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OnePlus X Smartphone Review

Revamped. The X model by OnePlus is a smartphone that is positioned below the present flagship but is better in some aspects. It only sports an SoC from last year, and thus the configuration is very similar to that of the flagship device. However, the X is more than just a renamed One.

For the original German review, see here.

The technical specs of OnePlus' X look very similar to that of the One at first glance. However, some differences are found in the details. The review sample is only available with 16 GB of internal storage, but it can be expanded via a micro-SD card. The buyer could only choose between a 16 and 64 GB model for the Chinese manufacturer's first handset; only the latter is still available. The premium models generally do not allow expanding the storage. Besides that, the One features the fastest Snapdragon 801 while the X model can fall back on an 801 AA with an identical speed as the former Snapdragon 800. The review sample is currently priced at 269 Euros (~$291) plus shipping in the manufacturer's online shop.

We looked at smartphones in a similar price and size range for comparison devices. Sony's Xperia M4 AquaMicrosoft's Lumia 640 and LG's G3 are among them. The latter is a high-end product from last year that is now on a comparable price level, and which has a similar SoC. LG's Flex 2 is also now sold for under 300 Euros (~$324).

OnePlus X
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AA 4 x 2.3 GHz, Krait 400
Graphics adapter
Qualcomm Adreno 330, Core: 450 MHz
Memory
3 GB 
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, multitouch with up to 10 points simultaneously, Active Matrix OLED, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, eMMC 5.0, 9.5 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Card Reader: micro-SD max. 128 GB (SD, SDHC, SDXC), Sensors: ambient light, proximity, position, accelerometer, orientation and G sensors, digital compass, GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Wifi Direct, OTG
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM/GPRS/Edge (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900 and 2100 MHz), LTE Cat. 4 (band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 (FDD) as well as 38 and 40 (TDD))
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 6.9 x 140 x 69 ( = 0.27 x 5.51 x 2.72 in)
Battery
Lithium-Ion, 2525 mAh
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera
Webcam: 8 MP, primary camera: 13 MP (auto focus, f/2.2, HDR, 1080p videos)
Additional features
Keyboard: virtual, SIM tool, USB cord, silicon sleeve, power supply, OxygenOS 2.1, 12 Months Warranty, head-SAR: 0.317 W/kg, body-SAR: 0.420 W/kg
Weight
138 g ( = 4.87 oz / 0.3 pounds), Power Supply: 73 g ( = 2.58 oz / 0.16 pounds)
Price
269 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The casing of OnePlus' X looks entirely different than that of both other models. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 is used on both the front and rear. The smartphone is fairly slim at 6.9 millimeters and is pleasant to hold. The grooved metal bezel noticeably contributes to that, and its looks highlight its quality impression.

The glass has very good gliding traits, but that, unfortunately, is true for all surfaces. Thus, even the slightest tilt is enough to lose the grip on OnePlus' X. Although the handset is very stiff, it produces a loud cracking noise at a certain degree. However, that should not happen in routine use. The gaps are accurate and no wide spaces evolve. An additional protector layers the screen ex-factory, which creates quite unsightly edges and refracts the panel's light.

The metal card tray makes a very rigid impression. It supports either two nano-SIM cards or a micro-SD in place of a second SIM card. The slot is a bit narrow; the card tray is only difficult to reinsert when it's filled.

152.9 mm / 6.02 inch 75.9 mm / 2.99 inch 8.9 mm / 0.3504 inch 164 g0.3616 lbs149.1 mm / 5.87 inch 75.3 mm / 2.96 inch 9.4 mm / 0.3701 inch 152 g0.3351 lbs146.3 mm / 5.76 inch 74.6 mm / 2.94 inch 8.95 mm / 0.3524 inch 149 g0.3285 lbs145.5 mm / 5.73 inch 72.59 mm / 2.86 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 136 g0.2998 lbs141.3 mm / 5.56 inch 72.2 mm / 2.84 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs140 mm / 5.51 inch 69 mm / 2.72 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 138 g0.3042 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

OnePlus' X again relies on a conventional micro-USB port (micro-AB) and does not yet make use of the newer Type C port. The interface can transmit data in accordance to USB 2.0 specifications and also supports OTG that, however, has to be first enabled in the settings. The interface does not support image transmission, and DLNA is also absent.

