Independent quality rating of smartphone manufacturing companies. In work, testing
Our readers who are not too close to the world of technology have probably repeatedly asked themselves the question: which company’s smartphones are best to buy these days? Let us say right away that even a specialist will not give you a definite answer, unless, of course, he is objective. Gone are the days when the market was dominated by a few companies from which you had to choose. Today the segment is represented by dozens of manufacturers, each of which tries to have some feature, to show how possible more smartphones and of the highest possible quality. Therefore, it is difficult to say which smartphone manufacturer is the best or the worst.
Well, since it is difficult to make an unambiguous verdict on this issue, we decided to put together a small top in which we will try to mention the most popular companies whose phones are in demand, which already have authority in the market and a huge army of fans. We will tell you why this or that smartphone manufacturer deserves attention, and what significant models he showed lately.
Samsung is a leader whose position is difficult to challenge
No matter what growth Chinese smartphone companies show, no matter what success their countrymen achieve, no matter what Apple shows, the most famous Korean company remains at the very top. Samsung deserves first place in a number of ways. Regular release of high-quality flagship smartphones? Eat. Multi-million dollar sales? Where would we be without them? A bunch of lines of different price segments? On the spot. Innovative developments? Please.
In 2017 alone, Samsung introduced about a dozen smartphones of different classes, providing devices to all its fans, regardless of status. Yes, and Chinese companies rivet new products with enviable regularity, but are they able to offer the same high quality and long-term support? Koreans know how to make cool smartphones, they know how to sell them.
The most prominent representative of Samsung in 2017, of course, was the flagship Galaxy S8. New screen, the most powerful processor at that time, excellent cameras and stylish design. Already at the end of summer, the Koreans released , a savior that should correct the situation with the failure of last year's Note 7. And the phablet succeeds, as sales confirm. Other Samsung lines were not left without updates. The manufacturer has released cool and updated the Galaxy A series.
Why are users so fond of smartphones from this company? As already noted, high quality materials and workmanship play an important role. Even budget solutions they look very decent. Let's not forget that the company develops some of the most advanced flagships, which receive all the best at the time of release. Finally, Samsung guarantees decent support - your smartphone will not be forgotten a month after its release, but will be updated for at least a couple of years.
For which one of the best manufacturers Do you want to criticize smartphones? If you can understand the price of flagship new products, then for mid-range, low-class devices the manufacturer asks a lot. Samsung was not exposed for the abundance of defects (not counting the disastrous Galaxy Note 7, which was recalled last year due to explosions).
Samsung's popularity and crazy income from the sale of its () devices earn it a well-deserved place in our ranking of the best smartphone manufacturers in 2017. Keep it up!
Apple - where there is Samsung, there is Apple
Unsurprisingly, the Apple company is right next to the Korean one. In terms of sales and income, it is difficult for it to compete with Samsung - it releases only two smartphones to the market annually. The exception was 2017 - Apple was generous with three iPhones at once. We have already prepared a review. True, only the one who joined the ranks can be called truly interesting.
Apple smartphones are deservedly in demand - they are beautiful, powerful and elegant devices. The American manufacturer does not miss the opportunity to introduce any new technology; in addition, the manufacturer tries to make every detail for his device independently. Despite the much smaller number of smartphones introduced annually, Apple manages to remain among the best companies in its segment.
The advantages, as already noted, include elegant design, high-quality assembly, characteristics, which highlight the devices. Apple smartphones typically rank first in performance tests and have some of the best cameras. One of the striking features can be considered the operating room iOS system– no other smartphone is equipped with it. Plus, Apple is famous for supporting its products - 4-year-old smartphones receive updates to latest versions OS.
Main disadvantage Apple smartphones– the price is too high. The company can sell even a relatively old device at the price of a strong mid-range device from another manufacturer. In addition, there has been some stagnation recently - for the fourth year in a row, the design of Apple smartphones has remained virtually unchanged.
Huawei is a company with grandiose plans
Huawei, in a fairly short period of time, moved from the status of “some Chinese company” to the status of “one of the largest smartphone manufacturers.” The company has a wide range of models, a lot of fans not only in its home country, China, but also abroad. Today, Huawei is among the leaders; it even managed to outsell Apple, albeit for a short time. In addition, the manufacturer announces its truly ambitious plans - over the next few years, the company plans to become the best in the smartphone market.
Huawei's lineup is, without exaggeration, huge. You can easily find a budget smartphone for just over $100, and a flagship that competes with representatives of more formidable brands. The company's devices have a recognizable style, they are beautiful and powerful, modern and with a bunch of different features. The company produces its own processor and collaborates with major manufacturers various components for mobile phones.
In 2017 the most prominent representatives the company will become, which has probably already been shown (the article was written a few days before the presentation). These are flagship devices with modern screens, dual cameras from Leica and top-end proprietary chipsets. Huawei promises us, among the features, developed artificial intelligence.
