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Gigaset ME Pro Smartphone Review

Electrifying.Gigaset's new flagship model ME Pro targets for a spot in the high-end market with a powerful Snapdragon 810 SoC, an elegant chassis as well as an extra-large 4000 mAh battery. Our review shows why this is not really a success.

For the original German review, see here.

Many will still be familiar with the brand name Gigaset from DECT phones, but now there are also smartphones. Besides the 5-inch Gigaset ME Pure and ME (our review), there is also the 5.5-inch flagship called ME Pro in the still small lineup. It is only available in one configuration with 32 GB of internal storage, dual-SIM functionality as well as a black case for 549 Euros (~$623).

Rivals for the smartphone are therefore other Android based high-end devices like the more expensive Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, but also less expensive models like the OnePlus 2 or the LG G4, where the price has already dropped. Outside the Android universe are the iPhone 6S Plus as well as Microsoft's Lumia 950 XL that we use as comparison devices.

Gigaset ME Pro (ME Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994 8 x 1.8 GHz, Cortex-A57/-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
3 GB 
, LPDDR4
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 401 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 22.02 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 Infrared, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm stereo jack, Card Reader: microSD up to 128 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: UV sensor, heart rate monitor, pedometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, distance sensor, Screen Cast (Miracast), Wi-Fi Direct, Dual-SIM (2 x Nano-SIM or 1 Nano-SIM + 1 microSD)
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1, GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), 3G (850/900/1900/2100), TD-SCDMA (2000/1900 MHz), FDD LTE (800/1800/2100/2600 MHz), TD-LTE (2600/1900/2300/2500 MHz), Cat.6 (up to 300 Mbps download & 50 Mbps upload). SAR body: 0.422 W/kg, SAR head: 1.3 W/kg, Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.7 x 156 x 76 ( = 0.3 x 6.14 x 2.99 in)
Battery
15.2 Wh, 4000 mAh Lithium-Ion, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 40 h, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 40 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 665 h
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera
Primary Camera: 20 MPix (autofocus f/2.2, 1080p video @ 30 fps), OIS, dual-LED flash
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix (fix focus f/2.0, 1080p video @ 30 fps)
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker at the bottom, Keyboard: virtual, Quick-charger, USB cable (Type-C to Type-A), in-ear headset, slot tool, OfficeSuite, Evernote, Gigaset elements, Security Center, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
202 g ( = 7.13 oz / 0.45 pounds), Power Supply: 87 g ( = 3.07 oz / 0.19 pounds)
Price
549 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Both sides of the Gigaset ME Pro are covered by Gorilla Glass, which has been slightly rounded towards the edges for a better feel in the hands. That you can still feel a slight transition between the front and the sides is a result of the thin display frame. Thanks to the materials used, the device leaves a very sophisticated impression, but can easily slip from angled surfaces due to the smooth back cover. The build quality of the card slot in particular is disappointing when you consider the otherwise flawless quality: The outer metal cover was very wobbly in our case, so usually it did not sit flush with the case and it often blocked when we inserted a card. Our review unit also shows small scratches on the glass back, even though we handled it very carefully.

We measured a thickness of 8.1 millimeters (~0.32 in; 7.7mm/.0.3 in according to the manufacturer), a height of 156 millimeters (~6.1 in) as well as a width of 76 millimeters (~0.3 in). These results are similar to the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium. An iPhone 6S Plus is even a few millimeters larger, but Samsung’s latest premium model Galaxy S7 Edge in particular shows that a 5.5-inch smartphone can be much more compact. We can also notice the good build quality as well as the large battery when we look at the weight: At 202 grams (~7 oz; 195 grams/6.8 oz according to the manufacturer) the review unit is the heaviest device within the comparison.

This construction has a positive effect on the stability. Neither concentrated pressure on the back nor twisting attempts are a problem, only unrealistically high amounts of pressure on the display itself will create small ripples on the screen – a good performance.

