The OnePlus X has finally hit the shelves and the svelte smartphone does not burn a hole in your wallet thanks to its $249 price tag.
While the OnePlus X may be affordable, the million dollar question is, does it hit the spot? Let's take a look at what the reviewers are saying.
IBTimes' David Gilbert waxes eloquent and feels that the OnePlus X is better than the OnePlus 2. The device is value for money and among the best available phones under the $300 price bracket.
"It is a stripped back, minimalist smartphone that is small, slim and lightweight. In a world where we are surrounded by ever bigger phablets, it is great to use a phone that has such a small footprint. The premium build quality and material speaks to the company's focus on craftsmanship, and you are not going to get anything like this at this price from any other manufacturer," opines Gilbert.
Gizmodo's Darren Orf, however, disagrees and does not recommend buying the OnePlus X as by shelling out an additional $80 you can own sibling OnePlus 2. The device looks great on the outside but the innards leaves a lot to be desired.
"The X is one of the most interesting sub $300 phones I've used in a long time. From display, to processor, to operating system, I have no problems. But it does cut out a lot of hardware you might want," notes Orf.
The 5-inch OnePlus X which comes in two variants – ceramic and glass – is well-made per Stuff.tv's Esat Dedezade. However, Dedezade recommends not buying the ceramic model and paying extra as there is little separating the two models.
"OnePlus appears to have created a well-specced, attractive, and premium handset, at a very desirable price point. We'd argue that paying £70 more for the ceramic version might not be worth it though, as there's very little difference beyond its chamfered edges and slightly mirrored rear," per Dedezade.
According to ZDnet, the OnePlus X ticks the right boxes on most counts, barring a few minor hitches. The affordable handset could have had more battery life, as well as optional backlights for the off-screen buttons.
"The OnePlus X is an excellent entry into the budget Android handset market. We have very few grumbles about this phone. We'd have liked longer battery life, but recognise that a higher-capacity battery would have added to the handset's overall size," says reviewer Sandra Voget.
PCAdvisor is in agreement with the not-so-great battery life of the OnePlus X and while it loves the premium feel, the absence of basic features such as NFC and Wi-Fi take away from the handset.
"The OnePlus X is the best value smartphone of the year. We love the premium design in a smaller form factor to the firm's other phones. Software is a strong point and you get a gorgeous screen. However, cuts had to be made somewhere and the X is lacking features such as NFC, 11ac and Wi-Fi. It also is missing the fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port found on the OnePlus 2. Battery life isn't great and cameras aren't best in class but this is a great phone for the price," per the publication.
