An image model with the characteristics of last year's flagships

After the expected annual update of its main product, the Chinese company OnePlus, founded in 2013 by former Oppo vice president Pete Lau, unexpectedly released another smartphone model at the end of this year - OnePlus X. The new product is strikingly different from its fellow OnePlus 1 and OnePlus 2 only in appearance, but also in technical equipment.

In contrast to the company’s first-borns that are maximally productive and full of innovations, the hero of today’s review received more modest technical characteristics, but stands out noticeably from its relatives with its expressive, catchy design and completely different body materials. Apparently, this is why the next device did not receive a third serial number, but opened a completely new line of OnePlus products. This smartphone can rightfully be classified as a fashion model.

Key Features of OnePlus X (Model One E1001)

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AA), 4 cores Krait 400 @2.3 GHz
• GPU Adreno 330 @578 MHz
• Operating system Android 5.1.1, OxygenOS
• Touch AMOLED display, 5″, 1920×1080, 441 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 3 GB
• Internal memory 16 GB
• Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
• Micro SD card support
• Communication GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• Communication WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
• Data transmission LTE FDD Band 1/3/5/7/8/20; TDD Band 38/40
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth 4.0
• USB 2.0, OTG
• GPS/A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
• Direction, proximity, lighting sensors, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic compass (according to AnTuTu)
• Camera 13 MP, autofocus, LED flash
• Camera 8 MP, front
• Battery 2525 mAh, non-removable
• Dimensions 140×69×6.9 mm
• Weight 138 g

Scope of delivery

The OnePlus X smartphone goes on sale in an attractive package, made in the form of a small rectangular box of a classic shape made of hard matte cardboard. The palette of red and white colors and the same minimalism in design are preserved here: there are practically no inscriptions or pictures, the characteristics of the smartphone are not indicated anywhere.

The package package surprisingly turned out to be even richer than that of the OnePlus 2 model. In addition to the box charger with an output current of 5 V 2 A and a flat Micro-USB cable, they also included a pleasant-to-touch soft silicone transparent protective case, not spoiling at all appearance the device itself. The key for removing SIM cards, as usual, is attached to a cardboard box with paper documentation.

Appearance and ease of use

In appearance, the successor to the line of OnePlus smartphones turned out to be completely different from its predecessors. Unlike the bulky, bulky and even rough OnePlus 2 with its rough plastic surfaces reminiscent of sandpaper, the new model has a completely different type of design - expensive, stylish and sophisticated. The OnePlus X smartphone can rightfully be described as a fashion model; the emphasis here is on appearance and manufacturing materials.

With a thin, stylish body with rounded corners and Gorilla Glass 3 as front and back panels, as well as a wide metal frame running along the entire side perimeter of the body, the smartphone began to resemble both the fourth generation Apple iPhone and its imitators, like Huawei P8 and its relatives. Both the glass panels and the metal frame here are not entirely simple: the glass has a slightly convex shape with sloping edges, and the metal has a rough texture in the form of thin longitudinal strips cut along the entire perimeter. Thanks to all these tricks, the device began to look expressive and catchy, and the notched frame also prevents it from slipping out of your hands, even despite the smooth glass panels.

True, this frame cannot help in any way when the glass of the back panel with sloping edges slides on any smooth surfaces, so the smartphone tends to slide off the table onto the floor. Without a case, this can really be a problem; OnePlus X tends to “crawl” on any smooth, and even more so varnished, surfaces, as, for example, LG Nexus 4 did at one time. But in the photo below the device is “packed” in the included silicone case , which does not spoil its beautiful appearance at all, but at the same time does not allow it to slide off the table. So it’s not in vain that the manufacturer included this accessory in the kit; it can someday “save the life” of a smartphone.

As for the size, there are no complaints here: OnePlus X has a very small, lightweight, thin body that is elegant in shape and size, which fits comfortably in the palm of any size and in the pockets of any clothing. The build quality is not satisfactory. There are no cracks or inconsistencies, the smartphone does not creak when compressed, the body is solid and, apparently, practical for long-term use.

OnePlus X does not have removable covers, so there is a side mounting option for cards. There is only one connector in the smartphone; it accommodates double sleds on which you can install two Nano-SIM cards or replace one of them with a microSD memory card. The slots have equal capabilities, so there is no need to think about which SIM card to insert where. You can remove the slide in the usual way using the supplied key or a thin paper clip.

All elements on the body are placed as standard. The front panel has a useful event indicator at the top, which notifies you in different colors about charging status and incoming messages. In the settings there is a special menu section in which the color of the indicator can be changed to your taste.

At the bottom of the front panel there is a row of hardware touch control buttons that are not backlit. In the white version of the case, the pictograms are painted with golden paint; they are very difficult to see even during the day, not to mention in the twilight. However, the Oxygen OS interface allows you to display duplicate virtual buttons, so this will not be such a problem.

On the back side of the case there is a camera module with a flash as usual. The camera glass does not protrude beyond the surface, and this is good: the smartphone lies tightly on the table and does not wobble when pressed.

The speaker grilles here are located at the bottom end and are located symmetrically on both sides of the Micro-USB connector. More precisely, only behind one of these two grilles (the left) is the speaker hidden, there is only one here. It is possible that a conversational microphone is installed behind the right grille - at least, a separate hole for it is not visible.

But a separate hole can be seen at the top end, and it apparently serves for a second, auxiliary microphone. Here, at the top, there is also a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones. The headphones themselves were not included in the OnePlus X package.

