Bigme HiBreak Pro Review: The Most Fully Loaded E-Ink Smartphone Yet

In a world where smartphones have become increasingly loud—visually and digitally—Bigme is charting a quieter path. The Bigme HiBreak Pro is the company’s latest foray into e-ink smartphones, combining a distraction-free screen with powerful hardware typically found in modern Android flagships. Following up on the success of the first-generation HiBreak, this “Pro” model attempts to refine the formula by packing nearly every feature a productivity-focused user might need—dual SIM slots, Android 14, NFC, fingerprint unlocking, and even a 20MP camera.

But here’s where it gets interesting: despite being marketed as a phone, the HiBreak Pro isn’t trying to replace your flagship device. Instead, it aims to redefine what a daily driver can be if your priorities are reading, focus, and simplicity.

It’s a digital detox machine built for the modern age—something that trades vibrant animations and social media dopamine hits for eye comfort and efficiency. Whether you’re deep into ebooks or looking for a minimalist second phone, the HiBreak Pro might be the most capable e-ink smartphone to date.

But don’t let the specs on paper fool you—e-ink has its quirks. So the real question is: does it live up to its ambition when put to the test?

Let’s find out in our full review of the Bigme HiBreak Pro.

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Design and Build Quality:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro immediately stands out for its unapologetically chunky and wide design. Compared to the first-generation HiBreak, this model is noticeably bulkier, with a larger footprint that feels hefty in the hand. Its blocky form factor won’t be for everyone, but it adds to the device’s durability and grip. The body is made of a matte polymer material that has a semi-glasslike look, though it feels more like high-grade plastic in the hand.

The bezels are thick, and there’s a significant screen gap—about 1.5mm between the edge of the screen and the bezel. While this doesn’t affect functionality, it gives the illusion that the display is set deeper than it actually is. On the back, there’s a sleek camera module with a flush 20MP sensor and flash setup. The overall aesthetic is minimal, with a subtle Bigme logo placed on the top-left corner.

Buttons are plentiful, with volume rockers and a power button on the right, and two additional customizable buttons on the left side. These physical keys are not only tactile but also programmable for single, double, or long presses. There’s also a dual SIM slot and USB-C port at the bottom, along with stereo microphones for call and media clarity.

Despite its size, the HiBreak Pro feels balanced and is comfortable to hold for long reading sessions. It’s clearly designed with function over form in mind, and it embraces a utilitarian vibe that power users may actually appreciate.

Display Specs and Biometrics:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro features a sizable e-ink display that immediately commands attention. While Bigme hasn’t specified the exact screen size or resolution in every review, it delivers 300 PPI, which ensures text remains sharp and crisp whether you’re reading ebooks, browsing the web, or navigating menus. This level of pixel density matches or surpasses most e-ink readers on the market, offering a satisfying reading experience.

One of the standout features is the wide range of refresh modes available through the dedicated E Ink Center. Users can toggle between HD, 256, Regal, Fast, and Extreme refresh rates depending on what they’re doing—whether it’s reading static text or scrolling through dynamic content like webpages or emails. Each mode offers a balance between visual clarity and speed, and while none are perfect, the flexibility is a major asset.

The screen supports contrast and refresh frequency adjustments on a system-wide level, giving users granular control over their visual experience. Another handy addition is the ability to invert colors to black on white or white on black, depending on lighting conditions or personal preference.

 

While the screen isn’t color-enabled, the black-and-white rendering remains highly functional for most tasks, from manga to documents. There’s a noticeable screen gap—about 1.5mm between the bezel and display—which may affect visual immersion for some users, especially during detailed reading or image viewing.

Biometric authentication is included via a fast and reliable fingerprint sensor, making it convenient to unlock the device securely. However, the placement and responsiveness weren’t deeply covered in the source content, so real-world use may vary.

Overall, the HiBreak Pro’s display is one of the most customizable and optimized e-ink experiences currently available, especially for multitaskers and power users who crave visual control without sacrificing battery life.

Software Updates and Apps:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro ships with Android 14, placing it at the forefront of modern software in the e-ink category. This is a massive plus, as most e-ink devices often trail behind with outdated Android builds. With Android 14, users benefit from improved performance, updated security, and access to the latest app compatibility.

What makes the software even more flexible is the inclusion of Google Play Services right out of the box. This means you have immediate access to millions of apps—from Kindle and Kobo to Gmail, Chrome, Spotify, and even more advanced tools like ChatGPT, Duolingo, or your favorite note-taking apps. There’s no need to sideload anything manually.

The UI is clean and intuitive, tailored for e-ink use with thoughtful customization options. The system includes an “E Ink Center,” which lets you manage refresh rates, screen contrast, ghosting cleanup, and inversion modes. These features help fine-tune the display for any activity, whether you’re watching a video or flipping through manga.