Gigaset ME Pro - Front with card slot
Gigaset ME Pro - Front
Gigaset ME Pro - Rear
Gigaset ME Pro - Rear
Gigaset ME Pro - Volume rocker
Gigaset ME Pro - Power button
Gigaset ME Pro - Card slot
Gigaset ME Pro - Box
Gigaset ME Pro - Box
Gigaset ME Pro - PSU
Gigaset ME Pro - Headset
Gigaset ME Pro - Headset port
158.2 mm / 6.23 inch 77.9 mm / 3.07 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 192 g0.4233 lbs156 mm / 6.14 inch 76 mm / 2.99 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 202 g0.4453 lbs154.4 mm / 6.08 inch 76 mm / 2.99 inch 7.8 mm / 0.3071 inch 181 g0.399 lbs151.8 mm / 5.98 inch 74.9 mm / 2.95 inch 9.85 mm / 0.3878 inch 178 g0.3924 lbs151.9 mm / 5.98 inch 78.4 mm / 3.09 inch 8.3 mm / 0.3268 inch 165 g0.3638 lbs148.9 mm / 5.86 inch 76.1 mm / 3 inch 9.8 mm / 0.3858 inch 155 g0.3417 lbs150.9 mm / 5.94 inch 72.6 mm / 2.86 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 157 g0.3461 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The memory equipment of the test model does not differ from its smaller sibling Gigaset ME: Besides 3 GB of RAM, the device has 32 GB of internal storage and you can use around 22 GB for your own files and apps. It is easy to expand the storage via microSD-card to a max. of 128 GB, but App2SD does not work. You also have to forgo a microSD when you use two SIM cards. One positive aspect is that both slots support LTE connections.

As well as the usual 3.5 mm headset port, you get a modern USB Type-C port. The connector is symmetric and can be attached both ways. According to the manufacturer, you get a USB 3.0 Type-C cable, but our review unit was shipped with only a USB 2.0 compatible USB Type-C to USB Type-A adapter. We tried a USB 3.0 cable and copied the test video Big Buck Bunny from a notebook with a USB 3.0 port and back to the notebook. The average transfer rate was just 24 MB/s, so it should be a USB 2.0 port at the smartphone. USB-OTG is not supported.

The Gigaset ME Pro supports Wi-Fi Direct as well as video output via Miracast, but not DLNS media streaming. An NFC module is not included. 

According to the manufacturer the integrated notification LED can display only two colors (red and green) and other colors were not possible even with additional apps. A positive aspect is the extensive number of sensors: As well as the fingerprint scanner at the back, you get a heart rate monitor (to the left of the main camera), a UV sensor as well as an Infrared sensor and transmitter that can be used to control devices such as TVs, Blu-ray players as well as Hi-Fi systems with the corresponding app.

left side: volume rocker
left side: volume rocker
right side: power button, card slot
right side: power button, card slot
top: 3.5 mm headset port, microphone, Infrared port
top: 3.5 mm headset port, microphone, Infrared port
bottom: speaker, USB Type-C, microphone
bottom: speaker, USB Type-C, microphone

Software

The operating system of the review unit is Android 5.1.1 with the user interface Gigaset UI. There are some modifications, such as the absence  of an app drawer similar to Huawei smartphones: Installed applications are displayed on the home screen and can be arranged in folders. The manufacturer has also installed a Power Saver and a Security app. The former can be used to activate several power saving features such as the automatic termination of background processes, while the latter includes, for example, a virus scanner and a rights manager for apps.

The UI is pretty convenient from a visual standpoint, but there are a few areas that still need some fine tuning: The column headers in the rights manager are tricky to read since they are never fully visible due to the narrow column design. It was also not possible to deactivate the sound when you take screenshots or the jingle when you turn the smartphone on.

We liked the small number of preloaded third-party apps ex-works: You only get Amazon’s Kindle app, Evernote as well as Gigaset’s Elements app to control smart home products. All three can be removed if necessary.

Lock screen
Homescreen
preloaded apps
preloaded apps
Quick settings
view of recently opened apps
Software version
rights manager
Stagefright Detector

Communication & GPS 

GPS indoors
GPS indoors
GPS in a supermarket
GPS in a supermarket
GPS outdoors
GPS outdoors

The Gigaset ME Pro supports Wi-Fi connections in both 2.4 as well as 5 GHz networks. Thanks to the modern AC standard and MiMo technology, the maximum transfer rate (gross) is 866 Mbps. We managed to reach this value in close proximity to an Asus RT-AC56U, but we noticed that it dropped the connection much earlier compared to other rivals when we increased the distance. We had already noticed a similar behavior in the smaller sibling Gigaset ME. Wireless connections with other devices can also be established via Bluetooth 4.1, but NFC is not available. The smartphone supports many frequencies and we did not notice any signal issues in the metropolitan area. Maximum LTE speeds are up to 300 Mbps for downstream and 50 Mbps for upstream (LTE Cat. 6).

The integrated GPS module, which also supports the satellite networks GLONASS and BeiDou, can find the position very quickly outdoors. The performance was not much worse indoors – such as in a one-storey supermarket. The location did not work on the third floor of a four-storey apartment building, even though the smartphone found some satellites. A comparison between the review unit and the bicycle navigation device Garmin Edge 500 is supposed to show if the results are also good in practice. Here we can see that the smartphone does not locate the position as often and there can be shortcuts, as in the two pictures with the bridge crossing and the turning point. However, the overall track length between the two devices differs by less than 1% and there are no huge outliers for the smartphone, so you can easily use it for navigation purposes.