The hardware keys on the right side are made of metal with a rough textured surface. Although they are quite thin, it is quite possible to find them blindly, the key stroke is elastic and distinct, there are no problems with this. The buttons are located logically, making them easy to use for both right-handed and left-handed people.

On the opposite side is located an element that is not the most common in modern smartphones: a hardware volume switch, made in the form of a three-position slider. Depending on its position, all incoming events will be heard, only important notifications, or the sound will be turned off completely. The vibration alert in the device is not very powerful, but this is usually the case in thin and light cases.

As for the colors of the OnePlus X, here the developers tried to add variety not only due to the different colors of the cases, but also due to the materials used. In addition to the option with a glass back panel, a limited edition modification with a ceramic back cover will go on sale in Europe, which is appropriately named - OnePlus X Ceramic. As standard, the OnePlus X Onyx will be sold in two color options with glass panels in black and white.

Screen

The OnePlus X smartphone is equipped with an AMOLED touch screen combined with Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass. The physical dimensions of the display are 62x110 mm, diagonal - 5 inches. The screen resolution is 1920x1080, the pixel density is approximately 441 ppi. The frame around the screen is quite narrow: approximately 3 mm on the sides and 15 mm on the top and bottom.

The display brightness is automatically adjusted based on the light sensor. There is also a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches. The screen can be unlocked by double tapping the glass or using gestures that call up certain applications at the same time as unlocking.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (below, simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - OnePlus X, then they can be distinguished by size):

The OnePlus X's screen is slightly darker (photo brightness is 106 versus 109 for the Nexus 7). Note that the reflection from bright objects in the OnePlus X screen has a pale bluish halo that is slightly more pronounced in the transverse direction. The ghosting of reflected objects in the OnePlus X screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, even better than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.

When manually controlling the brightness and displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum brightness value was approximately 300 cd/m², the minimum was 3 cd/m². The maximum brightness is not very high, but you need to take into account the excellent anti-glare properties of the screen and the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the lighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. For example, when outputting white on half the screen (and black on the other half), the maximum brightness with manual adjustment increases to 360 cd/m². As a result, readability during the day in the sun is at a fairly good level. The reduced brightness level allows you to use the device even in complete darkness without any problems. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, when external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the automatic brightness adjustment function reduces the brightness to 120 cd/m² (too light), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets it to 260 cd/m² (too much), in very bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to a maximum - up to 300 cd / m² (which is what is needed). Brightness slider at 50% - the values ​​are as follows: 27, 220 and 300 cd/m² (from our point of view, acceptable values), at 0% - 1.5, 122 and 300 cd/m² (the logic is clear). In general, the automatic brightness adjustment function works adequately.

Only at low brightness levels is there significant modulation at 236 Hz. The figure below shows the dependence of brightness (vertical axis) on time (horizontal axis) for several brightness values:

It can be seen that at maximum and average brightness the modulation amplitude is minimal, its frequency is approximately 59 Hz (screen refresh rate), so there is no visible flicker. However, with a strong decrease in brightness, modulation appears with a large relative amplitude. Therefore, at low brightness, the presence of modulation can already be seen in a test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.

This screen uses an AMOLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

In the fragment above you can count 4 green subpixels, 2 red (4 halves) and 2 blue (1 whole and 4 quarters), and by repeating these fragments, you can lay out the entire screen without breaks or overlap. For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. The location and shape of the subpixels in this option is similar to the option in the case of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and some other newer Samsung devices (and not only) with AMOLED screens. This version of PenTile RGBG is better than the old one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels. However, some unevenness of contrast borders and other artifacts are still present. However, due to the high resolution, they have a minimal impact on image quality.

The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles, though white when deviated even at small angles, it acquires a slight blue-green tint, and at some angles it turns a little pink, but the black color is just black at any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is good. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of OnePlus X and the second comparison participant, while the brightness of the screens is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K. There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:

The color balance of the screens varies and the colors on the OnePlus X are oversaturated and unnatural. However, let us remind you that this is how the camera registers; it is better to look at the details of color rendition in the results of hardware tests. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen.

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens and the brightness of the OnePlus X at an angle is noticeably higher. And a white field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed has been increased compared to the previous two photos), but in the case of the OnePlus X the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. As a result, with formally the same brightness, the OnePlus X screen visually looks much brighter (compared to LCD screens), since you often have to look at the screen of a mobile device from at least a slight angle.

Switching the state of the matrix elements is performed almost instantly, but at the turn-on (and less often off) edge there may be a step with a width of approximately 17 ms (which corresponds to the screen refresh rate). For example, this is what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to white and back when displaying the field in full screen:

In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing moving objects, but in normal use these artifacts are difficult to see. Quite the contrary - dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “jerky” movements.

The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal a blockage either in the shadows or in the highlights. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.07, which is slightly lower than the standard value of 2.2, while the actual gamma curve deviates slightly from the power law:

Let us recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for generally light images and increases for dark ones. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. In the above graph of the dependence of brightness on time during the transition from black to white and back in the case of full-screen fields, there is a falling section, that is, the brightness of the white field begins to decrease after about 0.4 s. This proves that additional brightness adjustment is constantly turned on in this screen. Also, this screen does not have the ability to select a profile with hardware reduction of the color gamut; as a result, the color gamut of the OnePlus X is very wide:

The component spectra (that is, the spectra of pure red, green and blue) are very well separated:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. The gray scale balance is acceptable. The color temperature is higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) throughout the entire significant part of the gray scale remains below 4 units, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance:

(The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored in most cases, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

Let's summarize. The screen does not have a very high maximum brightness, but has good anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day without any problems. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is permissible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works quite adequately. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating and acceptable color balance. At the same time, let us remind you about the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color (if nothing is reflected in the screen), good uniformity of the white field, noticeably less than that of LCDs, and a drop in image brightness when viewed at an angle. The disadvantages include screen flickering, which appears at low brightness. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. Negative properties include an excessively wide color gamut, which makes ordinary images look unnatural. However, overall the screen quality is high.

