Crosscall Action-X3 Smartphone Review
The French-based smartphone and feature phone vendor Crosscall offers devices that are particularly suitable for outdoor usage under difficult conditions. Crosscall primarily targets athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. The latest model Action-X3 is a middle-class smartphone, which features a dust and waterproof case, a magnetic docking port, and specific accessories for biking or usage on the water.
Outdoor smartphones have been a niche for a long time. Meanwhile, there are more and more companies targeting active people. The manufacturer CAT, which is represented by the S31 in the line of competitors, has produced outdoor phones for quite a while. Apart from that, there exist numerous devices from Chinese manufacturers, such as the Oukitel WP5000, the Blackview BV9000 Pro, and the significantly cheaper Cubot King Kong.
Case - Outdoor smartphone with ruggedized case
The Crosscall Action-X3 looks like a typical outdoor smartphone: massive casing frame with chamfered edges, visible screws on the back, and a non-slip surface. Red color and an extraordinary shape accentuate the earphone. The camera module on the back follows this unusual design language as well. The weight of 213 grams (~ 7.5 oz) is quite low for such a ruggedized smartphone. The display is protected by the slightly protruding frame of the case. All ports are covered to prevent dust or dirt from getting into them. The Crosscall Action-X3 is dust and waterproof and certified in accordance with MIL-STD-810 and the shock resistance standard IK02. If you are interested in details about the test scenarios, please take a look at the corresponding article on the Crosscall website. In a nutshell: The Crosscall Action-X3 is able to survive quite a lot. For instance, it withstands not only falls from head height, but also high and low temperatures.
Our relatively harmless compression test on the front and back did not leave any visible traces on the display. We were not able to warp the case. The screen is covered with a protective foil, which has some bubbles on our review unit. This looks unpleasant.
Connectivity - Action-X3 with dual SIM
The Crosscall Action-X3 features 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, which is decent for a smartphone in this price range. The Oukitel WP5000 or the Blackview BV9000 Pro, however, offer substantially more storage. The magnetic port on the back complies with the USB standard and can be used for charging and data transfer using the matching accessory.
The Action-X3 is a dual SIM phone, but you can insert a microSD card with up to 128 GB into the second SIM card slot. The microSD card can be used as an external storage. Apps cannot be installed on it.
Software - Pure Android on the Crosscall smartphone
The manufacturer has installed a relatively pure Android 7.1.2 on the smartphone with almost no additional apps. You can find only an app showing the sensor functions and an emergency app on the phone. At the beginning of our test, the security patches were on the level of January 1, 2018. During our test, they were updated to at least the level of April 2018.
Communication and GPS - Fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi as a unique selling point
The Crosscall Action-X3 features Wi-Fi according to 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, which is what you can expect of a device at a 350-Euro price point (~$410). The competing devices, however, do not offer the 802.11ac standard. Most of them do not even support 5-GHz Wi-Fi. Therefore, the Action-X3 has two advantages here. With 200 MBit/s for upload and download, it reached the highest transfer rates in our test with the router Linksys EA8500.
The phone supports only the most relevant LTE frequencies for Europe, but the competing devices are not better. The Cubot King Kong does not provide LTE at all. Nevertheless, you should not take the Action-X3 too far from home if you intend to use LTE. At home, the LTE works well. The reception was quite stable during our short test. The smartphone also supports VoLTE.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| Cubot King Kong | |
| CAT S31 | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| Cubot King Kong | |
| CAT S31 | |
Indoor GPS localization is not possible with the Action-X3. Outdoors, the phone quickly reaches an accuracy of 8 meters (~26 ft). This is a decent value but not great for an outdoor smartphone.
For a field test, we took the Action-X3 on a bike ride, along with the professional Garmin Edge 520 for comparison. The latter, however, showed a significantly higher accuracy than our review unit: The GPS module in the Action-X3 often cuts corners. The side of the street we used was far better identified by the Garmin device. Overall, the Action-X3 is suitable for simple navigation tasks, but, according to our tests, it cannot fully replace a dedicated GPS device for outdoor enthusiasts.
Telephone features and call quality - Dull sound
Crosscall uses the standard Android telephone app. This is a good decision, since it is easy to operate, and many customers are already used to it.