Of the advantages Huawei smartphones You can highlight the high quality of materials, catchy design, and powerful hardware. In many respects they are not inferior to devices from other companies. Huawei tries to make every smartphone as modern and sophisticated as possible, so the company deservedly gets into the top three.
Disadvantages include the somewhat limited cost of some solutions. In addition, a number of flagships, according to at least, before its release, in some aspects it was inferior to its more famous competitors.
LG is a company you want to believe in
Last year was somewhat unsuccessful for LG. Their modular G5, despite a number of truly new ideas, did not appeal to users. The Koreans were clearly inferior not only to their neighbors, but also to lesser-known Chinese brands in the world. However, LG started 2017 with a bang, introducing the first with a FullVision display. Even Samsung with their Galaxy S8 was ahead. And although the LG G6 did not gain the same popularity (a smartphone based on last year’s chip), it became clear that the company was on the right track.
LG, no matter what problems it has, remains one of the world's largest companies that knows how to make quality products. Last year's decline is giving way to growth with the release of truly trendy smartphones. Yes, the manufacturer still does not have an abundance of decent budget devices, not counting the recent frameless device. But in the flagship segment everything is not bad. At the beginning of autumn, the company presented one of the brightest new products of the outgoing year.
LG, in fact, like other large companies, has complete order with the quality of smartphones. The same LG G6 can even boast of a military standard of shock protection. The company is constantly experimenting, which, however, is not always beneficial. However, it happens that experiments bear fruit in the form of new “tricks”, which are subsequently used by the entire market. Smartphones from one of the best companies South Korea relatively inexpensive, for a large brand.
If you ask me today which brand of smartphone is best to choose in 2017, I will definitely recommend you something from LG. Although last year I probably wouldn’t have remembered about it.
Xiaomi – Chinese quality
Well, what top or ranking of the best is complete without mentioning this company? Xiaomi is omnipresent! Budget segment captured, things are going well in the middle class, the flagship is not in trouble either. Literally every day there is news that Xiaomi is releasing or is about to release something new. The strong point of this Chinese company is cheapness. Which, in fact, is not surprising. They're all like that there.
But in the case of Xiaomi, cheap doesn’t mean it’s bad. The company makes even inexpensive devices look and feel quite decent. The not-so-bright design is compensated by powerful hardware and acceptable cameras. In addition, with them the manufacturer offers a proprietary sophisticated shell and good autonomy. Smartphones from one of the best companies in the Celestial Empire are very popular in our country and are also common in other countries, which is facilitated by Xiaomi’s policy.
What company solutions are popular today? Of course, the flagship Mi6 and the recent one with an edge-to-edge screen. From the fact that it’s cheaper, I can recommend last year’s Mi5. The company's budget segment is now mainly represented by Redmi Note 4X. The tandem looks interesting, which we also reviewed.
We think the advantages are clear - acceptable characteristics at a low price. Among the shortcomings Xiaomi smartphones We can highlight the localized firmware that does not always arrive in time and some shortcomings of individual models.
Sony is just a black streak
The Japanese have been having a hard time with really bright new products lately. It is noticeable that Sony does not keep up with all these newfangled trends, continuing to release its typical smartphones. The situation was slightly improved by a pair of new phones, which she showed at the recent IFA exhibition in Berlin. The compact flagship attracted particular public interest. The long-awaited new product is equipped with today’s top-end processor and a 4.6-inch display.
Sony smartphones have a distinctive design that not every user will be interested in. Instead of a frameless screen, which every major manufacturer now installs in their flagships, the Japanese, on the contrary, make the frames noticeable. But the solutions really high quality camera With buffer memory, which allows you to record videos at 960 fps. There are also a pair of stereo speakers that produce excellent sound. On top of everything else, new and Compact work on fresh .
It’s hard to find fault with the quality of smartphones from one of the best companies. Yes, and these devices have their own “chips”, despite the fact that they do not follow general trends. But the price tag for many devices is clearly too high, considering hundreds of competitors at a similar cost. The best smartphone manufacturer in Japan certainly deserves a place in our ranking, despite the specified nuances.
Meizu – stylish and affordable
Meizu is the main antagonist of Xiaomi. While the latter have powerful smartphones, the former have beautiful ones. Like Xiaomi, this company is relatively young and ambitious. In a short period of time, it managed to turn from a little-known Chinese brand into the world's largest manufacturer of equipment, whose activities are monitored by millions of users and major media outlets.
Meizu smartphones are quite stylish, although the similarity to the famous American company is noticeable. With hardware, not everything is so rosy, but the recent one, which received a modern energy-efficient chip from Qualcomm, gives us hope that bright new products await us in the future. At the end of summer, the company updated its flagship line, showing a pair, the feature of which was additional screen on the back side. The devices turned out to be controversial, but undoubtedly interesting.
In addition, early next year Meizu is going to surprise us with the most frameless smartphone. The key disadvantage of most company solutions is budget processors, which, well, are not able to add attractiveness to gadgets.
