14 DAY TRIAL // Chinese handset maker Oppo has just released the previously rumored R1 mid-range Android smartphone. That should be good news for Android enthusiasts in China, but fans of Google's mobile platform will probably be disappointed that Oppo R1 is exclusive to the Mainland for now.
Oppo did not mention anything about the R1's availability outside China, but given the company's recent debut on the European market, we expect the smartphone will soon go on sale in other countries as well.
According to Phonearena, customers in China can purchase the Oppo R1 for only 2,500 yuan outright, which is about $410 or €300.
Keep in mind the Oppo R1 ships with Color OS, which is Oppo's take on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system. Aside from that the Oppo R1 doesn't bring anything out of the ordinary, but it's still a solid choice for Android fans.
Hardware-wise, the R1 comes equipped with a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor, 1GB of RAM and only 16GB of RAM.
The 16GB of RAM would be quite enough if the phone would be packing a microSD card slot for memory expansion, but, sadly, it lacks the functionality.
In terms of design, the Oppo R1 is quite the looker. The smartphone measures 142.7 x 70.4 x 7.1mm and weighs 140g (battery included).
It draws energy from a high-capacity 2,410 mAh Li-Ion battery, which has yet to be rated by the manufacturer. We have yet to receive confirmation that the battery included in the R1 is non-removable.
On the back, Oppo R1 sports an enhanced 8-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and a wide F/2.0 aperture. Another strong point of the device is the 5-inch HD (720p) IPS capacitive touchscreen display that supports 294ppi (pixel density).
Potential customers who wish to grab the R1 can order one from Oppo's official Chinese webstore beginning today.
