OnePlus X

OnePlus has made waves with each successive release of their premium, mid-range handsets. Their third smartphone, the OnePlus X, continues the trend. It comes in two versions – Onyx and Ceramic. The ceramic is the heavier of the two coming in at 160grams and is also incredibly scratch resistant with an 8.50 rating on the Mohs scale. To put that in perspective, a diamond is rated a 10. The Onyx is, as the name suggests, all black and is made out of black glass with a metal bezel. Critics praise the design of both versions describing it as “damn good-looking.” With that said, they add both attract fingerprints and tend to be on the slippery side. At 5.5 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches, it is also smaller than many other smartphones on the market. Many experts appreciated its diminutive size as it made it much easier for them to use one-handed and slip into their pockets.

A 5-inch, full HD AMOLED display graces the front of the OnePlus X and provides a pixel density of 441ppi. This is the first time OnePlus has utilized AMOLED technology, mainly to keep the phone thin. Still, experts preferred the AMOLED over LCD as it provided deeper blacks, better contrast and vibrant colors without suffering from oversaturation. They also note it was bright enough to read in most lighting situations. IB Times calls it “an excellent smartphone screen.”

Performance was a mixed bag for many reviewers. The 2.3GHz quad-core processor is not on the bleeding edge of technology, but it is backed up by 3GB of RAM. Experts describe its performance as reliable though not blazing fast. They were able to multi-task and switch between apps with relatively little slow down. It wasn’t until they fired up high-demand applications they noticed significant slow-downs having to eventually turn down quality in order to avoid frame rate issues. Battery life was also a bit of an issue. The small 2,525mAh battery only barely got them through an entire day of moderate use. They highly suggest power users bring the charger with them whenever possible. Besides this, it also lacks several notable features to keep the price tag low such as NFC, fingerprint scanner and some LTE bands for T-Mobile and AT&T. It also only comes with 16GB of internal storage though it does offer microSD expansion slot.

The 13MP rear camera failed to impress reviewers. They found the auto focus too slow and it often had issues in low light. While they were able to take decently detailed and color accurate pictures in most lighting situations, they would not describe the results as spectacular. In low light situations it performed well below other competitors. Critics noticed significant grain and noise on top of image blur due to the lack of optical image stabilization. In general, they add that this camera takes good enough pictures to share on social media but likely will not satisfy those looking for a more accurate snapper.

While there are some issues with the OnePlus X, reviewers found it to be a very solid offering at such a low price point. Android Pit states, ” …if you don’t expect any untold performance depth beneath the gorgeous exterior and price tag you won’t be disappointed.” Pocket Now adds, “…the OnePlus X wasn’t built for those who notice or care about gigahertz or milliamps…It was built for those want a beautiful accessory…For those people, the OnePlus X is an excellent option.”