Oppo Find X3 Lite Review: Once Upon a Time There Was The Entry-Level

The world of entry-level smartphones hasn’t been the same for a couple of years at least, and this Oppo Find X3 Lite is proof of this. In the past, when it came to Lite models, the mind was on really low-end products, with absolutely cheap prices. The X3 Lite lacks neither of the two features and while the price is entry-level for the line-up, it’s not cheap at all. On the other hand, it is not even a low-end terminal. Here’s what it proposes, what we liked, and what we didn’t.

Oppo Find X3 Lite is the cheapest and most affordable model of the new lineup presented by OPPO, which boasts the Neo model and the Pro model. It is a terminal that should not be underestimated from any point of view, and for this reason, we consider the wording “Lite”, which for many could, in fact, bring to memory the Lite devices of a few years ago. Not so, things have changed significantly. Oppo Find X3 Lite is at least a mid-range terminal, which certainly could also satisfy higher-end needs.

The opening of the package already reveals some surprises, such as the presence of a transparent case, but above all the 65W SuperVOOC wall charger, which allows the terminal to be truly recharged in a flash. The smartphone itself reveals some pleasant surprises, especially for those who do not like large and heavy “frying pans”. X3 Lite turns out to be a product suitable for those who want a lightweight smartphone and, all in all, manageable, features increasingly rare to find nowadays on a powerful smartphone.

The front is extremely clean, interrupted only by the hole for the front chamber, positioned at the top left, rather discreet. It enjoys a perfect symmetry, with frames that are not reduced to the bone, but which are grafted in perfect harmony on the front. The result is a beautiful glance, clean and symmetrical. On the back, on the other hand, there is a back cover in opaque plastic, which provides a good grip and, in the blue color under test, makes the device youthful and aesthetically interesting. The bump chamber is located on the upper left, and it is no longer surprising that it is a rather pronounced chamber set.

On the right frame, there is the power button, on the left the volume rocker. Below, in addition to the USB-C input, also the speaker and the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

As for dimensions and weight, as already mentioned, we believe that Oppo Find X3 Lite is the most performing model, with measures contained in 159.1 × 73.4 × 7.9 mm and a weight of 172 grams. To date, unfortunately, the public is used to much larger and heavier terminals. For this reason, the size factor could represent a reason for the choice for the user.

Table of Contents

Display

As for the display, this Lite integrates a 6.4-inch FullHD + AMOLED panel, with a refresh rate of 90Hz. Already this element makes us understand how much the device actually distances itself from the meaning that the word “Lite” assumed in the years ago. The screen body ratio is 91.7%, with a remarkable pixel density of 410 PPI. The panel is good, with very bright colors, which can still be adjusted to your liking, good brightness, and optimal visibility, even outside. Out of place the presence of Gorilla Glass 3, which is no longer among the most resistant glass, although to tell the truth, it seemed to us to be resistant overall. Whether it is not a low-cost smartphone, it can also be seen in watching any video, whether it is a streaming platform, or simply YouTube, where it is also possible to view 4K movies with HDR support, even if the display of the device does not natively support that resolution. Watching any movie is really enjoyable, in everything: from the color rendering to the fluidity, to the detail, to go to visibility in any light condition.

Technical Specifications

The datasheet reads a script that the user is now used to reading on many mid-range smartphones. Starting with the processor, a Snapdragon 765G Octa-Core (2x 2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold + 6x 1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver), at 7 nanometers. It is a processor that is the most popular on smartphones in this price range, and which knows how to combine many features of a top of range, with certainly lower prices.

In everyday use, we have never noticed a slowdown, and the transition from one to another app is always fast and fluid. Reading the Google feed, rather than using any social media, is all particularly responsive. The 8GB onboard of our unit will certainly help in this, while on the GPU side there is the Adreno 620 on board, which also thanks to the 625 Mhz frequency helps gamers on the gaming side. After all, the 765G processor (the “G” stands for gaming) is optimized for just this use. In fact, we did not notice any particular issues in enjoying the universe of games on the go, and any game we started played without problems.

Cameras

As far as the photographic department is concerned, even from this point of view, it is difficult to talk about Lite in the meaning that the term had a few years ago. Just look at the datasheet to understand that, in fact, the characteristics are quite high. On the back, there is a 64MP main sensor with f / 1.7 focal aperture, flanked by an 8MP f / 2.2 Ultra Wide-angle sensor, a 2MP Macro sensor, and a 2MP monochrome sensor, while on the front the hole at the top left incorporates a 32MP camera with f / 2.4 aperture.

The photos that this terminal takes are, in principle, good. Very good when in optimal lighting conditions. The camera handles automatic HDR well, and even night photos seem to enjoy good brightness. The AI model helps in this, even if in the evening this intervention seems to distort the colors a bit. The wide-angle sensor is also good, even if in fact this type of shot loses a bit of detail compared to the main camera. The 2MP macro camera is always a little subdued: obtaining an optimal result may not always be easy, especially if you want a really close shot. It can be done, but only after a few tests, and with optimal light.

We leave you with a gallery of photos taken directly with the terminal so that you can judge for yourself the quality of this camera set.

Battery And Autonomy

Huge praise goes to the 4,300mAh battery. They seem few when compared to the power of other batteries, but it certainly has the advantage of making the phone slimmer and lighter. Not only that, you arrive in the evening quietly with a good residual autonomy, and even moderate use leads to a day and a half of autonomy. The best part comes, then, at the time of recharging: 40 minutes are enough to bring the terminal from 0 to 100, and a few minutes of charging are enough to ensure hours of use. In short, it is a terminal that can be recharged in the morning, when you get ready to leave the house, and then be able to enjoy it all day.

What We Didn’t Like

Oppo Find X3 Lite is a great phone, it lacks nothing, and it has very little Lite. The price, however, is frightening, and the price list of 499 euros seems a little excessive.

Still, there was no way to get it to work in the car with Android Auto. Or rather, the terminal connects (complete with an Android Auto connection option), but as soon as the screen turns off, the car display locks. It is a problem that also emerges on other OPPO terminals, as we have seen after a short search on the net. Most likely it happens because there is no possibility to activate the “Auto Start” option in the Android Auto app on smartphones. Obviously, it can also be a problem linked only to our car or Google, and, therefore, we do not believe this against the value of the terminal.

Conclusions

Oppo Find X3 Lite is an entry-level, but only if we apply this concept to the OPPO Find X3 lineup. It is certainly not an “entry-level” in the sense of an economic range phone to approach Android. It is a terminal that has everything not to regret more performing and expensive phones. Unfortunately, the price list seemed slightly high.

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