Garmin Edge 500 - Complete
Garmin Edge 500 - Complete
Garmin Edge 500 - Bridge
Garmin Edge 500 - Bridge
Garmin Edge 500 - Turning point
Garmin Edge 500 - Turning point
Gigaset ME Pro - Complete
Gigaset ME Pro - Complete
Gigaset ME Pro - Bridge
Gigaset ME Pro - Bridge
Gigaset ME Pro - Turning point
Gigaset ME Pro - Turning point

Telephone & Voice Quality

Phone app: Numbers pad
Phone app: Numbers pad
Phone app: Missed calls
Phone app: Missed calls

The phone app of the Gigaset ME Pro is only slightly different from the normal Android counterpart in terms of functionality, but the design was adjusted to the user interface. The app supports features such as favorites, call histories, direct access to the contacts as well as a number pad. It is also possible to search by name or number.

As with the smaller sibling Gigaset ME, we are unfortunately not impressed by the voice quality when we use the earpiece for calls. The smartphone does not offer a normal, open speaker, but instead tones are transferred via "Surface Conduction" directly to the ear via vibrating glass surface. This means that both the volume as well as the sound can vary quite significantly depending on the position of the ear piece. The voice of our call partner also appears pretty unnatural and chopped. That the two microphones are not the best of their kind is confirmed by the tinny sound of the Gigaset user on the other side of the call.

Your call partner will sound much better when you use the hands-free feature, but we got complaints about a muffled sound from the other side of the call. There were also annoying noises such as echoes when both parties would talk simultaneously.

The best solution is to make calls with the supplied headset, which provided the most natural sound. The microphone on the other hand was not impressive.

Cameras & Multimedia

Front camera - living room with artificial light (click for original)
Front camera - living room with artificial light (click for original)
Main camera - living room with artificial light (click for original)
Main camera - living room with artificial light (click for original)

According to the manufacturer, the main camera of the Gigaset ME Pro takes pictures with a resolution of 20 MP as well as an aperture of f/2.2. However, the resolution is 5344x4008 pixels and the specification sheet shows a Sony IMX 230 sensor with optical image stabilization, and there is even a 21 MP camera. A true-tone LED flash is supposed to brighten up dark environments. The high resolution ensures good pictures, especially in bright environments, which can subjectively score with natural colors and good sharpness – the performance of the Gigaset ME Pro is also good compared to the rivals. You could criticize slightly blurry details, but you will have to zoom in quite a lot to see this. The indoor performance is also decent and the picture noise will only become more visible in low-light conditions, even though the LED flash can often help in these situations.

The webcam on the front uses an 8 MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.0. The picture quality is very good for a front camera. It takes sharp and detailed pictures in daylight and the quality is still decent in darker rooms, even though some pictures were rather blurry. You should, however, be careful when you also want to see the background on selfies, because objects at a distance of more than 1 meter (~3 ft) will be increasingly blurry. This will create a certain separation between the foreground and background.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

The main camera can record videos in the rather exotic 2K resolution (2048x1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second, but you can also switch to the popular Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels). Unlike the pictures, the videos can hardly impress us: Despite the nominal high resolution, the results lack details and the autofocus tends to create pumping effects when we move the camera, which will also affect the picture quality. Only the pretty smooth playback is good. The rather bad sound quality matches the mediocre impression: Wind noises sound as if you are diving in a swimming pool, and voices are unnaturally distorted.

The Full HD videos of the webcam are slightly better in terms of picture quality, even though the focus range is – as with the pictures – limited to the immediate surroundings of the smartphone. The voice recordings stay artificial and distorted.

The camera app offers modes for time-lapse as well as slow-motions, and the picture mode also includes a panorama feature. However, the handling of the app is not always easy: The trigger is quite small and very close to the home button, so you can easily hit the wrong one. It is also unfortunate that you cannot start to record a video from within the picture mode – the displayed video button does not start the recording, but will only switch to the video mode. We did not like that – except for the silent mode – we could hear the confirmation sound when we started the video within the video itself. The current volume setting is completely ignored when you take a panorama, which can result in unwanted surprises when you take pictures in quiet environments.

Camera app: Pictures
Camera app: Pictures
Camera app: Videos
Camera app: Videos

Color Accuracy and Sharpness

Picture of ColorChecker colors. Original colors are displayed in the lower half of each patch.
Picture of ColorChecker colors. Original colors are displayed in the lower half of each patch.

We compare a picture of the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport under controlled lighting conditions with the actual reference colors to evaluate the color accuracy of the Gigaset's ME Pro main camera. The result is not edited afterwards and there is no manual white balance.