Like the first OnePlus smartphone, the X model also supports storage expansion via micro-SD cards with a maximum of 128 GB. The corresponding, compatible apps can be moved easily to the additional storage.

The small lever in the casing's bezel for controlling the smartphone's notification behavior, which we know from OnePlus' 2, is also installed in this handset.

Upper edge: audio, microphone
Upper edge: audio, microphone
Left: notification control
Left: notification control
Lower edge: speaker, USB
Lower edge: speaker, USB
Right: card slot, volume, power
Right: card slot, volume, power

Software

Like OnePlus' 2, the X model relies on the proprietary Android derivative OxygenOS. The version 2.1.3, based on Android 5.1, was preloaded at test time. It is not very different to the stock Android version but allows some more advanced settings for app authorizations. More details can be found in the review of the OnePlus 2.

Communication & GPS 

OnePlus' X connects to mobile Internet via HSPA+ (max. 42 MBit/s download) or LTE Cat.4 (max. 150 MBit/s download). Furthermore, all data connections have a wide frequency coverage, making reception issues within Europe unlikely.

The smartphone's Wi-Fi module only supports the IEEE 802.1 b/g/n standards and thus only transmits in the 2.4 GHz network. That is sufficient for everyday needs, and the Wi-Fi connection proved stable with a good range in real-world use. The handset still displayed a good connection quality at a distance of ten meters from the access point (Devolo dLAN Wi-Fi 1200+ ac) separated by two walls. Websites opened quickly. Bluetooth 4.0 is also on-board, but NFC is not installed.

GPS Test: indoors
GPS Test: indoors
GPS Test: outdoors
GPS Test: outdoors

OnePlus' X uses GPS, Glonass and BeiDou satellites for localization. Tracking is also quite fast and accurate indoors. It is even a touch faster outdoors.

We compared the smartphone with the Garmin Edge 500 bike navigation system to check tracking accuracy. Although OnePlus' X deviated by only approximately 2.3% from the GPS expert, it will make quite a difference on longer routes. That is particularly evident in the vicinity of the bridge. The smartphone did not even notice our short loop while the Garmin system recorded the trip. Nevertheless, the performance is absolutely sufficient for navigating.

Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
OnePlus X
OnePlus X
OnePlus X
OnePlus X
OnePlus X
OnePlus X

Telephone & Call Quality

The phone app in OnePlus' X corresponds to the stock Android app and does not present any modifications. The call quality is of a good standard. We could always understand our contact when holding the device to the ear, although his voice was somewhat muffled. Minor interruptions were rare at the other end, and the voice of the other user sounded a bit distorted, but was well-intelligible. Although the microphone overdrove slightly when using the speaker, we were still well-intelligible. We were still understood well even when the smartphone was placed on a table. There were no significant restrictions otherwise as long as the call was made in a quiet environment.

Cameras

OnePlus X: Screenshot of ColorChecker colors. The original colors are displayed in the lower half of each patch.
OnePlus X: Screenshot of ColorChecker colors. The original colors are displayed in the lower half of each patch.

The front camera in OnePlus' X has a generous resolution of 8 megapixels and is therefore nominally good for selfies. However, the settings are limited to only a simple Beauty mode that lets the photo look a bit warmer and utilizes a weak soft-focus.

The primary camera on the rear achieves up to 13 megapixels and can fall back on auto-focus and HDR. However, the latter has to be enabled manually. Apart from a panorama, time-lapse and slow-motion feature, there are hardly any setting options. The camera release responds quite fast, which should make taking snapshots possible.

The photo quality is decent. It could do with a somewhat higher sharpness, and a minor reddish tint is visible in the comparison screenshots.

We took a picture of the test chart under controlled light conditions. They clearly show that the sharpness strongly decreases towards the edges and details are also lost. Besides that, aberrations slip into the color gradients of light green over yellow up to orange. We checked the lens' color accuracy with ColorChecker Passport. The colors look a bit too strong, which will not prove annoying in real-world use. The automatic white balance is also somewhat too warm.

The smartphone can record videos in Full HD. The quality will certainly be enough for short clips, but the overall performance is rather middling. Ultra HD or HFR recordings are not supported.

Section: OnePlus X
Section: OnePlus X
Section: Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Section: Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Section: Huawei Mate S
Section: Huawei Mate S
Section: OnePlus 2
Section: OnePlus 2

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

Accessories

OnePlus ships its X with a modular power supply, USB cable, SIM tool and a transparent silicon sleeve. The Chinese manufacturer's online store also offers diverse sleeves (starting at 15 Euros, ~$16) and universal accessories, such as headphones and cables.

