OPPO have proven that the best tech doesn’t need to break the bank.

OPPO phones have been around SE Asia and China for sometime, becoming a much loved and trusted brand. In New Zealand and Australia OPPO are newcomers to us mobile hungry nations, but are setting a benchmark for what your dollar can buy.

Last year OPPO’s flagship R11 impressed and raised eyebrows at what can be achieved at a mid range price point. Our review of the R11 was a positive one, and to be fair, I thought that the R11 would be as good as things get for the OPPO range within the coming twelve months. I was wrong.

OPPO launched the R11s in both New Zealand and Australia with a high fashion launch event in Sydney, where guests and media such as ourselves were able to test out the dual front and back 20MP cameras.

Yes, four camera – 20 MP. You could say that the R11s is high quality supreme digital camera with a phone function.

The Android 7.1 handset is big (there is also a Plus version too) at 6.1 inches and although is still easily iPhone-esque resembling from the rear the R11s holds its own laser cut design.

The front face of the R11s is all screen. OPPO have done away with the non-tactile ‘Home’ button and finger print scanner that we saw in the R11 and moved the finger print to the rear of the handset.

The vividly bright AMOLED screen offers up 1080 x 2160 pixels and a 18:9 ratio. Meaning wide screen, all screen.

Under the sharp and thin bodywork is 64GB ROM which is expandable by way microSD (the R11s is Dual Sim – but shares the secondary Sim slot with microSD).

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor is onboard to sort out all of your multitasking needs and ensures that the R11s is quick. And it it is. On the lower side though we see 4GB RAM. That’s okay, but more of a midrange expectation.

The R11s also has a 4G amplifier which will make optimal use of your network connection, ensuring that even a weak signal does’t slow you down.

OPPO have also taken the initiative of offering various security methods.

There is aforementioned finger print scanner on the rear of the phone, and you have the usual Android security of PIN or Pattern, however, as we have seen in a couple of other high end devices released recently, the R11s features a Face Scanner.

Unlike similar devices that offer this – the R11s one works, and works damn well – holding your phone up to your face will see it unlock within 0.8 seconds. Even in dim light.

Taking steed from competitors handsets but walking their own path, OPPO have revolutionized both the consumer cost and expectation of a smartphone camera.

Featuring Quick Shot technology either side of the R11s has Dual Lenses to produce 20MP for standard shots or selfies – even in the lowest of light.

Recording video in 4K and there are various filters on hand, including that whitening ‘Beauty Mode’ where you can instantly look glamorous and a little bit photoshopped.

As if a top shelf digital camera wasn’t enough – OPPO re-worked the whole charging system on the R11s. To the point where a 5 minute quick charge will give you up to 2 hours.

I was curious about this so tried it out myself. The R11s has a terminator of a battery and playing videos and games on the phone constantly over the course of one day (from a full charge) I thought that it would have drained the battery. After around 9 hours of full use (only stopping gaming to eat) it still had around 60%. So my mission to completely drain the battery was complete in two and a bit days of heavy use.

I placed the R11s on charge and waited 5 minutes.

Within 5 minutes time the battery was already at 30%. Still, would it last? I was able to make calls, listen to music and watch a couple of YouTube clips over the course of four and a half hours before it started to squeal for juice.

In a normal use situation, the R11s, I believe, could survive an entire business day on just 5 minutes of A/C charging. This is an outstanding achievement, for me moreso than the camera and facial recognition.

As we get introduced to new bells and whistles on flagship top shelf smart devices, the ever-lasting battery is something that seems to be missed but a crucial part of owning a smart device. OPPO have got very very close to it.

I’m puzzled as to why OPPO are still using the Micro-USB port, whereas (for data transfer at least) the USB-C has become standard.

OPPO’s unique interface, ColorOS 3.2 thinly overlays the Android 7.1 system – and with the R11s various improvements have been made including being able to multitask like a pro, using two apps at the same time, then there’s split screen for apps, eye protection mode, accelerated games, and kid space.

There is no ‘Home’ screen as such. OPPOs ColorOS is a no mess no fuss affair with direct presentation to your Apps.

The audio quality needs a mention too. The internal speaker set of the R11s is rimed to rock out loud in almost any environment, with crisp clarity. Via headphones, OPPO prove that they are still legends at audio. The R11s features one of the most clearest beautiful audio experiences I have had on a Android smartdevice.

Available in Red, Champagne (Rose Gold) or Black, the OPPO R11s comes complete with a protective clear case in the box and ready to soldier on without regular charging and snap ready to bring your memories, your world in to perfected imagery.

The OPPO R11s is truly outstanding.

Images from the Sydney, Australia OPPO R11s Launch

The post OPPO R11s Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Samsung has announced to us here at STG the latest additions to the Galaxy A series: the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018).

The Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) feature a Dual Front Camera, a large immersive display and stunning ergonomic design that draws on Samsung’s flagship design heritage and experience.

With additional everyday features, the Galaxy A series is more stylish, practical and convenient than ever before. “With the release of the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018), we’re bringing features pioneered by Samsung in our flagship smartphones, such as a larger and more immersive display, to our Galaxy A series,” said Todd Selwyn, Head of Mobile Portfolio at Samsung New Zealand.

“Adding the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) to our portfolio ensures Kiwis have more options when it comes to choosing the perfect smartphone to fit their needs and budget.” Snap bright, clear selfies with the 16MP F1.7 rear camera and 16MP+8MP F1.9 Dual Front Camera, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. The Dual Front Camera is made up of two separate cameras, so you can switch between the two to take the type of selfie you want – from close-ups with the background to portrait shots with a clear and crisp background.