Sound

The OnePlus X sounds quite simple, producing a very loud sound in the speakers and headphones, but, as they say, on the same note. There is no variety of frequencies here, no bass, the sound is loud, but not bright and rich. In addition, at maximum volume levels noise and distortion appear. OnePlus X is definitely not a music solution for music lovers, although its capabilities may be sufficient for average needs.

You can use additional settings to improve sound only in a proprietary program for playing music Google Play Music, but using an equalizer with preset values ​​does not improve the overall level of sound quality. A noise reduction system, judging by the presence of an auxiliary microphone, is present here, but it clearly does not work properly. At least there are complaints about the sound recorded in the videos.

During a telephone conversation, slight distortion of the sound is heard, the interlocutors on the other side note the same thing. However, in general, the timbre and intonation of a familiar interlocutor remain recognizable.

There is an FM radio in the smartphone; it only works with headphones connected as an external antenna.

The main camera is equipped with a sensor with Isocell technology with a resolution of 13 megapixels. Unlike the OnePlus 2, there is no optical stabilization or laser rangefinder. The maximum aperture of the lens is f/2.2. Phase autofocus here works quite quickly and makes virtually no mistakes.

The settings menu is so simplified that you just want to add something. There are no manual settings, only the ability to change the resolution, enable HDR mode or add a face decoration feature. Transferring control to third-party applications using the Camera2 API is not supported here, and there is also no option to save images in RAW.

The video camera can shoot with a resolution of up to 1080p, there is the possibility of slow-motion slo-mo shooting at a speed of 120 frames per second, but the recording resolution is reduced to 720p. In general, the camera copes satisfactorily with video shooting, but it has obvious problems with audio recording. At the slightest noise and gusts of wind, distortion appears and a “barrel” effect is present. In general, the sound is recorded poorly; the noise reduction system does not cope with its tasks.

• Video No. 1 (42 MB, 1920×1080 @30 fps)
• Video No. 2 (34 MB, 1920×1080 @30 fps)
• Video No. 3 (102 MB, 1280×720 @120 fps, Slo-mo)

	The camera copes with macro photography.
	Artifacts of software processing are visible in the sky.
	Good sharpness across the field and plans.
	The camera handles fine details well.
	A slight sharpening is noticeable on the wires.
	Good sharpness across the field and plans.
	The license plates of nearby cars are distinguishable.
	The camera copes well with indoor shooting.
	True, it doesn’t always get the white balance right.
	The camera is practically unable to cope with night photography.

We also tested the camera on a laboratory bench using our method.

The camera turned out good. Of course, we are not talking about the flagship level here, but in general the level is quite high. Good sharpness, good work with details, quite working optics. The only let down is the program, and while the sharpening is almost unnoticeable, the noise reduction manifests itself very clearly in places - mainly in the form of a rare but large grain. Especially in such cases, the sky, and indeed plain surfaces in general, get the worst of it. However, the main thing is that this suppresses colored noise, the most annoying one - people are usually more forgiving of spot changes in brightness. Another disadvantage is the sometimes inadequate performance of auto white balance.

Thus, the camera is quite suitable for documentary photography, and can often cope with artistic photography as well.

Telephone and communications

The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and also has support for fourth generation networks LTE Cat.4. Depending on the regional market, three modifications of OnePlus X have been released, supporting different sets of frequencies:

1. North America (E1005):
   • GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
   • WCDMA: Bands 1 (2100 MHz)/2 (1900 MHz)/4 (1700 MHz)/5 (850 MHz)/8 (900 MHz)
   • FDD-LTE: Bands 1 (2100 MHz)/2 (1900 MHz)/4 (1700 MHz)/5 (850 MHz)/7 (2600 MHz)/8 (900 MHz)
2. Asia/EU (E1003):
   • GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
   • FDD-LTE: Bands 1 (2100 MHz)/3 (1800 MHz)/5 (850 MHz)/7 (2600 MHz)/8 (900 MHz)/20 (800 MHz)
   • TDD-LTE: Bands 38 (2600 MHz)/40 (2300 MHz)
3. China (E1001):
   • GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
   • WCDMA: Bands 1 (2100 MHz)/2 (1900 MHz)/5 (850 MHz)/8 (900 MHz)
   • TD-SCDMA: Bands 34/39
   • FDD-LTE: Bands 1 (2100 MHz)/3 (1800 MHz)/7 (2600 MHz)
   • TD-LTE: Bands 38 (2600 MHz)/39 (1900 MHz)/40 (2300 MHz)/41 (2500 MHz)

As can be seen from this list, the European version (E1003) has the most complete support for the LTE FDD frequency ranges common in Russia (Band 3, 7, 20). At the same time, the E1001 modification, which we tested, supports two of the three most common LTE FDD bands among domestic operators (B3 and B7). In practice, with a SIM card from the MTS operator in the Moscow region, the smartphone was reliably registered and worked in 4G networks. The quality of signal reception is not satisfactory; the device confidently maintains communication indoors and does not lose the signal in areas of poor reception.

The device has support for Bluetooth 4.0, but there is no NFC, it supports only one Wi-Fi band (2.4 GHz) and Wi-Fi technology Direct, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. USB 2.0 connector supports connection external devices in USB OTG mode, however, this function must be manually enabled in the memory section of the menu.

