Although the UMi Rome is already fairly well known, UMi have decided to play off the launch of the Redmi Note 3 to announce the official launch of the phone and specifications.
While UMi are sending out press releases to websites stating that the new UMi Rome costs just $89, I’ve not been able to find the phone for anything less than $99. This is not a complaint, just an observation, anyone complaining about a difference in $10 when a phone has specs like the Rome really needs their head checking.
UMi Rome to disrupt smartphone market?
On paper the UMi Rome is ridiculously over spec’d for its modest price tag, in fact the cost is so low that some of us in the office are a little skeptical that the launch parameters are 100%.
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UMi specs say that the sub $100 UMi Rome boasts a 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 AMOLED display. This on its own is an uncommon feature for a low-cost phone, but UMi say that the Rome offers even more.
There is an octacore Mediatek MT6753 chipset, (quad-cores are normally found at this price), 3GB RAM, Sony IMX179 rear camera (its an 8 mega-pixel sensor, interpolated to 13 mega-pixel), LTE, and even a place for up to 128GB SD cards.
Android 5.1 comes out of the box, and there is no mention of an Android 6 update for the phone. Worrying since UMi eMax Mini owners still haven’t received any updates since the phone launched.
If the hardware is accurate then the UMi Rome really could be a disruptive device, but it still remains to be seen if the user experience lives up to all the hype.
Wow… At even $99, this spec is really super. How about battery size? And the phone does look Good too. No fingerprint scanner though but that’s not a problem considering the spec and prize. Who knows, does this have any kinda screen protection? I really like this phone.
On a side note, where is Mohammad? He needs to see this phone.
He wants a decent camera, don’t think this will produce the goods.
We will wait for Yassir to make the decision.
true … interpolation is close to a deal breaker for me…
hopefully they have done something to rectify that , maybe on the software side … to improve performance.
but lets see what the rest has to offer 🙂
Battery size has been announced as a 2500mah unit, which i really doubt it’s the truth but, you know, there is no proof… Yet…
Anyway, Mohammad is really interested in camera performance, and there is no chance in hell this interpolated thing could live up to his expectations 😀
haha … i kinda toned down my expectations after Balco made me realise that i was better off buying a DSLR if i wanted to do pro-photography (not that i want to) :p
even phones like vivo and gionee E8 (the 100 mp cam phone) can’t actually avoid all the drawbacks that occur when low-light challenges the sensor… eventually their low-light pics start exhibiting all the general defects like noise and shakiness as well as slow shutter speed.
so im gonna settle for something thats overly decent … but you’re right , interpolation does tend to sour the general result of any sensor … so we all better watch out for that :p
Not all interpolations are bad. In some, you really cant make out the difference with the actual MP. I have seen phones with interpolated MP that actually beats the real thing in performance. Though it remains to be seen how Umi implemented it on the Rome.
i’d like to know a few names where interpolation was effective …
All in all, if you want to take nice pics, it’s reasonable to take a device meant for this, instead of something where camera are just a plus! 😀
Balco is totally right, of course: the only phones that comes closer to a dlsr are some phanasonic models with real sensors and optical zoom… Yet you would pay 1000$ for a phone that take pics like a low end camera! Totally not worth it!
agreed.
but he also loves a decent price so Camera Vs Price we wait for his conclusion.
hi there 🙂
im truly pleased and humbled at all the anticipation im seeing here for me.
thanks a bunch guys !
camera
remains to be judged from the actual review … but the price in itself
is superb for the tentative hardware ( as per the editor’s words , they
are unsure of everything about the specs being true to the core).
they
did mention a blue light filter but real time tests
will determine how much work they put in sensor programming as well as
the optical setup. im waiting for the reivew like you guys 🙂
haha , hi Michael … i had my eyes peeled on this for two weeks now , since the first rumours started to circle …
umi are leaving no stone unturned in trying to disrupt and embroil the market in utter confusion (in a good way , ofc :p) with the outrageous price tag. but like i told george above , reviews will determine the true face of this phone.
lets hope its a above decent offering … as umi seem to have put some work into it. and ofcourse , marshmallow ota in the ranks will greatly boost overall appeal of this !
Yes you are right brother. As much as I love the look and price of this phone, I am not gonna rush into purchasing it till I see lots of reviews. That way, I can be relatively sure of what I am spending my hard earned cash on.
Haha, the first price that merchants did not sell, and secondly, you have seen 3GB RAM, while others did not pay attention, and why did not send video umi it? Just some advertising images.
Yea. With cameras that stop functioning after few months. Umi has quality issues. So am not surprised at the pricing.
Would only look at TCL sourced models, which I doubt(?) this is.
Try with Alcatel Flash 2.
That would be nice
wow … camera stop working ?!
the chip must really suck !