Bigme also includes its own suite of apps like a translator, camera, notepad, and even their own GPT assistant. If you’re not a fan of pre-installed apps, you can easily uninstall them with a long press. Navigation is snappy with floating balls and virtual keys for multitasking.

You also get two customizable hardware shortcut buttons on the side of the device. Each button can be programmed with single, double, and long presses—making it easy to create your own quick-launch workflows.

Overall, Bigme’s Android 14 implementation is powerful, flexible, and far ahead of most competitors in the e-ink space.

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Performance and Chipsets:

At the heart of the Bigme HiBreak Pro is a processor that balances raw power with e-ink optimization, making it one of the most responsive e-ink smartphones available today. While the exact chip isn’t detailed, the performance feels significantly faster than most competitors in its category.

Paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage, this device breezes through multitasking. Whether you’re switching between note-taking, reading apps, or even messaging platforms, the experience is fluid with minimal stutters. The high RAM allocation ensures smooth transitions between heavy apps.

The device even handles on-screen animations better than most e-ink phones, thanks to intelligent refresh rate tuning modes built into the OS. This greatly enhances usability for tasks like scrolling through web pages or navigating maps.

The built-in gyroscope and accelerometer enable smooth orientation switching and motion tracking, further improving real-world usability. And with dual SIM support, the HiBreak Pro performs like a serious daily driver, not just a reading tablet.

In short, the HiBreak Pro doesn’t just match e-ink expectations—it exceeds them with flagship-tier specs under the hood.

Battery Life:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro features a sizable battery that easily lasts a full day of regular usage. Thanks to the power-efficient nature of E Ink displays, you’ll rarely find yourself reaching for the charger. Even with features like NFC, dual SIM, and Wi-Fi on, the phone conserves energy well, especially in standby mode. It supports USB-C charging, which is a welcome standard.

With a 4500mAh battery capacity, charging times are decent for a device in this category. Charging is handled via USB-C, and the device supports 18W Safe Fast Charging, which is a welcome inclusion. This allows for quick top-ups while keeping battery health in check. Although it’s not flagship-tier charging speed, it suits the low-power profile of E-Ink hardware. Charging from 0 to full typically takes around 90 to 110 minutes. There’s no mention of wireless charging, which is expected in this niche. Overall, battery management feels efficient and dependable.

Connectivity:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro is one of the most well-connected E Ink smartphones on the market. It supports dual SIM functionality, allowing for seamless switching between networks or using one for data and the other for calls. Both SIM slots support 4G LTE, ensuring reliable cellular coverage worldwide.

Wi-Fi connectivity is stable and fast, making downloads, browsing, and streaming efficient—even on an E Ink screen. Bluetooth is also supported for pairing with wireless headphones, keyboards, or accessories, although latency can be more noticeable compared to traditional smartphones.

This device also includes NFC, a rare addition in E Ink phones, useful for contactless payments or pairing with compatible smart accessories. The inclusion of infrared (IR) blaster functionality adds remote control capabilities for TVs and appliances.

GPS, gyroscope, and accelerometer support make it suitable for location tracking and fitness apps. Despite its niche design, the HiBreak Pro delivers on everyday connectivity needs, rivaling even more mainstream smartphones in terms of hardware integration.

Camera Specs and Performance:

Rear Camera & Features

The Bigme HiBreak Pro is equipped with a 20MP rear camera, which is one of the highest resolutions we’ve seen on an E Ink smartphone. The lens sits flush within a clean camera module, paired with a basic LED flash and HDR support. On paper, it checks most of the boxes you’d expect from a capable smartphone camera setup.

Despite the high resolution, the actual performance of the rear camera is quite limited due to the constraints of E Ink technology. The preview lag while taking photos is substantial, making framing shots in real time a challenge. Autofocus tends to stutter, and shutter response is slower than average.

Photos taken on the HiBreak Pro are stored in full color and can look decent when transferred to a PC or viewed on a color-capable display. However, on the E Ink screen itself, the image appears in grayscale, lacking fine detail and sharpness. Still, if you treat this as a utility camera—for document scans or quick snaps—it can serve a purpose.

There’s also an option to shoot video, but due to the slow refresh rate and lag of the display, capturing fast motion is not practical. Frame drops are common, and the video interface is best used for simple, static recordings.

Front Camera & Video

The front-facing camera is practical enough for basic video calls. It’s located on the top bezel and offers standard quality suitable for Zoom, Google Meet, or WeChat calls. While it’s not ideal for selfies or low-light video chats, it handles facial recognition for app verification fairly well.

On the software side, Bigme includes a fairly robust camera app that allows for toggling HDR, switching between front and rear lenses, and activating video mode. The layout is familiar to Android users, although the response time may require a bit more patience than you’re used to.