The navigation module works with GPS (A-GPS) and Glonass, there is support for Beidou (BDS). The response speed of the navigation module does not cause any complaints; during a cold start, it takes several tens of seconds to find the first satellites. Also in the settings, you can additionally enable the Qualcomm IZat location function, which allows you to determine your location not only in open spaces, but also in rooms where signals from satellite systems may not be available. The smartphone is equipped with a magnetic field sensor, on the basis of which the compass of navigation programs operates.

The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts. The standard virtual keyboard supports the continuous input method using a stroke from letter to letter (Swype). It is also possible to use a pre-installed alternative virtual keyboard from a third-party developer, SwiftKey, with even more diverse settings. There are no options for reducing the size of virtual keyboards or the entire working space of the screen.

The smartphone supports dual SIM cards; in the settings you can assign a specific SIM card for data transfer. But to make voice calls and send SMS messages, you need to select the desired card each time.

A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G/4G networks, but only one of the cards can function in this mode at a time. To change the assignment of slots, cards do not need to be swapped - this can be done directly from the phone menu. Work with two SIM cards is organized according to the usual Dual SIM Dual Standby standard, when both cards can be in active standby mode, but cannot work at the same time - there is only one radio module.

OS and software

OnePlus X is released for the Chinese market with the HydrogenOS shell, but it is better for domestic users to immediately replace it with the more familiar OxygenOS interface, which has better language support, which is officially used as a system in the European version of this model.

OxygenOS installs on top of Android 5.1.1. In appearance and internal structure, this is practically the same pure Google Android with its Material Design, interactive pop-up tiles, application menu, notification curtain, etc. Only a couple of sections have been added to the menu dedicated to working with gestures (waking up with a double tap, writing letters on the display to unlock the screen and go to the corresponding applications) and with buttons (virtual buttons for controlling the system and applications can additionally be assigned functions with a long and double press). In the individual settings section, you can adjust the operation of the LED event indicator, as well as invert the theme colors, getting a black background with white text. There are no additional programs besides the file manager and OnePlus Radio.

Performance

The OnePlus X hardware platform is based on the obsolete and now rarely seen 32-bit SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, which a few years ago acted as Qualcomm’s flagship platform. In this case, not even the most advanced version of it, MSM8974AC, is used, where the operating frequency of four Krait 400 cores is raised to 2.5 GHz, but the less productive MSM8974AA with the frequency of the same cores up to 2.3 GHz. The Adreno 330 GPU with a maximum core frequency of up to 578 MHz is used as a graphics accelerator.

The smartphone's RAM capacity is 3 GB. The device has 16 GB of flash memory, of which about 11 GB is initially available to the user for his needs. The amount of internal memory can be increased using microSD cards, but then you will have to remove one of the SIM cards. It is also possible to connect external flash drives (and any other USB devices) to the Micro-USB port in OTG mode, but this function must be manually enabled in the memory settings section.

According to the testing results, the outdated OnePlus X platform, as expected, demonstrated a confident average, but far from flagship level, especially since it uses a slightly stripped-down version of the SoC. As a result, even one of today’s rare “brothers in misfortune”, the Zuk Z1 smartphone, which also received the 32-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 hardware platform, demonstrated more impressive results in recent testing, since it just got the maximum version of this SoC, MSM8974AC, where the operating frequency of four Krait 400 cores is raised to 2.5 GHz.

In addition, the hero of the review is inferior to modern solutions on alternative platforms, such as HiSilicon Kirin 935, MediaTek MT6795 and, of course, the currently leading Exynos 7420. At least this is true for complex tests. In specialized graphics tests, the Adreno GPU is traditionally very strong, and even the outdated Adreno 330 can still compete on an equal footing with the video accelerators used in the HiSilicon Kirin 935 and MediaTek MT6795.

However, if we move away from the dry numbers of synthetic benchmarks, the owner of OnePlus X should not yet feel a lack of performance, including in games. This smartphone still has some power reserves, although this 32-bit SoC cannot use all the capabilities of the 64-bit Android OS system.

Testing in latest versions comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and current models- due to the fact that they once went through an “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Thermal photographs

Below is a thermal image of the back surface (the lighter the temperature, the higher the temperature), obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:

It can be seen that the heating is slightly higher at the top of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 38 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), which is not very much.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices It is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.

According to the testing results, the test subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders that are needed to fully play most of the most common multimedia files on the network. Moreover, our test sample did not contain any video player capable of playing any video formats, including its own recordings from the camera. When you try to open them through the file explorer, the smartphone suggests using the “Photo Gallery” program, but, naturally, things don’t go further. That is, to successfully play video files recorded in the device’s memory, in any case you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player does not officially support the AC3 sound format.

¹ sound in MX Video Player is only played after installing an alternative custom audio codec

Tested video output features Alexey Kudryavtsev.

We did not find the MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p) and 1920 by 1080 (1080p) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 frames/ With). In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The test results are summarized in the table:

According to the criterion of frame output, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. With the exception of 60 fps files, in which one frame per second is skipped due to the non-standard screen refresh rate (approximately 59 Hz). When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, conditionally in the original resolution. On test worlds, the features of PenTile appear: the vertical world through the pixel looks like a grid, while the horizontal world with stripes through the pixel has a typical greenish tint. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows, only a couple of shades closest to black do not differ from it in brightness, and in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed.

