PROS:

• Beautiful, seamless design without visual distractions


• Ceramic back is comfortably warm in the hand


• Excellent photos in under any lighting condition

CONS:

• Slightly heavier than other phones of its class


• Lacks strong sustainability push


• Availability differs by market

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS

ERGONOMICS

PERFORMANCE

SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY

VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The OPPO Find X5 Pro stands out like an oasis of calm in the middle of a turbulent sea of smartphone designs, truly worthy of the title of Best of MWC 2022.

Smartphones are cool tech gadgets, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be breathtakingly beautiful as well.

It has been a long time since smartphones crossed the line between geeky devices to everyday must-haves. They have gone past being something that only grownups used for serious work to become a reflection of one’s lifestyle. Along with those changes in objectives, smartphones have also changed a lot in their designs over the years. Few, however, managed to successfully strike a balance between form and function, uniformity and identity. That’s part of why the OPPO Find X5 Pro piqued our interest because of its particular attention to design, earning the top spot in our Best of MWC 2022 awards list. That said, we take it for a good spin to see if it’s more than just a pretty face and if it offers enough to make it stand out from a market dominated by giants like Apple and Samsung.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

Unless you’re a smartphone aficionado, smartphone designs probably won’t speak to you. Although they have shed their polycarbonate shells of the past, most smartphones today are plagued by large warts on their backs known as camera bumps. Many phone makers seem to have just given up and have, instead, decided to actually highlight those large structures in sometimes obnoxious ways. They dominate the visual center of the phone’s design, but in some cases, they look and feel almost simply slapped on rather than being an integral part of the device.

The OPPO Find X5 Pro’s design distances itself from that crowd in two notable ways. The most important is also the most obvious, the fact that it doesn’t have a camera bump in the traditional sense. Yes, there is still a raised area to house the inevitably big camera hardware, but it is seamlessly integrated into the body of the phone. Rather than a separate bump made of metal, the Find X5 Pro’s array gently rises out of the phone’s back, more like a dune on the soft sands of the desert.

Even the cameras themselves lie flush against the flat surface of that mound. If it weren’t for the black rings around the lenses, it would almost look like they’re actually part of the back cover. This creates a visual continuity that’s often taken for granted in designs, especially in smartphones. There is nothing that forcibly calls attention to itself, generating a more pleasing aesthetic that lets the eyes gently flow over the phone’s back.

The OPPO Find X5 Pro also stands out as one of the very few to use ceramic in a regular, mass-produced edition of a phone, though it is only used on this “Pro” variant. Given how hard it is to work with the material, most manufacturers only apply ceramic on the back of more expensive limited editions. Ceramic is notoriously difficult to shape into specific forms, like the one that this phone has, so it’s a testament to OPPO’s skills that it is able to make it available to a wider audience at a more accessible price tag.

The decision to use ceramic instead of typical glass goes hand in hand with its “futuristic” fluid design. Ceramic feels warmer in the hands, as opposed to cold glass, but also dissipates heat better. It also has a bit more grip even when compared to matte glass, making it less likely to slip from your hand. It has almost the perfect texture to complement the Find X5 Pro’s smooth form, generating a sense of calmness when holding and looking at the phone. Overall, the OPPO Find X5 Pro’s design feels more “human” than any other phone out there, offering a product that almost stands out like an oasis amidst the chaotic world we live in today.

Ergonomics

As a tool, it’s not enough for the OPPO Find X5 Pro to be good to look at. It also needs to be good to hold and use, especially for something that stays in the hand most of the time. Fortunately, the phone does meet ergonomic standards, though probably less perfectly than its visual design. It’s comfortable to hold and settles into your hand securely, but it could prove to be a bit tiring after long periods of use.

The ceramic back is smooth but not slippery, especially compared to AG frosted or matte glass. There’s almost a slight stickiness to it even, though not exactly in a gross kind of way. Along with its natural warmth, the material makes the Find X5 Pro a joy to hold. And depending on how you hold the phone, you might even find yourself unconsciously brushing your index finger against the soft curves of the camera bump, almost like a fidget toy.

