Design and Build: Sleek Aesthetics Meets Practicality
The Cubot X90 Pro immediately challenges budget phone stereotypes with its surprisingly premium design language. Eschewing cheap-feeling plastics, it utilizes a textured polycarbonate back panel that mimics the look and feel of frosted glass, offering a comfortable, grippy hold while effectively resisting fingerprints. The frame, likely a sturdy plastic alloy, provides reassuring rigidity. Available in classic Black, elegant Blue, and a vibrant Gradient option, it caters to diverse tastes. The rear houses a prominent rectangular camera module cleanly integrating the triple-lens system and flash. Ergonomics are well-considered; the 165.8 x 76.8 x 9.35mm dimensions and approximately 212g weight distribute comfortably in hand, making one-handed use feasible for most tasks. A USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and side-mounted fingerprint sensor/power button combo round out the practical design choices. While not IP-rated for water resistance, the build quality feels solid, surpassing expectations for its price bracket. The textured finish significantly elevates the perceived value.
Display: Immersive Viewing on a Budget
Visual immersion is central to the Cubot X90 Pro experience, driven by its expansive 6.67-inch IPS LCD display. The highlight is the Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels), delivering sharp, crisp visuals with a pixel density of approximately 395 PPI – a significant advantage over common HD+ panels in this segment. Text appears clean, images are detailed, and videos enjoy good clarity. The 20:9 aspect ratio provides an elongated canvas perfect for modern content consumption and scrolling through feeds. While IPS technology doesn’t match AMOLED’s infinite blacks, the panel offers vibrant colors and respectable viewing angles. Brightness levels are adequate for indoor use but can struggle slightly under harsh direct sunlight. The inclusion of a smooth 90Hz refresh rate is a major win, elevating everyday interactions. Scrolling through social media, browsing websites, and navigating the UI feels noticeably smoother and more responsive compared to standard 60Hz displays, enhancing the overall user experience without drastically impacting battery life. A small, centered punch-hole notch houses the front camera, maximizing screen real estate.
Performance: Powering Through Daily Tasks
Under the hood, the Cubot X90 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, built on a power-efficient 6nm process. This octa-core chipset (comprising two Cortex-A76 performance cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores at 2.0GHz) paired with the capable Mali-G57 MC2 GPU forms a robust foundation for everyday use. Coupled with a generous 12GB of RAM (8GB physical + 4GB virtual expansion) and 256GB of internal UFS 2.2 storage (expandable via microSD card up to 1TB), the phone delivers smooth multitasking and ample space for apps, media, and games. Performance benchmarks place it comfortably ahead of entry-level chips like the Helio G85 or Snapdragon 680. In real-world usage, the X90 Pro handles routine tasks like web browsing, social media, email, video streaming, and document editing with effortless fluidity. The 90Hz display further enhances this perceived smoothness. For gaming, it capably handles popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact at medium settings and frame rates, though demanding games at max settings will push the GPU. Thermal management is generally effective, avoiding excessive throttling during sustained loads. This combination makes it a true performance standout in the budget arena.
Battery Life: Endurance That Lasts
A cornerstone of the Cubot X90 Pro’s appeal is its exceptional battery endurance, anchored by a substantial 5160mAh lithium-polymer battery. This large capacity, combined with the power-efficient Helio G99 chip and generally well-optimized software, translates to impressive longevity. For moderate users focused on messaging, social media, browsing, and some video streaming, achieving a full two days on a single charge is a realistic expectation. Even heavier users pushing the device with extended gaming sessions or navigation will comfortably reach the end of a demanding day with charge to spare. Standby drain is minimal. Charging is handled by a 33W fast charger included in the box. While not the absolute fastest available, it provides a significant boost over standard 10W or 18W solutions. You can expect to recharge the battery from 0% to around 50% in roughly 30 minutes, and a full charge takes approximately 75-90 minutes. This balance of massive capacity and practical fast charging ensures the phone stays powered through extended use without causing lengthy downtime.