The Gigaset ME Pro shows a clear tendency to brighten and oversaturate the colors, but the differences will become blurred when we look at the grayscale: Bright test surfaces are too dark and dark surfaces too bright.

We take a picture of our test chart under controlled artificial light to evaluate the sharpness. Once again, we can see that darker areas are brightened up, which causes artifacts and inconsistency in colored areas. On the other hand, the camera resolution is quite high, even though Sony's Xperia Z5 Premium still has a visible advantage in this respect.

Gigaset ME Pro: Section of the test chart
Gigaset ME Pro
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium: Section of the test chart
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Section of the test chart
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: Section of the test chart
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
Apple iPhone 6S Plus: Section of the test chart
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
Gigaset ME Pro: Test chart
Gigaset ME Pro: Test chart

Accessories

Gigaset ships its premium smartphone in a nicely designed plastic box with a magnetic lock, so the first impression is already positive. As well as the usual brochures (quick-start guide, warranty and security information), the scope of delivery also includes an in-ear headset with metal elements and different ear pads, a quick charger with a flat cable as well as a slot tool with a rubberized frame.

Gigaset also offers an optional polycarbonate cover specifically designed for the ME Pro (11.99 Euros/~$14) and a leather cover for 29.99 Euros (~$34). 

Warranty

Gigaset offers a 24-month warranty for the smartphone, but the battery and the PSU are only covered for six months, and the headset only for three months.

Input Devices & Handling

The physical buttons of the Gigaset ME Pro are made of metal and provide a pressure point, which is not too firm and easy to feel. The power button is rather wobbly, so it tends to clatter slightly when you press it.

The default keyboard of the Gigaset ME Pro, Swift Key, is integrated into the system, but you can also use Google's default input keyboard. The preloaded version is impressive with numerous settings as well as visual adaptability by themes.

The touchscreen, which is protected by Gorilla Glass, usually works well, but we noticed problems with our review unit when the power adapter was attached. Reliable inputs were only possible in this case if we also touched the metal frame at the same time – otherwise, the inputs were incorrect or not registered at all. We felt a slight tingling at the touch points of the hand and the metal frame during charging, which  suggests that this phenomenon could be caused by an electrical interference. According to Gigaset this is an isolated issue, and the problem  will be investigated after the review.

The integrated fingerprint scanner is a reliable method to unlock the smartphone, even though some rivals are subjectively quicker. It would have also been better for the handling if the sensor was easier to find with the fingers.

Considering the hardware of the premium smartphone, we were sometimes also disappointed by the subjective performance impression: There were some noticeable delays with background tasks such as app updates, as well as occasional delays when we closed apps.

Keyboard landscape mode
Keyboard landscape mode
Keyboard portrait mode
Keyboard portrait mode

Display

Subpixel arrangement
Subpixel arrangement

The Gigaset ME Pro has a 5.5-inch IPS display with 1920x1080 pixels. The resulting pixel density of 401 PPI is at the lower end within this comparison group – for example, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium manages twice as much– but we can still not see individual pixels with the naked eye.

We can measure a center brightness of 424 cd/m² for the review unit on a completely white picture, which is lower compared to most comparison devices. We also check the brightness with an even distribution of dark and bright contents (average picture level/APL 50), but the results hardly change. The maximum luminance does drop to 407 cd/m² with the activated light sensor though, and is therefore slightly lower compared to the manual adjustment. Thanks to the low black value of just 0.21 cd/m², the Gigaset ME Pro manages an excellent contrast ratio of 2019:1 – one of the best results besides the rivals with AMOLED panels. Another positive aspect is that the smartphone does not use PWM to control the display brightness.