The phone, however, is also slightly heavier than most of its peers. It’s not uncomfortably hefty, mind, and you’ll only realize that fact when you try holding other phones as well. It might not matter much, but if you’re the type who tends to hold your phone for long periods of time, you might find your hand, wrist, or arm tiring more easily with the phone.

Unfortunately, the Find X5 Pro can’t escape being a fingerprint magnet, especially with the black finish where smudges are more visible. It takes a simple wipe to banish those marks, though, but sticklers for tidiness might want to grab the white one instead. Fortunately, that doesn’t get easily smudged and embodies the purity and serenity of the phone’s design even better.

Performance

We’re not going to bog you down with specs and numbers, mostly because the OPPO Find X5 Pro is a powerful machine that can stand head-to-head with the best that the smartphone market has to offer this year so far. It comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and up to 12GB of RAM, but there’s no support for storage expansion, so you’ll have to make an upfront choice of what configuration you need when you buy it. There are a few standout details worth mentioning, though, that really make the phone shine.

The 6.7-inch 2K screen, for example, is bright and vibrant even under the sun. It boasts 1 billion colors, which will really make your photos pop, which goes perfectly well with its cameras. Designers and artists will appreciate how accurate the colors are, which is critical when trying to take photos and videos for reference.

In terms of specs, the Find X5 Pro’s crowning glory is really its camera system. On paper, the 50MP main camera might not sound like much, even if it has optical image stabilization. But thanks to the company’s new MariSilicon X chip, which was designed in-house, the images that its cameras produce look too good to be true. Fortunately, they really are.

Photos come out crisp and detailed, no matter the lighting condition. Of course, Night Mode has special tricks to make the scene look perfect, but nighttime photos, with just enough lighting, still look sharp even without that special mode. There’s no loss of detail when switching to ultra-wide because it has a similar 50MP sensor as the main camera. The 13MP telephoto camera, unfortunately, tells a slightly different story. With only 2x optical zoom, you might actually feel it’s not worth the loss in quality and stick to the main camera anyway.

In terms of software, the OPPO Find X5 Pro already runs the latest Android 12 with the company’s ColorOS 12.1 on top. It tries to stick as close to the vanilla Android experience, just with a few embellishments on top. Of course, there are also some major features you won’t find in Google’s version of Android, mostly around themes and customization. There are also your usual pre-installed apps, some of which can be uninstalled, thankfully. One, in particular, is quite interesting in how it meshes well with the overall theme of the phone. The new O Relax app uses a variety of sounds, including those associated with bustling cities, to create a relaxing audio space. Together with its design and ceramic material, this makes the OPPO Find X5 Pro one of the most calming phones on the market.

Sustainability

The Find X5 Pro scores high on most of our marks, but this is one area where the phone is sadly just like any other. Although the smartphone market is slowly taking steps towards more sustainable practices and materials, the Find X5 Pro doesn’t exhibit those efforts just yet. Just like many phones before it, it is a beautiful and high-performance phone that wasn’t designed to be easily repaired and recycled.

Admittedly, ceramic is a more sustainable material compared to plastic, but its costs will mean that repairs and replacements will be much higher as well. The phone is also sealed shut, making repairs more difficult. OPPO, of course, has its authorized service centers, but there is also a new trend these days where the likes of Apple, Google, and Samsung are opening their doors to third-party service providers. Other companies have yet to catch up to these, especially smaller brands that might not have the margins to afford that kind of business strategy.

To its credit, OPPO tries in its own small ways to at least prolong the life of its phones and delay their inevitable fate in garbage dumps. In particular, its battery health engine tries to preserve lithium-ion batteries for as long as it can, even going as far as “healing” them over time. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s still a step in the right direction.

