OnePlus X – The new fashion statement – Review
OnePlus has set a name for itself in the industry as being a Chinese mobile manufacturer who makes flagship killer mobiles. The OnePlus One was truly a flagship device and it set a trend in the mobile industry. Followed by the OnePlus One, the OnePlus Two too managed to create some waves. Just when assumed that OnePlus will be releasing new flagship devices every year, we were surprised by the rumors of a toned down version of the OnePlus 2. Finally OnePlus came up with a totally different mobile; the OnePlus X. OnePlus X is in a league of its own. It has its own design language and characteristic. It is a new mid range product line from the OnePlus. It seems that glass back and metal rims are the new fashion statement, but is style alone sufficient? Does the OnePlus X have the right mix of style, ergonomics, performance and features? Lets check it out!
In the Box, the OnePlus X comes with a wall charger, USB – Micro USB cable, Sim pin, TPU back cover, Screen protector film (pre applied) and the usual product literature. It is available in Onyx Black color and the ceramic back variant would be available sometime next year. The ceramic variant will be a bit more expensive and heavier than the OnePlus X. It is a limited edition device. In this review we are going to be talking about the Onyx variant of the OnePlus X.
Design
The OnePlus X is made of high quality tempered glass on the back and front merged together with a metal rim. The metal rim has ridges running along it, but it does very little to aid grip. The glass back look stylish, but is very slippery and is a finger print magnet. I did mention about the silicon back cover and it gives a bit of protection and grip. But the entire design aesthetic is lost if the case is used. At the bottom there are two speaker grills, but it has only one speaker and the mic is concealed under the other grill. The mobile has the usual micro USB socket and not the USB C port as we saw in the OnePlus Two. The 3.5 mm is placed at the top along with a noise cancelling mic. On the right, the power and volume buttons are quite tactile. The alert slider on the left is the same we saw in OnePlus 2. It can help you toggle between differnt alert profiles, but sadly it is not customizable. I ended up never using the slider. The back has the 13 MP camera with a single LED flash. The front has a 8 MP camera above the 5 inch AMOLED display. The design definitely looks cool and stylish. It is also compact and feels very sturdy to hold.
Display
The display is a 5 inch AMOLED screen with Full HD support. The screen is very bright and has fantastic color reproduction. It enhances the look of any image and makes it look rich. Also AMOLED displays are efficient in battery consumption. Apart from the design, display is one of the majar selling points for OnePlus X.
Hardware
OnePlus X resembles the OnePlus One from the hardware specifications point of view. It is powered by a 32 bit quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and is equiped with 3 GB of RAM. It has Adreno 330 graphics processor unit. The processor is clocked at 2.3 GHz, compared to 2.5 GHz in the One. It has 16 GB of internal storage, but supports memory expansion with its hybrid SIM slot. The SIM slot takes in two nano SIM cards or one nano SIM card and a microSD card. It supports 4G LTE in India, but its not a quad band device and you may not be able to use 4G LTE in certain countries. It is the first OnePlus mobile to have a FM radio.
The device scores are impressive in all the bench mark tests but scores less than the OnePlus One. OnePlus X handles heavy apps and games with ease. I noticed not frame drop or lag while playing graphically rich games. But the 3D graphic rendering was not smooth. Also the device does not have any heating issues unlike the OnePlus One or the Two. The maximum temperature I noticed was 42 degree and that was after shooting video on the mobile continously. It is a mid range mobile and performs like one. You can check the benchmark test scores under the specs section.
OnePlus X
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CPU:
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RAM:
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Storage:
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Display:
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Camera:
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OS:
The OnePlus X is about exploring contrasts and harmony. It’s about expressing individuality in modern urban life, the conflict between traditional craft and manufacturing, and balance between design and technology. Reflections of where you are, and where you’re going to be. The OnePlus X celebrates a love story of aesthetics and a unique, premium material: zirconia ceramic. Designing technology with ceramics has been attempted – but never before mastered like this. Cultivating a new level of craftsmanship and artisanal luxury in smartphone design, we present to you our most elegant device yet.
