Oppo, one of the most exciting Chinese smartphone companies, will concentrate on two areas to ensure its future smartphones continue to stand out: cool designs, and the latest camera technology. And like everyone these days, it may produce more wearables.
Digital Trends recently caught up with Oppo, and while it’s great news to hear the company plans to continue innovating, we were disappointed that a wider release in the U.S. isn’t on the cards just yet. Instead, the manufacturer plans to push into key emerging markets such as India, and is aiming to have its phones available in 24 different countries later this year, up from 17 at the close of 2014.
Oppo is already well-known for its sleek, often quirky designs. It’s responsible for the N3, a phone with a motorized camera module utilizing the same lens for use on the front and rear, plus the incredibly thin Oppo R5. On the camera front, it launched Pure Image 2.0+ late last year. The software package contains various features including an ultra macro mode, slow shutter speeds, manual control, and the option to adjust the depth of field after taking a picture. It has partnered with Schneider-Kreuznach to produce the N3’s lens.
More wearable devices to come
We were told the next major Oppo smartphone release will have a truly special camera. Judging by what it has come up with so far, this is an intriguing statement. The company’s spokesman remained coy when pushed for details, so we’ll just have to wait and see what it has planned.
For wearables, the company released the O Band fitness wristband in early 2014, but due to it being a collaboration with Baidu, the popular Chinese search engine, it’ll never make it out of China. While Oppo wasn’t forthcoming on any details about future projects, new wearable hardware is apparently something we should look out for in the future.
Oppo isn’t the only one using the latest camera tech to make its name better known. Asus showed the ZenFone 2 and the ZenFone Zoom at CES 2015, both of which feature impressive cameras, and the latter will be headed to the U.S. later this year. Sadly, Oppo doesn’t intend to make a move into the U.S. for another two years.
Phones can be purchased online
The company is relatively small, and sees more benefit in slowly expanding into less mature markets first, before tackling the well-established ones. The good news is, provided you don’t mind buying a SIM-free, unconnected phone, many of Oppo’s devices can be purchased through its own Oppostyle online store. Oppo’s still dedicated to selling phones through more traditional means though.
Oppo produces smartphones that turn camera lenses, and therefore, heads; so hopefully, thanks to strong partnerships with companies such as Qualcomm, we’ll see them on wider sale in the U.S. before its 2017 target.
