UMi Rome X claims to be worlds cheapest ‘full’ metal phone


umi rome x

UMi have teased a lot of phones over this month and with only a few days of the year remaining they have managed to knock out news of the latest UMi Rome X.

Looking at the name you can already establish that the phone will be based on the UMi Rome, and that the X means it will be a more affordable version (just as the ‘X’ in Ulefone Paris X does).

As usual UMi are making some rather bold claims about the new phone, and say that the $49.99 UMi Rome X will be the cheapest full metal 3G smartphone available, we just home they mean ‘most affordable’ and not ‘cheapest’ in every respect of the word.

UMi Rome X Specifications

umi rome x

Gizchina News of the week


To UMi’s credit the details of the phone and even renders of the gold version of the UMi Rome X don’t seem to hide anything. UMi have gotten right to the point to saying the MT6580 phone will only use 3G networks have have 1GB RAM, plus the images of the phone show an honest black border around the 5.5-inch HD display (other phone makers might try to hide them).

For $49.99 you can’t ask for too much still there is a 1280 x 720 display, 2.5D glass panel, and space for a micro SD card should the 8GB on-board storage not be enough.

umi rome x

So is there anything untoward here? Well the claim of being the cheapest full metal phone isn’t really fair as the UMi Rome X will feature just a metal chassis and still retain a polycarbonate battery panel, but other than that the specs seem ok for a sub $50 phone.

UMi plan a presale for the UMi Rome X on the 11th January with phones shipping on the 25th January.

What do you guys make of the UMi Rome X? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

Previous Bluboo Xwatch will launch in February with outdoor features and Android
Next Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 spotted with Snapdragon 808

81 Comments

  1. Slaven
    December 28, 2015

    Sounds great, but 2 way multitouch…no good!

    • Tony Lee
      December 30, 2015

      a kind of extreme usually mean you gotta lose some others.

  2. Muhammad Yasir
    December 28, 2015

    WTF is this ?!
    this is 2016 AND IMBECILES ARE STILL USING 32 BIT SoCs?!
    when will you ever learn !

    • Rob
      December 28, 2015

      I think this is aimed solely at emerging markets where people want a basic smartphone at a very affordable price, to be fair this actually looks pretty good especially so when you consider the price.

      • Muhammad Yasir
        December 28, 2015

        but i think 6732 (which is older) won’t break the bank for cheapest possible phone ALONG with the fact that it has only 1 gb RAM which is another downer :/ !

        emerging market could use newer tech , esp when its made so affordable by the likes of MTK…

        • Tony Lee
          December 30, 2015

          people would complain the performance of MT6732 phone when they really use it. it’s better to make a balance product between price, quality and using experience.

          • Muhammad Yasir
            December 30, 2015

            why would they complain about 6732 … its one of the finest quadcores of its time !

    • Aa
      December 28, 2015

      This is very cheap phone for basic functions.
      It doesn’t matter if it is 32 or 64 bit, it is completely irrelevant in this case.

      • Muhammad Yasir
        December 28, 2015

        k den

  3. MaxPower
    December 28, 2015

    nonsense:it’s like putting leather and Alcantara on a Ford Fiesta.
    I would prefer a newer technology rather than a premium look just for the eyes.

    • balcobomber25
      December 30, 2015

      What type of Fiesta? The Fiesta ST is a sick little puppy.

  4. Dis
    December 28, 2015

    No preorder? Where can we buy when it launches?

    • balcobomber25
      December 30, 2015

      Every reseller will have these but expect to pay around $60-70..

    • Daniel Nei
      September 20, 2016

      I know Uhans A101 is the 4G smartphone on flash sale at geekbuying only 49$. all specs and feature is great dear.

  5. Riccardo Benzoni
    December 28, 2015

    for 50 dollars (40 euros more or less in europe) you get a smartphone, just this is a valuable reason to really consider this kind of products (here you buy old gsm candybars at that price). It seems it uses the same cameras as standard Rome, which seem to perform quite well for the range of price from what I’ve seen in reviews, in this even more reduced price range they could be unmatched, and this would be an interesting unexpected plus for an extra entry level product.
    I still have a couple of more or less 3 years old mt6589-6582 phones with 1gb ram alive and kicking among relatives and friends, and they couldn’t be happier considering their phones are still quite snappy and cover all their basic needs ( surfing the internet, using whatsapp/facebook/youtube and the likes, playing stupid games like candy crash and even watching some video streaming)
    That’s why I purchased an homtom ht7 and will probably get one of this as well, in basic user’s hands those phones will last until they break and won’t even be pushed to their limit most of the time (and, to date, not even the older ones have broken yet!)

    • Dis
      December 28, 2015

      homtom H7 are $60 on everbuying.net right now, probably a safer buy than getting these if you know the phone and like it

      • Riccardo Benzoni
        December 28, 2015

        homtom still has to be shipped, so I don’t know if it’s safer or not. Being a subsidiary of Doogee, I’d be safer with the UMi most probably 😀 but for the 35€ I paid for HT7 during the flash sale, I’ll hardly have something to complain about.
        If Rome X has the same body as the first Rome as they claim, then it will be way more attractive and refined than HT7. the rest I could tell when I receive both, if I manage to catch the Rome X as well.