Value

As a high-end phone, the OPPO Find X Pro is nearly perfect. It has powerful hardware that cuts through your daily tasks like a hot knife through butter. Its cameras are among some of the best we’ve seen in the market, proving the wisdom of the company’s investments in its own imaging processor. It has snappy and useful software that truly offers added value, though we could do without most of the bloatware.

In terms of product design, the phone scores even higher. Its seamless and fluid design is a strong statement against current design trends in the market. With its choice of ceramic and the new O Relax app, OPPO boldly embraced a theme that guided its overall design, offering an oasis of calm in your hands in the middle of chaotic times. As with its design, the Find X5 Pro looks and feels like a more holistic product than yet another phone with a laundry list of must-have features.

The one catch to its overall value is its availability. At $1,300, it is on the more expensive end of the price range, but the real problem will be availability. OPPO’s phones aren’t present in all markets, and the Find X5 Pro is even less so. But for those who do have a chance to get one, it’s almost a steal.

Verdict

Almost all smartphones, especially those from Samsung and Apple, talk heavily about the design process that goes into making their latest models. Few can actually claim to deliver something that will tickle the aesthetic taste buds of those with design inclinations. Although it’s not completely new, the design language that OPPO perfected in the Find X5 Pro this year definitely stands a chance in that area. It has won many awards, in fact, including our Best of MWC 2022.

It isn’t just a pretty face, though. Unlike most of its peers and rivals, the OPPO Find X5 Pro actually has a story to tell and a message to get across. Its seamless design, its choice of materials, and even its software all point to a single theme, one that puts design thinking and attention to detail on a pedestal. In effect, the Find X5 Pro has graduated from being just another premium phone or even just a product. It has become a lifestyle choice.

The post OPPO Find X5 Pro Review first appeared on Yanko Design.

PROS:

• Brilliant new platform


• Improved throttle response from gutsy 2.4L boxer, no turbo lag


• One of the world’s best handling cars for $36,000

CONS:

• The design was toned down from concept car


• A bolder red on the seats would enhance interior design


• Export model won’t get latest EyeSight X tech

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS

ERGONOMICS

PERFORMANCE

VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Off the line, the new 2.4-liter turbo’s throttle response is noticeably sharper and the extra punch exiting corners is addictive as is its composure under heavy braking.

Few car names invoke as much passion, awe, and anticipation as the WRX. Just say those three letters and car nuts everywhere get sweaty palms as they know you’re talking about the road-going version of Subaru’s legendary World Rally Championship winning all-wheel-drive turbo. And for 2022, a radical new version will land in showrooms keeping that legacy alive.

The WRX outlasted its arch rival

The Impreza WRX (‘Impreza’ preface dropped in 2013) first appeared in 1992, at the same time as its arch rival, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. For the next two decades, with successive generations, these two pocket rockets battled each other in the WRC, on rally stages around the world, and for street kudos like two aging gladiators fighting for the ultimate honor in a colosseum. But the Subaru ended up outlasting the Mitsubishi when the Evo went out of production 5 years ago. Over a span of 9 years from 1995, the WRX won three manufacturer’s championships and three driver titles, putting those three letters—WRX—firmly on the map and giving the car cult-like status in sports car and gaming circles.

The car, however, was not always referred to as just ‘WRX.’ Up until 2014, the Impreza WRX and the base-model Impreza sat on the same platform. When Subaru decided to give the WRX a new platform in 2014 when building the fifth generation of the car, differentiating it from the base Impreza, they dropped the ‘Impreza’ preface, kept those three tell-tale letters, and added ‘S4.’

Now, some 29 years after the original version debuted, the fifth generation WRX export model has just been revealed in its final production form at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. And I got to test drive the range-topping WRX GT model to the limit at Sodegaura Forest Raceway, one hour southeast of Tokyo. Boasting a totally new body, enhanced 4WD system, all-new platform with stiffer rigidity, totally new interior and a new larger capacity 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, the new model aims for enhanced performance and handling while delivering better economy and cleaner emissions. More on that new engine in a moment.

