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Nomu S30 Smartphone Review

Robust multimedia companion. With the S30, Nomu offers a smartphone equipped with powerful technology that, due to its low price in relation to the hardware offered, makes for a competitor to affordable multimedia and outdoor smartphones that should not be underestimated.

For the original German review, see here.

The Nomu S30 offers an interesting balance between outdoor capabilities, according to the IP68 standard together with Gorilla Glass 4, and extensive technical features in the 260-Euro (~$275) range. Joining the party are a Full HD display, support for European LTE bands, a large battery with the quick-charge function, and more features that aren't necessarily part of this device class. The S30 is Nomu's current flagship, while the sister models (S20 and S10) were technically cut back a little. The exciting question for this test is whether this smartphone succeeds in the balancing act between multimedia capabilities and outdoor suitability.

The manufacturer compares its devices with the Cat S60, though that attracts another buyer segment with its heat-sensitive camera. As direct competitors with outdoor qualities, the Archos 50 Saphir as well as the Samsung Xcover 3 offer themselves. Furthermore, we add the UMI Plus as a comparative device for multimedia usage.

Nomu S30
Processor
Mediatek Helio P10 MT6755 8 x 2 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 401 PPI, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
, 52 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: microSD up to 32 GB, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Acceleration sensor, proximity sensor, gyroscope sensor, compass sensor , OTG
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM (850/​900/​1800/​1900), UMTS (​900/​2100), LTE (B1/​B3/​​B7/​B8/​B20); Bandwidth (download/​upload): 300 Mbps/​50 Mbps (LTE), 21 Mbps/​5.76 Mbps (UMTS), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 13 x 162 x 83 ( = 0.51 x 6.38 x 3.27 in)
Battery
5000 mAh Lithium-Polymer, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 30 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 1680 h
Operating System
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix LED flash, f/2.0
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Speaker at the bottom, Keyboard: virtual, Charger, USB cable, Smart assistant, SOS settings, glove mode, 12 Months Warranty, FM radio, fanless, ruggedized
Weight
260 g ( = 9.17 oz / 0.57 pounds), Power Supply: 75 g ( = 2.65 oz / 0.17 pounds)
Price
260 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Visually, the Nomu S30 stands out because of the chunky angular exterior which again confirms its area of use. The high weight of 260 grams (0.57 lb) as well as the 13.5-millimeter (0.53 in) casing thickness should be considered. With measurements of 162 x 83 millimeters (~6.4 x 3.3 in), the smartphone is unsuitable for small hands. However, the device does offer a 5.5-inch display, which is a rather singular feature in the outdoor area. 

The material used for the casing is a mix of aluminum and titanium, while the back is made from plastic. Adjacent to the aluminum strips on the sides, the top and undersides are rubberized, just as the slightly protruding edges are supposed to protect the display from falls. The S30 is rated according to the IP68 standard, which protects it against prolonged submersion, water, and dust. All the available ports are protected by covers to prevent entry of foreign particles. The Nomu S30 leaves an impression as a stable, stiff, torsion-proof device; even the plastic back hardly creaks. 

Nomu S30
Nomu S30
Nomu S30
Nomu S30
Nomu S30
Nomu S30
Nomu S30

Size Comparison

162 mm / 6.38 inch 83 mm / 3.27 inch 13 mm / 0.512 inch 260 g0.573 lbs155 mm / 6.1 inch 75 mm / 2.95 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 185 g0.4079 lbs146 mm / 5.75 inch 76 mm / 2.99 inch 14 mm / 0.551 inch 222 g0.4894 lbs132.9 mm / 5.23 inch 70.1 mm / 2.76 inch 9.95 mm / 0.3917 inch 154 g0.3395 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Features

The extensive features of the device are unusual for an outdoor smartphone. 4 GB RAM and 64 GB memory storage are utilized. The back offers a small notch that provides access to a microSD-card slot and two micro SIM-card slots with LTE support. According to the manufacturer, the storage can be extended by a maximum of 32 GB. In the test, our reference 64 GB storage card (Toshiba Exceria Pro M401) was recognized as well.