Google Pixel – the search engine also has good smartphones
The Google logo has been appearing on the backs of smartphones for quite some time. And of course, the corporation is still developing the most popular mobile OS. Last year, a couple of flagship smartphones were released under the Google brand, which were noticeably different from everything that was already on the market. The devices sold well, so the release of new solutions was expected.
And so, in the fall of 2017, the company is releasing another tandem of smartphones that will compete for the title of the very best. , just at the time of writing this article there is a Google presentation. It's worth noting that Google doesn't produce its own Pixels itself, outsourcing these tasks to other companies. This year, for example, one model is being developed by HTC, another by LG. But, despite all the successes, it is still too early for Google to place its smartphones among the leaders in the ranking of the best companies.
The best smartphone manufacturers worthy of mention
We decided not to include the following companies directly in the ranking of the best smartphone companies, but they undoubtedly deserve attention. Here we have, firstly, well-known companies that simply have a bad streak, and secondly, manufacturers that are rapidly gaining popularity. So:
- Lenovo (Moto). A truly large company engaged in the production of a wide variety of electronics. It does not have typical flagships, but there are more than enough mid-range and budget-class phones. Products of good quality, with all necessary functions, relatively low price of devices.
- OnePlus. She became famous for her . It produces 1-2 smartphones a year - pure flagships, which in terms of performance often outperform top-end smartphones of A-brands. It will probably be among the best companies when it begins to actively release new products in different segments.
- ZTE. Showing amazing growth lately. It has several lines of different segments; the company's smartphones regularly appear in various ratings. ZTE is preparing a frameless smartphone.
- Micromax. Despite the fact that the company is developing budget smartphones, is extremely popular in a number of markets. Quite good and cheap devices at an affordable price, which ensures its growth.
- ASUS. Maybe not as popular as other well-known brands, but it has model range cute smartphones. ASUS focuses on modern design, camera capabilities and autonomy.
- HTC. Until recently, it was one of the best smartphone manufacturers, but now the mobile division has been sold to Google. Nevertheless, there are still flagship devices on the market that can attract interest with top-end characteristics.
- Oppo and the like. Competition in the Chinese smartphone market seems to have reached its peak. Oppo and a number of other companies with a similar name literally overtook the world leaders in the number of devices sold in just a couple of years. And they are not going to stop there. True, smartphones from these companies are not yet widespread on the domestic market.
As a result
Well, now you know which smartphone brand is best to choose in 2017. Mobile market develops very quickly. Companies that were at the top of Olympus yesterday may find themselves at the very bottom today. And, on the contrary, before our eyes, little-known manufacturers become market leaders, developing in large quantities innovative products. We will update our ranking of the best smartphone brands from time to time so that you always have up-to-date information about the realities of the market.
The Chinese company Oppo Digital is a well-known manufacturer of digital technology and electronics that helps with work and allows you to significantly diversify a person’s leisure time. Smartphones from this brand deserve special attention thanks to innovative features, such as high-speed charging, which allows you to fully charge the battery in 10 minutes.
Advantages and features of Oppo smartphones
This company does not rely on the frequency of releasing new models, but on thoughtful diversity. That is why all brand devices differ significantly from each other. For example, Oppo Finder was at one time the most thin phone in the world, and the Find 7 smartphone can take 50-megapixel photos.
At the same time, critics often note that Oppo is trying to inherit, using the most successful models to emulate. If you are a fan of the famous apple brand, then you will definitely like models that use the best practices of the American brand.
Famous selfie cameras of Oppo smartphones
The quality of images provided by the front camera of Oppo smartphones has long won the attention and appreciation of many users. The Find 5, equipped with a practical camera, was called "for women."
If you want to take a fresh look at the art of photography, as well as fill your device’s memory with bright and colorful pictures, then you should buy such a gadget. IN latest models two cameras (front and rear) equipped with zoom are used at once, which significantly increases the range of the photographer’s capabilities.
The features of Oppo smartphones also include:
- fast charging;
- large and high-quality display;
- light weight with noticeable dimensions;
- design as close as possible to the iPhone.
You can buy the desired new thing in our online store Tsifrus. Consultants can advise you on the most fashionable and functional models, as well as budget options. If necessary, you can purchase on credit. Shipping is carried out by mail throughout Russia, and courier delivery is available in Moscow.
Chinese smartphones can be very different. Some, like the endless Doogee, Oukitel or Leagoo, are delivered to the buyer more problems than good.
Others, such as Xiaomi, provide excellent competition to well-known brands, attracting buyers balanced characteristics, high quality operating system and low cost.
But there is a third legion of manufacturers who have become familiar to the masses Russian user recently. OPPO smartphones have long conquered the Chinese market, where they actively compete even with Apple.
Who are OPPO and why are their smartphones so cool?
In Russia, OPPO is known primarily for equipment for audiophiles: amplifiers, receivers, headphones for 100 thousand and other cool devices. We have already written about many of them. And you liked them. And you will like smartphones even more.