Battery life

The capacity of the built-in non-removable battery installed in the OnePlus X is not very large for modern flagships - 2525 mAh, but with such a thin and elegant body it could be worse. And so the tests showed that the smartphone as a whole is capable of demonstrating good time battery life in all standard use cases. With moderate use, the device lasts more than a day, and is quite capable of lasting two days without recharging in economy mode.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted more than 15 hours until the battery was completely discharged. When continuously watching video in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network, the device lasted 8 hours. The device worked for 4 hours in 3D gaming mode. Full charging is carried out in 2.5 hours.

Bottom line

As a result, we can say with confidence that the OnePlus developers managed to accomplish their plans: with the release of OnePlus X, they split the family of their solutions, spinning off a separate line intended specifically for fashion models. An analogy can be drawn here, for example, with model series Huawei: there the Mate series represents power and performance and incorporates all the most advanced innovations, while the P line includes models that are nothing special in technical terms, but which attract stylish design. That is, the most strong point OnePlus X - its outstanding appearance and manufacturing materials, while in terms of its technical characteristics it lags noticeably behind the same OnePlus 2. It has rather modest or at best satisfactory cameras, sound, level of autonomy, network capabilities and performance - all of this is at the same level average, but not a flagship. But the smartphone itself is very beautiful and stylish, fashionistas and fashionistas are not ashamed to take it out of their pockets, and this aspect of the issue often plays an even greater role than the technical equipment of a modern pocket mobile assistant. It remains to add to this that OnePlus X is sold cheaper than its older brother OnePlus 2.

Despite the fact that the OnePlus brand is quite young, the smartphones it produces have already gained a strong reputation. The company is one of the three popular Chinese manufacturers; it surpasses Meizu in quality, but at the same time it is closest in price to A-class brands.

OnePlus smartphone line

The flagship model at the moment is. This is a thin and elegant device with a Full HD+ display (aspect ratio - 18 by 9). The quality of the display can be equal to Samsung devices. Camera sensors are from Sony.

The operating system is based on Android. The battery allows you to work for a day and a half at medium load and 7 hours in video viewing mode. The original charging allows you to get 90% battery charge in just 1 hour.

It is also worth highlighting other models:

• OnePlus One was the first model released in 2014, with parameters roughly equivalent to the Samsung Galaxy S5;
• OnePlus 2 - 2015 model with a 5.5-inch screen and two cameras of 13 and 5 megapixels;
• OnePlus X - released at the end of 2015, more compact than previous models thanks to a 5-inch screen, the filling corresponds to branded smartphones of 2014;
• OnePlus 3 - 2016 model, is equipped with a 5-inch screen and features fast charging;
• OnePlus 5 - released in 2017, its design resembles the iPhone 7 Plus, and in terms of quality it first received the unofficial title of “Chinese flagship”.

The model with the number 4 was not produced, since the number 4 is considered unlucky in Eastern culture.

Where can you buy high-quality smartphones in Moscow?

You can purchase all the necessary devices in our online store Tsifrus. We offer products according to affordable prices and with a guarantee, as well as prompt delivery in Moscow and other cities of Russia. Additionally, you can purchase products on credit.

OnePlus didn't remain a one-model-per-year company for long. In the spring of 2014, it launched the OnePlus One (compared with 1+2), in the summer of 2015 the OnePlus 2 debuted (review), and last fall the presentation of the OnePlus X took place. Contrary to rumors, the 1+X did not become a mini version of the 1+2. This is a standalone model aimed at people who don't need a phablet, but want a nice phone with decent hardware.

We thank the online store for the OnePlus X test sample.

Specifications OnePlus X:

• Network (for USA): GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA (1/2/4/5/8), FDD-LTE (1/2/4/5/7/8)
• Network (for Europe): GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA (1/2/5/8), FDD-LTE (1/3/5/7/8/20)
• Network (for China): GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA (1/2/5/8), FDD-LTE (1/3/7)
• Platform (at time of announcement): Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with Oxygen OS (for the West) or Hydrogen OS (for China)
• Display: 5", 1920 x 1080 pixels, Super AMOLED, 441 ppi, Gorilla Glass 3
• Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, Samsung ISOCELL sensor
• Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.4
• Processor: 4 cores, 2.3 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
• Graphics chip: Adreno 330
• RAM: 2/3 GB
• Internal memory: 16 GB
• Memory card: microSD up to 128 GB
• Navigation: GPS, GLONASS
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• microUSB
• 3.5mm jack
• Dual SIM support
• Battery: non-removable, 2525 mAh
• Dimensions: 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm
• Weight: Onyx – 138 g, Ceramic – 160 g

Video review and unboxing

Design and equipment

Delivery set: smartphone (2525 mAh non-removable battery), pin for opening the SIM/microSD tray, documentation, microUSB cable, charging (2 A) and silicone case. The latter element is especially useful, since the 1+X body is covered on the front and back with rounded Gorilla Glass 3, which can quickly become covered with micro-scratches. And to prevent this from happening in the first minutes of owning a new gadget, I advise you to still use the case. A protective film on the screen serves the same purpose - to prevent scratches.

The highlight of the OnePlus X should have been not so much the size (we’ve survived, a 5” phone with more or less adequate characteristics is already considered a curiosity -_-), but rather the design. This is also indicated by the release of a limited edition phone with a ceramic back instead of glass, for which in Europe they are asking 100 euros more. The manufacturer announced 10 thousand numbered devices for 370 euros, but I very much doubt that they could be sold without a significant discount. Most likely, the circulation turned out to be several times less than stated.