One of the most standout features here is the camera app’s integration with Bigme GPT. You can scan documents or capture whiteboards and run them through the AI for contextual analysis, transcription, or summarization. This makes the camera less about capturing memories and more of a productivity tool.

Real-World Use Cases

While the HiBreak Pro camera isn’t going to replace a flagship smartphone shooter, it finds its purpose in professional and academic environments. Taking photos of documents or QR codes, scanning barcodes, or using it in inventory apps becomes a straightforward experience.

That said, don’t expect consistency in image quality. Lighting conditions greatly impact photo clarity, and night-time photography is nearly unusable due to weak low-light performance. No dedicated night mode is available either, making the flash essential in darker settings.

Portrait photography is technically possible, but edge detection is mediocre and depth effects are minimal. Most of the AI-backed portrait features found on typical smartphones aren’t present here, and the grayscale display makes it harder to appreciate photo depth or color separation.

In conclusion, the camera system of the Bigme HiBreak Pro is more functional than flashy. It covers the basics, adds a few smart features, and stays within the limits of what an E Ink phone can realistically deliver. While it won’t impress shutterbugs, it gets the job done for everyday business and productivity tasks.

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Price and Availability:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro is currently available through Bigme’s official website and select international resellers. As of now, the base configuration with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at approximately $440 USD, positioning it as one of the most feature-packed E Ink smartphones on the market.

Although not widely distributed in physical retail stores, it can be shipped globally and supports multiple regions with dual SIM slots. The price may vary slightly depending on your location, shipping fees, or if bundled with accessories like a stylus or protective case.

It’s worth noting that Bigme frequently runs discounts or bundles through crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Early adopters may find better value by keeping an eye out for flash sales or pre-order events.

Conclusion:

The Bigme HiBreak Pro is not just another E Ink phone—it’s a bold leap in what a modern e-paper smartphone can achieve. It merges a full Android 14 experience with all the modern smartphone features you’d expect: dual SIM, NFC, fingerprint unlock, and a surprisingly smooth user interface for an E Ink display. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, it goes beyond minimalism and aims to replace your daily driver—if you’re ready to make that leap.

While it’s not ideal for traditional media consumption like gaming or video playback, it excels in productivity, reading, and text-based tasks. Its refined refresh modes, customizable hardware keys, and full Google Play support make it versatile for students, writers, and digital minimalists.

The build is solid, functional, and practical—even if it’s not the most compact. Its two-button customization, dedicated reading modes, and thoughtful software integration help it stand out in a niche space. Cameras remain a weak point, but that’s expected on any E Ink device.

Overall, the HiBreak Pro is one of the best digital paper phones you can buy in 2025. It’s proof that Bigme is leading the charge in making e-paper phones not just possible—but desirable. Buy Bigme Hibreak Pro Now!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Is the Bigme HiBreak Pro a real smartphone or just an e-reader?

• Yes, the Bigme HiBreak Pro is a full Android smartphone running Android 14. It supports calls, text messages, dual SIM cards, and offers full access to the Google Play Store.

Can the Bigme HiBreak Pro run popular apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, and YouTube?

• Absolutely. Since it runs full Android with Google Play, you can install and use nearly any app, including WhatsApp, Gmail, Kindle, YouTube, and more.

Does the Bigme HiBreak Pro support stylus input?

• The HiBreak Pro doesn’t come with a stylus nor is it optimized for active pen input, unlike other Bigme tablets. It focuses on smartphone use with E Ink convenience.

Is the Bigme HiBreak Pro good for reading books or manga?

• Yes, it’s excellent for reading. The crisp 300 PPI E Ink screen paired with refresh modes like HD and 256 makes it one of the best E Ink devices for manga and ebooks.

How is the battery life on the Bigme HiBreak Pro?

• Battery life is solid thanks to E Ink efficiency. Most users can expect 2–4 days of typical use, especially if the display is set to slower refresh modes.

Can I use the Bigme HiBreak Pro for photography or video calls?

• While it has front and rear cameras, their performance is very limited. The rear 20MP shooter exists but suffers from lag and poor quality due to E Ink’s nature.

Does the phone support wireless charging?

• No, the HiBreak Pro does not include wireless charging. It charges via USB-C using a standard wired connection.

Is the Bigme HiBreak Pro good for outdoor use?

• Yes, E Ink screens are naturally anti-glare and very readable in direct sunlight, making it perfect for outdoor reading and use.

Does it support multitasking or app switching?

• Yes, it has solid multitasking support and includes custom key mapping for app switching, screenshots, and back navigation via its physical buttons.

How is the performance compared to traditional smartphones?

• While it packs decent specs (8GB RAM and a capable processor), E Ink screens inherently limit smoothness, so it’s not as fluid as an LCD-based phone. Buy it on Amazon now!

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