Built from the most advanced sensors, the OnePlus X camera with autofocus is blazingly fast – designed for high-quality photos whenever and wherever you are.Take photos that astonish with the 13MP f/2.2 rear camera for unmatched depth and perception. Colors are true to life with optimized white balance and saturation, ensuring your photos always capture the real tones of your subjects. With the help of our unique and industry leading imaging processor, the most important components of a perfect photo are always brought to the forefront. Equipped with ISOCELL technology, light sensitivity is increased for sharper images and less noise.The front-facing shooter on the OnePlus X leads the way in unmatched quality with an 8MP camera, f/2.4 aperture, and supported Beauty Mode for effortless, flawless photos every time.
No moment is too fleeting with the OnePlus X’s autofocus powered by Phase Detection AF, focusing on subjects in 0.2 seconds. Use any of our three optimized shooting modes to find that perfect shot: Auto, HDR, or Clear Image. Shoot crisp, 1080p HD video, with added options for time-lapse and slow motion. As one of the most important experiences in any smartphone, our team of engineers faced the challenge of reworking the OnePlus X cameras in a way that made them powerful, quick, and intuitive. So, that’s exactly what they did. With amazingly fast photo-taking speeds that blow the competition out of the water, you’ll find yourself reaching for the OnePlus X again and again. Fall in love after the sound of just one click.
Find the deepest blacks to the most vivid colours that can be conjured on screen all right on your OnePlus X. Enjoy faster response times and improved sunlight viewability that cater to everyone’s individual expressions, leaving you in awe every single time.
Technology is not the polar opposite of design. Inside out, our latest device masters the balance between performance and beauty. Equipped with a premium and highly-acclaimed processor, you can be confident that your OnePlus X will always work exactly the way you want it to. Advanced mobile tasks are made easy and fast. Capture stunning 1080p video, enjoy optimized battery life, and stream high-quality videos with ease.
Heavy-duty graphics are brought to life with a powerful graphics chip with formidable memory for desktoplike processing power. The OnePlus X was built to be reliable as well as beautiful. All of your files are incredibly easy to manage right inside the phone. For even more storage, you can add formidable amounts with your own microSD card. Take everything with you — no limits. OnePlus Radio brings FM stations straight to your smartphone in a way that you won’t find anywhere else. So whether you’re on the go, hanging out at home, or spending study sessions in the library, tune in and discover a whole new world of ideas. A device as important as your phone needs to be ready whenever you are, so we’ve made sure that you never have to worry about running low on power before your day is done. The OnePlus X hardware and software is optimized to last with enhanced battery stamina. Enjoy hours of webbrowsing, listening to music, or other daily tasks. For the modern user who’s always on their feet.
Go anywhere and be connected. Your OnePlus X is unlocked and capable of using dual standby SIM cards with 4G speeds right out of the box. You have the freedom to use it all over the globe, no questions asked.Want to know what a refreshingly light and bespoke mobile experience feels like? Say hello to OxygenOS. Built to further your distinctiveness, it’s made up of everything you need in a smartphone operating system, and nothing you don’t.
Specs
General
| Price | INR 16,999/- |
| Announced | 01 October, 2015 |
| Released | 01 October, 2015 |
| Status | Available |
Display
| Display Type <strong>Display Technology => </strong> A number of display technologies and types used in mobile phones => TFT (Thin Film Transistor), IPS (In-Place Switching), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), Super AMOLED (an even advanced version of AMOLED), Resistive Touchscreen (Resistive touchscreens contain two layer of conductive material with a very small gap between them which acts as a resistance), Capacitive Touchsceen (Capacitive touchscreen technology consists of a layer of glass coated with a transparent conductor) | AMOLED |
| Size | 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 |
| Pixel Density <strong>Pixel Density (PPI)</strong> is refers to the concentration of pixels on a particular display, measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Pixel density is calculated by dividing the diagonal pixel resolution of a display by its diagonal size, higher pixel density better display quality. | 441ppi |
| Display Protection <strong>Display Protection => </strong> Gorilla Glass is a special alkali-aluminosilicate glass shield with exceptional damage resistance that helps protect mobile displays from scratches, drops, and bumps of everyday use, It is always better to go for a smartphone with Gorilla Glass for that added protection and peace of mind. | Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 |
| Secondary Display | No |
Hardware
