or $399 for early pre-orders through October, the Bigme HiBreak Pro Color offers a unique proposition in the smartphone market. It’s not designed for gamers or those chasing cinematic visuals, but for anyone prioritizing eye comfort, extended battery life, and productivity, this phone redefines what a smartphone can be.