Besides the obligatory on/off switch as well as the volume rocker, there is an "SOS button" on the left side of the case. This can be individually configured on the smartphone. You can configure whether an emergency call should be dialed from the first or second SIM card. Besides selecting one of the contacts on the device as emergency number, a desired number can also be preset. The device also offers the standard keys (home, menu, back). In terms of connectivity, you don't need to dispense with anything on the S30. The device is equipped with dual-band WLAN, LTE, GPS, NFC, as well as Bluetooth 4.0. It also has an FM radio on board.

Software

Nomu delivers the S30 with Android 6.0 Marshmallow at the time of delivery with the last security patches having come almost a year ago (05/07/2016). Just before the end of our testing period, the unit received an update to the security patch level from January 2017. Fortunately, Android was implemented almost unchanged on the Nomu S30, so there is no bloatware on the device. The device gets its own flavor via assisting functions, such as a double tap to wake up the unit or a glove mode, which is a useful addition considering where the device is to be used. 

Android 6.0 user interface
Android 6.0 user interface
Status bar
Status bar
Smart assistant
Smart assistant
Screenshot gestures
Screenshot gestures
Glove mode
Glove mode

Communication and GPS

Turbo-Download
Turbo-Download

The Nomu S30 supports the 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WLAN standards in 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. The connection is held stable, and the send and receive performance is head-to-head with the competing devices. The direct competitor (Archos 50 Saphir) cannot keep up, due to lacking the ac-standard as well as 5 GHz network support. Overall, the speed results are a rather mixed bag despite the ac standard; the Galaxy S7 with the same standard is twice as fast as the Nomu S30.

In case the (home) WLAN net is out of reach, the S30 also provides LTE support for the German net. The smartphone supports LTE Cat. 6 and receives signals in the standard frequency bands (800, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz). For fast downloads, the Nomu S30 offers the "Turbo-Download" option, where the mobile communication can be combined with the WLAN connection.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
335 MBit/s +228%
Nomu S30
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755, 64 GB eMMC Flash
102 MBit/s
Archos 50 Saphir
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737T, 16 GB eMMC Flash
51.3 MBit/s -50%
UMI Plus
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755
34.4 MBit/s -66%
iperf3 receive AX12
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
281 MBit/s +178%
Nomu S30
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755, 64 GB eMMC Flash
101 MBit/s
Archos 50 Saphir
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737T, 16 GB eMMC Flash
45.9 MBit/s -55%
UMI Plus
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755
31.2 MBit/s -69%
GPS test: inside
GPS test: inside
GPS test: outside
GPS test: outside

The location is determined by the GPS via compass support. However, inside the building the location could not be detected. Outside, the GPS test verifies an accuracy of five meters, a value that is quite good, whereas the direct competition locates to some extent even more precisely. To further evaluate the outdoor qualities, we took the device on a bike ride. The comparison with the professional Garmin Edge 500 navigation system shows a total discrepancy of about 400 meters in the 12-km (~7.5 miles) test route. In that, the Nomo S30 allowed itself clear shortcuts at two important places. Though the location detection is sufficient for everyday use, especially for an outdoor device, the expectation was higher due to the manufacturer's advertising.

GPS Nomu S30: overview
GPS Nomu S30: overview
GPS Nomu S30: crossroads
GPS Nomu S30: crossroads
GPS Nomu S30: riverbank
GPS Nomu S30: riverbank
GPS Garmin Edge 500: overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500: overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500: crossroads
GPS Garmin Edge 500: crossroads
GPS Garmin Edge 500: riverbank
GPS Garmin Edge 500: riverbank

Telephone and Call Quality

The phone app corresponds to the standard Google app and does not distinguish itself with further special functions. Making phone calls with the Nomu S30 is completely convincing. Overall, spoken words arrive through the earpiece intelligible, loud, and clear. The speaker is loud enough as well, and our voice is recorded sufficiently strong by the microphone. The S30's mastery in filtering out external noises is limited, and when there are loud external noises, the call quality suffers considerably. 