The call quality is unexceptional. The earphone is able to produce a high volume, which is accompanied by background noise. Furthermore, the voice sounds a little dull and booming. The call partner is able to hear your voice clearly - if you do not speak too softly. The sound impression of the speaker during handsfree mode is similar: The call partner sounds a little dull but quite loud if desired. He is able to understand you well, unless you speak too softly.
Cameras - Well-engineered single cameras
Crosscall does without the marketing prestige of a dual camera and has equipped the Action-X3 with a single camera on both sides. The 5-MP front-facing camera takes decent photographs, which are quite sharp in the focus range of the fixed-focus lens. The colors could be bolder for our taste.
The main camera on the back has a resolution of 12 MP and shows decent dynamics in bright and dark areas. The blossoms of the plant appear a little mushy. Here, the reproduction of detail could be better. The low-light image shows only a low sharpness. For the price, however, the camera is quite decent. Ambitious photographers would expect more from a camera, but it is sufficient for occasional snapshots.
Videos can be recorded with 1080p and 24 FPS maximum. The exposure adapts dynamically to changes in brightness, but the reproduction of detail could be better.
In our laboratory test, the main camera showed a mediocre sharpness of detail, but the overall image quality was decent and, most of all, not too dark. However, our image of the ColorChecker table shows that color shades are not very well exposed.
Accessories and warranty - Extensive number of accessories
Crosscall ships the Action-X3 with a quick charger, a USB cable, a waterproof in-ear headset with an acceptable sound quality, and the so-called X-Blocker, which helps to attach the phone to the available mounts. You can buy two different bike mounts. The Action-X3 attaches fast and easily to them (using the magnetic port) while being secured by the X-Blocker. There is also a car mount available.
The magnetic port also serves as a connector for the docking station, which can be used not only for charging but also for data exchange with a PC. The X-Dock currently sells for 36 Euros (~$42) on the internet. For usage on the water, Crosscall offers floating protective cases and a floating bluetooth speaker.
The Action-X3 comes with a 24-month warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input devices and operation - Physical camera button on the side
The Action-X3 uses Google’s GBoard as a keyboard app. It allows quick and hassle-free typing. The touchscreen works precisely even in the corners. Thanks to a glove mode, it can be operated in winter without getting frostbites.
A physical camera button on the edge of the case offers additional comfort.
Display - Resolution and brightness could be higher
High resolutions are apparently not a concern for outdoor enthusiasts: All competing devices, including the Crosscall Action-X3 feature relatively low 720p displays. The Action-X3’s display has a 16:9 aspect ratio and a brightness of 425 cd/m². Therefore, it represents the darkest display in the competition. With 91%, the distribution of brightness is quite consistent. Even larger areas on the screen appear to be illuminated evenly.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 417 cd/m²
Contrast: 1438:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.12 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 6.1 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
89.8% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.687
| Crosscall Action-X3 IPS, 1280x800, 5" | Oukitel WP5000 IPS, 1440x720, 5.7" | Blackview BV9000 Pro IPS, 1440x720, 5.7" | CAT S31 IPS, 1280x720, 4.7" | Cubot King Kong IPS, 1280x720, 5" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -63% | -3% | 23% | -2% | |
| Brightness middle | 417 | 506 21% | 621 49% | 784 88% | 466 12% |
| Brightness | 425 | 503 18% | 598 41% | 750 76% | 449 6% |
| Brightness Distribution | 91 | 86 -5% | 91 0% | 92 1% | 90 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.29 | 0.97 -234% | 0.64 -121% | 0.45 -55% | 0.25 14% |
| Contrast | 1438 | 522 -64% | 970 -33% | 1742 21% | 1864 30% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 7.12 | 9.4 -32% | 5.5 23% | 4.28 40% | 7.03 1% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 10.19 | 19.9 -95% | 10 2% | 8.75 14% | 16.25 -59% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 6.1 | 13 -113% | 5.1 16% | 6.1 -0% | 7.1 -16% |
| Gamma | 2.687 82% | 2.59 85% | 2.52 87% | 2.49 88% | 2.26 97% |
| CCT | 7687 85% | 10219 64% | 7362 88% | 7175 91% | 7244 90% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 156 Hz | ≤ 10 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 156 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 10 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 156 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8426 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
The black level is quite low with 0.29 cd/m², which results in a good contrast ratio of 1,438:1. Colors appear reasonably bold on the screen.