        • Dis
          December 28, 2015

          Look at the video of the Rome posted in this thread, the glass looks far from the screen which doesn’t look great.

          • Riccardo Benzoni
            December 28, 2015

            I don’t care about videos made by competitors, that’s so lame.

  6. Brndlprq
    December 28, 2015
  7. greg
    December 28, 2015

    Just make it with bands for America UMI !!!

    • balcobomber25
      December 30, 2015

      If it is a 3G only phone there is a good chance it will work on at least ATT.

  8. Guest
    December 28, 2015

    Sounds great, but 2 way multitouch…no good!

    • Liisess
      December 30, 2015

      a kind of extreme usually mean you gotta lose some others.

  9. Guest
    December 28, 2015

    WTF is this ?!
    this is 2016 AND IMBECILES ARE STILL USING 32 BIT SoCs?!
    when will you ever learn !

    • Rob
      December 28, 2015

      I think this is aimed solely at emerging markets where people want a basic smartphone at a very affordable price, to be fair this actually looks pretty good especially so when you consider the price.

    • Aa
      December 28, 2015

      This is very cheap phone for basic functions.
      It doesn’t matter if it is 32 or 64 bit, it is completely irrelevant in this case.

    • Guest
      December 28, 2015

      k den

    • Guest
      December 28, 2015

      but i think 6732 (which is older) won’t break the bank for cheapest possible phone ALONG with the fact that it has only 1 gb RAM which is another downer :/ !

      emerging market could use newer tech , esp when its made so affordable by the likes of MTK…

    • Liisess
      December 30, 2015

      people would complain the performance of MT6732 phone when they really use it. it’s better to make a balance product between price, quality and using experience.

    • Guest
      December 30, 2015

      why would they complain about 6732 … its one of the finest quadcores of its time !

  10. MaxPower
    December 28, 2015

    nonsense:it’s like putting leather and Alcantara on a Ford Fiesta.
    I would prefer a newer technology rather than a premium look just for the eyes.

    • balcobomber25
      December 31, 2015

      What type of Fiesta? The Fiesta ST is a sick little puppy.

  11. Dis
    December 28, 2015

    No preorder? Where can we buy when it launches?

    • balcobomber25
      December 31, 2015

      Every reseller will have these but expect to pay around $60-70..

    • Daniel Nei
      September 21, 2016

      I know Uhans A101 is the 4G smartphone on flash sale at geekbuying only 49$. all specs and feature is great dear.

  12. Riccardo Benzoni
    December 28, 2015

    for 50 dollars (40 euros more or less in europe) you get a smartphone, just this is a valuable reason to really consider this kind of products (here you buy old gsm candybars at that price). It seems it uses the same cameras as standard Rome, which seem to perform quite well for the range of price from what I’ve seen in reviews, in this even more reduced price range they could be unmatched, and this would be an interesting unexpected plus for an extra entry level product.
    I still have a couple of more or less 3 years old mt6589-6582 phones with 1gb ram alive and kicking among relatives and friends, and they couldn’t be happier considering their phones are still quite snappy and cover all their basic needs ( surfing the internet, using whatsapp/facebook/youtube and the likes, playing stupid games like candy crash and even watching some video streaming)
    That’s why I purchased an homtom ht7 and will probably get one of this as well, in basic user’s hands those phones will last until they break and won’t even be pushed to their limit most of the time (and, to date, not even the older ones have broken yet!)

    • Dis
      December 28, 2015

      homtom H7 are $60 on everbuying.net right now, probably a safer buy than getting these if you know the phone and like it

    • Riccardo Benzoni
      December 28, 2015

      homtom still has to be shipped, so I don’t know if it’s safer or not. Being a subsidiary of Doogee, I’d be safer with the UMi most probably 😀 but for the 35€ I paid for HT7 during the flash sale, I’ll hardly have something to complain about.
      If Rome X has the same body as the first Rome as they claim, then it will be way more attractive and refined than HT7. the rest I could tell when I receive both, if I manage to catch the Rome X as well.

    • Dis
      December 28, 2015

      Look at the video of the Rome posted in this thread, the glass looks far from the screen which doesn’t look great.

    • Riccardo Benzoni
      December 28, 2015

      I don’t care about videos made by competitors, that’s so lame.

  13. Caronte
    December 28, 2015
  14. greg
    December 28, 2015

    Just make it with bands for America UMI !!!

    • balcobomber25
      December 31, 2015

      If it is a 3G only phone there is a good chance it will work on at least ATT.

  15. Galindo
    December 28, 2015

    You never can expect a very low price to buy a high-profile phone, because the price will not deviate from the value. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPpOO1S5yNM&feature=youtu.be

  16. Kieslowski
    December 29, 2015

    You never can expect a very low price to buy a high-profile phone, because the price will not deviate from the value.

