Not too long ago, smartphones coming from China weren’t getting the same respect or attention in India they get right now. They were considered inferior in quality, and also didn’t quite translate into devices you could flaunt among your peers. However, that has changed drastically over the last few years, and one of the brands that played a crucial role to change this paradigm is OPPO. With innovative features, focus on consumer requirements and of course, catering to the budget and mid-tier segments, the brand now ranks among the top five phonemakers in India. In this piece, let’s dive deeper as to how each of these aspects helped OPPO reach such an enviable position.
Table of Contents
Staying ahead of the curve
Instead of simply following the footsteps of other phone brands, OPPO has always forged its own path. The company’s latest flagship, the Find X exemplifies its commitment to innovation. In a world where display notches have become a norm, the company found the most innovative way to get rid of it. The same goes for a number of successful models that the handset maker has launched before this.
Back in 2013, selfies weren’t as popular as they are now, and companies were offering higher-res cameras at the back without any focus (quite literally) on the front shooter. This is when OPPO unveiled its N1 smartphone, which offered a rotating camera. What this meant was that the same 13MP camera would spin according to your wish to click regular photos or selfies, with the same quality. In the following year, OPPO perfected this vision with the launch of the N3, which came with a motorised rotating camera.
And who can forget the OPPO Find 7 from 2014? This was one of the first smartphones in the world to sport a Quad HD display. Not just that, its 13MP rear camera seemed normal at first glance, but it held the capability to create high-res 50MP photographs. OPPO continued its innovation streak by launching its SmartSensor OIS technology in 2016. Instead of relying upon the traditional lens-based stabilisation methods, it gave birth to three-axis sensor-based stabilisation, which resulted in more precise results and significantly less power consumption.
Catering to all price segments
While the OPPO Find X is as loaded as a smartphone can be, its price is something that’s not within the reach of everyone. For such users, OPPO has the F9 Pro. Instead of a distracting notch up top, the smartphone has a Waterdrop screen with the selfie camera and sensors residing on a tiny droplet. The Waterdrop display is a big innovation in itself, as it reduces the size of the notch to a small dot that looks nice and doesn’t get into the way of gaming or media consumption. Keeping the style quotient high, the F9 Pro is available in attractive hues like Sunrise Red and Twilight Blue. The gradient finish on the handsets is a special highlight, as the shades change in different lighting conditions and the way light gets reflected… taking things to a whole new level. In fact, the gradient finish has been in high demand, and has helped bump up the sales for the device. Clearly, consumers prefer the vivid colours with the gradient finish, which comes across as a strong style statement. On top of this, the phone also offers dual cameras on its back. And while modern phones are offering just fast charging, the F9 Pro’s VOOC Flash Charge technology goes a step further and is capable of providing two hours’ worth of juice in just five minutes.
The market has also been tremendously receptive to OPPO’s products. Great sales figures of the Find X and the F9 Pro prove this more than anything.
A sharp focus on the Indian market
India is a huge market for the company, and it has hence done a lot to achieve the popularity that its devices here in the country. Any company that has its logo being flashed on the kits of the Indian cricket team can certainly believe that they have arrived.
But that’s not it. From the very beginning, OPPO has remained focused on the offline retail channels, and has created a massive network of dealers who are selling OPPO phones more than any other brand.
Additionally, OPPO is ensuring that it’s able to meet consumer demands at various price points. The brand is among the few players which have smartphones spanning from as low as Rs 10,000 going all the way up to Rs 60,000. OPPO’s A series of smartphones is quite compelling in the affordable segment, and is known for offering strong specs at pocket-friendly price points. Take the OPPO A5 for example, the latest in the range. The phone delivers powerful specs and capable cameras, defying its affordable pricing. One of its key highlights is the beefy 4,230mAh battery, that promises superb battery life. The premium tier is taken care of by the innovative Find X, but it’s the latest F9 Pro that deserves a closer look for everything it brings to the table.
Fulfilling user needs
So if OPPO’s philosophy is to be understood, there are actually two sides to it. On one hand, its research and development team continues to innovate with newer technologies, while on the other, the brand is trying to fulfil user demands. From selfies to immersive displays, and from stunning designs to VOOC technology, the company has ensured that it’s able to meet the ever-changing requirements of consumers. Again, the OPPO F9 Pro stands out as a good example, given its innovative Waterdrop display, emphasis on style with the gradient colours, and the good blend of performance, camera capabilities, features like VOOC charging and battery life.
The world of smartphones is always evolving, and within the next few years, we are all set to see innovations like foldable displays, augmented reality and what not. And there’s no doubt we can expect OPPO to be at the forefront of all this.
