Design and Build: A Statement of Sustainable Intent
The moment you unbox the BQ Aquila X Pro, its design philosophy is immediately apparent. This is not a device chasing the gloss of competitors; it’s carving its own path. The chassis, constructed from a remarkably robust polycarbonate with a significant percentage of recycled materials, feels solid and reassuring in the hand. The matte, slightly textured finish does an excellent job of resisting fingerprints, a common annoyance with glass-backed smartphones. The device strikes a careful balance, feeling substantial enough to convey quality without tipping into being overly heavy or cumbersome.
The rear panel houses a raised camera module that integrates seamlessly into the top-left corner. Its minimalist design avoids the ostentatious branding of some rivals. A notable and commendable feature is the inclusion of a customizable physical button on the left frame. Out of the box, it’s set to trigger the camera, but users can reassign it to launch any application or function, a nod to practical, user-driven customization. The in-hand feel is ergonomic, with curved edges that prevent digging into the palm during prolonged use. The IP67 rating for dust and water resistance provides a layer of confidence, ensuring the device can withstand accidental splashes or a brief drop in water, a feature often reserved for more expensive models.
Display: Vividness Meets Practicality
BQ has equipped the Aquila X Pro with a 6.8-inch Fluid AMOLED display boasting a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. In daily use, this translates to exceptionally smooth scrolling through social media feeds, web pages, and application menus. The difference when switching back to a standard 60Hz display is stark and immediately noticeable. The panel is capable of reaching a peak brightness of 1600 nits, which we put to the test under direct Spanish midday sun. While not the absolute brightest on the market, it proved more than sufficient for legibility, with text and images remaining clear.
Color reproduction is vibrant and punchy out of the box, appealing to those who consume a lot of video content. For purists, the settings offer a more color-accurate “Natural” mode that adheres closer to the sRGB color gamut. The inclusion of Always-On Display functionality is implemented well, providing essential information at a glance without a significant, noticeable drain on the battery. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, offering best-in-class scratch and drop protection, a critical consideration for real-world durability.
Performance and Software: Clean, Capable, and Consistent
Under the hood, the Aquila X Pro is powered by a custom-tuned MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. This combination is a workhorse. Over a week of testing, which included intensive multitasking with over a dozen Chrome tabs, streaming 4K HDR video on YouTube, and using navigation apps simultaneously, the device did not exhibit any noticeable stutters or forced app closures. It handled everything from demanding productivity suites to graphic-intensive mobile games like Genshin Impact with consistent frame rates, though it did warm up perceptibly during extended gaming sessions.
The software experience is one of the Aquila X Pro’s strongest assets. It runs on a near-stock version of Android 14, branded as “BQ UI 2.0.” The changes from pure Android are minimal and largely beneficial, focusing on useful additions like the aforementioned customizable button, advanced battery management tools, and granular permission controls. The absence of bloatware is a breath of fresh air, resulting in a clean, intuitive, and fast user interface. BQ’s commitment to software support is also a key differentiator; the company promises four years of major Android OS updates and five years of security patches, a pledge that challenges industry leaders and provides significant long-term value.
Camera System: Competent in Good Light, Challenged at Night
The camera array is often a major battleground, and BQ has opted for a triple-camera setup headlined by a 108-megapixel main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). In daylight conditions, the primary shooter captures images with a high level of detail, pleasing color saturation, and good dynamic range. The pixel-binning technology effectively combines data from multiple pixels to produce sharper, cleaner 12-megapixel photos by default. The autofocus is swift and accurate, making it reliable for capturing moving subjects like children or pets.
The 12-megapixel ultrawide camera does a respectable job, though there is a noticeable drop in detail and some color shifting at the edges compared to the main sensor. It is, however, perfectly serviceable for capturing landscapes or large group shots. The 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom is a welcome inclusion, allowing for lossless zoom that retains far more detail than digital cropping can achieve.
Where the system shows its limitations is in low-light photography. While Night Mode does a decent job of brightening scenes and reducing noise, the results can lack the clarity and color fidelity of more established flagships. Processing times are also slightly longer. The 32-megapixel front-facing camera produces sharp selfies with good skin tone reproduction. For the average user, the camera system is more than capable, but professional photographers or low-light enthusiasts may find it lags behind the competition.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power and Beyond
The 5,500 mAh battery housed within the Aquila X Pro is an absolute powerhouse. In our standardized battery test, which involves a mix of web browsing, video playback, GPS navigation, and gaming, the device consistently achieved between 7.5 to 8 hours of screen-on time. For the vast majority of users, this translates to a day and a half of normal use, and for lighter users, it can comfortably stretch to two full days. This endurance is a direct result of the efficient chipset and BQ’s intelligent software optimization.
When it does come time to recharge, the included 100W wired charger is blisteringly fast. We recorded a 0 to 100% charge in just 32 minutes. A 15-minute top-up can easily provide enough power for the remainder of the day. The device also supports 50W wireless charging, a premium feature that adds convenience for desk or bedside charging. The combination of exceptional battery life and ultra-fast charging effectively eliminates range anxiety.
The Repairability Factor: A Real-World Game Changer
Beyond the standard specs, BQ’s commitment to right-to-repair sets the Aquila X Pro apart in a significant way. The company sells official spare parts, including displays, batteries, and charging ports, directly to consumers through its website. Accompanied by detailed, step-by-step repair guides and the use of standard screws, the device is designed to be user-serviceable. We procured a replacement battery and successfully swapped it out using a basic toolkit in under 20 minutes. This approach not only reduces electronic waste but also dramatically lowers the long-term cost of ownership, addressing a critical pain point in the modern smartphone industry. It’s a feature that transcends hype and delivers tangible, practical value.
Audio, Haptics, and Connectivity
The stereo speaker setup provides a clear and sufficiently loud audio experience for media consumption and hands-free calls. While it lacks the deep bass of some dedicated media players, the sound is well-balanced and avoids distortion at higher volumes. The haptic feedback is precise and sharp, enhancing the typing experience and providing satisfying tactile responses for system interactions. Connectivity is comprehensive, with support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and an under-display fingerprint sensor that proved both fast and accurate in our testing. The inclusion of a physical SIM slot alongside eSIM support offers flexibility for all users.