Yassir where are you m8?The one and only is finally here 😉
hey bud 🙂
yeah … been looking at this for about a fortnight now…
its outrageous on paper … for the price-to-spec ratio
but like i have always said , candid and in depth review determines the actual value of any smartphone and same goes for this. i have my reservations on the old cam sensor (even though they claim a ‘blue light filter’ embedded in the flash for low-light performance) and from what i hear(and have read in some reviews) after sales support like OTA etc is disastrous from Umi …
so… time will tell 😀
but im honestly impressed with the amoled , the generous ram and ofcourse , the octacore (even if its a bit underwhelming compared to 6752) …
and lets see what the re-sellers do with the markup on the feisty $89 tag 😀 ( if i were a re-seller i’d see this as a tasty opportunity to make more than just a tidy profit)
The hidden price you would pay for this is probably no longterm software support. But considering the asking price, probably not a lot of prospective buyers would even care about long term support. The price of mediatek chips is no ROM support from the community.
With no 3G 850/1900 and LTE band 4 = failure in America , think about that Umi for your next products
UMI Rome hands on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR7xmDbwGE4 For me it’s Elephone P8000-ish price killer. Same thick and heavyweight.
Why you do not see a ROME Reviews? Why do not they send the real operation of the video, is it because he is in addition to 3GB RAM, the other projects are very poor it? Do not be deceived by this 3GB RAM, I think I would choose ulefone Paris, it is a powerful phone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQT7dNSK0uw
With a insanely low price, you can expect insanely low quality, just as Umi Rome will be. Ulefone Paris has a fair price, that’s why it has a fair performance (it’s not perfect though). And Rome reminds me of the Roman Empire. At a time when IS is killing innocent people, such as those in Paris, it is not smart to make a name that possibly signifies violence.
Yea, make peace, not war.
Low price is good. But too low price does not give me courage to buy it.
ulefone guys in disguise, shame on you for what you said and for using the death of paris people for your dirty marketing proposal! Shame, shame, shame!
From now on, I’ll tell every european user not to buy your products anymore, respect our victims and get lost!
You poor guy, you sure did not see umi’s official website, they claim to kill elephone 、 kill Paris、 kill doogee. You feel sad ignorance and rudeness, which is reflected in the failure of family education. Pity you!
They surely have learned from IS http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article6896512.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Screen-Shot-2015-11-25-at-094126.png
they limited to phones, in that circumnstance they can kill whathever they want, don’t care for any stupid chinese brand. But putting in the mix ISIS and innocent deaths lacks every minimum sense of respect and shows who’s really lacking education here, also not even apologizing for what has been said and continuing attacking, this really shows how your only interest is to make money even using this lame tactics and bringing innocent victims to the table. There are no words for you, hope you won’t continue showing how little you and your company are and stop those idiotic references in the future!
For you to say before and after, before and after the two different note, you really a poor man, after being thrown off the camouflage also continued to quibble, why not be honest to face the facts? Another contrast between brands is a normal commercial competition, is now being raised to the height of your ethics, you are a poor parallel.
how dare you use terrorist attacks victims to market your product ???? are you totally insane? Have you lost your mind? Just shut up and let us burry our people, go sell your phones to your old folk and leave us alone.
ulefone guys in disguise, you are so lame it’s disgusting!
you are so lame it’s disgusting!Afraid to face the real thing, you are poor, I have mercy on you.
you have not even posted a real video review of Umi rome…Paris does not have good camera samples..and any mt6753 phone nowadays will do decent gaming.
I think ulefone paris is better than it
This is the real umi Rome, look at pictures it has a poor workmanship, especially the black edges, and. . . , That borders a big gap. That is why not send Rome umi video operation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaLZ4Rm8L-4
ulefone guys in disguise, you are so lame!
Www, great. Umi, a Samsung company. Samsung umi note, why i need buy this bad phone? I never find low price, the real price is $119. Liar, Liar, Liar
it’s really incredible how a site like this is able both to copy/paste an advertorial made by a company and then bash a product of another company even before is out (accusing them of cheating specs, that they will not update it… ). You have fallen soooo looow!!!
1280×720 5.5 inches. LOL. that must look shit.
First unboxing und hands on here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE3IxGtsoUw
I think i did a greath deal, I just ordered my UMI ROME for $60 usd with free shipping here http://goo.gl/ZaBKoS , my iphone 3gs will go in the bin now !
UMI is a disgrace to phone makers, umi rome we have over here are all misbehaving. The heat can fry potatoes.
i like this phone but price high for me so i decide to buy Bluboo Maya, this is amazing phone that comes with decent specs and according to Bluboo, brings high-quality Sony IMX sensor camera and price only at $69.99