Cameras

Front camera
Front camera

The camera in front takes pictures up to 5 MP or interpolates them to 8 MP. The test picture on the right was taken under optimal conditions. Though the color nuances are easy to see, the font camera lacks richness of detail overall. Under bad lighting conditions, there is a considerable amount of noise.

The main camera is equipped with a Sony IMX214 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. The resolution is 13 MP, which is interpolated to 16 MP. Video can be recorded with a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD, 30 fps). In comparison to the reference images, blurred details as well as a rather dim and washed-out image stand out. Overall, the main camera is well-suited for some snapshots, where the richness of landscape colors can only be captured to a limited extent by the device.

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

In addition, we evaluate the rear camera with images from our test lab under controlled light conditions. As we found out before, the device loses the details close to the edges but reproduces the center of the photo quite clearly. Overall, the sharpness is okay under controlled light conditions. Though in ColorChecker Passport, the colors are displayed oversaturated, the white balance convinces.

Photographed reference card
Photographed reference card
Photograph of ColorChecker colors: we show the original colors in the lower half of each patch.
Photograph of ColorChecker colors: we show the original colors in the lower half of each patch.
Detail of reference card
Detail of reference card

Accessories and Warranty

The delivery contents include a charging cable and the related charger. There are also the obligatory directions and quick-start instructions. Further manufacturer accessories are not available. The Nomu S30 is distributed by third-party vendors, who may each individually interpret the warranty. With some vendors, additional importing costs have to be calculated. Nomu offers a 12-month warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Handling

Nomu uses Google's virtual keyboard called Gboard. The keyboard supports the usual functions such as swipe input and spelling corrections. The touchscreen recognizes up to five inputs simultaneously, which is a value suitable in practice. Typing feels precise and also fast input is recognized without problems most of the time. In a few cases, the input stuttered which can probably be ascribed to limited multi-touch support. 

At the bottom of the display, the S30 provides the standard Android function keys in the form of touch buttons. The power button and volume rocker are dedicated buttons on the right side, while a freely configurable SOS-button is on the left side. Though the buttons offer an acceptable pressure point, they are very small overall, which makes operating them with gloves almost impossible. In contrast, glove mode works very well, recognizing most inputs without problems. The unit can be locked with a pattern, a PIN, via voice input, or a conventional password. There is no fingerprint sensor, however.

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

Display

Nomu equips the S30 with a 5.5 inch IPS display. Fortunately, the resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, which underlines its multimedia features in comparison to the outdoor competition. The S30 achieves a pixel density of 401 dpi, which always produces a clear image in displaying the content.  

In the initial measurements, the outdoor smartphone leaves a good impression. We determine an average brightness of 421.1 cd/m² as well as a maximum brightness of 431 cd/m². The brightness distribution is at 93% and with that, almost exemplary. The illumination in the left and center bottom areas is less strong. Compared to the outdoor competition, the S30 scores mostly with the FHD display and the brightness at the same level. Only the Archos 50 Saphir glows considerably brighter.  