| Chipset <strong>Chipset</strong> is a group of integrated circuits designed to perform one or a more dedicated functions, often with real time computing constraints, Popular smartphones are equipped with more advanced embedded chipsets that can do many different tasks depending on their programming. | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 |
| CPU <strong>CPU</strong> (Central Processing Unit) mostly known as processors, CPU processes instructions in order to carry out certain functions that make your device operate properly. Processors are often described as the brain of computers, smartphones and tablets, Smartphones and tablets rely on processors to carry out their every task, Processors are an incredibly important factor in selecting any type of computing device, including your smartphone. | 2.3 GHz Quad-core CPU |
| GPU <strong>GPU</strong> (Graphics Processing Unit) is a single-chip processor designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display, This includes things such as lighting effects, object transformations, and 3D motion. | Qualcomm® Adreno 330 |
| RAM (Memory) <strong>RAM</strong> (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes that allows information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computer systems, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices. | 3GB |
| Internal Storage <strong>Internal Storage</strong> is a data storage space (flash memory) mostly used in smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices where operating system, apps, music, photos, videos, files and other user data Is stored. | 16GB |
| Card Slot <strong>Memory Card Slot</strong> is a special slot for inserting a memory card. Memory cards allow you to expand the phone's built-in memory, A memory card (sometimes called a flash memory card or a storage card) is a small storage medium used to store data such as text, pictures, audio, and video, for use on small, portable or remote computing devices such as mobile phones, mp3 players, digital cameras. | Yes, up to 128 GB |
| Sensors <strong>Sensors</strong> are electronic components that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. The specific input could be light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure and location, The output is generally a signal that is converted to use in computing systems, a location sensor, such as a GPS receiver is able to detect current location of your electronic device. | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light, HALL |
Battery
| Battery Type <strong>Battery Type => </strong> Cell phones run on various kinds of batteries depending on the manufacturer, phone size or shape and features. There are basically four types of cell phone batteries => Lithium Polymer, Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium. | Li-Poly (Lithium Polymer) |
| Capacity <strong>Battery Capacity</strong> is a measure (typically in Amp-hr) of the charge stored by the battery, and is determined by the mass of active material contained in the battery. The battery capacity represents the maximum amount of energy that can be extracted from the battery under certain conditions. | 2525 mAh |
| Fast Charging | No |
Camera
| Primary <strong>Camera</strong> is able to capture photographs and usually videos, The most important characteristics of a camera are the resolution (measured in megapixels), lens focus type (fixed or automatic), higher megapixel cameras are known to capture higher quality photos, but not always a good measurement of the photos quality. | 13mp |
| Camera Features |
f/2.2 aperture ISOCELL technology Phase Detection AF, focusing on subjects in 0.2 seconds |
| Secondary | 8mp |
Design
| Type <strong>Design Type</strong> called form factor refers to a mobile phone's size, shape, and style as well as the layout and position of major components of phone. There are three major form factors seen in mobile phones => bar phones, folding phones and sliding phones. | Bar |
| Dimensions | 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm |
| Weight | Onyx: 138 g (4.86 oz) | Ceramic: 160 g (5.64 oz) |
| Colors | Ceramic, Onyx |
Network
| SIM <strong>SIM</strong> (Subscriber Identity Module) is a small card that contains mobile network subscriber's account information. This allows the phone using the card to attach to a mobile network. The SIM card is most commonly associated with GSM and UMTS mobile networks. Moving a SIM card from one phone to another allows a subscriber to switch mobile phones without having to contact their mobile network carrier. SIM cards can also be used by a phone to store limited amounts of data, such as phone numbers and text messages. | Nano SIM |
| Dual SIM | Yes |
| 2G Network | 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz |
| 3G Network | Bands 1/2/5/8 |
| 4G Network |
TDD-LTE: Bands 38/40 FDD-LTE: Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20 |
Software
| Operating System <strong>OS => </strong> Every computer system run on a base software called Operating System (OS). Operating System controls all basic operations of the computer (such as smartphone, PDAs, tablet computers and other handheld devices). The Operating System allows the user to install and run third party applications (apps), apps are used to add new functionality to the device. | Android 5.1.1 |
| User Interface <strong>UI</strong> or user interface of a device is the look and feel of the on-screen menu system. How it works, its color scheme, how it responds to button presses, all of these things are part of the user interface. | Oxygen OS |