Warranty

OnePlus only includes a 12-month warranty on its smartphone. A so-called On-Guard insurance for 12 or 24 months can also be added in the ordering process. It additionally covers liquid damage, broken screens and even vandalism, and it costs 40 (~$43, 12 months) or 65 Euros (~$70, 24 months).

Input Devices & Handling

The sleekness of the capacitive touchscreen is very good, and the handset responds impeccably even at the edges. The screen can identify up to ten fingers at the same time. OnePlus' X uses the stock Android keyboard layout.

Like in OnePlus' 2, it is possible to fade out the onscreen system buttons and use the sensor keys under the screen instead. These keys can also be mapped with additional functions.

The physical keys have a clear and crisp pressure point and do not give reason for complaint.

Display

Subpixel arrangement of OnePlus' X
Subpixel arrangement of OnePlus' X

The screen in OnePlus' X has a size of five inches and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). That equals a pixel density of approximately 441 PPI and content is razor-sharp. The Chinese manufacturer uses an OLED panel for the first time.

We determine the brightness on a pure white background using maximum brightness and disabled ambient light sensor. That results in a very homogeneous illumination at a maximum brightness of 330 cd/m². That even climbs up to 430 cd/m² at an APL of 50. We did not observe a further increase in brightness with enabled sensor.

The underlying OLED technology results in an impeccable and rich black, and thus a theoretically endless contrast.

303
cd/m²
314
cd/m²
330
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
312
cd/m²
329
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
328
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 330 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 314 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 312 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.28 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 8.24 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.12
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Screen
15%
37%
38%
20%
-5%
Brightness middle
312
423
36%
547
75%
433
39%
417
34%
278
-11%
Brightness
314
408
30%
535
70%
429
37%
395
26%
274
-13%
Brightness Distribution
91
83
-9%
92
1%
95
4%
89
-2%
97
7%
Black Level *
0.54
0.81
0.52
0.96
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.28
5.56
11%
5.77
8%
3.42
46%
5.67
10%
8.03
-28%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
8.24
7.55
8%
5.87
29%
3.03
63%
5.66
31%
6.71
19%
Gamma
2.12 104%
2.33 94%
2.14 103%
2.16 102%
2.53 87%
1.89 116%
CCT
8145 80%
7624 85%
7784 84%
7081 92%
7741 84%
7750 84%
Contrast
783
675
833
434
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
72.0875
59
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96.5753

* ... smaller is better

The OLED screen in OnePlus' X presents the typical, highly saturated colors. That cannot be adapted; there are no different profiles like in Samsung's Galaxy S6 (edge), either.

The color accuracy is not particularly good, either. The grayscale levels present a DeltaE of 8 and the mixed colors 6. The bluish tint in the latter primarily strikes the eye and leads to a sooner cool reproduction of screen content.

Grayscale (target color space: sRGB)
Grayscale (target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (target color space: AdobeRGB)
ColorChecker (target color space: AdobeRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (target color space: AdobeRGB)
Colorspace (target color space: AdobeRGB)

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 237 Hz ≤ 25 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 237 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 25 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 237 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18161 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

OnePlus' X fares quite well outdoors and is convincing. Although reflections on the screen could be distracting in direct sunlight, the high contrast compensates for that in most cases.

Oneplus' X does not have problems in cloudy weather.
Oneplus' X does not have problems in cloudy weather.
The screen is throughout outdoor suitable.
The screen is throughout outdoor suitable.

The viewing-angle stability of OnePlus' X is very good. Only the pre-applied protector is a bit annoying. The brightness remains very stable even in flat viewing angles. Only a light bluish tint covers the displayed content then.

Viewing-angle stability: OnePlus X
Viewing-angle stability: OnePlus X

Performance

The performance specs of OnePlus' X are allegedly on par with last year's high-end smartphones. However, that is not quite true. Although the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AA comes from this platform, it is the weakest SoC in the lineup while last year's premium models, such as LG's G3, mostly relied on the strongest AC versions. Their CPUs only have a slightly higher clock rate, but particularly the GPU is stronger. The review sample also nominally uses the Adreno 330, but at a lower clock. However, the 3 GB of working memory is lush. A drawback of the old SoC is that it is not yet 64-bit capable.

