OPPO R5 Pro Reviews

While some of the issues with the R5 are related to its quest for thinness, most notably an understandably small battery capacity, not everything can be blamed on this one thing. An average camera, mid-range performance and mediocre software are all separate issues, and for that reason, I find the Oppo R5 hard to recommend.

There is no doubt that Chinese firms are going to provide more established firms like Sony, HTC and Samsung a run for their money. With the R5, Oppo is making a serious statement of intent and people will take notice of the "world's thinnest smartphone". That title will mean nothing if the R5 can't back it up with impressive hardware. Thankfully the R5 comes with some decent specs that mean it performs amongst the very best, if only for a shorter period thanks to a smaller battery pack. If the R5 is a sign of things to come from Oppo and other Chinese manufacturers, 2015 is shaping up to be a very interesting year for the mobile world.

A very elegant handset with a sizable display to boot – the R5 seems to be for casual users, who prefer their smartphone to be a modestly used tech accessory, rather than a tool for long surfing and gaming sessions. Physically, the device provides a very pleasing experience when used, while the user interface could do with just a few minor tweaks – snappier menu scrolling being at the top of the list. A good camera, paired with an adequate and comfortable to use shooting app, and a well-performing SoC under the hood round off the package. If a super-thin phone is what you are looking for, then the R5 is a good option, but be wary of the tradeoffs – sub-par audio quality, a battery that doesn't agree with heavy usage, low internal storage with no option to expand. If you wish to check out other svelte choices – take a look at the Gionee Elife S5.5 (rebranded as BLU Vivo IV in the US), though, we believe that the R5 is a few steps ahead.

With a premium build and Impossibly thin profile, the unlocked Oppo R5 might just be the most physically impressive Android smartphone you can buy. All that beauty comes at the expense of performance, however.