Now OPPO ranks 4th in the world in smartphone sales, second only to Apple, Samsung and Huawei. For quite natural reasons.
Today OPPO is for China as Apple is for the whole world. It’s worth making a reservation - in China they really love the iPhone. Therefore, almost all OPPO smartphones are very similar to our favorite devices.
The company's proprietary add-on for Android, ColorOS, is no exception, and is exactly like iOS.
Frameless and powerful - that's all OPPO F5
The mid-price smartphone F5 is the company's first device for the Russian market. It seems that this is the first balanced frameless phone - like OnePlus 5T. Only better and cheaper.
To make the smartphone warm and accessible, OPPO stuffed the device with a bunch of cool (although some may seem controversial) features. Housing - plastic; the screen has frames and sticks out slightly above the body; instead of too fresh USB Type C - regular microUSB; instead of the common 1 slot for 2 SIM cards - separate, for 2 SIM and for microSD. 
Remembering the difference in official Russian prices with other smartphones in this class, their metal cases with constant scratches and the constant search for USB-C at a party - OPPO engineers chose the right path. It is much more critical that the F5 did not inherit the dual camera of the flagship OPPO R11 and. Someone may complain about the reduced amount of RAM - forget about 8 gigabytes, only 4 or 6 (no, is this not enough for some?) 
But the relationship with OnePlus 5T and the instinct of Chinese engineers leave such little things out of perception.
What are 18:9 and why are they?
Why not 2:1? Just to be familiar and not stand out against the 16:9 background. 
The main (out of 3 main) feature of the OPPO F5 is the now fashionable 6-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 18:9 with narrow side frames. Navigation keys moved to the screen, which made it possible to abandon the seemingly huge free space above and below.
Such smartphones are narrower and shorter than regular ones. Therefore, OPPO engineers were able to fit the F5 into the dimensions of a regular 5.5-inch smartphone. It fits in the hand just like any Xiaomi A1 - only the Xiaomi is thicker and its screen is smaller. 
Of course, the 18:9 aspect ratio is much better suited for mobile tasks. The extra screen length can be used for more than just functional elements, but also when surfing - and especially when playing games or watching videos. With FullHD+ resolution (that is, 2160 x 1080 pixels), it’s a pleasure! And sites are perceived better.
Fact: Diagonal increase when changing aspect ratio from 16:9 to 18:9 in this case does not change the pixel density (ppi) and leaves the same juicy image with normal resolution. 
The screen has only one drawback - it would be worth using an AMOLED matrix instead of IPS. However, with the current implementation, the smartphone has normal color display, and this is worth a lot. And about the negative effects Samsung-like You don’t have to think about screens.
Can Android from Chinese developers replace iOS?
It usually doesn’t make sense to talk about all sorts of proprietary Android add-ons. Pair external changes, a bunch of “lefty” useless software only increases the value of “pure” Android. But in the case of OPPO, everything is different. 
OPPO F5 runs on a proprietary operating system ColorOS 3.2 on Android based 7.1. It would seem that this solution is already outdated - but OPPO’s competitors are following the same path, squeezing all the juice out of the proven version of the “green robot”. And for good reason.
Externally, ColorOS almost completely copies iOS interface. Instead of the classic curtain, a bottom menu is used, called up by a familiar slide. There is also a curtain - but it is used only to display notifications. The application menu is called up in an original way - with a pinch gesture (as for enlarging) on the start screen. 
ColorOS is like iOS, only on Android: everything is very simple, stylish and convenient.
Of the standard functions, OPPO engineers left few, except for those required for the European region Google services. This includes support for gestures, including waking up by double tap and symbols for quick launch. 
The second is split screen for 2 applications. Unfortunately, not everything works on split screen (for example, Facebook and VKontakte clients). But browsers, clients of streaming services (YouTube and Co), most instant messengers and many professional utilities work. Watching a video in a browser and taking notes at the same time (fortunately, the screen width allows it) is priceless.
All this turns ColorOS into an almost real iOS. Much more convenient than regular Android.
How does OPPO handle photos?
In addition to the screen and operating system, the cameras are another feature of the OPPO F5. Company representatives even called him a “selfie expert.” Not without reason. The front camera of the OPPO F5 is really very cool. Although the sensor manufacturer is not specified, the numbers speak for themselves:
- 20 megapixels ensure picture clarity,
- matrix size 1/2.8″ - low level noise,
- f/2.0 aperture - excellent sensitivity.
You won’t find this as the main one in any other camera phone.
The fact is that the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom are very fond of selfies. Perhaps social networks today really play a larger role than the creation of artistic landscapes. Therefore, OPPO did not fail by creating one of the best selfie smartphones. 
Let's start with the fact that OPPO F5 has something that others could not implement in software: the bokeh effect with a single camera. The smartphone perfectly blurs the boundaries of the subject, leaving it clear and sharp. Unmistakable and accurate.