That is not noticed as much in the benchmarks. Although the SoCs in some rivals are faster, the differences in CPU performance are not tremendous. That looks different in the graphics benchmarks. LG's Flex 2 is the exception in all sectors; it sports the latest high-end Snapdragon 810 SoC. However, OnePlus' X can outperform even that in PCMark, which is owed to the system's slim architecture. OxygenOS generally runs very smoothly. This year's equally expensive rivals with a noticeably weaker SoC are defeated.

AnTuTu v5 - Total Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
40256 Points
OnePlus One
47123 Points +17%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
29770 Points -26%
LG G3
36792 Points -9%
LG G Flex 2
48029 Points +19%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
913 Points
OnePlus One
878 Points -4%
HTC One M8
957 Points +5%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
539 Points -41%
LG G3
941 Points +3%
LG G Flex 2
1121 Points +23%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
2570 Points
OnePlus One
2095 Points -18%
HTC One M8
2785 Points +8%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2103 Points -18%
LG G3
2323 Points -10%
LG G Flex 2
2757 Points +7%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
15051 Points
OnePlus One
16692 Points +11%
HTC One M8
13856 Points -8%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
6680 Points -56%
LG G3
15911 Points +6%
LG G Flex 2
22346 Points +48%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
14541 Points
OnePlus One
18074 Points +24%
HTC One M8
15928 Points +10%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
7000 Points -52%
LG G3
17029 Points +17%
LG G Flex 2
34201 Points +135%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
OnePlus X
17156 Points
OnePlus One
13167 Points -23%
HTC One M8
9521 Points -45%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
5758 Points -66%
LG G3
12939 Points -25%
LG G Flex 2
10097 Points -41%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
OnePlus X
710 Points
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
366 Points -48%
LG G3
1176 Points +66%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
OnePlus X
643 Points
LG G3
1143 Points +78%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
OnePlus X
1117 Points
LG G3
1308 Points +17%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
OnePlus X
10 fps
OnePlus One
12 fps +20%
HTC One M8
11.2 fps +12%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
10.4 fps +4%
LG G3
7.3 fps -27%
LG G Flex 2
20 fps +100%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus X
8.6 fps
OnePlus One
12 fps +40%
HTC One M8
10.5 fps +22%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
5.4 fps -37%
LG G3
11.3 fps +31%
LG G Flex 2
19 fps +121%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
4450 Points
OnePlus One
3571 Points -20%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
3236 Points -27%
LG G3
3731 (3662min - 3829max) Points -16%
LG G3
3308 Points -26%
LG G Flex 2
3652 Points -18%
Smartbench 2012
Productivity Index (sort by value)
OnePlus X
9286 points
OnePlus One
7028 points -24%
HTC One M8
5021 points -46%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
3782 points -59%
LG G3
8377 points -10%
LG G Flex 2
6649 points -28%
Gaming Index (sort by value)
OnePlus X
4069 points
OnePlus One
4129 points +1%
HTC One M8
3935 points -3%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
4114 points +1%
LG G3
3984 points -2%
LG G Flex 2
4205 points +3%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
OnePlus X
1252 Points
OnePlus One
1131 Points -10%
Microsoft Lumia 640
0 Points -100%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
764 Points -39%
LG G3
1080 Points -14%
LG G Flex 2
1479 Points +18%
System (sort by value)
OnePlus X
2225 Points
OnePlus One
1768 Points -21%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
986 Points -56%
LG G3
1387 Points -38%
LG G Flex 2
1781 Points -20%
Memory (sort by value)
OnePlus X
662 Points
OnePlus One
587 Points -11%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
817 Points +23%
LG G3
610 Points -8%
LG G Flex 2
1290 Points +95%
Graphics (sort by value)
OnePlus X
1975 Points
OnePlus One
2382 Points +21%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
600 Points -70%
LG G3
2530 Points +28%
LG G Flex 2
2850 Points +44%

Legend

 
OnePlus X Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AA, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
OnePlus One Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
HTC One M8 Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AB, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Microsoft Lumia 640 Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226, Qualcomm Adreno 305, 8 GB eMMC Flash
 
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939, Qualcomm Adreno 405, 8 GB eMMC Flash
 
LG G3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
LG G Flex 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994, Qualcomm Adreno 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash

We performed the browser benchmarks on OnePlus' X with the preloaded Google Chrome 46. Internet browsing was always very fast with it. The tests also confirm that, since the smartphone could always place itself up front. Only the Flex 2 defeats it in the Octane benchmark, and it is even first place in Basemark OS II.

Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4810 Points
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
3131 Points -35%
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1249 Points -74%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3215 Points -33%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4345 Points -10%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3892 Points -19%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7246 Points +51%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1509 ms *
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2180 ms * -44%
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
594 ms * +61%
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1243 ms * +18%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1676 ms * -11%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
900 ms * +40%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
629 ms * +58%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1433 ms * +5%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7264 ms *
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
7883 ms * -9%
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
8990 ms * -24%
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
26891 ms * -270%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
18847 ms * -159%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7280 ms * -0%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7163 ms * +1%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4587 ms * +37%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
85 Points
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
48 Points -44%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
80 Points -6%
BaseMark OS II - Web (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
843 Points
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
661 Points -22%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
687 Points -19%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
635 Points -25%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
732 Points -13%

* ... smaller is better

Although the 16 GB eMMC flash memory in OnePlus' X is relatively fast, it does not have much capacity left for other content. In terms of speed, it even outruns its bigger One brother sometimes, and it easily leaves the other mid-range rivals behind.

The storage can be expanded by up to 128 GB via the micro-SD card slot. We tested its speed with Toshiba's Exceria SD-CX32UHS1 (max. 95 MB/s read and 60 MB/s write). The rates were sobering. It only accomplished 18 MB/s in read and 12 MB/s in write.

AndroBench 3-5
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
235.5 MB/s
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
223.6 MB/s -5%
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
88.4 MB/s -62%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
130 MB/s -45%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
167.5 MB/s -29%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
212 MB/s -10%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
49.31 MB/s
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
159.7 MB/s +224%
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
19.51 MB/s -60%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
28.81 MB/s -42%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
23.83 MB/s -52%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
68 MB/s +38%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
16.31 MB/s
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
18.27 MB/s +12%
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
10.53 MB/s -35%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
9.76 MB/s -40%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
20.98 MB/s +29%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
19 MB/s +16%
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
14.22 MB/s
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
10.42 MB/s -27%
HTC One M8
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AB, 16 GB iNAND Flash
0.88 MB/s -94%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3.91 MB/s -73%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1.44 MB/s -90%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
10 MB/s -30%
BaseMark OS II - Memory (sort by value)
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
662 Points
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
587 Points -11%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
817 Points +23%
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
610 Points -8%
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1290 Points +95%

Games

The Qualcomm Adreno 330 graphics unit integrated in OnePlus' X might not be the swiftest in its lineup, but it is still a fast GPU that can cope with all games currently available in the Play Store. Games like Dead Trigger 2 or Asphalt 8 ran smoothly in Full HD even using a high detail level.

The touchscreen implements inputs quickly, and the sensors also function reliably. However, the speaker could be covered sometimes when playing in landscape mode.

Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2

Emissions

Temperature

The surface temperatures of OnePlus' X are exemplary in idle with clearly below 30 °C at all times. That, however, changes palpably under permanent load. The temperatures then climb to over 40 °C over large areas and reach up to 47.5 °C in some places. Although these temperatures are still uncritical, they can be called borderline.

We checked the SoC's reaction to temperature development with the battery test of GFXBench 3.1. The T-Rex test is performed thirty times in succession, and both the battery state as well as frame rates are recorded. The heat is discharged very well. The temperatures on the SoC always remain below 38 °C and the OnePlus X can keep its performance stable.

Max. Load
 42.8 °C
109 F
39.7 °C
103 F
37.3 °C
99 F
 
 46.7 °C
116 F
40.4 °C
105 F
37.6 °C
100 F
 
 47.5 °C
118 F
40.3 °C
105 F
37.5 °C
100 F
 
Maximum: 47.5 °C = 118 F
Average: 41.1 °C = 106 F
37.3 °C
99 F
37.4 °C
99 F
36.6 °C
98 F
40.1 °C
104 F
41.7 °C
107 F
38.5 °C
101 F
42.5 °C
109 F
42.4 °C
108 F
42 °C
108 F
Maximum: 42.5 °C = 109 F
Average: 39.8 °C = 104 F
Power Supply (max.)  28.9 °C = 84 F | Room Temperature 22.2 °C = 72 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.1 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47.5 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.5 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.1 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speaker

Although two speaker grilles are situated in the lower edge of the OnePlus X, only one is installed behind the left grille. The small mono speaker sounds surprisingly good and can achieve a very high volume. The trebles are relatively clear, the mids are only thin, and bass is virtually non-existent. However, the sound is quite compelling for a smartphone.

