The past few months have not been short of smartphone launches. But one candy bar style device after another can get kind of old. Which may be why OPPO is pushing the benchmark of design with their latest offering.
The R1x Sapphire is arguably one of the most uniquely designed smartphones in the market today. While others opt for function by creating a scratch-resistant, grippy back panel, and others focus on making something traditional look more aesthetically pleasing, OPPO’s latest offering combines both.
As its name implies, the phone features a sapphire crystal back — which is typically found on the faces of luxe wristwatches — and a subtle diamond pattern visible to the eye only at certain angles. The entire device is incredibly slim, measuring 6.9mm with a camera that surprisingly doesn’t protrude.
It looks elegant and sturdy, chic but functional. But is really? How much did OPPO sacrifice to create a phone this sleek? Let’s take a look.
Screen
The R1x features a 5-inch screen that, given how slim it is, makes it easy to operate with one hand. It’s a rare feature for a device with a screen that wide. Users will be pleasantly surprised to find that nothing was compromised in terms of the display despite the device’s size. It features a crisp and sharp 720p screen that makes it a breeze to read messages or watch videos, even under direct sunlight.
Internals
Out of the box, the R1x comes with 16GB internal memory, with the option to expand up to 128GB via a microSD expansion card slot. One interesting feature is that this microSD slot can double as a nano SIM slot: if you don’t think you need the extra memory, the option to stay connected on two networks might be more compelling.
Hardware
Octacore Cortex-A53 processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset and 2GB RAM. As impressive as those sound, note that it firmly puts this device — as stylish as it is — firmly within the mid-range category. While the hardware may be 64-bit capable, the OS isn’t designed to take full advantage of it, since it comes stocked with the Android 4.4 KitKat. Nevertheless, expect a speedy and strong device.
Camera
Oppo has always been known for adjusting camera features depending on what individual devices need. And while you’re not going to get its infamous swivel camera (available on the N3), the R1x’s 13-megapixel snapper is still feature-rich.
Shutter speed can be slowed to 16 seconds, which makes it a lot better at, and capable of, snapping images in the dark. Stock autofocus features aren’t great, but can easily be customised for optimum pictures. Its 5 megapixel front camera also comes with stock filters that makes it an essential for anyone who loves to takes selfies.
Battery
For a phone this slim, it’s not too surprising that the battery will be mediocre. The 2,420 lithium ion battery is pretty standard, and nowhere near stellar in terms of battery life. Still, it’s the price you pay for having a phone as sleek and thin as this one.
Bottom line?
It’s a great phone given its price range — and the fashion statement you’re going to make is a great big plus. It’s built and designed beautifully, performs without trouble and with its sapphire crystal back, you won’t have to worry about scratching it.