But the basis for good OPPO F5 selfies was the SelfieTune software function - one of the popular “beautifiers”, auxiliary programs for automatic photo processing. It quietly corrects imperfections in appearance: whitens teeth, tints lips, removes bags under the eyes, wrinkles and other skin defects. A person turns into a fashion model without any Photoshop. 
Similar functions in Xiaomi and Huawei significantly distort the picture. Therefore, to process photos of the OPPO F5 front camera, the company’s own SelfieTune artificial intelligence is used.
He builds a model of the face and compares it with the accumulated database of photographs. Based on them, the program analyzes the shape of the face and its features, taking into account lighting, after which it automatic mode rules shortcomings.
Unfortunately, SelfieTune is not customizable. You can only indicate the degree of leveling of defects, although the processing is almost invisible. Moreover, each subsequent frame gets better - SelfieTune learns before your eyes! 
Another useful function cameras became Face Comes First. With its help, OPPO F5 independently recognizes faces and allows you to receive instant photos with very accurate autofocus on faces. He also adjusts the settings for better display of faces.
And finally, we can’t help but mention OPPO’s own analogue of Face ID. Unlocking a smartphone using the owner's face works surprisingly quickly and accurately, glitching only in the dark (it doesn't respond in the photo!). It works slower than a scanner, but due to its elongated body it can be much more convenient. 
The main camera in such a smartphone is just a nice addition. Despite this, it works quickly and efficiently. 
That's why the OPPO F5 takes beautiful, rich daytime photos and handles indoor photography well. But taking photographs in the dark is not his strong point.
Testing week: no limits and no problems
For a new product on the Russian market, OPPO F5 turned out to be a very interesting smartphone with a lot of advantages and disadvantages.
Thanks to its screen and ergonomic body, OPPO F5 boasts incredible grip with a 6-inch screen. Still, elongated screens are the future of smartphones.
Consuming any type of content on 18:9 screens turns into pure pleasure. It’s trite that more can fit on the screen - even compared to 6-inch smartphones with a standard aspect ratio. 
The plastic case comes in handy. It is warm and does not slip. After a couple of dozen metal and glass devices, you feel a real buzz. A small fly in the ointment is the high-mounted fingerprint scanner. You have to get used to it, and it takes some time. However, recognition of the owner's face works perfectly. We can make do with them.
OPPO F5 unlocks almost instantly. There are also no noticeable slowdowns in operation, although it cannot be called an outright gaming solution. The use of a new single-chip platform is having an impact MediaTek Helio P23 from the middle segment: economical, low heating. 
The OPPO F5 processor will handle any task that fits in 4 gigabytes of RAM - that is, absolutely any Android application in the next couple of years.
The engineers didn’t forget about the small features that make life easier. Just because they equipped the generally expensive (by the standards of Android smartphones) OPPO F5 with separate slots for 2 SIM cards and microSD, you can shake their hand. Finally, you can forget about the amount of built-in memory and take pictures for your own pleasure! 
The case thickness of 7.2 millimeters affects the battery capacity. You can’t even dream about 4 or 5 thousand “maxes” - OPPO F5 is equipped with a 3,200 mAh battery. It lasts exactly one and a half days of moderate use. Not bad.
Is it worth changing your smartphone to OPPO F5?
Perhaps, among direct analogues on the Russian market, OPPO F5 has practically no competitors. Yes, there are selfie phones from Huawei and Sony. But among them there is not even one pseudo frameless smartphone, not to mention models with an elongated 18:9 screen. And this is a serious advantage. 
Would I take the OPPO F5 for myself? Yes.
The smartphone leaves a pleasant impression after use. Quite cheap (for smartphones on the Russian market), economical and convenient. A good combination for a smartphone for 19,990 rubles, which is intended for consuming and creating content - in fact, at a professional level.
(4.00 out of 5, rated: 1 )
The Chinese company OPPO is still known to few in Russia, although it was testing the waters in our market back in 2013. Then things didn’t go well, and it was decided to postpone the massive expansion until better times. And now those times have come.
OPPO, the fourth smartphone manufacturer in the world, second only to Huawei, Apple and Samsung, is officially coming to Russia. The brand belongs to the BBK Electronics group of companies, which also includes the famous Oneplus and Vivo. The latter, by the way, is also preparing to enter the Russian market.
The OPPO F5 smartphone was chosen to meet Russians. Among its advantages are a “solid” 6-inch screen, a 20-megapixel front camera with intelligent selfie-enhancing technology, a 16-megapixel main camera, a fresh mid-range MediaTek processor and decent battery life.