Users who want more will have to use an external solution. The audio jack transmits the audio signal without interference and static-free seen purely subjectively, and it is thus a useful option. Bluetooth connections also functioned reliably in the test.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of OnePlus' X is comparatively low. It ranges from 0.6 to 1.12 watts in idle. The minimum energy requirement involves a very dark screen of just 3.4 cd/m². Other handsets still have a five times higher brightness even then.

The smartphone also does a good job under load and consumes only 3.2 watts. The power supply has a generous capacity with a nominal output of 10 watts (5 volts, 2 amperes) and has some reserves. Consequently, OnePlus' X is quickly recharged and only needs 92 minutes for completely recharging the battery.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.13 / 0.27 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.6 / 0.91 / 1.12 Watt
Load midlight 3.04 / 3.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Gossen Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The battery in OnePlus' X is suitably sized with 2525 mAh. That, alongside the low consumption rates, results in a very good battery life. The smartphone convinces in both maximum and minimum possible runtimes. OnePlus' X achieves an excellent time that should primarily please gamers particularly in the latter.

The tests using an adapted screen brightness (150 cd/m²) are better for comparison. The review sample prevails over its mid-range rivals in the Wi-Fi test. The field gets a bit tighter in video playback. Only Huawei's P8 Lite falls behind the other models slightly. In total, OnePlus' X presents superb results for its price and performance category.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
16h 08min
WiFi Websurfing
9h 9min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
8h 34min
Load (maximum brightness)
5h 39min
OnePlus X
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AA, 16 GB eMMC Flash
OnePlus One
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 64 GB eMMC Flash
LG G3
Adreno 330, 801 MSM8974AC, 16 GB eMMC Flash
LG G Flex 2
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Battery Runtime
40%
-33%
8%
-11%
-19%
-33%
Reader / Idle
968
1568
62%
852
-12%
1274
32%
1078
11%
791
-18%
715
-26%
H.264
514
893
74%
273
-47%
724
41%
543
6%
518
1%
369
-28%
WiFi v1.3
549
963
75%
641
17%
502
-9%
420
-23%
351
-36%
Load
339
160
-53%
207
-39%
143
-58%
166
-51%
221
-35%
194
-43%
WiFi
1126
452

Pros

+ stylish design
+ fast SoC
+ expandable storage
+ decent speaker
+ good battery life

Cons

- sleek surface
- card tray stiff-running with card
- no USB Type C
- no NFC
- sluggish micro-SD slot
- no 64 bit SoC

Verdict

In review: OnePlus X
In review: OnePlus X

OnePlus' X is actually a well-configured mid-range smartphone at a fair price. However, it is combined with a bitter aftertaste seeing that the former OnePlus One high-end smartphone is superior to the X model in all aspects but its 64 GB version only cost 30 Euros (~$32) more. Unfortunately, it is no longer available, and thus a potential buyer will have to take the reviewed handset because the One does not support storage expansion, and 16 GB is simply too little. The buyer consequently gets a lower configuration at a higher price.

OnePlus' X nevertheless offers a lot for its money. A good Full HD panel is still not a matter of course in this price range. The cameras are decent, the battery life is very good, and the phone's sound is also compelling. The optional storage expansion compensates for the tight flash memory. The mobile wireless connections also have wide frequency coverage, as well as the option of using a second SIM card.

The handset is not the big bargain like OnePlus' One last year. The buyer soon hits the 300-Euro (~$324) mark with the shipping costs, which is more than LG's Flex 2 costs or roughly as much as Honor's 7 that are both strong rivals.

OnePlus X - 12/03/2015 v4(old)
Daniel Schmidt

Chassis
86%
Keyboard
65%
Pointing Device
95%
Connectivity
42%
Weight
93%
Battery
92 / 70 → 100%
Display
81%
Games Performance
63%
Application Performance
45 / 91 → 49%
Temperature
83%
Noise
100%
Audio
76%
Camera
65%
Average
76%
85%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Daniel Schmidt, 2015-12- 7 (Update: 2018-05-15)