416
cd/m²
421
cd/m²
395
cd/m²
420
cd/m²
424
cd/m²
385
cd/m²
418
cd/m²
416
cd/m²
389
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 424 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 409.3 cd/m² Minimum: 6.15 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 424 cd/m²
Contrast: 2019:1 (Black: 0.21 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.32 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.35 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.76
Gigaset ME Pro
1920x1080 px 5.5'' (IPS)
OnePlus 2
1920x1080 px 5.5'' (IPS)
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
3840x2160 px 5.5'' (IPS)
LG G4
2560x1440 px 5.5'' (IPS)
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2560x1440 px 5.5'' (AMOLED)
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
2560x1440 px 5.7'' (AMOLED)
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
1920x1080 px 5.5'' (IPS)
Screen
3%
-34%
-14%
48%
19%
0%
Brightness middle
424
451
6%
560
32%
566
33%
554
31%
297
-30%
583
38%
Brightness
409
446
9%
541
32%
536
31%
552
35%
297
-27%
560
37%
Brightness Distribution
91
90
-1%
85
-7%
90
-1%
96
5%
93
2%
91
0%
Black Level *
0.21
0.3
-43%
0.45
-114%
0.47
-124%
0.46
-119%
Contrast
2019
1503
-26%
1244
-38%
1204
-40%
1267
-37%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.32
3.84
39%
9.19
-45%
6.17
2%
1.59
75%
2.67
58%
3.55
44%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.98
15.01
-67%
2.56
71%
3.98
56%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.35
3.97
37%
10.58
-67%
6.26
1%
2.01
68%
2.81
56%
3.88
39%
Gamma
2.76 80%
2.46 89%
2.7 81%
2.48 89%
2.01 109%
2.08 106%
2.2 100%
CCT
7664 85%
7283 89%
9760 67%
8171 80%
6321 103%
6379 102%
7280 89%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
58.07
73.19
65.48
82.12
66.31
59.05
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
90.14
98.63
99.98
99.79
92.8

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 23 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 77 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
36 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 22 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 44 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

We can measure an average DeltaE deviations of 6.32 (ColorChecker) and 6.35 (Grayscale) compared to the sRGB reference color space ex-works. These results are clearly above the ideal range (DeltaE < 3) and many of the other premium devices manage more accurate colors as well. However, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is even worse. The color temperature of the review unit is too cool at 7664 K (ideal: 6500 K) and the gamma value is also too high at 2.76 (ideal: 2.2).

ColorChecker (sRGB)
ColorChecker (sRGB)
Grayscale (sRGB)
Grayscale (sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (sRGB)
Colorspace (sRGB)
Colorspace (sRGB)

The display brightness is sufficient when you want to read the display outdoors in the shade or on an overcast day. At least fonts are also visible under direct sunlight thanks to the high contrast ratio.

Display under direct sunlight with reflection
Display under direct sunlight with reflection
Display in the shade
Display in the shade
Display under direct sunlight
Display under direct sunlight

The viewing angle stability of the IPS panel is very good. Thanks to the technology, there are no inverted colors, but the brightness will clearly drop when you look at the display from the side. There can also be a slight IPS glowing (dark areas become brighter) from certain angles.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

While there are already some devices with Qualcomm's new flagship SoC Snapdragon 820, the Gigaset ME Pro still uses its predecessor, Snapdragon 810, which can be found in many premium smartphones from 2015. The octa-core processor has four fast Cortex-A57 cores running at up to 1.8 GHz as well as four more fugal Cortex-A53 cores. You also get 3 GB of memory while the graphics are handled by the Adreno 430 GPU.

Our test model has to compete with the flagship devices from the other manufacturers, so it is usually in the lower part of the middle range in the graphics benchmarks. The situation is not better in PCMark or Basemark OS II, where the Gigaset ME Pro is always on one of the last places.

PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
4503 Points
OnePlus 2
4282 Points -5%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
5094 Points +13%
LG G4
4579 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
4660 Points +3%
AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
71668 Points
OnePlus 2
65936 Points -8%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
78324 Points +9%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
128749 Points +80%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
94122 Points +31%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
133626 Points +86%
BaseMark OS II
Web (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
852 Points
OnePlus 2
923 Points +8%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
986 Points +16%
LG G4
881 Points +3%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
994 Points +17%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
837 Points -2%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
1199 Points +41%
Graphics (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
2951 Points
OnePlus 2
2631 Points -11%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
3137 Points +6%
LG G4
1995 Points -32%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2203 Points -25%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
2040 Points -31%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
4299 Points +46%
System (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
2046 Points
OnePlus 2
2536 Points +24%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2737 Points +34%
LG G4
2368 Points +16%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
4080 Points +99%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
1386 Points -32%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
3925 Points +92%
Overall (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
1426 Points
OnePlus 2
1681 Points +18%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
1649 Points +16%
LG G4
1596 Points +12%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2074 Points +45%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
1465 Points +3%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
2206 Points +55%
Memory (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
804 Points
OnePlus 2
1297 Points +61%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
876 Points +9%
LG G4
1558 Points +94%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2072 Points +158%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
1945 Points +142%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
1124 Points +40%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
51 fps
OnePlus 2
47 fps -8%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
52 fps +2%
LG G4
24.9 fps -51%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
51 fps 0%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
18.75 fps -63%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
59 fps +16%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
51 fps
OnePlus 2
48 fps -6%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
56 fps +10%
LG G4
33.7 fps -34%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
81 fps +59%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
27.11 fps -47%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
78.9 fps +55%
GFXBench 3.0
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
24 fps
OnePlus 2
23 fps -4%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
25 fps +4%
LG G4
15 fps -37%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
38 fps +58%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
17.54 fps -27%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
38.4 fps +60%
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
25 fps
OnePlus 2
23 fps -8%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
27 fps +8%
LG G4
9.5 fps -62%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
27 fps +8%
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
11.81 fps -53%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
38.4 fps +54%
GFXBench 3.1
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
17 fps
OnePlus 2
19 fps +12%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
18 fps +6%
LG G4
10 fps -41%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
28 fps +65%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
28 fps +65%
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
18 fps
OnePlus 2
19 fps +6%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
19 fps +6%
LG G4
5.7 fps -68%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
15 fps -17%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
28 fps +56%
GFXBench
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
5.2 fps
OnePlus 2
11 fps +112%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
5.8 fps +12%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
15 fps +188%
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
5.5 fps
OnePlus 2
11 fps +100%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
6.1 fps +11%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
7.9 fps +44%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
19198 Points
OnePlus 2
22400 Points +17%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
26380 Points +37%
LG G4
18821 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
28671 Points +49%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
27795 Points +45%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
24558 Points
OnePlus 2
31858 Points +30%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
37725 Points +54%
LG G4
23390 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
33031 Points +35%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
41615 Points +69%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
10884 Points
OnePlus 2
10985 Points +1%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
12852 Points +18%
LG G4
11178 Points +3%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
19610 Points +80%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
12854 Points +18%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
1482 Points
OnePlus 2
1517 Points +2%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
1402 Points -5%
LG G4
1216 Points -18%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2121 (1594min) Points +43%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
1676 Points +13%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
997 Points
OnePlus 2
846 Points -15%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
1074 Points +8%
LG G4
440 Points -56%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2229 (2043min) Points +124%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
2601 Points +161%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
1075 Points
OnePlus 2
938 Points -13%
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
1132 Points +5%
LG G4
513 Points -52%
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2204 (1923min) Points +105%
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
2318 Points +116%

Legend

 
Gigaset ME Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994, Qualcomm Adreno 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
OnePlus 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994, Qualcomm Adreno 430, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994, Qualcomm Adreno 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
LG G4 Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992, Qualcomm Adreno 418, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa, ARM Mali-T880 MP12, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
 
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994, Qualcomm Adreno 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Apple iPhone 6S Plus Apple A9, Apple A9 / PowerVR GT7600, Apple AP0064K (iPhone NVMe)

Once again, our review unit is  rather average in the browser benchmarks Octane V2, Mozilla Kraken as well as WebXPRT 2015, while it is the slowest device in the JetStream benchmark. Other devices with the Snapdragon 810 SoC – such as the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium – are up to 30% faster in this case.

Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
8147 Points
OnePlus 2
6955 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
8851 Points
LG G4
7832 (6791min) Points
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
13191 Points
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
8059 Points
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
15967 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
4571 ms *
OnePlus 2
6585 ms *
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
4377 ms *
LG G4
4771 ms *
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2564 ms *
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
5553 ms *
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
1743 ms *
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
89 Points
OnePlus 2
80 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
106 Points
LG G4
82 Points
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
163 Points
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
113 Points
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
190 Points
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
36.8 Points
OnePlus 2
44.29 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
48.2 Points
LG G4
43.12 Points
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
75.1 Points
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
46 Points
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
118.7 Points

* ... smaller is better

The storage benchmarks might show a possible reason for the below-average performance in the previous tests: The transfer rates determined by AndroBench 3 are roughly on par with the OnePlus 2, but both the LG G4 as well as the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge in particular, are significantly faster. BaseMark OS II even ranks our review unit in the last place within the comparison.

We checked the performance of the microSD slot with our reference card Toshiba Exceria Pro M401 (THN-M401S064E2, UHS-I Class 3, up to 95 MB/s read and 80 MB/s write). The results for sequential read and write operations are decent with 63 MB/s and 24.19 MB/s, respectively, but the write result in particular could be better.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
12.52 MB/s
OnePlus 2
13.94 MB/s
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
14.53 MB/s
LG G4
15 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
15.79 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
20.3 MB/s
OnePlus 2
21.87 MB/s
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
19.11 MB/s
LG G4
31.5 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
86.7 MB/s
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
126.2 MB/s
OnePlus 2
125.5 MB/s
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
99.4 MB/s
LG G4
153 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
145.1 MB/s
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
227 MB/s
OnePlus 2
234.2 MB/s
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
256.8 MB/s
LG G4
251 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
487.3 MB/s
BaseMark OS II - Memory (sort by value)
Gigaset ME Pro
804 Points
OnePlus 2
1297 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
876 Points
LG G4
1558 Points
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2072 Points
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
1945 Points
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
1124 Points

Games

Graphics are handled by the Adreno 430 GPU and it does not have any problems with the Full HD resolution of the Gigaset ME Pro. Even demanding games like “Asphalt 8” as well as “Dead Trigger 2” always run smoothly. We also liked the precision of the integrated position sensors during gaming, but it is not convenient since the speaker at the side is quickly covered by the hand when you play in landscape mode.