Alas, the designers, as in the case of OnePlus 2, made a whole series of miscalculations that greatly blurred the impression of the phone. I already criticized the slider for switching audio modes in the review of 1+2, the 1+X has nothing new - it’s also not clear which mode is currently active until you switch it, it’s also easy to miss the desired mode (especially in the case). The smartphone is positioned as stylish, but, you see, it is difficult to give such a characteristic to a phone with 3 mm black indents on the sides and 2 mm indents on the top and bottom. It would be better not to try to create the illusion of a frameless device.

But the biggest disadvantage of the design is the frame. On computer images, longitudinal marks look cool, but in terms of practicality they are terrible. Firstly, it is unpleasant to run your finger along and across them. Secondly, they instantly become clogged with dirt even in clean hands, and picking it out is very problematic. So it turns out that the best solution is to use a complete case. But with it, using the audio mode switching lever becomes even more inconvenient, and no one will see high-quality materials (but they will remain protected). In general, the OnePlus design team did not work 100% in 2015.

Let's go through the elements. Above the screen there is an 8-megapixel camera, a speaker, light and proximity sensors, and an LED indicator. Below it are three touch keys without backlight and with not very large touch areas. On the left is the notorious mode switch lever. On the right are the volume rocker and power button (no complaints about them at all), as well as a tray for two SIM cards (instead of the second SIM card, you can insert a microSD memory card). At the top end there is a 3.5 mm audio jack and microphone, and at the bottom there is a microUSB connector, microphone and speaker (the holes are the same). The speaker is average in volume, the headroom is small. At the back there is only a 13-megapixel camera with a single flash.

More and more companies are switching to Super AMOLED screens. The OnePlus X has a 5” Full HD panel with the same technology, which produces a rich, contrasting picture with deep blacks (this is probably why dark background images predominate in the Hydrogen OS firmware). The screen is not very calibrated in the best possible way– even with the warm color temperature set in the settings, the display seems cold, and OnePlus went too far with the contrast, taking the user back to the days of the goggle-eyed Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and especially the Meizu Pro 5 have Super AMOLED displays that are much more pleasant for the user.

Software

In China, the smartphone is sold with Hydrogen OS firmware, and in international markets it comes with Oxygen OS. I talked about “oxygen” in the material on OnePlus 2, and OnePlus review X decided to do it with “hydrogen”. In a few words, Hydrogen OS is a rather boring and not the most functional firmware. I advise owners of smartphones 1+ to install Oxygen OS or Cyanogen OS.

The Hydrogen OS interface evokes the same mixed feelings as the design of the OnePlus X. That is, at first glance, everything is good, but then you begin to notice moments that are really annoying. For example, the company implemented waking up the phone by double tap, that is, it seemed to say that users do not have to interact with the power key. But why doesn’t the software have functions to lock the phone without pressing this very side button? A curtain with virtual quick access buttons opens by swiping from the bottom edge, it is full of functions and is really useful, but the curtain does not always appear when moving from bottom to top - this is infuriating. There are no widgets, the standard font looks small on a 5” screen (you can increase it in the settings). All applications are located on desktops, and you cannot put a background image on them. You can only place a picture on the main table (in the table grid it will take up 2 rows out of 5) and then change the accent color based on the selected picture. The accent color is then spread across horizontal rows with slight tonal adjustments (from dark to light).

Everything in the settings is standard. The only thing we can highlight is the customization of the keys - you can change the action of the outer touch buttons under the screen. See the screenshots for this and other moments.

pre-installed applications

Hydrogen OS - firmware for the Chinese with all that it implies. For example, in “Weather” you cannot specify a Russian city, there is no music player at all (instead there is some kind of online library), some services are aimed purely at the Chinese audience, and some programs are simply cut down in themselves (there is no photo editor in “Gallery”). The audio codec integrated into the Snapdragon 801 is responsible for the sound. In the Denon D600 headphones, the smartphone plays quite well, although it is standard for a device without a dedicated DAC and amplifier. There is a volume reserve, the lower and mid frequencies are played well, the highs are slightly strangled (bass heads will like it). In the general device settings you can find parameters for four headphone models. It is curious that this option was active by default. If you think that 1+X plays lousy, check your settings. Suddenly the preset for Silver Bullet is active there.

Camera

OnePlus X has a 13-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus and flash. The camera application lacks a manual mode (it was added in an update that became available after writing the review), offers the usual features and a Clear Image mode exclusive to OnePlus, which, in theory, can make the frame clearer and more detailed. In practice, the difference is absolutely not visible. Check out a couple of crops:

In general, a smartphone camera takes pictures the way a mid-level phone camera should take pictures. There is a lot of noise, blurring is possible, the color rendition is pleasant, and a normal frame, with proper skill, can be obtained in almost all scenarios. In terms of image quality, I would rate 1+X on the level Sony Xperia C5 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi4 family (Mi4, Mi4i, Mi4c), higher than Meizu M2 Note, but lower than ZUK Z1 and OnePlus One.

with and without ClearImage

Remember when I complained about vertical lines on bright objects with Highscreen Boost 3 in his review? Apparently, 1+X has a similar Samsung ISOCELL sensor, which is characterized by similar artifacts:

The front 8-megapixel camera with f/2.4 aperture supports the beautiful face mode, but I do not recommend using it (the color rendition changes, the face unnaturally narrows, the eyes become larger - leave these metamorphoses to the Chinese). Selfies are not bad.

Video shooting is carried out at Full HD resolution at a speed of 30 frames per second. The picture is characterized by high contrast, erratic white balance (when shooting snow), and sometimes slow autofocus. The sound is recorded in stereo, however, the audio sequence itself does not shine with quality, and the emphasis of the voice on the right channel is not pleasing.

