OnePlus Ace Racing Edition review
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is an entry-level product that deviates from the brand's flagship-centric approach. Despite its lower price point, this phone boasts a decent 1080p 120Hz LCD screen, a fast Dimension 8100 Max chipset, and up to 150W fast charging support. However, the design of the phone shares similarities with Oppo's K10 series, which may not be ideal for those expecting a unique OnePlus look. The camera module is identical to that of the Oppo K10, featuring two working lenses and a macro lens of just 2 megapixels. While the racing edition supports a 3.5mm headphone jack, this feature has become increasingly rare among flagship phones. The LCD screen on the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition offers better text display than its predecessor but lags behind OLED screens in terms of color contrast and brightness. It also lacks HDR support and AOD (Always-On Display), making it less suitable for movie enthusiasts. In gaming performance, the Dimension 8100 Max chipset delivers a respectable frame rate, but the phone's temperature increases with prolonged use, causing a slight dip in performance. The camera configuration is somewhat underwhelming compared to other OnePlus phones, with limited dynamic range and smaller view angles. Despite these limitations, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition offers good value for its price point, particularly for new users or those transitioning from lower-end devices. It provides a reliable gaming experience and fast charging capabilities, making it an attractive entry-level option for those looking to join the OnePlus ecosystem.
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has been making waves in the tech world, and one of its most notable features is its build quality and design. The phone's back cover is made from a plastic material with a matte finish that effectively prevents fingerprints. However, this may not be ideal for heat dissipation during intense gaming sessions. In terms of design, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition bears a striking resemblance to the Oppo K10. It shares an identical camera module and has a very similar back cover, making it hard to tell them apart at first glance. The phone's dimensions are also comparable, with a slightly wider chin and screen bezels. One aspect that sets the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition apart from its competitors is the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack. This feature may seem old-fashioned in today's era of wireless earbuds, but for those who still value the superior sound quality of wired headphones, it's a welcome addition. The phone's LCD screen boasts a 1080p 120Hz display, which makes it suitable for gaming and everyday use. However, its color contrast and brightness may not be on par with OLED screens. The absence of HDR content support is also a drawback for movie enthusiasts. One notable change from the OnePlus Ace is the presence of a side-mounted fingerprint reader. While some users may miss the in-screen fingerprint recognition, this new feature offers faster and more accurate unlocking speeds. Overall, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition's build quality and design are solid, if not particularly impressive. It's clear that the phone has been designed to appeal to a budget-conscious audience without sacrificing too much in terms of performance. While it may not be the most visually stunning device on the market, its practicality and value for money make it an attractive option for those looking for a reliable smartphone.
Battery Life
In our recent hands-on experience with the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition, we had the opportunity to test its battery life. The device packs a 5,000mAh power battery that supports up to 65W fast charging. During our testing, the phone charged from 0 to 71% in just 30 minutes, which is impressive. However, it took another 22 minutes to reach a full charge. This means that while the initial charging speed is excellent, the overall charging time could be improved. In terms of battery life, we found the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition to deliver decent results. With moderate use, including gaming and camera usage, the phone easily lasted a day and a half. However, heavy users may need to charge the device more frequently. One aspect that stood out was the phone's ability to maintain a stable temperature even during intense gaming sessions. While it got warm, it didn't feel excessively hot, which is a plus for gamers who prefer to play without worrying about overheating issues. Overall, while the battery life of the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is not exceptional, it gets the job done. With its fast charging capabilities and decent battery life, this device can easily last a full day with moderate use.
Display
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition's design may be inspired by other devices, but its display is worth highlighting. The 1080p 120Hz LCD screen is a significant improvement over some of its predecessors. While it doesn't match the color contrast and brightness of OLED displays, it still manages to look sharper, especially when displaying text. One notable change from previous OnePlus phones is the swap from an in-screen fingerprint reader to a side-mounted recognition button. This design choice has led to faster unlock speeds and better success rates compared to capacitive fingerprint buttons or under-screen readers. In addition, the display's wider chin, screen bezels, and larger hole punch front camera are noticeable features that might not appeal to everyone. Unfortunately, the LCD screen doesn't support HDR content, which is a drawback for those who like watching movies on their phone. Furthermore, it lacks Always-On Display (AOD), requiring users to manually wake up the screen to check notifications or view the time. This may be a minor inconvenience for some, but it's worth considering if AOD is essential to your daily usage. Overall, while the display may not be perfect, it still offers decent performance in its price range. If you're looking for an entry-level device with good gaming capabilities, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition might be a suitable option.