433
cd/m²
422
cd/m²
423
cd/m²
435
cd/m²
423
cd/m²
418
cd/m²
408
cd/m²
405
cd/m²
423
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 435 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 421.1 cd/m² Minimum: 11.18 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 423 cd/m²
Contrast: 1627:1 (Black: 0.26 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.8 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.32
Nomu S30
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Samsung Galaxy S7
SAMOLED, 2560x1440, 5.10
Archos 50 Saphir
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
UMI Plus
LTPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
IPS, 800x480, 4.50
Screen
34%
-38%
19%
-10%
Brightness middle
423
350
-17%
545
29%
432.8
2%
452
7%
Brightness
421
351
-17%
527
25%
430
2%
436
4%
Brightness Distribution
93
98
5%
87
-6%
86
-8%
91
-2%
Black Level *
0.26
0.58
-123%
0.232
11%
0.53
-104%
Contrast
1627
940
-42%
1866
15%
853
-48%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
7.8
2.04
74%
12.5
-60%
4.93
37%
5.71
27%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
14.5
3.25
78%
24.4
-68%
8.34
42%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
9.8
1.63
83%
15.4
-57%
5.18
47%
5.02
49%
Gamma
2.32 95%
2.07 106%
1.87 118%
2.4 92%
2.15 102%
CCT
9828 66%
6391 102%
12705 51%
7461 87%
7441 87%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
86.86
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99.35

* ... 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.

At 0.26 cd/m², the black value is very good, which also makes for a good contrast of 1627:1. An even distribution of lighter and darker areas on the display, factoring in the more practical APL measurement (Average Picture Level / APL 50), resulted in a weaker but still good contrast of 1377:1 (brightness 431 cd/m²). Compared to the competition, the screen has a relatively strong blue tint. The DeltaE-2000 deviations of the grayscale and colors in comparison to the sRGB reference space turn out high as well.

CalMAN color accuracy
CalMAN color accuracy
CalMAN saturation
CalMAN saturation
CalMAN grayscale
CalMAN grayscale
CalMAN color space
CalMAN color space

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
12 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2.8 ms rise
↘ 9.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 26 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
33.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 17.2 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. » 39 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Thanks to the relatively high brightness, which can also be adjusted automatically, the Nomu S30 can be read easily outdoors. The display convinces even in direct sunlight. The viewing angles of the IPS screen are very stable, and only from a very wide viewing angle is the contrast slightly diminished.

Viewing angle
Viewing angle
Using outside: direct sun
Using outside: direct sun

Performance

The Helio P10 MT6755 SoC, which is mostly deployed in mainstream smartphones, was implemented in the Nomu S30. The processor is based on the 64-bit architecture and clocks at a 2 GHz maximum. The direct competitor UMI Plus is also equipped with the octa-core SoC but falls back slightly in the synthetic benchmarks. 

The ARM Mali T860 MP2 integrated graphics offers two computing cores and goes head-to-head with the Adreno 405 or smaller Mali -T628 variant, depending on the benchmark. Paired with 4 GB of RAM, the power is suitable for the occasional gaming session with medium graphics settings. The direct competition, in the form of the Archos 50 Saphir and the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3, is clearly inferior to the Nomu S30 in terms of performance. 

In comparison to the competitors, the transfer rates of the integrated microSD-card reader are acceptable. Determined with a Toshiba Exceria Pro M401 microSD card for testing, the sequential read and write rates are around 37 MB/s and 22 MB/s, respectively, on average, while for the microSD card maximal read and write rates of 90 and 80 MB/s, respectively, are specified. Only the Samsung Galaxy S7 reference unit achieves the full speed specified by the manufacturer Toshiba. 