Benchmarks and Performance

For OnePlus X, the company chose a 2.3 GHz version of the Snapdragon 801 chipset with an Adreno 330 graphics chip. The phone is available with 2 and 3 GB of RAM, the internal storage capacity in all cases is 16 GB (can be expanded by 128 GB via microSD). On its own, the Snapdragon 801 coupled with a 1080p resolution is capable of delivering impressive results in gaming tasks, but the OnePlus X is not that case.

Apparently, the company has throttled performance to avoid high temperatures and throttling. Otherwise, I can’t explain why the OnePlus One (which has a Snapdragon 801 version with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz) copes so much better with powerful 3D titles. Where 1+1 produces a smooth, high framerate, 1+X manages to unpleasantly surprise with significant drawdowns. For example, in Asphalt 8 the average fps is at 20, but can jump between 10-29 fps. In Unkilled, the average fps also balances around 20. Of course, such numbers are not suitable for a comfortable game, so players will be forced to abandon the highest graphics. But players can enjoy the highest effects without lag in Traffic Rider (usually above 50 fps) and World of Tanks (extremely rarely drops below 30 fps).

When OnePlus released its first device called OnePlus One and called it the “flagship killer”, this smartphone began to gain great popularity. Since then, the brand has pleased us with two more devices. We have already talked about the second device in ours. Today we’ll talk about OnePlus X.

The new device from the Chinese manufacturer received two names - OnePlus X and OnePlus mini. Thanks to the “mini” characteristic, it immediately becomes clear that it differs from its “brothers” in smaller size. The company decided to please those users who prefer gadgets with small dimensions.

IN this device The emphasis is not on performance, but on appearance. At the presentation, OnePlus Mini was presented in two versions: in a glass case and in a ceramic case. Both models have the same characteristics. The ceramic version will be produced in an edition of 10,000 pieces, while the glass version will have no restrictions.

The smartphone itself is quite compact. The photo of the Van Plus X phone shows that it is very thin - only 6.9 mm, while its length is 140 mm and width is 69 mm. The device weighs only 138 grams.

Display diagonal - 5 inches. Pixel density - 441 ppi, screen resolution - 1920*1080, display type - Amoled. It is covered with durable Gorilla Glass 3. Rear panel The basic version is also covered with tempered glass. The limited edition device has a frame and back cover made of ceramic.

The device was presented for the Chinese, American and European markets. The main difference between the Chinese glass version is two (instead of three) gigabytes of RAM. The ceramic one will receive 3 GB. The remaining two versions differ in the ranges of supported frequencies.

Inside the five-inch smartphone is a Snapdragon 801 processor (2.3 GHz) with four cores. Good quality images are provided by the Adreno 330 graphics accelerator. The amount of RAM is 3 GB, while internal memory 16 GB can be expanded using a microSD card. But here you have to choose - either you need two SIM cards, or increased data storage.

OnePlus X runs on Android 5.1.1, OxygenOS. This applies to the international version. If we talk about the Chinese version, then this is H2 OS.

Interfaces: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), microUSB port, mini jack 3.5 connector. Navigation: Glonass, GPS, Beidou.

The smartphone has two cameras, as is common with modern devices. The front camera has 8 megapixel quality. Focal length - f/2.4, no autofocus.

The main camera can take pictures in 13 megapixel quality. There is automatic focusing on the object, Isocell sensor, LED flash, focal length - f/2.2. Recorded video resolution is FullHD.

Below is an example of a photo taken with the main camera.

As for the glass version of OnePlus X, the price of the smartphone is 270 euros. Those wishing to purchase a ceramic device will have to shell out 370 euros. At the moment, the start date for smartphone sales in Russia is unknown, but we can say that the device will hit the international market in November 2015.

the first OnePlus where design is important, not performance

We have written repeatedly about what OnePlus is, so I will not dwell on this topic again and will simply invite you to look at previous materials.

In 2014, the company introduced a single smartphone - OnePlus One, a flagship at a very attractive price. To this day, this device remains relevant. In mid-2015, OnePlus showed the second version of the flagship, and, to be honest, I personally was a little disappointed with it. Yes, there have been improvements on all fronts, especially in terms of approach to design. A fingerprint scanner appeared, they seriously worked on the camera, but the feeling of “wow, this is a smartphone!” was no longer there. Partly because last year's OnePlus One raised the bar of expectations too high for the company's new device.

And so, OnePlus decides to show off another smartphone, moving away from its model of releasing one flagship per year. The new OnePlus X, according to the Chinese, is a device with an emphasis on design and the overall feel of the smartphone, its convenience and other similar things, there is no emphasis on top-end specifications. Let's see what this OnePlus X is all about.

OnePlus X specifications

• Case materials: glass, metal, plastic, ceramics
• Operating system: Android 5.1.1, OxygenOS (international version), H2 OS (Chinese version)
• Network: 2G/3G/4G, Dual SIM (two nanoSIM slots), FDD-LTE support: Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20 in the European version
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 4 cores, 2.3 GHz
• Graphics: Adreno 330
• RAM: 3 GB (European and American versions, Chinese Onyx version comes with 2 GB)
• Data storage memory: 16 GB
• Memory card slot: yes, microSD (installed in the compartment for the second SIM card)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB connector (USB 2.0), for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
• Screen: AMOLED, 5” diagonal, resolution 1920x1080, ppi 441, Gorilla Glass 3
• Main camera: 13 megapixels, f/2.2, autofocus, LED flash, video recording in FullHD resolution
• Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, no autofocus
• Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass, Beidou
• Additionally: ceramic frame in the Ceramic version, OnePlus Radio service, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
• Battery: 2525 mAh
• Dimensions: 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm
• Weight: 138 grams

As usual, I'll start with a little clarification on the versions. For China, OnePlus always makes separate modifications, and the new device is no exception. The smartphone for the Chinese market will run on H2 OS on top of Android 5.1.1 and support FDD-LTE: B1 / B3 / B7. An important point is that the basic version of OnePlus X for China, Onyx, is equipped with 2 GB of RAM, while the older one, Ceramic Edition, has 3 GB.