Characteristics
| Frame | Plastic |
| Display | 6 inches, FHD (2,160 × 1,080), LTPS IPS LCD, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Platform | Mediatek MT6763T Helio P23 processor, Mali-G71 MP2 graphics accelerator |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Built-in memory | 32 GB, ability to install memory cards up to 256 GB |
| Cameras | Main - 16 MP; front - 20 MP |
| Connection | Two nanoSIM slots; 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1 800 / 1 900; 3G: 850 / 900 / 1,900 / 2,100; 4G: Band 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS |
| Expansion slots | microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, compass, fingerprint scanner |
| operating system | Android 7.1.1 + ColorOS 3.2 |
| Battery | 3,200 mAh (non-removable) |
| Dimensions | 156.5 × 76 × 7.5 mm |
| Weight | 152 g |
Design and materials
OPPO F5 is a representative of the just emerging class of mid-range smartphones with a screen that occupies almost the entire front panel. In this case, the screen occupies 84.2% of the surface. One could call it frameless, but there are frames, like, for example, the LG Q6.
In terms of body design, OPPO does not offer anything new: the typical “streamlined” look, the desire to make the smartphone thinner and, as a result, a protruding camera. Everything is ordinary, but at the same time beautiful. Except that the fingerprint scanner on the back is not round or square, as is customary, but oval. Note that OPPO uses regular-shaped glass, and therefore no smooth transitions from the screen to the edges no.
The materials are simple: plastic, unbreakable Gorilla Glass 5.
Already out of the box, the OPPO F5 screen is covered with a film. A plastic bumper is included to protect the case.
Screen
6-inch IPS panel, aspect ratio 18:9, Full HD+ resolution, that is, 2,160 × 1,080 pixels - elongated display. Pixel density - 402 ppi. The brightness range is wide enough to comfortably use the smartphone both at night and under the sun.
How is an elongated screen generally perceived? Nothing has changed in ergonomics: a 6-inch smartphone corresponds to the dimensions of a 5.5-inch one, and therefore there are no problems with using it with one hand. Of course, in order to reach the upper corners with your thumb, you will have to intercept the device. It's nice that the OPPO F5 moved the curtain quick access to the settings, which is traditionally opened by swiping from top to bottom, from the top border of the screen to the bottom.
False positives with such a large screen would seem to be possible, but nothing like this happens. Even if you accidentally touch some touch key or icon with part of your palm, nothing will happen. In addition, in the settings of OPPO F5 you can enable the function of blocking accidental touches.
The elongated screen holds more information. Sites are perceived more holistically, including those not adapted for mobile devices. There is no feeling that you are looking at the page through a porthole.
Split screen mode, in which you can run two applications simultaneously in different windows, looks great on the OPPO F5. But, unfortunately, not all applications support this mode: the same Facebook and VKontakte clients refuse to work in a team. But there are no problems with Chrome, YouTube, Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram.
So, the “solid” screen turned out to be an absolute plus. It makes content and applications more pleasant to perceive, without compromising ergonomics.
Performance
The hardware base of the OPPO F5 is the MediaTek Helio P23 chipset, introduced at the end of August 2017. This is a 16-nanometer chipset with eight Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz and a Mali-G71 MP2 graphics processor.
The amount of RAM is 4 GB, built-in memory is 32 GB (you can install a memory card with a capacity of up to 256 GB). With this configuration, the OPPO F5 earns 60,000 points in AnTuTu testing, which is excellent for a mid-range smartphone. The interface remains smooth and fast, even if you run several applications in parallel.
Being a mid-range smartphone, OPPO F5 cannot be called a gaming smartphone: you won’t be able to run any graphically-intensive game at high settings and get smooth gameplay. However, it is still possible to play, and if you are not a follower of the slogan “graphics at maximum speed,” then there will be no problems with the games. Modern Combat 5 runs on high settings, Need for Speed: No Limits significantly lowers the graphics, World of Tanks Blitz runs on low settings and produces 60 fps, Olympus Rising can be played with almost maximum graphics settings - in general, anything can happen.
Interestingly, in the OPPO F5 settings there is a whole “Game Acceleration” section. Graphics acceleration is enabled here, that is, “optimizing the image output configuration for the most full use hardware resources". Using World of Tanks Blitz as an example, this gives a greater spread in fps on high settings. In calm scenes, fps can reach 50, but as soon as the battle begins, it drops to 13–20. If you turn off graphics acceleration, then fps rarely rises above 35 and drops below 20 as soon as one or two more tanks appear in the field of view.
Cameras
Frontal
Now we come to the most interesting part. OPPO calls the F5 a selfie expert. Why? First, permission front camera- 20 MP. But this, of course, is not enough for good selfies.
OPPO F5 comes with SelfieTune technology. At first glance it may seem that this is a simple “beautifier”, but everything is much more interesting. “Beautifiers,” as a rule, process photos in such a way that the person in the frame looks unnatural. F5 uses artificial intelligence AI Beauty for processing.
The smartphone builds a face model based on 200 points, while usually only 50 are used, compares the person with a database of faces, analyzes the shape of the face and its features, taking into account gender and age, and, taking into account lighting conditions, performs moderate processing . Teeth become whiter, eyes become more expressive, lips become pinker. Bags under the eyes, wrinkles, skin defects - all this goes away, and you look younger before your eyes. OPPO claims that AI Beauty is also learning, so selfies will become even more beautiful over time.
