Value – 9/10
Performance – 7/10
Design – 8/10
Features – 8/10
Usability – 8/10
Total score: 8/10
Verdict: May not perform amazing for photographs, but the rest of the features makes up for it.
Let’s face it: every one of us would’ve probably taken a selfie before. Either by choice or forced by a group of friends (wefie, anyone?). The use of the front facing camera has never been so important; in fact, just as important as the rear camera.
Taking the selfie game into a whole new level, the recently launched OPPO F1 Plus dishes out what could be the best selfie phone in town…or so they claim. How does this self-proclaimed “Selfie Expert” perform? Read on to find out more.
Déjà Vu
I just have to put it out there that the look and feel of the F1 Plus is reminiscent of a certain fruit brand. The shape and the colour (rose gold) had me slightly perplexed. I had to do a double take to make sure I picked up the right box. Yes, even the box was oddly a similar shape and size.
This is not particularly a bad thing as the fruit brand is pretty popular in most markets. If it means getting the same, if not better, features on a more budget-friendly device, I say: why not? Besides, the F1 Plus is a beautiful option for those wanting a full featured smartphone.
Keeping Slim
What makes the F1 Plus stands out – aside from its “Selfie Expert” claims – is the weight and thickness of the smartphone. At an unbelievable 6.6mm, the F1 Plus reigns supreme on this front. Even the bezel is teeny-tiny at only 1.66mm in width.
It feels light as a feather in hand, which sometimes made me forget that I was holding a phone. Not to the point I’d drop it, that is. I’d be somewhat apprehensive in putting it in my back pocket, in fear I’d snap it in half.
Going Premium
OPPO has certainly up their game when it comes to manufacturing its devices. The F1 Plus is a testament of the brand heading toward a more premium look and feel. Certainly having a unibody has become a dime a dozen in the market, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the beautiful combination of its glossy Gorilla Glass 4 and metallic polished metal back panel.
It has very minimal branding, so to speak. The only engraving can only be found on the back, and even that is just a simple ‘OPPO’ etched into the metal piece.
Style Check
On boot up, OPPO has done away with the novelty homescreen. You’ll find that OPPO has finally found the right foot in with the F1 Plus through its ColorOS 3.0, which is based on the Android OS 5.1 Lollipop. The layout feels more streamlined and pleasing to the eyes. They’ve finally found a style that I can agree with and I hope it stays that way.
Tap, Tap!
One thing commendable about the F1 Plus is the fingerprint scanner that its lightning fast to respond. And unlike many other smartphones in the market, the fingerprint scanner on the F1 Plus is not activated via swiping motion. You’d actually have to place your digits on the home button and apply a little pressure on the plate. Once it authenticates, getting from your lockscreen to homescreen takes you less than a millisecond!
Selfie Expert
By now you must be thinking, “Yes, that’s nice and all, but what about the camera?”. To call itself an expert in selfies is a bit of stretch to say the least. While the 16 megapixels sounds great on paper, the results were a little underwhelming when I tried it out.
The one thing I liked about the ColorOS camera is the many different modes it has to offer. For the selfie experiment, I had compared the pictures side by side with other smartphones…and I just didn’t see what the fuss was all about. There was no defining difference between the pictures…if anything, the results from the F1 Plus was slightly lacklustre. Perhaps it was my high expectations that brought my disappointment levels to an all-time low.
So, Do I Still Get It?
The cameras will take nice pictures for social media consumption. While its claims for being a Selfie Expert has not met expectations, the F1 Plus is still a worthwhile investment for the price you pay.