Camera System: Triple Threat on a Budget
The triple-camera array on the Cubot X90 Pro represents a significant feature push for the budget segment. The primary sensor is a 100MP Samsung ISOCELL HM2 (f/1.9 aperture), utilizing pixel-binning technology to combine data from multiple pixels into one, producing detailed 12.5MP photos with improved light capture and reduced noise, especially in decent lighting. Daylight shots capture good detail, vibrant (sometimes slightly oversaturated) colors, and decent dynamic range. The 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens (f/2.2) expands the field of view significantly, useful for landscapes or group shots, though image quality softens towards the edges and low-light performance is weaker. A dedicated 5MP macro lens (f/2.4) allows for close-up shots, capturing intricate details, but requires steady hands and good lighting for usable results. The 32MP front-facing camera (f/2.0) housed in the punch-hole produces sharp selfies suitable for social media in good conditions. Low-light photography is a challenge, as expected; the main sensor produces passable but noisy images relying heavily on multi-frame processing, while the ultra-wide and macro struggle significantly. The camera app offers features like Night Mode, Portrait mode with bokeh, Pro mode, HDR, and various AI scene enhancements. Video recording maxes out at 1080p resolution at 30fps from both front and rear cameras, with acceptable stabilization for casual use but lacking advanced features like 4K or 60fps. For its price, the camera system offers commendable versatility and a capable primary shooter.
Software Experience: Clean Android with Useful Extras
The Cubot X90 Pro ships with Android 13, offering users access to the latest core features, privacy controls, and security enhancements from Google at launch. Cubot overlays a relatively light custom skin, avoiding the heavy bloatware often found on budget devices. The interface is clean, intuitive, and stays close to stock Android aesthetics, ensuring familiarity and ease of use. Key Android 13 features like granular app permissions, themed app icons, and improved privacy dashboards are present. Cubot includes some practical additions like gesture navigation, a system-wide dark mode, a handy side-toolbar for quick app access, and basic customization options for themes and icons. Crucially, bloatware is minimal, mostly limited to essential utilities and the Google suite. While future Android upgrade commitments (like Android 14 or beyond) are typically less certain with smaller brands compared to giants like Samsung or Google, the clean base of Android 13 provides a smooth, responsive, and largely uncluttered user experience out of the box, which is a major plus in this segment. Security patch level updates are provided periodically, though the frequency might not match flagship standards.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Cubot X90 Pro offers a comprehensive suite of connectivity options essential for modern use. Dual 4G LTE support ensures reliable mobile data speeds and VoLTE/ViLTE compatibility for high-quality calls on supported networks. Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) provides fast wireless connectivity, while Bluetooth 5.2 offers stable connections to peripherals like headphones and speakers with improved range and efficiency. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou satellite systems ensure accurate and fast location services for navigation and apps. The physical connectivity trio – USB Type-C (USB 2.0 speeds) for charging/data, a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio, and a dedicated microSD card slot (triple slot: 2x nano-SIM + 1x microSD) – caters to all essential needs without compromises. Security is handled effectively by the responsive side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button and a reliable 2D face unlock system using the front camera. The single bottom-firing loudspeaker delivers adequate volume for media playback and calls, though quality is average. Vibration motor feedback is functional but not particularly refined. NFC support is notably absent, limiting contactless payment options in some regions.
Pricing and Value: The Budget Powerhouse Proposition
Positioned aggressively in the ultra-competitive budget segment, the Cubot X90 Pro’s price point is its ultimate weapon. Typically retailing significantly below $200 USD, it delivers an exceptional package for the cost. The core value proposition revolves around three pillars: the large, sharp 90Hz FHD+ display providing a premium viewing experience uncommon at this price; the potent combination of the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage offering performance that punches well above its weight class for daily tasks and light gaming; and the massive 5160mAh battery paired with 33W charging ensuring outstanding endurance and quick top-ups. The versatile 100MP triple camera system, while having limitations (especially in low light), adds significant versatility rarely found in this bracket. Clean Android 13 software, a practical design with a textured back, and essential features like a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and headphone jack complete the picture. When benchmarked against rivals in the same price range, the X90 Pro consistently stands out for its sheer hardware specifications – particularly the display refresh rate, RAM/storage configuration, and primary camera resolution. It successfully bridges the gap between bare-bones budget devices and mid-range contenders, offering a compelling “budget powerhouse” experience where core performance and essential features take precedence over brand prestige or cutting-edge frills. For cost-conscious buyers seeking maximum hardware bang for their buck, the Cubot X90 Pro presents a remarkably strong case.