But what really? SelfieTune, being a smart feature, is almost impossible to customize. You can only specify the degree of processing from 1 to 6, but it is better to use auto mode. As soon as you turn on the front camera, OPPO F5 immediately starts looking for faces. The smartphone catches the subject instantly and keeps it in focus, no matter how quickly and chaotically the person moves. This is how the Face Comes First function works - the smartphone always knows exactly where the face is in the frame and where the background is, and adjusts the exposure and brightness accordingly.
The result of SelfieTune processing, let's say, is not for everyone. Even if it is moderate, it is still noticeable when carefully examining the portrait, especially if you pay attention to the details and texture. For example, a man's light stubble is washed away, and where there was a week-old mustache, only a light fluff remains. Well, perhaps AI Beauty will learn to work with stubble in a month or two.
Another cool feature in selfie mode is the bokeh effect. Note that, as a rule, they talk about it in the context of a second camera, which allows you to measure depth of field. But OPPO F5 only has one camera, how can this be? It turns out it can. The smartphone really can blur the background and does it well, no worse than its dual-camera counterparts. The boundaries of the subject remain neat and sharp. We did not notice any errors in the background section.
Summarize. Can OPPO F5 really be called a selfie expert? Definitely yes. The photo module is good enough to make selfies sharp and bright, and software smartphone is really capable of doing moderate processing with a high-quality bokeh effect.
Rear
The main camera of the OPPO F5 is also decent. Resolution - 16 MP, aperture - f/1.8. OPPO doesn't say anything about it except that it's fast and can take bright photos in low-light conditions. However, everything is much more interesting.
Firstly, at OPPO cameras The F5 is quite fast and accurate autofocus. Secondly, the camera itself cannot be called slow either. Photographing a cat in motion, branches shaking in the wind - all this is possible. Third, natural colors and quite wide dynamic range. OPPO F5 is great at macro photography. Night shots are bright, but noise and loss of detail are noticeable. However, increasing the aperture for good night photography is not enough.
Software
OPPO F5 comes with operating Android system 7.1.1 Nougat. The graphical interface, of course, is non-native. OPPO developed ColorOS and the F5 comes with version 3.2.
Overall, ColorOS continues the idea of simplifying the interface. Everything that could be removed, combined and optimized was removed, combined and optimized. As a result, we have almost iOS. There is no application menu, no widgets - there is simply nowhere to get lost in ColorOS. There are desktops, the ability to collect icons into folders, a convenient curtain for quick access to settings and some applications (flashlight, calculator, camera) - and that’s all. Elegant, simple, fast.
Among the unobvious features are split-screen mode and gesture support. For example, in standby mode, you can double-tap the screen to turn on, launch the camera by drawing the letter O, or launch the flashlight by drawing a V.
Safety
OPPO F5 has two biometric means of blocking the smartphone from prying eyes - a fingerprint scanner and a facial recognition system. Everything is clear with the scanner: you put your finger on it, and the smartphone unlocked. You can also “put a lock” on a folder or application. Let's take a closer look at facial recognition.
It all works very simply. All you need to do is register your face in OPPO F5, after removing your glasses, hat and bright makeup, and from now on the smartphone will recognize you. The system works very quickly! At first, it may even seem that the smartphone was not blocked at all.
In difficult conditions, such as strong backlight or low lighting, the OPPO F5 may not cope well. In this case, you will have to unlock the device by entering a four-digit PIN code.
OPPO warns that facial recognition can be fooled by using an object that looks like your face. A person similar to you can also break through the defense. However, a photograph of the OPPO F5 cannot be fooled, we checked.
Connection
You can forget about the nightmare of combination trays: OPPO F5 is one of the few Chinese smartphones in which you can install two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time.
OPPO F5 supports all frequency bands necessary for LTE operation in Russia, including Band 20. Let us remind you that many Chinese smartphones, including well-known brands Meizu and Xiaomi, are not friends with Band 20. As a result, where this particular range is used, their owners are left without LTE Internet.
GPS and GLONASS, Wi-Fi with support for the 5 GHz band, Bluetooth 4.2 - everything is as it should be. But, unfortunately, OPPO F5 does not have NFC chip. Although if you forget about contactless payments and Android Pay, then it’s not really needed.
Working hours
OPPO F5 is powered by a 3,200 mAh battery. It would seem that this is not enough for a 6-inch smartphone. However, the energy-efficient processor and LPDDR4X memory, as well as competent software optimization, do their job. In mixed use mode (Internet, camera, a couple of calls and some games), the OPPO F5 can last almost a day and a half. In general, this the only trick, touching the battery. Neither fast nor wireless charging there is no. The microUSB port is used.
Conclusion
OPPO F5 is a worthy smartphone to make a name for itself in a new market. Its brightest feature that lies on the surface is its 6-inch screen with thin bezels. There are not many middling competitors in this regard. With a stretch, they can be called Doogee Mix 2, Umidigi S2 and the weak LG Q6.
