Oppo had Find X design ready two years back, that’s why it doesn’t have a ‘notch’

Also read: Oppo Find X first impressions: Innovative notchless smartphone with a motorised camera module

Unlike previous years, a lot of companies are unable to come up with fresh ideas when it comes to phone design. For instance, after the arrival of the iPhone X late last year, a slew of smartphones was launched with a small cut out, or notch on the top of the screen. While the iPhone X’s notch has some purpose as it houses the TrueDepth camera system, others simply aped the design for the sake of it.

Oppo is impressed with its use of the motorised slider that pushes up to reveal three cameras.

“The Find X was designed without a notch, because two years back, there was no concept of a notched screen,” he says. According to Yang, all the major brands want to produce a notchless, all-screen smartphone. The problem is how you break this limitation. In Oppo’s case, the team of designers has managed to come with the Find X with a notchless display, which he calls a milestone.

Oppo is impressed with its use of the motorised slider that pushes up to reveal three cameras — 25MP selfie snapper + dual 20MP and 16MP — as well as 3D facial recognition. To create a notchless smartphone, the Find X’s entire top side comes out, which seems to be a more sensible solution to achieve a nearby bezel-less smartphone.

Oppo is the latest entrant in this premium mobile phone segment.

While the idea may be similar to the one used by the Vivo Nex which has a pop-up selfie camera, with Oppo Find X the implementation was way more complicated and totally different. While Yang didn’t explain how the motorised camera works, he did narrate a backstory: “There are only two vendors in the world that can provide such kind of technology and we decided to work with one of them. This solution is fully customised. We are confident and proud to say that no competitor of ours can actually have a similar technology, at least for the next six months.”

The high-end smartphone segment in India has suddenly become crowded. Apple and Samsung now have competition from Huawei, OnePlus, and Vivo. Oppo is the latest entrant in this premium mobile phone segment.

Also read: Apple iPhone X review: The best iPhone no doubt, but be careful

Sales of premium smartphones have been gradually surging in India due to rising disposable income and availability of cheap 4G data. According to Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research, the premium phone market contributes to 4 per cent of the overall smartphone market in India. In India, the top three players that dominate the premium smartphone segment are Samsung, Apple, and OnePlus. OnePlus, owned by China’s BBK Electronics which also controls Vivo and Oppo, was the fastest growing brand in the high-end smartphone segment capturing 25 per cent of the share in Q1 2018.

Sales of premium smartphones have been gradually surging in India due to rising disposable income and availability of cheap 4G data.

“There are people in the market who want to have a premium smartphone experience,” he says, “and for sure the volume will be lesser, but like other brands there is a target audience for the Find X.” Oppo held a market share of 5.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2018, according to Counterpoint Research.

In the coming months, Oppo plans to launch yet another high-end smartphone in India, which Yang says will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. Without revealing details he said the launch might happen as early as the second half of 2018.