WRX concept’s extreme body toned down for final production model

But before I get into the car’s performance and on-road manners, let’s go back a few years and see where this new model came from. First unveiled at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, the extreme ‘Subaru Viziv Performance Concept’ (pictured below) gave us a sneak peek at what a new WRX might look like. With its wide and low stance, superb wedge-shaped silhouette, massively flared fenders, rugby ball-sized brake ducts, sharp, aggressive front end and quadruple exhaust pipes, the concept looked like a Scud missile on four wheels. Considered one of the best-looking cars of the show, and arguably Subaru’s most aesthetically appealing concept car ever, hopes were high in motoring circles that Subaru beancounters would retain as much of those sporty, in-your-face lines and edges as possible when the new WRX came to market.

However, while the new car does sit on the brand’s highly acclaimed Subaru Global Platform, shared by the Outback and Forester, the extreme styling traits were watered down. As so often happens when a new model is transformed from concept to road-going version, the new WRX did manage to keep some aspects of the concept like the concept’s sharp hexagonal grille and headlight contours, but saw those awesome flared fenders and over-the-top silhouette toned down for the mass market.

But while the production model now offers more conservative design influences, it does however still feature typically characteristic WRX styling traits like a large hood scoop to feed air to the intercooler, and chunky blacked-out trim on the wheel arches and side skirts is a nod to its off-road potential, according to one Subaru staffer.

Playing the devil’s advocate, however, at first glance these dullish black plastic surrounds take some getting used to and are rather controversial in the motoring world, to say the least. They make the WRX look more like an awkward Forester sedan than a high-performance sedan. On the positive side, these black parts do work aesthetically to give the car a slightly thinner-looking side profile, which in turn, makes the WRX seem as though it means business. The rear wing has also been subtly integrated into the trunk design to help shift the car away from its long-time boy racer image. Although we can expect to see a snow board-sized rear wing on the hot WRX STI model slated for launch in a year or so.

Subaru’s design department also highlights a few functional styling upgrades that help to elevate the new WRX’s dynamic performance. In addition to new functional brake ducts at the front corners of the car that channel air into the wheel arches to cool the brakes, new air outlets behind the front wheels reduce lift on the front tires and improve overall stability at speed. In addition, new air outlets at the rear of the car help to streamline the WRX and stop air from getting trapped under the rear bumper. One designer even pointed to the special aerodynamic texture of the engine under tray that reduces air resistance to improve front-end downforce as a special feature of the aero package. To further reinforce the new WRX’s image into an increasingly discerning market, Subaru has also added a new ‘solar orange pearl’ body color to a range of eight colors.

WRX gets a more driver-focused cockpit with flat-bottomed wheel

It is inside the car where the WRX’s reinvention is most obvious. Aiming to bring the new model into line with more upmarket European sports models, the new cockpit features a driver-focused layout with a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a generous amount of leather, faux-leather, and soft cloth with bright red stitching gracing the seats, steering wheel and dashboard. The idea behind the cloth finish on the seat base is to hold drivers better in their seats when cornering at high speeds.

Carbon-fiber and chrome accents around the air-conditioner outlets, doors, center console, and steering wheel add a touch of class while the huge iPad-sized 11.6 inch HD touchscreen delivers Subaru’s latest Starling infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built-in. The touchscreen provides high-quality clear graphics and a quick to the touch reaction time when selecting menus.

Two-tone burgundy and dark grey optional seats are made by Recaro and offer excellent lumber and back support. To be honest, however, I feel Subaru could have been more adventurous with their color choices, especially the dull burgundy hue on the seat. Given that Subaru is trying to take the WRX upmarket and appeal to a slightly more mature buyer, it would have been good to see a brighter red used to contrast with the seat’s dark grey and black tones, while a red or signature STI-style dark pink stripe on the seatbelts would have enhanced the interior ambiance no end.

One feature that certainly does enhance the driving experience is the premium Harmon Kardon audio which uses a high performance class-D amplifier pumping out 504 Watts of power that sends your music through its 11-speaker sound system.

