OPPO will stop providing free chargers with their smartphones, starting next year! Here is what you need to know…
OPPO To Stop Providing Free Chargers Next Year!
OPPO is giving up one of its key advantages over its competitors next year – its high-performance charger, which is included with every smartphone.
While announcing their new Reno8 smartphone, OPPO Vice President for Overseas Sales and Services, Billy Zhang, revealed that it would stop providing in-box chargers starting next year. Instead, OPPO will provide them as optional purchases in stores.
OPPO won’t immediately stop providing in-box chargers, but will phase them out in stages. So expect them to retain the in-box chargers for the higher-end models at least for some time, as a way to differentiate from cheaper models.
But the message is clear – eventually, all OPPO smartphones will stop coming with in-box chargers.
If you are an OPPO fan, make sure you keep your VOOC / SuperVOCC charger. Your next OPPO smartphone may not come with one.
OPPO To Lose Advantage By Not Including Free Chargers
While many brands have followed Apple in not including chargers in the box of new smartphones, OPPO made the smart move by continuing the provide them.
One of the key advantages OPPO has over the other brands is its VOOC series of fast charging technologies, like 125 watt SuperVOOC wired charging and 65 watt AirVOOC wireless charging.
These are proprietary technologies that only work with the provided in-box chargers, so OPPO really needed to provide them in every box.
You can still charge OPPO smartphones with USB chargers from other brands, because they still support standard USB charging technologies. They will just charge slowly. Without the in-box charger, OPPO smartphones will lose their key advantage over their Android rivals.
Sure, OPPO will make sure you can buy their special VOOC charger in store, and will probably include one as a pre-order or early bird sweetener. But this decision will turn OPPO into yet another Android brand.
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OPPO just unveiled 125W Flash Charge and 65W AirVOOC – the fastest battery charging technologies in the world!
Find out if these new OPPO flash charging technologies are really useful, or just vapourware!
OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : A Quick Primer
OPPO 125W Flash Charge is a wired fast-charging technology, that is built around a Double 6C cell battery, with multiple tab winding technology, and three parallel charge pumps.
This allows it to recharge a 4,000 mAh battery to 41% in 5 minutes, and to full capacity in just 20 minutes! Crazy fast!
OPPO 65W AirVOOC, on the other hand, is their improved wireless fast charging technology that will deliver the same performance as wired 65W SuperVOOC fast charging.
By using parallel dual charging coils, it can fully recharge a 4,000 mAh battery in just 30 minutes! Crazy fast for wireless charging!
First, we have to point out that these are, as far as we know, still prototypes that may or may not make it to the market.
After all, OPPO announced their 120W Super FlashCharge last year, and nothing come of it. No phone launched with 120W flash charging capability, not even from OPPO.
So will OPPO introduce 125W flash charging or 65W AirVOOC? Unlikely anytime soon.
For one thing, they are brand new, only in prototype stage, and would be prohibitively expensive to add to any smartphone.
Smartphone manufacturers, whether OPPO or another brand, will need to test and certify the safety of these new battery charging technologies.
On top of that, they have to consider the cost. Apple and Samsung are reputedly considering removing bundled chargers to reduce cost.
Will any smartphone brand be willing to allocate a bigger cost budget for 125W Flash Charge or 65W AirVOOC capability? We doubt it…
OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : Useful?
The OPPO 125W Flash Charge and 65W AirVOOC technologies are incredibly impressive, from a technical perspective.
We would personally love it if all smartphones come with it. However, will consumers pay top dollar for a particular smartphone just because it has 125W Flash Charge or 65W AirVOOC capability?
We doubt it. After all, how often do you really need to recharge your smartphone?
Smartphones now have much larger batteries, and the industry has made great strides in reducing power consumption. Most smartphones can now easily last 10-12 hours on a single charge, with heavy use :
At most, you will need to recharge your smartphone at the end of your work day, and that takes what – just 60 to 90 minutes with a regular fast charger?
So, in our humble opinion, the 125W OPPO Flash Charge is nothing more than a technology showcase that will unlikely be introduced in any smartphone anytime soon.
What We Are Rooting For : 65W AirVOOC!
The OPPO 65W AirVOOC technology, on the other hand, has the potential to be a real game changer. Wireless charging is the future.
That said, its current implementation, which requires two Peltier heat pumps to keep cool, is not practical, and highly inefficient.