There are also two international versions: American (North America) and European (EU/India), they differ mainly in their support for different bands and frequencies. FDD-LTE support is most fully implemented in the European version: Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20. The international versions of both Onyx and Ceramic are equipped with 3 GB of RAM, according to information from the official website.

Now let's move directly to the device. As I said above, according to the manufacturer’s idea, the main feature of OnePlus X is its bright design and unusual body materials. Both panels of the smartphone are made of tempered glass with a volume effect (the notorious 2.5D), due to which the device looks very impressive. Unfortunately, I won’t tell you how it feels in the hand until I had the opportunity to look at the device in person. For China, the smartphone will be presented in black and white versions, for other markets – only in black.

The Onyx version has a metal frame, the Ceramic Edition has a ceramic frame. The ribbed texture, the generally unusual material for a smartphone, and, after all, the word “CERAMICS”, which you can say every time you take the device out of your pocket, will cost the buyer of this version an extra 100 US dollars (or 100 euros). The device will cost about $350 versus $250 for the Onyx version.

I like the new OnePlus X less in appearance than the previous model, I mean One Plus 2. Yes, that device has some kind of unsightly design of the camera module, flash and focusing on the back side, but at the same time, it is memorable, etched into memory largely due to this design and replaceable covers. Ebony, bamboo, rough plastic - there are options there, and the design can be changed. There is nothing like that in OnePlus X, judging by the live shots of the device. Even a ceramic frame in reality looks quite calm, and hardly anyone can tell without looking closely whether the frame is made of plastic, metal or ceramic. The new model has lost its zest, although they tried to do just the opposite - to give the smartphone some charm. In my opinion, it didn't work out. At the same time, we cannot say that OnePlus X is scary or somehow ugly, no, it is a nice-looking smartphone, compact by modern standards, neat, but it does not have the spark that OnePlus promised us, fueling interest in the announcement of the new product.

In terms of characteristics, OnePlus X is reminiscent of the company’s very first, last year’s flagship: the same platform, the same amount of memory. The difference is in the screen, X is equipped with a 5" diagonal display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, an AMOLED matrix is ​​used. Main camera with a resolution of 13 MP, front camera – 8 MP. Naturally, there is no laser focusing or optical image stabilization here. I have nothing to say about the cameras yet; the 13 MP module will most likely be about the same as in the first OnePlus, perhaps a little worse. This means average photo quality.

Photo examples (official)

The company immediately warned everyone who was waiting for a smartphone that the new OnePlus X is not about specifications. It can be seen that when creating this model they tried to save on some minor things, which today are usually found even in budget Chinese smartphones. For example, in OnePlus X there is a single-tone flash (in Xiaomi Mi4c, Meizu M1 Metal there is a double flash), Wi-Fi b/g/n operating in the 2.4 GHz range (usually Dual-Band is used), there is no key backlight (in all materials on the smartphone in there is no network, but maybe I'm wrong).

One of the good things is that OnePlus X left a mechanical lever on the left edge with three fixed positions, a very convenient element, in my opinion. Due to the screen diagonal of 5"" the smartphone turned out to be relatively compact. The device comes with a branded case. Finally, the main thing is the almost pure Android OS. Yes, things are not going smoothly for OnePlus with updates to new versions, but taking into account the fact that the smartphone market is now dominated by shells, especially if we are talking about smartphones Chinese brands, see clean operating system Android is already a joy.

In general, the new OnePlus X turned out to be just as controversial as the company’s second flagship – OnePlus Two. In most respects, this is a good mid-level smartphone, comparable, for example, to Xiaomi Mi4c. The devices are also close in price - OnePlus X will cost $250, with delivery to Russia or if purchased a little later than the official launch in online stores, this price will turn into approximately 18,000 rubles. Xiaomi Mi4c, also not officially sold in Russia and purchased via the Internet, today costs an average of 240 US dollars, or 18,000-20,000 rubles. There is also Mi4i with approximately the same characteristics, it costs about 220 US dollars, or approximately 14,000-15,000 rubles. In short, OnePlus X has many competitors in this segment, while the OnePlus smartphone is just entering the market, while the same devices from Xiaomi have been on sale for many months.

OnePlus presents a smartphone with an emphasis on design and immediately announces imitation cases for it different materials

With the version of OnePlus X using ceramics, the situation is completely strange. The device will cost almost $350, while the company's flagship, OnePlus Two, will cost slightly more, at $390 for the top version with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. Is a ceramic frame worth the $100 premium over a plain OnePlus X? Absolutely not. The company notes that OnePlus X Ceramic Edition will be released in a limited edition of 10,000 devices, but personally I have great doubts that such a quantity will ultimately be produced; it is unlikely that the company will be able to sell at least half of this volume. The device does not fit into the market at all in terms of cost and characteristics, and comparisons with Apple, HTC or any other company are inappropriate here. After all, when we talk about OnePlus, we are talking about online sales: “invites”, purchases through “Ali”, “Jaydi” and other sites. People who buy smartphones this way are serious about choosing their next device; the share of spontaneous purchases here is very small, and for such customers, overpaying $100 for a frame of a different color and material is a completely impossible option. Correct me if I'm wrong.