OnePlus
X First Impressions
OnePlus X detailed specifications
GENERAL
| Release date | November 2015 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 140.00 x 69.00 x 6.90 |
| Weight (g) | 138.00 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 2525 |
| Removable battery | No |
| Colours | Onyx, Ceramic |
| SAR value | 0.00 |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 5.00 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 441 |
HARDWARE
| Processor | 2.3GHz quad-core |
| Processor make | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Internal storage | 16GB |
| Expandable storage | Yes |
| Expandable storage type | microSD |
| Expandable storage up to (GB) | 128 |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 13-megapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel |
SOFTWARE
| Operating System | OxygenOS |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 b/ g/ n |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.00 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared | No |
| Wi-Fi Direct | No |
| MHL Out | No |
| HDMI | No |
| Headphones | 3.5mm |
| FM | No |
| Number of SIMs | 2 |
| SIM 1 | |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
| SIM 2 | |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | No |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | No |
| Temperature sensor | No |
Soon after the launch of the OnePlus 2 back in July, OnePlus started creating
buzz about another handset due this year which would cater to a different audience. The OnePlus X, the Chinese company's third
smartphone, was finally unveiled on Thursday at simultaneous events in New Delhi and Beijing, among other cities.
OnePlus had also announced plans earlier this month to start manufacturing phones in India, further further affirming that
the company considers India one of its most important overseas markets.
At the launch event, we asked OnePlus India General Manager
VikasAgarwal how the OnePlus X fits into the company's
smartphone lineup, as the older OnePlus One still has better innards. Agarwal,
without specifying an exact time frame, confirmed that the One will eventually
be discontinued - though not this year. This made it clear that the OnePlus X
is here for a reason, and the company wants to make sure that it caters to
consumers looking for a powerful device but who can't afford the OnePlus
2.
The OnePlus X has been launched in two versions - an Onyx variant and a limited-edition
Ceramic variant. Much like the OnePlus
One and OnePlus 2 smartphones, the OnePlus X will also go on
sale in India through Amazon and will be only available via the infamous invite
system.
In terms of specifications, the OnePlus X is quite similar to
the One. It features a 5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) Amoled screen and is
powered by a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. It has 3GB of
LPDDR3 RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, and also supports storage expansion
using a microSD card (up to 128GB). The phone also has a 13-megapixel rear
camera with flash and a f/2.2 aperture; an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with
a f/2.4 aperture; and a non-removable 2525mAh battery.
We got to spend a little time with the new OnePlus X at the
launch event. When we first held it in our hands, it definitely felt sturdy. We
felt as though we could be comfortable using it with just one hand for hours;
something that can't be said about the OnePlus One or OnePlus 2. The company
had earlier stated that the OnePlus X was built for people with smaller hands
in mind. The design of the OnePlus X also reminded us of the iPhone 5 andiPhone 5s.
At the launch, OnePlus also stressed on the differences between
the Onyx and Ceramic versions of the OnePlus X. Both versions are very similar
in design and specifications - the biggest difference is the materials they are
built from. OnePlus claims that the Ceramic version of the OnePlus X takes up
to 25 days to be manufactured. This might be the biggest reason why the Ceramic
version will be a limited edition. In fact, the company confirmed that there
will only be 10,000 units of the Ceramic version available worldwide. On being
asked whether there were any quotas of units for specific markets, Agarwal
stated that availability would totally depend on demand.
The Onyx version features rounded edges while the Ceramic
version has sharper angles. The OnePlus X Onyx features mirror-like finish on
the rear which attracts smudges. The Ceramic finish was however even more of a
fingerprint magnet. The back panels of both versions of the OnePlus X are shiny
and reflective, making it hard for us to photograph them without reflections.
At just 138 grams, the Onyx version is lighter than the Ceramic, which weighs
160 grams.
Similar to the OnePlus 2, this new model features a physical
Alert Slider, which allows users to switch between a totally silent mode,
priority notifications, and all notifications. Below the screen, there are
three capacitive buttons for Back, Home, and Recents. Unfortunately, they are
not backlit.
The smartphone features a metal frame with dual speaker grilles
on the bottom panel alongside a regular Micro-USB 2.0 port. The 3.5mm audio
jack is on top. The company touted that the frame incorporates 17 micro-cuts
for improving the look as well as grip of the device. The volume rocker buttons
as well as the power key are on the right, while the Alert Slider is on the
left. The company claimed at the launch that it has tested the physical buttons
on the OnePlus X 10,000 times.
OnePlus has used an Amoled display for the first time, and it
looked vibrant on the OnePlus X. It reproduced bright colours, and viewing
angles were decent. Visibility under direct indoor lights was good.
The unit we were able to use for a limited time was running
OxygenOS 2.1.2 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.OnePlus parted ways with Cyanogen earlier this year which has led the
company to introduce its own OxygenOS Android skin. The good news is that it
looks like stock Android with some minor customisations.
The OnePlus X brings one of the most awaited features to the
company's line-up -microSD card support. The smartphone features a hybrid
dual-SIM design, with the second slot usable for either a second SIM or a
microSD card. During the time we spent with the OnePlus X, we found that the
smartphone responded well to touch input and was quick during multitasking. The
13-megapixel rear camera on the OnePlus X took crisp indoor shots under
artificial lighting, though we could not test the camera in natural light.
Shots taken with the front camera on the OnePlus X in low light were average
and lacked detail. We will however reserve our verdict on the OnePlus X
smartphone's performance and camera till we get a chance to put it through our
detailed review process.
The OnePlus X Onyx variant and the limited edition Ceramic
variant have been priced at Rs. 16,999 and Rs. 22,999 respectively. Onyx will
be available starting November 5 while Ceramic will go on sale starting
November 24.,
At this price point, the Onyx OnePlus X can be expected to tempt
potential OnePlus One buyers, considering the fact that the One will be
discontinued within a few months. However, the Ceramic OnePlus X will have to
deal with stiff competition from its own bigger sibling, the OnePlus 2. One of
the biggest worries of OnePlus X buyers could be the dated hardware though this
is unlikely to be a problem in day-to-day use.
One of the biggest barriers for those wanting
to buy OnePlus phones has been the invite system. The company however has plans to expand the
availability of the OnePlus X
with open sales in the coming months.
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