Screenshot Asphalt 8
Screenshot Asphalt 8
Screenshot Dead Trigger 2
Screenshot Dead Trigger 2
Asphalt 8: Airborne
 SettingsValue
 high29 fps
 very low25 fps
Dead Trigger 2
 SettingsValue
 high30 fps

Emissions

Temperature

There are no surprises in terms of temperature development: Both the idle and the load results of the Gigaset ME Pro are comparable to many other competitors. We can measure a maximum surface temperature of 43.3 °C (~110 °F). Only Samsung's new Galaxy S7 Edge is much cooler, while the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is much warmer at up to 48.3 °C (~119 °F).

When we ran the battery test of GFX Bench, which repeats the T-Rex test thirty times in a row, we were under the impression that the metal frame in particular would get inconveniently hot. While the OnePlus 2 and the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium – both use the Snapdragon 810 SoC as well – already start to throttle in the fourth run, the review unit can maintain the maximum performance for nine runs. The maximum performance of the review unit is right between the other two comparison devices, and it drops by up to 11% over the course of the test. The throttling is therefore very moderate compared to the rivals (Sony Xperia Z5 Premium: -25%; OnePlus 2: -33%).The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL (-14.5%) with the same SoC is on a similarly good level.

GFXBench: Performance
GFXBench: Performance
GFXBench: Frametimes
GFXBench: Frametimes
GFXBench: Battery
GFXBench: Battery
Max. Load
 39 °C
102 F
39.5 °C
103 F
43.3 °C
110 F
 
 38.2 °C
101 F
40.8 °C
105 F
43.3 °C
110 F
 
 38.6 °C
101 F
38.6 °C
101 F
41.2 °C
106 F
 
Maximum: 43.3 °C = 110 F
Average: 40.3 °C = 105 F
38.1 °C
101 F
39.8 °C
104 F
42.4 °C
108 F
37.8 °C
100 F
40.3 °C
105 F
42.7 °C
109 F
33.9 °C
93 F
37.5 °C
100 F
41.9 °C
107 F
Maximum: 42.7 °C = 109 F
Average: 39.4 °C = 103 F
Power Supply (max.)  30.8 °C = 87 F | Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 40.3 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.3 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.7 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.6 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The speaker of the Gigaset ME Pro is situated on the left, next to the USB Type-C port and reaches up to 87.54 dB(A), which is sufficient for medium-sized rooms. Our measurements also show that – like most smartphones – there are drawbacks in terms of super high tones and bass. However, considering the small size of the smartphone speaker the result is quite decent: Voices and music sound – except for the mentioned deficits – quite balanced. There will only be audible distortions at higher volumes or when you listen to very bass-heavy titles.

The provided in-ear headset leaves a good impression both in terms of the quality as well as the sound.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

For the past few months we have been using a new measurement device, which is much more accurate than before and therefore the results in the following table cannot be compared directly with each other. You can, however, see that the review unit is – except for the extreme values – more frugal than the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium with a UHD screen and the same SoC. Microsoft's Lumia 950 XL with another OS also consumes more energy and only has an advantage under load. That premium devices can also be frugal is shown by the new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. A small problem is the rather high consumption of the review unit when it is turned off as well as in standby, which was already the case for the smaller sibling Gigaset ME.

The supplied quick-charger provides up to 2 A with 5 V or 9 V, and still 1.5 A at 12 V. The large 4000 mAh battery of the Gigaset ME Pro takes about 2.5 hours for a full charge. It is integrated and can therefore not be replaced by the user.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.16 / 0.27 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.94 / 1.61 / 1.75 Watt
Load midlight 6.45 / 12.05 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Gossen Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Gigaset ME Pro
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
OnePlus 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
LG G4
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, Apple AP0064K (iPhone NVMe)
Power Consumption
18%
-12%
1%
26%
-78%
20%
Idle Minimum *
0.94
0.6
36%
0.83
12%
1.1
-17%
0.63
33%
2.85
-203%
0.5
47%
Idle Average *
1.61
1.7
-6%
2.36
-47%
1.5
7%
1.1
32%
2.95
-83%
1.9
-18%
Idle Maximum *
1.75
1.8
-3%
2.42
-38%
1.9
-9%
1.56
11%
3.26
-86%
2.2
-26%
Load Average *
6.45
5.7
12%
7.27
-13%
6.6
-2%
5.95
8%
8.92
-38%
3.2
50%
Load Maximum *
12.05
6
50%
9.18
24%
8.8
27%
6.7
44%
9.39
22%
6.4
47%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

Thanks to the large battery, the review unit manages good scores in this section. Runtimes of more than 7 hours in the Wi-Fi test and more than 11 hours in the video test beat many rivals. Only the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and the iPhone 6S Plus have even more stamina.

