A relative newcomer in the world of smartphones, Oppo is making a splash in Australia’s mid-market ($250-$500) smartphone sales, creeping up on the likes of Apple, Samsung and Huawei. After the success of its $450-$550 R-series, the F1 is the first device to be introduced from Oppo’s new F-series, coming with a further reduced price tag.
In this new release Oppo is pushing the new phone’s photographic capabilities, boasting a 13MP rear camera and a 8MP front-facing camera with a wide f/2.0 lens and a 1/4 inch sensor — allowing for more light to enter the camera to provide clearer shots than most phones’ standard front cameras.
The F1 boasts a smooth, zircon-dusted aluminium alloy body for a premium feel, as part of its mission to offer premium products at a lower price point. The 5-inch display sports 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4. While not quite as slim as the 7mm, $529 R7s, it’s quite close at 7.25mm.
Under the hood, the F1 runs a Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor with 3GB RAM. While the phone only comes with a bare 16GB of storage, Oppo does offer the option of expanding the memory by an additional 128GB. It also gives you the option of installing dual SIMs, allowing you to switch over with the press of a button. Like other Oppo models, the 2500 mAh battery isn’t removable.
Oppo’s new F1 phone will retail for $299, and from next week can be purchased through Oppo directly, or at Dick Smith and Move stores nationwide.
Correction: The F1 does not come equipped with VOOC Flash Charging as previously stated.