Connectivity
| Bluetooth <strong>Bluetooth</strong> is a wireless communications technology for exchanging data between mobile phones, headsets, computers and other network devices over short distances without wires, Bluetooth technology was primarily designed to support simple wireless networking of personal consumer devices. | v4.0 |
| Infrared <strong>Infrared</strong> connectivity is an old wireless technology used to connect two electronic devices. It uses a beam of infrared light to transmit information and so requires direct line of sight and operates only at close range. | |
| Wi-fi <strong>Wi-Fi</strong> is a popular wireless networking technology using radio waves to provide high-speed network connections that allows devices to communicate without cords or cables, Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming the preferred mode of internet connectivity all over the world. | 802.11 b/g/n |
| USB | v2.0 |
| GPS <strong>GPS</strong> The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based radio navigation system, GPS permits users to determine their position, velocity and the time 24 hours a day, in all weather, anywhere in the world, In order to locate your position, your device or GPS receiver must have a clear view of the sky. | Yes |
| NFC <strong>NFC</strong> (Near field communication) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish peer-to-peer radio communications with each other by touching them together or bringing them into proximity, usually no more than a few inches. |
Benchmarks
| 3D Mark Gamers Benchmark | 739 (3.0) |
| Antutu | 41354 |
| Basemark OS 2 | 1207 |
| Basemark X | 18381 |
| Charging Time | 1 hr 40 min |
| Discharge Time | 1 day 7 hours |
| Geekbench 3 Multicore | 2601 |
| Geekbench 3 Single Core | 908 |
| Geekbench Battery | 2867 |
| GPU Benchmark | 18080 |
| Nenamark 2.4 | 58.9 fps |
| Quadrant | 22827 |
| Velamo Browser | 2621 |
| Velamo Metal | 1513 |
| Velamo Multicore | 1758 |
Reviews
Camera
OnePlus X has 13 MP camera at the back and 8 MP on the front. When it comes to quality, both the cameras are similar. The image output has good detail and sharpness at ample daylight, but the smoothening algorithm spoils the image even there there is little bit of drop in the ambient light. The white balance is warm and the colors are bright. It has great black levels, but the brightness and contrast are not the right scale. Under low light the images are not bright, but it does not show noise, thanks to the smoothening algorithm.
Focusing is fast as the OnePlus X uses Phase detection system. Exposure control on the screen is handy as most of the time, the exposure calculated by the software is incorrect. The camera UI is simple and easy to use. But it can get boring for most users in a matter of time. It does not support RAW images or 4k video and its a budget device and we must not be asking about it. It has slow motion and time lapse video option, but the UI offers no control on the speed. Also manual mode is lacking, which is now becoming a standard in most mid level mobiles. The camera in the OnePlus X has its highs and lows, but the lows are mostly software issues and OnePlus X can fix them with updates.
Camera Samples
Software
The OnePlus X runos on Android Lollipop with Oxygen OS skinned on top. The Oxygen OS has very little to offer apart from the pure android experience. But it is one of the most stable, fast, intuitive and minimalistic UI out there. Thanks to its no bloatware policy, the user experience on this mobile is as straight as an arrow. The UI is fast, snappy and responsive as OnePlus X has built the Oxygen OS ground up by integrating it well with the hardware.
Battery
The mobile is powered by a 2525 mAh Lithium Polymer battery. On a regular usage, the device lasted little more than a day for me. The relatively small AMOLED display and the Oxygen OS helps conserve the battery a bit. But if you are a power user or heavy user of apps and regularly click photos or watch videos, you would run out of battery with 17-20 hours.
Verdict
OnePlus X is priced at Rs 16999 and is available exclusively from Amazon in India, though the plagued invite system. Invites are available easily, but still it is a hassle. Its high time OnePlus shed the invite system. Many other mobiles may see the OnePlus X as their competition, but the biggest competition for OnePlus X is the OnePlus One. OnePlus One is available for Rs 19999 and you dont need an Invite. For a few thousands extra, the OnePlus One offers better performance and value for money. It is difficult, even for OnePlus to make a better device than the OnePlus One and OnePlus X is finding it difficult to come out of its big brother’s shadow. If the OnePlus X had been priced a few thousands lower, then it would been a different story.
On its own the OnePlus X is a fantastic mobile. It has a great design and a fabulous display. It is a mid range mobile and behaves like one. It looks stylish and that’s where it stops. If you rank design over performance, I would recommend this mobile for you, else strech your budget and go for the OnePlus One.
If you need an invite to buy the OnePlus X, you can leave a comment below and we will try and get you one, no promise though
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