But if OPPO can improve it to the point it only requires a fan to keep cool, or better still – passive cooling, everyone will want to implement 65W AirVOOC!
So we are rooting for OPPO to continue improving AirVOOC, particularly their work on single coil wireless flash charging, which should reduce thermal output.
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Let’s start with the official tech briefing on the two new fast charging technologies.
OPPO 125W Flash Charge (Wired)
The new OPPO 125W wired flash charging technology is built around a Double 6C cell battery, with multiple tab winding technology – allowing for a much higher input current of 12.5 A.
The new battery charging technology also uses three parallel charge pumps, which converts the charger input of 20V @ 6.25A into 10V @ 12.5A, with a 98% conversion efficiency.
To ensure the battery charges safely, OPPO added 10 new temperature sensors, to make sure the phone temperature do not exceed 40°C.
At 125W full power, it will recharge a 4,000 mAh battery to 41% in 5 minutes, and to full capacity in just 20 minutes.
However, this is a prototype technology, which will not soon make it into any phone.
OPPO 65W AirVOOC (Wireless)
OPPO claims that the 65W AirVOOC will deliver the same charging performance as 65W SuperVOOC, thanks to parallel dual charging coils with an 88% charging efficiency.
This allows it to fully recharge a 4,000 mAh battery in just 30 minutes! Crazy fast for wireless charging!
To ensure that the phone temperature does not exceed 40°C, the AirVOOC wireless charger uses two thermoelectric coolers (Peltier heat pumps) to whisk the heat away from the charging phone.
However, anyone who has ever used a Peltier can tell you that it gets very hot on the other side!
While OPPO claims an 88% transmission and receiving efficiency, the power required for thermoelectric cooling will greatly reduce AirVOOC’s power efficiency.
Two OPPO GaN Fast Chargers
OPPO also announced two fast chargers that use GaN technology to greatly reduce their sizes.
This is the OPPO 50W mini SuperVOOC charger, which is about the size of a business card, and weighs just 60 grams.
And this is the OPPO 110W mini flash charger, which offers 110W of pulse charging in a charge the size of a regular 18W fast charger.
First, we have to point out that these are, as far as we know, still prototypes that may or may not make it to the market.
After all, OPPO announced their 120W Super FlashCharge last year, and nothing come of it. No phone launched with 120W flash charging capability, not even from OPPO.
So will OPPO introduce 125W flash charging or 65W AirVOOC? Unlikely anytime soon.
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OPPO just launched the OPPO R9s at an amazing price of RM 1,798 / ~US$ 399. The OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) emphasises the main camera, which now boasts a 16 MP Sony IMX398 sensor with a f/1.7 lens. This makes the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) one of the most affordable smartphones with a top-of-the-line main camera.
In this article, we will share with you the full specifications, and our hands-on preview, of the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) smartphone. Check it out!
The local pricing for the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) is an astounding RM 1,798 (~US$ 399) here in Malaysia. This is about RM 300 / ~US$ 69 cheaper than other countries!
The OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) can be pre-ordered from now until 13 January 2017 from OPPO Malaysia’s website, Lazada Malaysia, 11Street and the 1,200 OPPO sales points across Malaysia. It will also be available through Maxis and Celcom.
Delivery and first retail sales of the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) will begin on 14 January 2017. It will be available first in Low Yat Plaza, Kuala Lumpur and VivaCity Megamall, Sarawak.
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OPPO launched their latest smartphone – the OPPO R9s on 5 January 2017, at a star-studded event here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It renews their focus on mobile photography, with the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) focusing more on the main camera. Join us for the OPPO R9s launch event and presentation!
The OPPO R9s Launch & Presentation
The OPPO R9s launch event kicked off with an awesome dance routine. Check it out!
In this video, Ken Ng, OPPO Malaysia’s Product Manager, revealed the key features of the new OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) smartphone. Then the Ninja Photographer, Zung, showcased the amazing photos he took using the OPPO R9s!
Finally, OPPO brought out the star-power. New OPPO brand ambassador, Lee Min-ho, appeared on screen while local celebrities Fattah Amin and Amber Chia showed off the new OPPO R9s smartphone!
The OPPO R9s Price & Availability
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OPPO Malaysia CEO William Fang revealed the local pricing for the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) and it’s an astoundingly good price. The OPPO R9s smartphone will retail for just RM 1,798 (~US$ 399) here in Malaysia. This is about RM 300 / ~US$ 69 cheaper than other countries!
The OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) can be pre-ordered from now until 13 January 2017 from OPPO Malaysia’s website, Lazada Malaysia, 11Street and the 1,200 OPPO sales points across Malaysia. It will also be available through Maxis and Celcom.
Delivery and first retail sales of the OPPO R9s (Lazada, Amazon) will begin on 14 January 2017. It will be available first in Low Yat Plaza, Kuala Lumpur and VivaCity Megamall, Sarawak.
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The OPPO R9s Official Press Release
Kuala Lumpur, 5th January 2017 –The OPPO R9s was announced at an event in Kuala Lumpur today. Powered with a 16MP rear camera, extra-wide f/1.7 aperture, coupled with the new Dual PDAF technology, OPPO, the camera phone expert now introduces a smartphone packed with improved rear camera technology that enables users to capture clear photos anytime, anywhere.
In addition to that, the R9s also introduces OPPO’s VOOC Flash Charge technology for speedy charging and lightning-quick fingerprint access. Now, with the R9s, users are able to effortlessly capture professional-grade photos all day.
OPPO is no stranger to the world of innovative camera phones. Two years ago, the brand introduced the OPPO N3’s motorized swivel camera that can track objects as they move and can rotate up to 206 degrees, also flaunting a Schneider Kreuznach-certified lens.
In addition to that, the F1s garnered positive feedback and incredible sales. This time, the brand decides to up the rear camera game by introducing massive improvements to the R9s’s 16MP rear camera, enabling users to capture even moving objects clearly.
“As this year will be the year of mobile photography, we at OPPO Malaysia would like provide users with a camera that is able to capture photos that are crisp, clear and bright. With the R9s, now it’s clear”, said Chen Lu, Brand Director of OPPO Malaysia.
All-new IMX 398 sensor and Dual PDAF technology
Last year, the OPPO F1s rose to success, thanks to its superb selfie-snapping ability. The new R9s carries forward that brilliant suite of front camera features and rounds them off with a rear photography experience that elevates its predecessor’s. The device sports an impressive 16 MP front camera, paired with a large f/2.0 aperture and OPPO’s Screen Flash technology that produces excellent night shots.
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At the center of the R9s’ rear camera prowess is the all-new Sony IMX398 sensor – a customized 1/2.8 inch sensor that Sony and OPPO developed together. With this sensor and an extra-wide f/1.7 aperture that captures 40% more light than previous generations, the R9s’ rear camera offers phenomenal focusing speed, noise reduction and low-light performance, allowing users to snap breathtakingly clear and beautiful images in a matter of seconds.
The R9s’ camera uses Dual PDAF technology, a next-generation upgrade from standard PDAF solutions. The first generation of PDAF has only “a half” pixel for focusing, but the Dual PDAF increases by 100% the area of the sensor’s pixel array equipped with the special photo diodes necessary for phase-detection autofocus, allowing lightning-fast focusing — even in low light — and producing crystal-clear images.
“Our research efforts revealed that users’ dissatisfactions with rear cameras is that images typically appear blurry, or are dark and with visible poor pixel performance. Determined to solve this problem, we aimed to produce a smartphone with a rear camera that allows users to snap clear, crisp photos anytime, anywhere”, explains Ken Ng, Product Manager, OPPO Malaysia.
The R9s introduces a stylish and innovative take on the rear antenna lines used to ensure a strong signal. The thick white bands that traverse the back of most phones have been replaced with two sets of three ultra-fine lines. Though these lines measure at a mere 0.3 mm, the “six-string” design manages to imbue the R9s with an effortless sophistication, evoking the elegant lines of a stringed instrument.
The fresh look is coupled with stronger performance than ever – the device is equipped to operate on six frequency ranges, dynamically choosing the best one for 4G and Wi-Fi signals.
The new design sees the R9s’ body equipped with 98.9% of metal, with a screen-to-body ratio of 72.9 %, making its visual a subtle, refined and distinguished one, with superb signal reception to boot.
Powerful, long-lasting performance to keep users snapping away
The R9s sports a Qualcomm octa-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, and cruises seamlessly on ColorOS 3.0 (based on Android 6.0). Storage-wise, the 64 GB onboard can be expanded by an additional 128 GB, ensuring users will have plenty of room to store their crystal-clear shots. Meanwhile, the R9s’ fingerprint reader gives users exceptionally fast 0.2s touch access, and intelligently refines its image of the user’s fingerprint over time.