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
50904 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
38747 Points -24%
UMI Plus
48558 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy S7
127902 Points +151%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
759 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
634 Points -16%
UMI Plus
693 Points -9%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
2859 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
1761 Points -38%
UMI Plus
2695 Points -6%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
10763 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
6839 Points -36%
UMI Plus
10840 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy S7
29015 Points +170%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
3093 Points -71%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
10373 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
6138 Points -41%
UMI Plus
10532 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy S7
33348 Points +221%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
2591 Points -75%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Nomu S30
12394 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
11393 Points -8%
UMI Plus
12078 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S7
19944 Points +61%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
9613 Points -22%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Nomu S30
592 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
266 Points -55%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2715 Points +359%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Nomu S30
522 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
220 Points -58%
Samsung Galaxy S7
3018 Points +478%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Nomu S30
1114 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
973 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2010 Points +80%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Nomu S30
416 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
175 Points -58%
UMI Plus
419 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2170 Points +422%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Nomu S30
351 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
142 Points -60%
UMI Plus
352 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2216 Points +531%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Nomu S30
1182 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
985 Points -17%
UMI Plus
1272 Points +8%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2022 Points +71%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Nomu S30
17 fps
Archos 50 Saphir
19 fps +12%
Samsung Galaxy S7
53 fps +212%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
15.1 fps -11%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Nomu S30
17 fps
Archos 50 Saphir
11 fps -35%
Samsung Galaxy S7
84 fps +394%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
5.4 fps -68%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Nomu S30
7.1 fps
Archos 50 Saphir
8.6 fps +21%
Samsung Galaxy S7
27 fps +280%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
2.3 fps -68%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Nomu S30
7.1 fps
Archos 50 Saphir
4 fps -44%
Samsung Galaxy S7
40 fps +463%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
0.8 fps -89%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Nomu S30
4.7 fps
Archos 50 Saphir
6.1 fps +30%
Samsung Galaxy S7
15 fps +219%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Nomu S30
2.5 fps
Archos 50 Saphir
2.6 fps +4%
Samsung Galaxy S7
28 fps +1020%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
3175 Points
UMI Plus
3069 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S7
4826 Points +52%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Nomu S30
964 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
591 Points -39%
UMI Plus
341 Points -65%
Samsung Galaxy S7
1987 Points +106%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
443 Points -54%
System (sort by value)
Nomu S30
2216 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
1284 Points -42%
UMI Plus
2120 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy S7
4217 Points +90%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
1103 Points -50%
Memory (sort by value)
Nomu S30
942 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
402 Points -57%
UMI Plus
992 Points +5%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2244 Points +138%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
366 Points -61%
Graphics (sort by value)
Nomu S30
670 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
383 Points -43%
UMI Plus
666 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy S7
1723 Points +157%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
129 Points -81%
Web (sort by value)
Nomu S30
618 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
619 Points 0%
UMI Plus
10 Points -98%
Samsung Galaxy S7
957 Points +55%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
744 Points +20%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
3279 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
3483 Points +6%
UMI Plus
3887 Points +19%
Samsung Galaxy S7
13161 Points +301%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
2059 Points -37%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Nomu S30
23914 ms *
Archos 50 Saphir
10544 ms * +56%
UMI Plus
10343 ms * +57%
Samsung Galaxy S7
2562 ms * +89%
AndroBench 3-5
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard (sort by value)
Nomu S30
21.52 MB/s
Archos 50 Saphir
18.3 MB/s -15%
UMI Plus
21.55 MB/s 0%
Samsung Galaxy S7
53.6 MB/s +149%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard (sort by value)
Nomu S30
36.94 MB/s
Archos 50 Saphir
28.55 MB/s -23%
UMI Plus
35.95 MB/s -3%
Samsung Galaxy S7
72.3 MB/s +96%
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Nomu S30
8.84 MB/s
Archos 50 Saphir
4.79 MB/s -46%
UMI Plus
11.54 MB/s +31%
Samsung Galaxy S7
16.01 MB/s +81%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
4 MB/s -55%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Nomu S30
27.99 MB/s
Archos 50 Saphir
14.48 MB/s -48%
UMI Plus
25.75 MB/s -8%
Samsung Galaxy S7
85.9 MB/s +207%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
15.8 MB/s -44%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Nomu S30
194.9 MB/s
Archos 50 Saphir
12.21 MB/s -94%
UMI Plus
128.5 MB/s -34%
Samsung Galaxy S7
145.7 MB/s -25%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
25.6 MB/s -87%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Nomu S30
242 MB/s
Archos 50 Saphir
140.9 MB/s -42%
UMI Plus
244.1 MB/s +1%
Samsung Galaxy S7
483.8 MB/s +100%
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
113.5 MB/s -53%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Nomu S30
24.23 Points
Archos 50 Saphir
22 Points -9%
UMI Plus
26.05 Points +8%
Samsung Galaxy S7
74 Points +205%