Camera
While the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition may be an affordable entry-point into the brand's ecosystem, its camera capabilities are a letdown. Despite its promising specs, the phone's primary and ultra-wide angle lenses fail to impress in various lighting conditions. In bright environments, the main camera's dynamic range and detail performance are on par with the OnePlus 8, but the colors appear lighter and less vibrant. The ultra-wide angle lens performs similarly, with a wider view angle and more vivid colors compared to the OnePlus Ace. However, when capturing nicer scenes, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition starts to show its limitations. One major issue is the lack of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) in the main camera, resulting in poor performance in low-light conditions. The sensor size is also smaller than expected, which affects detail and dynamic range. In contrast, the OnePlus Ace's camera excels in similar scenarios. Interestingly, when manually enabling Night Mode to extend shutter time, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition produces better results with improved detail and color accuracy compared to the OnePlus 8. This is a clear indication of the phone's potential, but it's marred by the subpar OIS and smaller sensor size. The ultra-wide angle lens, however, is a pleasant surprise. It outperforms the OnePlus Ace in terms of detail and color rendition, making it a capable secondary camera for casual users. Overall, while the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition's camera has some redeeming qualities, its fundamental limitations make it less desirable than other options in its class. The phone's inability to support HDR content, combined with its mediocre front-facing camera and lack of AOD (Always-On Display), further diminishes its appeal. Despite these drawbacks, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition remains a viable option for those seeking an affordable entry-point into the brand's ecosystem. However, potential buyers should temper their expectations regarding camera performance.
Price and Value
The latest addition to the OnePlus lineup is the Ace Racing Edition, a budget phone that seems to have diverged from the brand's flagship-focused roots. With a price point that's significantly lower than its predecessors, this device aims to offer impressive value for money. At first glance, the design of the Ace Racing Edition appears to be based on the Realme GT Neo3 and Oppo K10, with a plastic back cover that's prone to fingerprints but effective in preventing them. While it may not excel in terms of heat dissipation, the phone's gaming performance is surprisingly good. In terms of camera capabilities, the Ace Racing Edition lags behind its predecessors, with only two lenses working in daily shooting and no support for OIS anti-shaking. However, our tests revealed that the main camera performs similarly to the OnePlus 8, although colors are lighter and the view angle is smaller. OnePlus has also omitted features like AOD (Always-On Display) and a capacitive fingerprint reader, instead opting for a side-mounted button that serves as a fingerprint reader. Despite these omissions, the Ace Racing Edition still manages to deliver impressive gaming performance, with a 50fps frame rate in PUBG. While it may not be the best option for watching movies on the go, this phone is a solid choice for those who want a budget-friendly device that can handle demanding tasks. Ultimately, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition's value proposition lies in its price and performance combination. At an affordable price point, it offers a compelling entry-level experience for new users, making it a great option for those looking to join the OnePlus family without breaking the bank.
Performance
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is an affordable smartphone that seems to be deviating from the brand's flagship-focused strategy. Powered by the Dimensity 8100 Max chipset, this phone promises impressive gaming performance without breaking the bank. In our testing, the Ace Racing Edition delivered a smooth gaming experience, with frame rates averaging around 50fps for the first 10 minutes. However, as the phone heated up, the frame rate dropped to around 40fps. While this might not be ideal, it's still impressive considering the phone's price point. In comparison to other phones in its class, such as the Redmi K50, the Ace Racing Edition performed slightly better. We also ran PUBG on the phone with HDR graphics settings, and while it didn't run smoothly at 60fps, it managed to hold a frame rate of around 40fps, which is still respectable. However, our tests revealed that the camera configuration on the Ace Racing Edition is not as impressive as its gaming performance. The main camera lacks OIS (optical image stabilization), and the ultra-wide-angle lens produces images with lower detail and dynamic range compared to the OnePlus Ace. Furthermore, the phone's LCD screen has a wider chin, screen bezels, and a larger hole-punch front camera, which might not be ideal for some users. Overall, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is a decent entry-level phone that excels in gaming performance without compromising too much on other aspects. While it may not have all the features of a flagship OnePlus device, it's still a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive gaming capabilities.
Pros
1. The phone has a plastic material with matte finish that can be very effective in preventing fingerprints.
2. It supports up to 65W fast charging, which can charge the battery up to 71% in just 30 minutes.
3. The gaming performance is able to compare to oneplus flagships and is even able to maintain a frame rate of around 50 fps for the first 10 minutes.
4. The phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a rare feature in flagship phones nowadays.
5. The ultra-wide-angle lens performs much better than the OnePlus Ace's in good lighting conditions.
6. The camera can take nice shots with better detail performance when using night mode and having a firm grip on the phone.
7. It has an efficient fingerprint recognition button, which is faster and more accurate than under-screen fingerprint recognition.
Cons
1. The phone has a wider chin and screen bezels compared to other OnePlus phones.
2. The LCD screen doesn't perform as well as OLED screens in terms of color contrast and brightness.
3. It doesn't support AOD (Always-On Display), which means you'll have to manually wake up the screen to check notifications.
4. The main camera lacks OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and has a smaller sensor size, resulting in poorer low-light performance compared to the OnePlus Ace.
5. The phone's design is similar to the Oppo K10, which may make it hard to distinguish from other budget phones.