Our tests with the spectrophotometer and the software CalMAN showed a blue color cast. The divergences from the reference color space for colors and grayscale are average. Therefore, the smartphone is not suitable for photographers who want to evaluate colors on the display. We also noticed a significant screen flickering at brightness levels below 10%. The frequency is rather low, which could be problematic for sensitive users.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 11 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 15 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 60 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.6 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 48 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 25 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 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 81 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.3 ms). | ||
The screen is relatively dark for an outdoor phone. Outdoors in bright environments, the display is just readable.
The display has good viewing angles. There might be some minor shifts in brightness when looking at the screen from the side.
Performance - Middle-class performance
The SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 with eight cores and a clock frequency of up to 1.4 GHz is appropriate for a middle-class smartphone. According to our benchmarks, however, the devices from Oukitel and Blackview provide a significantly better performance. The graphics chip Adreno 505 offers middle-class performance as well, but it is outperformed significantly by some devices in this price range.
| AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Cubot King Kong | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (42798 - 47066, n=16) | |
| AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Cubot King Kong | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (44992 - 59990, n=11) | |
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work performance score (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Cubot King Kong | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (3347 - 5290, n=18) | |
| Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Cubot King Kong | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (3408 - 3892, n=16) | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (6.6 - 15, n=17) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15 - 166, n=166, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (6.7 - 7.7, n=17) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (12 - 502, n=166, last 2 years) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (4.3 - 11, n=17) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (8.9 - 166, n=166, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 | |
| Oukitel WP5000 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (2.2 - 4.9, n=17) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (8.4 - 365, n=166, last 2 years) | |
The Action-X3 has a mediocre web-browsing performance. The rendering speed of websites is average, but images need a considerable loading time.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro (Chrome Mobile 53) | |
| Oukitel WP5000 (Chrome 66) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (17.6 - 21.5, n=16) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 (Chrome 68) | |
| Cubot King Kong (Chrome 66) | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=206, last 2 years) | |
| Oukitel WP5000 (Chrome 66) | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro (Chrome Mobile 53) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 (Chrome 68) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (2604 - 3438, n=18) | |
| Cubot King Kong (Chrome 66) | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Cubot King Kong (Chrome 66) | |
| CAT S31 | |
| Blackview BV9000 Pro (Chrome Mobile 53) | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 (Chrome 68) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) (10396 - 14709, n=18) | |
| Oukitel WP5000 (Chrome 66) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=165, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
As expected, the access speed of our reference microSD card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 and of the internal eMMC storage is at an average level. Sometimes, you have to wait for data to be loaded. Overall, access speeds are similar to other devices.
| Crosscall Action-X3 | Oukitel WP5000 | Blackview BV9000 Pro | CAT S31 | Cubot King Kong | Average 32 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -11% | 23% | -20% | -64% | 17% | 1521% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 264.7 | 257.5 -3% | 244.7 -8% | 71.1 -73% | 77.3 -71% | 242 ? -9% | 2050 ? 674% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 139.3 | 162.1 16% | 174.6 25% | 62.1 -55% | 32.6 -77% | 100.5 ? -28% | 1663 ? 1094% |
| Random Read 4KB | 47 | 66.9 42% | 72.6 54% | 14.28 -70% | 17.2 -63% | 43.1 ? -8% | 286 ? 509% |
| Random Write 4KB | 8.4 | 9.89 18% | 12.72 51% | 14.81 76% | 7 -17% | 22.3 ? 165% | 328 ? 3805% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 84.1 ? | 21.11 ? -75% | 76.7 ? -9% | 81.8 -3% | 20.6 ? -76% | 71.8 ? -15% | |
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 56.2 ? | 20.5 ? -64% | 68.5 ? 22% | 59.5 6% | 10.3 ? -82% | 52.9 ? -6% |
Games - Simple games playable without any problems
You can play games on the Crosscall smartphone. Even though the current racing game “Asphalt 9” lags sometimes, it is generally playable. With the game “Temple Run”, we examined the control via touchscreen and gyroscope. The control worked reliably, the gyroscope showed only a negligible delay.