Legend

 
Nomu S30 Mediatek Helio P10 MT6755, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Archos 50 Saphir Mediatek MT6737T, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
UMI Plus Mediatek Helio P10 MT6755, ARM Mali-T860 MP2,
 
Samsung Galaxy S7 Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa, ARM Mali-T880 MP12, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 Marvell Armada PXA1908, Vivante GC7000UL, 8 GB eMMC Flash

* ... smaller is better

Games

Non-demanding games such as Angry Birds 2 run absolutely fluidly and without problems on the Nomu S30. The graphically demanding Asphalt 8 race game can be played in the default settings without problems. But as soon as the demand is increased and the graphics settings are set on "high," fluid gaming sessions become impossible. With medium detail level, the Nomu S30 feels the most comfortable, since the battery capacity fades away relatively slowly as well. The precise control using the position sensor and the quick-reacting touchscreen contribute to an almost unfettered gaming experience.   

Angry Birds 2
Angry Birds 2
Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8

Emissions

Temperature

Due to the position of the internal battery, the bottom part of the device gets warmer than the other areas. Heating up of the bottom front area to a maximal 33.8 °C (~93 °F) can be observed already during idle operation. During full load, this value rises to a maximal 42.3 °C (~108 °F). In that, the back always remains cooler than the front and never becomes uncomfortable to hold. 

Max. Load
 41.1 °C
106 F
39 °C
102 F
35.4 °C
96 F
 
 40.1 °C
104 F
39.2 °C
103 F
35.4 °C
96 F
 
 42.3 °C
108 F
40 °C
104 F
34.9 °C
95 F
 
Maximum: 42.3 °C = 108 F
Average: 38.6 °C = 101 F
33.2 °C
92 F
35.1 °C
95 F
38.3 °C
101 F
32.8 °C
91 F
34.2 °C
94 F
39.5 °C
103 F
32.7 °C
91 F
34.4 °C
94 F
39.3 °C
103 F
Maximum: 39.5 °C = 103 F
Average: 35.5 °C = 96 F
Power Supply (max.)  32.8 °C = 91 F | Room Temperature 21.3 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.6 °C / 101 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 42.3 °C / 108 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 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat-map front
Heat-map front
Heat-map back
Heat-map back

Speaker

Nomu advertises the high volume and good quality of the built-in speaker, which is supposed to play on a hi-fi level overall. In this statement, we can only confirm the relatively high volume, which can however only be used to a limited extent before it becomes uncomfortable due to the high frequency tuning. Because of unbalanced mids and bass, the Nomu is rather less suitable for playing music as well. The reproduction of voice during calls or navigation is well-acceptable, though.   

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.635.62525.438.33125.335.94032.928.15033.628.86331.631.98028.432.31002730.612520.832.81602231.820021.33625020.838.631521.246.240019.456.450019.564.463017.772.480017.976.9100017.880125017.378.7160017.479.8200016.779.6250017.281.5315018.283.4400017.981.2500017.670.5630017.763.9800017.859.11000017.961.81250018.160.11600018.250SPL3090.8N1.375.9median 17.9median 64.4Delta1.416.631.63925.436.425.332.232.932.433.630.331.632.728.437.42739.220.845.32252.121.359.820.861.821.267.119.47219.575.617.776.817.975.217.879.617.381.417.481.716.78117.278.118.273.117.970.917.675.217.775.917.874.717.971.918.171.618.258.63089.81.382.3median 17.9median 74.71.47.137.634.334.834.833.731.233.931.933.33231.333.232.234.429.729.730.629.727.431.526.829.92629.624.833.223.940.523.446.722.752.822.459.422.664.22267.921.766.521.567.121.272.921.173.920.977.320.978.82172.62162.621.258215221.243.33484.42.249.2median 22median 581.914.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseNomu S30Archos 50 SaphirUMI Plus
Nomu S30 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28.4% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 11.1% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 9.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (33% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 80% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 90% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 8% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Archos 50 Saphir audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 15% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

