Comprehensive Review Oppo R601 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Oppo R601

The Oppo R601 is a compact smartphone that was launched in November 2012 and released in December of the same year. As one of the early entries into the Android smartphone market by Oppo, this device is known for its modest specifications and affordability, making it suitable for users looking for basic smartphone functionalities.

Design and Build

The design of the Oppo R601 features dimensions of 112.8 x 55.5 x 14.3 mm and weighs in at 102.5 grams. Its compact form factor makes it easy to handle and fit in the pocket. The build quality is adequate for its class, offering durability in everyday use. It comes in a sleek white color, appealing to users who prefer a minimalist aesthetic.

Display

Sporting a 3.0-inch IPS LCD screen, the Oppo R601 provides a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 192 ppi. This screen size and resolution are adequate for basic tasks such as texting, calling, and casual browsing. The colors are vibrant for its class, thanks to the IPS technology, providing better viewing angles compared to TFT screens usually seen in budget devices of that time.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Oppo R601 is powered by a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, paired with a Mediatek MT6515 chipset and PowerVR SGX531 GPU. While not designed for high-performance tasks or gaming, it manages basic applications smoothly. With 512MB of RAM, multitasking is limited, requiring users to manage open applications carefully to maintain performance.

Camera

The Oppo R601 is equipped with a single 3.15 MP rear camera. It offers basic photography capabilities for capturing quick images. While it lacks advanced features found in modern smartphones, it does include the option to record video. There is no front-facing camera, which is a limitation for users interested in taking selfies or engaging in video calls.

Storage

Storage on the Oppo R601 is limited to 4GB of internal memory, with only about 2GB available for the user. However, storage can be expanded via a microSDHC card slot, enabling users to store additional media and applications. This is particularly useful given the small internal storage capacity.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery. While this capacity might seem low by modern standards, the basic specifications and small screen size help ensure that the battery lasts a reasonable amount of time. Oppo claims a standby time of up to 400 hours and a talk time of up to 8 hours, sufficient for average daily use.

Software

The Oppo R601 runs on Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, an older version of Android that provided a stable and user-friendly interface at its time. Although the operating system is now considered outdated, it supported a wide range of applications and services available during its release period.

Connectivity

The Oppo R601 supports GSM 900/1800 network bands and offers connectivity options such as GPRS and EDGE. It includes Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for wireless connectivity, and it can function as a hotspot. Bluetooth is available for pairing with other devices but lacks more advanced features such as NFC. It comes equipped with a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Sound and Additional Features

While basic, the Oppo R601 includes essential audio features with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing for both speakerphone functions and the use of headphones. The device also includes sensors such as an accelerometer and proximity sensor, which add to its usability for basic applications and features.

Price and Value

The Oppo R601 was priced at about 320 EUR at the time of release. Although this price point provided a competitive entry into the smartphone market for its time, users had to consider the limited performance and features compared to other devices. However, for users looking for basic functionality without the need for high-end features, it represented reasonable value.

Conclusion

The Oppo R601 stands as a testament to the early development stages of Android smartphones. While its features are basic and limited by today’s standards, it offered adequate functionality for users at the time of its release. The device is best suited for those requiring essential smartphone capabilities in a compact form factor. As technology has advanced, the R601 is now primarily of historical interest, illustrating how far smartphones have come in terms of features, performance, and consumer expectations.