To improve the battery runtimes without recharging, Gigaset has implemented an ultra-power saver mode, but it will limit the functionality of the smartphone to calls, messages, contacts and alarms.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
24h 47min
WiFi Websurfing
7h 10min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
11h 11min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 25min
Gigaset ME Pro
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
OnePlus 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
LG G4
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, Apple AP0064K (iPhone NVMe)
Battery Runtime
-13%
-22%
-24%
42%
-21%
3%
Reader / Idle
1487
1393
-6%
1277
-14%
1654
11%
1663
12%
1078
-28%
1655
11%
H.264
671
580
-14%
411
-39%
501
-25%
914
36%
611
-9%
714
6%
WiFi v1.3
430
356
-17%
372
-13%
326
-24%
732
70%
369
-14%
513
19%
Load
265
229
-14%
210
-21%
114
-57%
392
48%
179
-32%
197
-26%

Pros

+ very sturdy chassis
+ dual-SIM or microSD slot
+ USB Type-C port
+ numerous sensors
+ rights manager for apps
+ AC-Wi-Fi with MIMO
+ Miracast support
+ decent picture quality
+ high-quality in-ear headset
+ good display
+ great battery runtimes

Cons

- smooth back cover
- wobbly cover of the card slot
- comparatively high weight
- mediocre video quality of the main camera
- subpar Wi-Fi performance
- inconvenient call quality
- does not always run smoothly
- touchscreen issues with the review unit
- no USB-OTG
- no NFC
- non-removable battery

Verdict

In review: Gigaset ME Pro. Test model courtesy of Gigaset Mobile Germany.
In review: Gigaset ME Pro. Test model courtesy of Gigaset Mobile Germany.

You can immediately see that the Gigaset ME Pro was designed as a sophisticated alternative for the established rivals: Glass and metal result in a solid and – except for the slot cover – very well-built product. The heart of the smartphone is the hot-headed Snapdragon 810 SoC, but Gigaset keeps it well under control. The sensor equipment in particular is very comprehensive and also includes a UV sensor, a heart rate monitor and the almost mandatory fingerprint scanner. You also get an IR transmitter to control your home theater. It is unfortunate that the modern USB Type-C port does not support USB-OTG and that the manufacturer does not implement an NFC module. If you need more than 32 GB of storage, you can use a MicroSD-card, but you will have to forego the dual-SIM feature in this case.

Gigaset's user interface is appealing with its unified design as well as the integrated rights manager for apps, but there are still some minor bugs. There can also be short stutters or delays despite the powerful SoC – a software update might be able to improve the situation. The touchscreen issue during the charging on the other hand should be pretty hard to fix. According to the manufacturer, this unusual behavior was limited to our review unit so far, so you should not be too worried.

While the two cameras take decent pictures, the video quality is just mediocre and the recorded sound in particular cannot impress us. The manufacturer should also improve the call quality: The unconventionally designed earpiece cannot impress with its sound and the voice of the Gigaset user is not transferred in the best quality, either. A better fit for a flagship smartphone is the IPS display with wide viewing angles, which manages very high contrast ratios thanks to the rich black value. The package is rounded off by very long battery runtimes.

Gigaset's premium smartphone ME Pro can particularly impress with a good display, long battery runtimes and an elegant design. Potential buyers will, however, have to live with minor drawbacks like the missing NFC support or the mediocre voice quality during calls.

Priced at around 550 Euros (~$625), the Gigaset ME Pro is rather more affordable than many established competitors at their launch. If you can forgo the microSD slot, the Infrared transmitter as well as the rear cover made of glass, you will get the OnePlus 2, which is very similar from a technological point of view – for 200 Euros (~$227) less.

Gigaset ME Pro - 04/18/2016 v5.1(old)
Andreas Kilian

Chassis
91%
Keyboard
73 / 75 → 97%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
52 / 60 → 87%
Weight
88%
Battery
91%
Display
85%
Games Performance
53 / 63 → 84%
Application Performance
51 / 70 → 73%
Temperature
82%
Noise
100%
Audio
56 / 91 → 62%
Camera
70%
Average
75%
84%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Andreas Kilian, 2016-04- 7 (Update: 2018-05-15)