As for cameras, no one in the mid-price segment has a tandem of 20 MP front and 16 MP rear. However, it is known that happiness does not lie in megapixels, so pay attention to the Huawei Nova 2i with a 20-megapixel front camera and a dual rear camera - 12 MP + 8 MP. If you forget about fashionable solid screens, then the competitor is worthy.
Productivity, operating time, wireless interfaces- everything is smooth and good here.
The cost of the smartphone is 24,990 rubles. Sales start on November 25 in popular hardware stores. There are two colors available to choose from: black and gold. Another version of OPPO F5 will be released in December - in a red case, with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. Its cost will be 29,990 rubles.
Lifehacker thanks OPPO Russia for the sample provided for testing.
TrendForce has been studying the global market for various equipment, including the market for smartphone manufacturers, for 16 years. According to TrendForce, in 2016, 1 billion 360 million smartphones were sold worldwide. The ten most popular manufacturers (accounting for 81.1% of global smartphone sales) are presented in this ranking. It included seven Chinese brands, two South Korean and one American.
10th place. ZTE. The Chinese manufacturer concentrated 3.5% of the global smartphone market in 2016, showing slight growth compared to 2015, when its share accounted for 3.4%. TrendForce predicts that in 2017 ZTE's share will drop to 3%.
9th place. TCL. The Chinese manufacturer, whose smartphones are not represented on the Russian market, controls 3.7% of the global market. In 2015, its share was the same, and in 2017, according to the TrendForce forecast, it will drop to 3.2%.
8th place. Lenovo. For the Chinese brand, which is well known to Russians, 2016 was unsuccessful: if in 2015 it was in 4th place in the world with a share of 5.4%, then in 2016 it dropped 4 positions down and its share accounted for only 3.7% world market. TrendForce forecast for 2017 is 3.8%.
7th place. Xiaomi (pronounced "Xiaomi" in Russian). Another popular brand in Russia also showed a decrease in sales compared to 2015: 3.7% of the market versus 5.2% a year earlier. At the same time, Xiaomi moved down one position. TrendForce forecast for 2017 is 3.8%.
6th place. LG. The South Korean manufacturer received 5.5% of the world market in 2016, showing a slight increase (in 2015 it was 5.2%). At the same time, over the year, LG still moved down one position. TrendForce forecast for 2017 is 5.5%.
5th place. Vivo. This Chinese brand is a sub-brand Chinese company BBK Electronics, which also produces smartphones under the Oppo and OnePlus brands. Only the OnePlus brand has reached Russia, and Vivo (like Oppo) is not represented on the Russian market. Due to the rapid growth of sales in China and India, Vivo concentrated 6% of the global market share in 2016 (a year earlier it was 3.6%), rose from 9th place to the top five, displacing brands such as Xiaomi, Lenovo and LG. TrendForce predicts further growth for the Vivo brand to 7.1% of the global market in 2017.
4th place. Oppo. Another subsidiary of the Chinese brand BBK Electronics. Oppo is still focused on the Chinese market and is little known outside of China. Nevertheless, the Chinese market segment is enough to control 7.2% of the smartphone market in the world as a whole. A year earlier it was only 3.8% and 7th place in the world. TrendForce predicts further growth for the Oppo brand to 8.5% of the global market in 2017.
3rd place. Huawei. This Chinese brand, unlike the previous two, is well known in Russia. In 2016, Huawei reached 9.6% of the global market share, demonstrating strong growth (in 2015 it was 8.3%) and halving the gap with second-place Apple. If in 2015 year Apple and Huawei shared 10% of the global market, then in 2016 only slightly more than 5%. According to TrendForce, Huawei will remain in third place in 2017 with a share of 11.1%, reducing the gap from Apple to 4.5% of the global market.
2nd place. Apple. The American iPhone manufacturer has become the main anti-hero in the smartphone market in 2016. The 7th iPhone did not meet the expectations of buyers and showed weak sales, as a result, overall Apple sales fell by 11.5% over the year, their share in the world market fell from 18.2% to 15.3%. TrendForce predicts that Apple will retain second place and 15.6% of the global market in 2017, but for this Apple will have to try and release the 8th iPhone more interesting than the previous one.
1 place. Samsung. The South Korean giant remains the leader in the global smartphone market year after year. However, in 2016, its reputation was somewhat tarnished due to the spontaneous combustion scandal of the summer flagship Galaxy Note 7, as a result of which Samsung recalled 3 million devices. At the same time, the success of the spring flagship Samsung Galaxy S7, which at the end of 2016 was among the top three best-selling smartphones in the world, as well as good sales of the 2015 flagship Samsung Galaxy S6 and other models of the company allowed it to remain the leader in the global smartphone market and lose three times less in sales than Apple: 3.3%. In 2016, Samsung accounted for 22.8% of the global market compared to 24.7% a year earlier. TrendForce forecast for 2017 is still the first place in the world and 22.6% of the global market.
