Crosscall Core-X4: An off-road smartphone [Review]

Not everything in mobile phones is glamor, curved screens, protruding cameras and a delicate and colorful design. There are a series of devices designed for those who cannot spend their lives taking care of the phone, for those who do risky activities or hard work, we talk about the 'ruguerized' phones or ultra-resistant. I like to call them SUVs, because when I see one of these I think of the classic Land Rover 4 × 4 going through a hill in Ireland.

Go through the testing laboratory Actualidad Gadget the new Crosscall Core-X4, a mobile phone with great features but... indestructible? We check it.

Design: Ready for Battle

The phone has a considerable size, especially at the level of thickness, something common in this type of device. We have 61 x 78 x 13 millimeters for a total of 226 grams, it is not light or thin, but it should not be either, It must be firm enough to avoid deformities or damage when falling. We find a compendium between metals, plastics and rubberized that evidently boast of resistance. We have on the right side the fingerprint sensor, the volume control and a customizable multifunction button that is also present on the other side.

On the front we have prominent frames to protect the panel. The back is left with aggressive angles, the special X-Link connector and a single sensor camera that does not protrude. This X-Link magnetic connector is a success, it has the possibility of charging and transferring, as well as a lock to ensure the position of the mobile and I found it easy to use and a differentiating feature in the Crosscall Core-X4 that gives it added value. Along with this X-Blocker we have a huge variety of products that we can purchase such as harnesses, charging ports ... etc to complete the experience.

Technical characteristics

We started the technical section with a recognized processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, However, it is in the lower-middle range in terms of power and autonomy. It is accompanied by 3GB of RAM, Fair enough for everyday tasks, so we should not have any kind of pretense about performance in terms of video games, for example. The base storage is 32GB although expandable by microSD card up to 512GB, sufficient standard storage, but not a differential factor either. In the technical section we have our own hardware for entry-level Android terminals.

We run a slightly custom version of Android 9.0 Pie, A version from the beginning of 2019, the current version being more standardized Android 10. For its part, we have 4G connectivity in terms of telecommunications, Wireless Bluetooth 4.2, DualSIM Capability, FM Radio and for example we have a 3,5mm jack available, something that is missing in current phones. It should also be noted that the microSD does not occupy a microSIM slot and it is appreciated. Definitely in the technical section, this Crosscall Core-X4 is not a technical wonder if what we want is to squeeze video games or similar, it is not designed for it either. We also mention that we have NFC, that is, we can make contactless payments with the different platforms available.

Camera and screen

We have a panel 5,45-inch IPS LCD featuring HD + resolution at a traditional 18: 9 aspect ratio. This screen covered by Gorilla Glass 3 It has curious features such as the possibility of being used while wet and also using it with gloves (it locks when wet). We have a good fit, a flat panel that helps protect it, and a sufficient brightness and color ratio for outdoor use. Obviously it is a panel that does not reach FullHD resolutions, so we cannot expect wonders when it comes to consuming multimedia content.

As for the camera, a 48MP sensor with the Fusion4 processing system. The result has been sufficient, for traditional photographic shots with good lighting. Things obviously change when the light falls, although the image processing fights against adverse conditions. Definitely the camera is enough for necessary shots, without being focused on an enjoyment of it. We managed to capture video in FHD at 30FPS. For its part, the 8MP front sensor gets us out of trouble and takes decent pictures. We leave you the camera test below:

Let's talk about resistance

We have IP68 water and dust resistance, But this by itself may not tell you much, and there are some devices already on the market with this capacity. However, things change when we talk about MIL STD810G resistance, the device is subjected to thirteen resistance tests to obtain this certification. It can then be submerged up to 2 meters in most liquids for at least 30 seconds. It has also been tested in six-sided drops of up to two meters and extreme temperatures from -25ºC to + 50ºC without ruffling.

Our tests have put logical stress on this device, always without the intention of causing damage. We have made rainfall and "wet" that can occur in a coherent situation to which it has been shown to be irreducible. In addition, their microphones have certified "Gore" sealing.. After all, our tests have passed them with note at the resistance level, it seems a good option if what we are looking for is a battle device, resistant, designed for those who do extreme sports or work in compromised situations that in most cases end up ending the life of many traditional devices.

Editor's opinion

We are therefore at a terminal with modest performance in terms of hardware but which for its part has some "ruguerized" characteristics where it stands out, its true reason for being. However, the first barrier can be found in the price. Most devices with similar characteristics are also around a similar price, around 450 euros depending on the point of view chosen (LINK).

 

The package includes: Headphones, cable, charger, X-Blocker and device. You will have to weigh its pros and cons, we recommend that you take a look at the video with which we accompany this written review so that you can make a decision.

• Buy Crosscall Core-X4