The R9s is also backed with a 3,010 mAh battery and OPPO’s industry-leading VOOC Flash Charge technology, for seamlessly fast charging that are low-voltage, so your phone’s internals will never be taxed with excess heat.
With its head-turning design, powerful performance and superb all-around photography experience, the R9s is set to let users capture their lives in style!
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Yesterday, OPPO officially launched the OPPO F1 Plus smartphone – their ultimate Selfie Expert smartphone. Also known as the OPPO R9 in Chinese and Indian market, the OPPO F1 Plus sports a 16 MP selfie camera with f/2.0 lens as its killer feature. Right after the launch, we managed to get some time with a demo unit of the OPPO F1 Plus, so enjoy our first look at the OPPO F1 Plus smartphone!
For more photos and the video of the OPPO F1 launch event with Nora Danish, click here!
First Look At The OPPO F1 Plus Smartphone
In this video, we will show you the key features of the OPPO F1 Plus smartphone. Please note that while some websites may list the OPPO F1 Plus as featuring an IPS display, it really has an AMOLED display. Hope you like it!
Here is the transcript of our quick look of the OPPO F1 Plus smartphone :
Transcript of the OPPO F1 Plus first look video
Today, we are going to take a look at the OPPO F1 Plus. With a launch price of RM 1,898 or about 475 US dollars, this is the larger and higher-end model of the OPPO F1 launched in January.
It is very sleek at just 6.6 mm (thick). On the left side, you will find the two Volume keys.
Like many ultra-thin smartphones, the earphone port is placed at the bottom, together with the USB and microphone ports.
The OPPO F1 Plus also sports a fast front-facing fingerprint sensor that can unlock the phone in just 0.2 seconds. Note the 2.5D rounded edge on the Gorilla Glass 4 cover.
On the right side, you will find the Power button, with the SIM card slot above it. This is a hybrid SIM slot, which means it can either accept two SIM cards, or one SIM card and a microSD card.
Now, this is the OPPO F1 Plus’ killer feature – an incredible 16 MP selfie camera with f/2.0 lens. It doesn’t have a dedicated LED flash but uses the screen to produce enough light for the ultimate high-resolution selfie.
Curiously, the OPPO F1 Plus only comes with a 13 MP rear camera with f/2.2 lens, and a single LED flash instead of a dual-tone flash. Needless to say, the OPPO F1 Plus caters to those who take more selfies than regular photos!
The OPPO F1 Plus has a beautiful 5.5” AMOLED display with a full HD resolution. It is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 chip, with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal flash storage.
Surprisingly, it runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop, instead of Android 6 Marshmallow. However, it features the latest OPPO ColorOS 3.0. OPPO claims that ColorOS 3.0 reduces app startup time by 25% and increases battery life by 40%.
The OPPO F1 Plus has a decent 2,850 mAh lithium polymer battery that can last for 14 hours of heavy use, at least according to OPPO. It also supports VOOC flash charging, which can recharge 75% of its battery in just half an hour.
The OPPO F1 Plus also comes with 64 GB of internal flash storage. This will be very helpful in keeping all those high-resolution selfies. Out of 64 GB, you will have about 51.5 GB of free space left to use.
So there you have it – the OPPO F1 Plus smartphone!
OPPO F1 Plus Smartphone Specifications
Here are the official specifications for the OPPO F1 Plus smartphone :
Specifications
OPPO F1 Plus Smartphone
Operating System
Android 5.1 with ColorOS 3.0
Platform
MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10)
Processor
8 x ARM Cortex-A53 (2.0 GHz)
Graphics Processor
ARM Mali-T860 MP2
Display
5.5" AMOLED display
- 1080 x 1920 resolution (401 ppi pixel density)
16 MP Hi-Light camera with f/2.0 lens
- Samsung ISOCELL sensor
Rear Camera
13 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens and single LED flash
Connectivity
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
WCDMA: 850/900/1900/2100MHz
FDD-LTE: Band 1/3/5/7/8/
TD-LTE: Bands 38/40/41
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.0
SIM Card
Hybrid SIM card slot
- supports two nano SIM cards, OR one nano SIM card and one microSD card
GPS Support
Yes
NFC Support
No
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, 0.2 second detection
Battery
2,850 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery (non-removable)
Available Colours
Gold / Rose Gold
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