With the advanced Live Focus feature, you can also easily adjust the bokeh effect before or after you take the picture to create high-quality images.  From day to night, the advanced camera makes sure you capture sharp images, even in low-light conditions. The new devices also allow you to customise your photos with fun options, from adding stickers to your selfie or highlighting a culinary extravaganza with Food Mode.

Shaky video footage will be a thing of the past with video digital image stabilisation (VDIs) technology, and with an added hyperlapse feature, you can now create time-lapse videos that let you record, tell and share even longer stories. When watching movies or playing games, the latest Galaxy A devices offers uninterrupted, immersive viewing experiences. The display has been increased over previous generations of A Series with an immersive 18.5:9 display ratio, so that you can view the whole scene across your screen for the ultimate cinematic experience. The large screen is supported with ergonomic curved glass on the back and front. Its sleek glass and metal frame, smooth curves and comfortable grip make it even easier to watch or interact with content on your phone.

The Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) are available in two colours – black and gold.  Both devices will continually keep you informed with the Always On Display, meaning you can get information at a glance without unlocking your phone.  Offering IP68 water and dust resistance, the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) can withstand the elements, including sweat, rain, sand and dust, making it suitable for nearly any activity or situation. The Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) support microSD cards so you can expand your storage capacity by as much as 256GB, and are the first in the A series to support Samsung’s Gear VR.

The A8 (2018) has an RRP of $799.00 (NZD) and is available from Spark and 2 Degrees in Black and Gold. The A8+ (2018) has an RRP of $899.00 and is also available from Spark, 2 Degrees and Vodafone in Black and Gold.

Both devices will be available from February 2018.

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The OPPO R11 camera phone, the flagship model of the leading global camera phone maker; OPPO, is now available in New Zealand.

Slim and fashionable, the OPPO R11 introduces new breakthroughs in mobile photography, producing clear and beautiful portrait shots of professional-like quality.

The OPPO R11 is equipped with a high-performance and power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset as well as an upgraded ColorOS 3.1 operating system, providing a faster and more secure user experience combined with comprehensive hardware and software upgrades to give a brand-new user experience for portrait shooting with the R11.

The R11 is OPPO’s first model to sport a 20MP + 16MP rear dual camera, as well as having a 20MP front facing camera, letting users capture images in perfect clarity.  OPPO worked with Qualcomm to customise a flagship image processor for the R11, the 14-bit Qualcomm Spectra 160 ISP, and optimised its performance on the Snapdragon 660 Mobile Platform. Together with its IMX398 sensor and a big f/1.7 aperture, the R11 boasts a faster focus speed than the earlier R9s model, with more vivid colours and better low light capabilities.

New software enhancements mean the R11’s rear dual camera provides a more natural bokeh effect. The R11 intelligently adjusts exposure levels between the portrait subjects and the background by automatically identifying more than 100 everyday scene settings. Users can automatically shoot clear and bright portraits in very different environments by simply activating the “Portrait” function on the camera.

R11 users can take flattering selfies with nude makeup effects, thanks to the foreground bokeh effect, the automatic HDR function, and intelligent skin tone beautification technology. Every portrait, either shot by the front camera or the rear camera, delivers an image of near-professional quality.

The all-new antenna lines 2.0 use customised tungsten blades flowing from the arcs to the top of the OPPO R11 body.  The visibly fluid design of ultra-fine antenna lines 2.0 reduces the antenna lines from three to two. The smooth base curves of the R11 are produced with new forging and pressing technology, making the streamlined device attractive and good to hold.

The OPPO R11 runs on ColorOS 3.1, based on Android 7.1, giving added security and encryption for mobile payments. Files can be transferred in four easy steps, without the need for an internet connection.

With the R11 boasting a 5.5-inch high-definition display screen on a 1.6mm frame, giving users an outstanding visual display. The high end smartphone has 4GB RAM, 64GB on-board storage, and supports up to a 256GB micro SD card. The solid-state lightning-fast fingerprint identification makes unlocking the phone more precise for the owner.

To keep you powered throughout the day, the R11 comes with an energy saving 3000mAh battery. Using the Snapdragon 660’s outstanding power consumption control and ColorOS optimisation, the R11 battery life has been extended without the need for more power. VOOC Flash Charge ensures a short burst of charge can keep you talking, with five minutes of charging allowing for two hours of talk time.

In the first quarter of 2017, the earlier OPPO R9s model became the best-selling Android phone in the world, according to Strategy Analytics.

Kuan Li, OPPO New Zealand, says OPPO is committed to bringing the best products and experiences.

“The R11 builds off the success of the R9s and will quickly become a favourite among value conscious New Zealanders looking for an amazing camera phone. We are excited for Kiwis to get hands on with the device and experience the improved technology, enhanced features and premium look and feel for themselves.

“Undoubtedly, the R11 will be the new camera phone favoured by young consumers for its fashionable appearance and greatly enhanced user experience,” said Kuan.

Pricing is set to please the pocket, a top shelf device with high end hardware and the best front facing camera, or ‘Selfie’ lens currently available will set you back at only $769.00 RRP (NZD) if you buy the handset outright.

The R11 is available on contract with 2Degrees, or through retailers; JB HIFI and Noel Leemings in New Zealand.

The post OPPO R11 – First Dual 20MP Camera Releases appeared first on Shane the Gamer.