    • Yoosk
      December 29, 2015

      wrong phone

    • Yoosk
      December 29, 2015

      wrong phone

  17. ksuuk
    December 29, 2015

    Wrong button layout is the deal killer.:(

  18. Tony Lee
    December 29, 2015

    Even DOOGEE X5 give the chance to be purchased at a low price with affordable builting quality, because people are not supposed to look forward too much on a such cheap phone. but phone makers should not claim that they built a great built quality product with a low price that nobody else could do the same thing, this is very strange that worth thinking deeply.

    • balcobomber25
      December 30, 2015

      UMi is a much better brand name than Doogee.

  19. Tony Lee
    December 29, 2015

    sometimes, people buy goods with beautiful pictures online.

  20. ksuuk
    December 29, 2015

    Wrong button layout is the deal killer.:(

  21. Liisess
    December 30, 2015

    Even DOOGEE X5 gives the chance to be purchased at a low price with affordable builting quality, because people are not supposed to look forward too much on a such cheap phone. but phone makers should not claim that they make a great built quality product at a low price that nobody else could do the same thing, this is very strange that worth thinking deeply.

    • balcobomber25
      December 31, 2015

      UMi is a much better brand name than Doogee.

  22. smileypete
    December 30, 2015

    There’s also the Oukitel U7 Pro at $70 USD delivered, $10 more than the HT7 or X5 but looks better imho

    I strongly suspect the regular price of the Rome X will creep up to $60-70, notwithstanding presale offers…

    Still, good to have more choices at this price level 🙂

  23. smileypete
    December 30, 2015

    There’s also the Oukitel U7 Pro at $70 USD delivered, $10 more than the HT7 or X5 but looks better imho

    I strongly suspect the regular price of the Rome X will creep up to $60-70, notwithstanding presale offers…

    Still, good to have more choices at this price level 🙂

  24. balcobomber25
    December 30, 2015

    Full metal doesn’t mean a thing without mentioning what type of metal it is. But $50 what can you really expect?

  25. balcobomber25
    December 31, 2015

    Full metal doesn’t mean a thing without mentioning what type of metal it is. But $50 what can you really expect?

  26. balabala001
    May 5, 2016

    A new model OUKITEL C3 is creating the cheapest price: $39.99. From May 5th-May 7th, limited stock is sold at tinydeal: http://www.tinydeal.com/oukitel-c3-si-5848.html

  27. balabala001
    May 5, 2016

    A new model OUKITEL C3 is creating the cheapest price: $39.99. limited stock is sold at tinydeal: http://www.tinydeal.com/oukitel-c3-si-5848.html

  28. AndrTech
    May 31, 2016

    We have some other good choice for the low price devices. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40W-vxjzx4c, watch the comparison video, all are with similar features and price.

    • Joseth LH
      September 20, 2016

      Uhans A101 is flash sale now only 49$, and specs the similar these phone.

  29. AndrTech
    May 31, 2016

    We have some other good choice for the low price devices.

  30. AndrTech
    May 31, 2016

    watch the comparison video, all are with similar features and price.

    • Joseth LH
      September 21, 2016

      Uhans A101 is flash sale now only 49$, and specs the similar these phone.

  31. Rj
    June 2, 2016

    This phone is good but i wait for Bluboo Maya. this is better, Maya is come with Android 6.0, Sony camera sensor+ quick focus, 13MP+5MP cameras, Customized Face beauty APP, 2GB+16GB, 5.5” HD IPS TFT display, Back cover design, Metal frame4.35V battery core, 3000mAh battery, Dual SIM Dual Standby. friends i think this is good phone and i watch regularly http://www.bluboo.com.cn/ for buy this phone.

  32. Kashan Ali
    June 23, 2016

    Bluboo Maya are getting prepare to bang out the chinese market 🙂
    With $69.99 pre-sale price the device will be came out with 2 GB of super RAM into the markets Get Ready for it!

  33. Gadudu
    August 4, 2016

    As a user of it, it is shity af. Not known and have lack of possabillities in it

  34. Guest
    August 4, 2016

    As a user of it, it is shity af. Not known and have lack of possabillities in it

  35. tha nan
    September 20, 2016

    It is the good phone with good price. it is very nice design. but it is 3G phone if it 4G is very good.

    • Joseth LH
      September 20, 2016

      If you want 4G smartphone, Uhans A101 is good for you. and the price only 49$ too on flash sale

      • tha nan
        September 20, 2016

        Yes. I will check it thanks.

  36. tha nan
    September 21, 2016

    It is the good phone with good price. it is very nice design. but it is 3G phone if it 4G is very good.

    • Joseth LH
      September 21, 2016

      If you want 4G smartphone, Uhans A101 is good for you. and the price only 49$ too on flash sale

    • tha nan
      September 21, 2016

      Yes. I will check it thanks.

  37. Andrea Perez
    January 18, 2017

    Hola chicos saben algo de esto AGM x1 es que quiero compra este movil que es al aire libre y doble camara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8EOcDp5a0 ghj

  38. Andrea Perez
    January 19, 2017

    Hola chicos saben algo de esto AGM x1 es que quiero compra este movil que es al aire libre y doble camara

  39. Andrea Perez
    January 19, 2017

    ghj