Oppo R5: First impressions

Along with the Oppo N3 , the company also launched the mid-range R5 smartphone. Rumours of the R5 have been doing rounds for quite some time now. For those who don’t know, the R series is known for its sleek size, and the all-new R5 just takes it a notch higher. Along with the N3, we also got our hands on the R5. Here are our first impressions about the device during our limited time of usage. Design and display The R5 is uber-thin at just 4.85mm in thickness, which is way thinner than the Gionee S5.1 (rumour has it that the Vivo smartphone could beat the R5 at 4mm). However, for now, Oppo claims it is the slimmest smartphone in the world. At 4.85mm, it feels extremely lightweight and the solid build quality of the aluminium frame makes it amazing to hold. However, the slim frame means the camera slightly protrudes outwards. [caption id=“attachment_239471” align=“aligncenter” width=“640” class=" “]  We’ve placed it next to a stack of papers and post-its to show how crazily thin it is.[/caption] The R5 comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p Full HD AMOLED display, which takes the pixel density to as high as 423ppi. With punchy colours and bright screen, the display quality is very good.  Unlike the N3, the R5 doesn’t come with the novel swivel camera. Oppo has bundled a 13MP rear snapper and a 5MP front-facing camera, something that is slowly becoming a standard among mid-range smartphones. The camera isn’t exceptional, but decent enough to capture all those must-have moments. Software The R5 also runs Color OS 2.0 that is based on Android KitKat. Just like most Chinese brands, it is a customised version of Android with lots of themes. On the specs front, it packs in a 64-bit, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor and 2GB of RAM. The UI is clutter-free and neat. After some usage, navigating across the device gets really simple. It didn’t lag when we used it for a limited period. Just like the N3, the R5 also comes with Vooc technology, which means the phone will be charged way faster. It also adds the “Cool Element” that ensures the device doesn’t heat up. However, we can test these aspects only after prolonged usage. [caption id=“attachment_239473” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  The slim frame means that the camera protrudes out slightly.[/caption]   The R5 also supports the VOOC rapid charging technology as the N3, which claims to charge your phone from zero to 75% in just thirty minutes. The Oppo R5 will also come in a gold version, called the Guided Edition, which might be priced higher. Bottom line In a nutshell, the USP of the Oppo R5 is definitely its design. The hand polished alumium solid build and classy finish, coupled with a sleek body is the “wow” factor of the device. Sadly, that’s the only aspect which sets the phone apart from other mid-range Android smartphones in the market. The R5 doesn’t come with any gimmicks, which is good, but appears to be too much of a “plain-jane” with a modest set of specs. Given the looks, it could be great option for a fashionista, but Oppo needs to get the pricing right to hit it off well with consumers - especially in India. While Oppo is yet to announce its Indian prices, the R5 is priced at USD 499, which comes to around Rs 31,000.