The highly anticipated OnePlus X is finally official and is quite exciting, boasting a sleek design and impressive specs and features for its category and $249 price point.
After a slew of leaks, rumors, company teasers and high expectations, the OnePlus X just made its official debut as the company's latest smartphone. Unlike the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2 handsets that were dubbed "flagship killers," the OnePlus X shoots for the midrange segment of the smartphone market.
Despite not being a flagship, the OnePlus X has plenty of exciting things to offer in its category, especially considering the attractive retail price of $249. Simply put, the OnePlus X is an upper-midrange handset disguised as a high-end smartphone, as its beautiful design lends the illusion of a more premium offering.
Here are the top highlights of the newly unveiled OnePlus X:
Design
Although it doesn't pack state-of-the-art specifications to compete on the high-end segment of the smartphone market, the OnePlus X definitely stands out of the midrange crowd due to its modern and high-quality design. The handset comes in two models - Onyx and Ceramic - and both of them look stylish.
The Onyx model comes with a back plate of dark glass Onyx with a mirror finish, while its metal bezel is rounded around the edges.
The Ceramic model, meanwhile, has a special back plate crafted from zirconia and sports beveled edges, as opposed to the rounded ones of the Onyx model.
"Our latest product cultivates a new level of craftsmanship and artisanal luxury in smartphone design," boasts OnePlus. "Simply gorgeous, and exquisitely striking. The OnePlus X is as elegant as it is powerful."
Display
The OnePlus X features a 5-inch AMOLED display with a full HD (1,080p) resolution, Gorilla Glass 3 protection and great viewing angles. At the same time, an ambient display and a proximity sensor allow users to see their notifications at a quick glance, increasing convenience.
Under the Hood
When it comes to processing power and memory, the OnePlus X may be less impressive to those looking for a high-end powerhouse. The latest smartphone from OnePlus packs an older Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and Adreno 330 graphics, but it nonetheless offers a hefty 3 GB of RAM for a fast and smooth performance. The Snapdragon 801 was a high-end CPU when it launched and it's still powerful enough, most likely outperforming the more recent Snapdragon 617. A 2,525 mAh will keep everything up and running.
Storage
The OnePlus X comes with 16 GB of internal storage capacity and offers microSD support for additional memory of up to 128 GB. The addition of expandable storage will surely come as good news to OnePlus fans, as it's been one of the most requested features. Neither the OnePlus One nor the OnePlus 2 offer expandable storage, so the OnePlus X marks a major improvement in this department.
It's worth pointing out that the microSD tray of the OnePlus X also serves as a nano-SIM tray for a second SIM, as the handset has dual-SIM support.
Cameras
When it comes to cameras, the OnePlus X features a 13-megapixel rear sensor with phase detection, autofocus and an f/2.2 aperture, and it can focus and shoot in just 0.2-seconds, according to the company. An 8-megapixel front shooter, meanwhile, will allow for high-quality selfies and video chats. The OnePlus X also has a neat camera app that will allow users to manually adjust the shutter speed, ISO, as well as the white balance.
OS, UI And Features
The OxygenOS gracing the OnePlus X looks and feels good, coming pretty close to stock Android. OxygenOS is based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, but some of the features it offers are borrowed from the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Discrete app permissions are one example of Marshmallow features, offering neat functionality without adding any bloatware that would slow the device down. Other features such as the accent colors, the dark theme or the LED settings allow for customization, just like on the OnePlus 2 flagship.
The OnePlus X software further offers the Google Now-inspired Shelf, rocking the neat custom icon pack support, custom hardware and software navigation keys, file manager, or a quick swipe-down to access the notification tray.
Price, Launch And Availability
The OnePlus X will launch on an invite-only system, just like its OnePlus One and OnePlus 2 siblings did. The handset will hit Europe first, launching on Nov. 5 with a €269 price tag, after which it will hit the U.S. on Nov. 19, sporting the aforementioned $249 price tag. The special Ceramic edition, meanwhile, will launch in Europe and India on Nov. 24, going up to €369.
OnePlus notes that the OnePlus X will be available only through invites for the first month, but it will later offer more opportunities to get the handset. The company says it will distribute invites faster to its most loyal customers, as well as those who sign up to reserve an invite, and will also offer shareable invites so users can share the privilege with friends and family.
After the first month, interested customers will have more chances to get their hands on a OnePlus X. The company will host weekly open sales events, during which it allows customers to buy even without an invite. Moreover, OnePlus promises that it will eventually make the OnePlus X permanently available without invites, but only after it makes sure it has a good balance between production and demand.
For more information, check out the OnePlus X product page on the company's website.