The Driving Experience

With the new WRX’s powerplant, don’t expect to find any electric motors or hybrid options. This car packs a new Subaru 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine – a format employed by every WRX since the original 1992 model. In this new guise, it pumps out 271-hp (up 3hp over the predecessor) and 258 lb-ft (43-hp and 74 lb-ft more than the naturally aspirated unit in the BRZ) and boasts a twin-scroll turbocharger. The torque curve has been broadened to deliver peak output from 2000 rpm to 5200 rpm and it is clear to see that the extra 400cc of displacement, along with a new electronically controlled turbo wastegate and bypass valves, all combine to improve throttle response and nullify turbo lag. Keep the turbo purring above 3500 rpm and you’ll have a gutsy instant boost of acceleration every time you need it. Off the line, the WRX is noticeable quicker and the extra punch exiting corners is addictive. Power goes to both axles via a 6-speed manual gearbox or a new 8-speed automatic Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT) said to offer 30% faster upshifts and 50% quicker downshifts.

Unfortunately the Japanese spec I drove only offered the SPT as the 6-speed manual is not offered in its home country. This 8-speed gearbox is basically a rehashed continuously variable transmission, but meticulously tuned to offer eight distinct gear ratios, which are surprisingly distinguishable, but with a more aggressive shift logic that provides quicker and beefier throttle response across the entire powerband.

The U.S.-spec model might not get the all-new ‘EyeSight X’ technology fitted to the Japanese spec WRX GT, but it does get a tweaked version of the predecessor’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology that monitors traffic, optimizes adaptive cruise control, and warns you when you sway outside of your lane. This tech also offers automatic pre-collision braking and automatic emergency steering that can steer away from an oncoming obstacle when there is a clear path and braking alone may not be enough to avoid an accident.

On the road, the WRX can only be described as masterful and gripping. The new WRX GT really does handle superbly and delivers its power effortlessly and seamlessly thanks to its new 2.4-liter turbo boxer that feeds power to the road through a new rapid shifting 8-speed auto transmission. It may not be as quick or convincing as, say, a VW DSG 7-speed gearbox, but it certainly does the job.

The WRX GT is fitted with a bespoke drive-mode select switch which adjusts the car’s powertrain, electronically-controlled dampers, and power steering to suit the driver’s needs. With overhauled front suspension, 18-inch Dunlop SP Sports Maxx tires, quicker steering, and ventilated disc brakes all round, Subaru claims the WRX boasts “the highest levels of dynamic performance and ride comfort in its history”. I might have to agree. This car gets the business of going quick safely with the minimum of fuss. When pushed to the max, the WRX jumps off the line faster than its predecessor, stays flatter in the corners than any WRX before it, and resists understeer more than any other Subaru before it.

Its steering is quick and pinpoints with plenty of feedback from the road while its power delivery is instant and effortless. What will impress more discerning buyers is the top-class ride quality that the WRX offers thanks to its new platform and suspension setup.

Prices and Options

Prices have not been released yet, but in the U.S. we can expect the WRX GT to slot into its flagship role at around $36,000, with the entry-level model starting at around $30,000. Expect the WRX STI to hover around $40,000. Competitors to the WRX include the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the new Hyundai Elantra N which is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter developing 276-hp.

As pressure is being put on automakers to switch to electrification and phase out their gasoline engines over the next decade, I asked an engineer why he and his team went to so much trouble to produce such a thrilling car. “We wanted to go out on a high, extracting everything possible from our decades of continuous development and accumulation of high performance technology and all-wheel-drive handling from our rally program. We wanted to squeeze every drop of passion and pace out of our flagship sports car and honor its WRC successes while paying tribute to our legions of fans around the world that have stuck with us over all these years.” Good way to go out fellas. Can’t wait for the stonking WRX STI in a year or so. That’ll be something really special.

The post 2022 Subaru WRX Review first appeared on Yanko Design.