UMI Plus audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27.4% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 12.9% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (12.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (42.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 84% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 16% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 94% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 5% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes above are selectable!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

During idle, the Nomu S30 permits itself a maximum of 2.35 watts and with that, it consumes slightly more than the competition. Similarly under maximum load, although the smartphone consumed less than the Archos 50 Saphir, compared to all the other devices the consumption was almost 20% higher. 

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.01 / 0.46 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.93 / 2.31 / 2.35 Watt
Load midlight 4.57 / 6.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        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.
Nomu S30
5000 mAh
Archos 50 Saphir
5000 mAh
UMI Plus
4000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
 mAh
Power Consumption
4%
-61%
42%
Idle Minimum *
0.93
0.65
30%
2.6
-180%
0.6
35%
Idle Average *
2.31
1.9
18%
3.2
-39%
1.2
48%
Idle Maximum *
2.35
2.05
13%
3.3
-40%
1.3
45%
Load Average *
4.57
6.14
-34%
7.7
-68%
2.6
43%
Load Maximum *
6.1
6.54
-7%
4.8
21%
3.6
41%

* ... smaller is better

Runtime

Nomu equips the S30 with a 5000 mAh battery. Only the competing Archos 50 Saphir has a similar battery capacity. The endurance of the S30 is at a good level, although the Archos lasts longer but isn't equipped with a similarly powerful hardware. During WLAN use, the smartphone lasts almost 14 hours with the brightness at around 40% (150 cd/m²). In everyday use, two to three days is quite possible.  

The battery is charged with MediaTek's pump-express technology, which makes the device fully fit for service in approx. two-and-a-half hours.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
13h 52min
Nomu S30
5000 mAh
Archos 50 Saphir
5000 mAh
UMI Plus
4000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
 mAh
Battery Runtime
17%
-33%
-40%
WiFi v1.3
832
973
17%
561
-33%
503
-40%
Reader / Idle
1319
1002
Load
292
166
H.264
678

Pros

+ powerful hardware
+ substantial features
+ robust case
+ bright display
+ Dual-SIM
+ LTE
+ microSD

Cons

- weight
- GPS could be more accurate
- dedicated keys
- average cameras

Verdict

In review: Nomu S30 smartphone. Review unit provided by Nomu
In review: Nomu S30 smartphone. Review unit provided by Nomu

The outdoor smartphone by Nomu is aimed at users looking for a device that, beyond everyday usage, allows taking it for trips outside without having to worry that it might get damaged by the outside elements. This is ensured by features such as an IP68 rating, Gorilla Glass 4, and capped-off ports. In addition, Nomu equips the S30 with a wealth of technical features such as LTE support, which is combined with a powerful SoC that disqualifies all the other outdoor devices in this regard. Despite the powerful performance for this device-class, the long-lasting battery rarely abandons the user.

Outclasses the competition, but not suited for everyone!

Conflicting with the otherwise successful features and implementation are the missing, cut-off display corners, that limit the protection of the front. The multimedia usage seems similarly contradictory, because the device is not only heavy, but it is also bulky, which limits gaming sessions to users with big hands among other things. 

Nomu S30 - 04/04/2017 v6(old)
Benjamin Gärtner

Chassis
78%
Keyboard
70 / 75 → 93%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
43 / 60 → 72%
Weight
87%
Battery
97%
Display
81%
Games Performance
20 / 63 → 31%
Application Performance
37 / 70 → 53%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
51 / 91 → 56%
Camera
56%
Average
68%
77%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Benjamin Gärtner, 2017-04-14 (Update: 2019-04- 5)