Bigme HiBreak Pro HiBreak Pro 6.13" Epaper Cell Black 256GB Review

The Bigme Hibreak is an e-ink Android phone. The screen is amazing for reading and battery life, but terrible for videos and fast scrolling. It's a niche device for readers, not a mainstream phone replacement. Battery life is its best score.

The Bigme Hibreak is a weird one. It's a phone with an e-ink screen, which means it's basically a pocket-sized e-reader that can also make calls and run Android apps. That's its whole deal.

If you're tired of staring at a bright, glowing LCD all day, this thing is a breath of fresh air. It runs Android 14 on a Dimensity 1080 chip with 8GB of RAM, so it's not a slouch. But it's definitely not a normal phone.

Performance is solid for what it is. The Dimensity 1080 and 8GB of RAM land it in the 74th percentile for performance in our database, which is respectable for a mid-range device. It'll handle everyday apps and multitasking just fine. The big caveat is the e-ink display. It's great for reading, but animations and scrolling will feel slow and ghost-y compared to a standard phone screen. That's just the nature of the tech.

At $438, it's a tough sell as your only phone. You're paying a premium for the e-ink screen technology in a phone body. If your primary goal is to read for hours without eye strain and you want to ditch a separate e-reader, the value is there. If you're looking for a general-purpose smartphone, this money gets you a much more capable 'normal' phone.

Don't compare this to a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel. They're in a different league for general use. The real question is: do you want an e-reader that's also a phone, or a phone that's also an e-reader? For the former, this is it. For the latter, look at something like the Hisense Touch series. Against normal phones like the Motorola Moto G or OnePlus 15, the Hibreak loses on screen quality, speed, and camera every time. But it wins on battery life and eye comfort hands down.

If you watch a lot of videos, play mobile games, or just want a fast, responsive social media experience, skip this immediately. The e-ink display will drive you insane. Also, if you need a rugged phone, look elsewhere—this scored very low in that area.

Buy the Bigme Hibreak if you're a serious reader who wants to consolidate devices and you're willing to accept the compromises of an e-ink screen for everything else. It's perfect for someone who wants to disconnect from the constant stimulation of a regular phone but still needs calling, messaging, and light app access.