Emissions - Extensive warming
Temperature
We experienced hot temperatures of the Action-X3 during our measurements: We measured up to 50.3 °C (~123 °F) under load on the front of the device, which is clearly too hot. Particularly in summer, it might be very uncomfortable to carry the phone in the pocket, when it was running under load for a prolonged period. Even when idle, the device reached a noticeably high temperature: With 37 °C (~99 °F), the front showed the hottest temperature, which is not as critical as the one under load.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 50.3 °C / 123 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.3 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 34.4 °C / 94 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speaker
The speaker is located on the back, which is not ideal for the sound quality. It happens that the speaker is obstructed or does not face the user, so that the sound appears more dull. Overall, the sound is ordinary and not particularly clear, but the speaker produces a well-balanced sound with no protruding treble.
The included headset is not perfectly suitable for noisy environments. It does not deliver a high bass pressure. However, the sound transmission over the 3.5-mm headphone jack or bluetooth to other devices works very well.
Crosscall Action-X3 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 62% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 77% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Oukitel WP5000 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 34.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 42% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 68% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 26% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life - Good battery life despite the small battery
Power consumption
Under full load, the Crosscall Action-X3 consumes a fair amount of energy: It needs up to 8.4 W, which explains the excessive heating. The maximum consumption when idle is also higher than on other devices. In other respects, the power consumption is on a similar level with other smartphones in this price range.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.08 Watt |
| Idle |  1.1 / 1.9 / 2.9 Watt |
| Load |
4.8 / 8.4 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Crosscall Action-X3 3500 mAh | Oukitel WP5000 5200 mAh | Blackview BV9000 Pro 4180 mAh | CAT S31 4000 mAh | Cubot King Kong 4400 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 10% | 7% | 26% | 29% | 14% | 4% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.1 | 1.18 -7% | 1.04 5% | 0.73 34% | 0.7 36% | 0.918 ? 17% | 0.873 ? 21% |
| Idle Average * | 1.9 | 2.17 -14% | 2.14 -13% | 2.21 -16% | 1.6 16% | 2.01 ? -6% | 1.408 ? 26% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.9 | 2.26 22% | 2.17 25% | 2.25 22% | 1.8 38% | 2.28 ? 21% | 1.554 ? 46% |
| Load Average * | 4.8 | 3.68 23% | 5.11 -6% | 2.99 38% | 3.8 21% | 3.97 ? 17% | 7.06 ? -47% |
| Load Maximum * | 8.4 | 6.06 28% | 6.37 24% | 4.12 51% | 5.5 35% | 6.46 ? 23% | 10.6 ? -26% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery life
The 3,500-mAh battery is quite small for an outdoor smartphone. However, 14 hours of battery life is quite decent. Even a long hike should not be a problem if you can charge the device at night.
The phone supports QuickCharge. The battery can be charged in a little more than 1.5 hours with the supplied charger.
| Crosscall Action-X3 3500 mAh | Oukitel WP5000 5200 mAh | Blackview BV9000 Pro 4180 mAh | CAT S31 4000 mAh | Cubot King Kong 4400 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 41% | -31% | 27% | 30% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 843 | 1189 41% | 579 -31% | 1074 27% | 1098 30% |
| Reader / Idle | 1139 | ||||
| Load | 277 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Stylish and outdoor-suitable
The Crosscall Action-X3 is well-tailored to its purpose: It features extensive protective measures against the elements and the clumsiness of the user. The battery life is sufficient for one whole day in the open, and the performance is high enough for most of the relevant apps. For perfect outdoor adaption, however, it lacks a brighter display and a higher GPS accuracy.
The Crosscall Action-X3 is a good outdoor smartphone with great accessories.
The extensive number of accessories and the brilliant magnetic port, which even allows data transfer, compensate for the flaws. Therefore, we recommend outdoor enthusiasts to take a look at the Action-X3. And for style-conscious users: The Crosscall smartphone has a French design.
Crosscall Action-X3
- 10/16/2019 v7 (old)
Florian Wimmer
Price comparison
