OnePlus Ace Racing Edition review
The OnePlus Ace series has shifted focus from flagship products to budget offerings, raising questions about the brand's identity. The latest addition, the Ace Racing Edition, boasts a Dimension 8100 Max processor and 150W fast charging, but at the cost of some high-end features. A closer look reveals similarities with the Oppo K10, sparking debate among fans. With a less impressive camera setup and no OIS support, this phone may struggle to live up to OnePlus' typically high standards. Can it still deliver strong gaming performance?
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has finally arrived, and with it comes the question of whether this budget-friendly phone can live up to the brand's reputation for quality design. The answer lies in its build quality and design, which is a mixed bag. On one hand, the phone's plastic material with a matte finish is effective in preventing fingerprints. However, it may not be the best choice for heat dissipation during intense gaming sessions. The camera module, identical to that of the Oppo K10, looks similar but lacks the same premium feel as other OnePlus phones. The back cover and design of the phone are eerily reminiscent of the Redmi GT Neo3, making it difficult to distinguish between the two devices at first glance. While this may not be a deal-breaker for some users, fans of OnePlus may be disappointed by the lack of uniqueness in its design. One notable positive aspect is the support for 3.5mm headphone jacks, a feature that's often missing from modern smartphones. This will surely delight gamers and music enthusiasts who value low latency and high-quality audio over wireless headphones. The phone's dimensions are standard fare, with a 1080p 120Hz LCD screen, a wider chin, and larger screen bezels. The front camera hole is also noticeable, but the in-screen fingerprint recognition has been replaced by a side-mounted button, which some may find more efficient for unlocking the device. In terms of build quality, the phone feels sturdy enough but doesn't exude the same level of premiumness as other OnePlus devices. While it's not a bad product in its price range, fans of the brand may be left wanting more in terms of design and materials used.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is an entry-level smartphone that has been generating interest among budget-conscious buyers. While it may not boast all the features of a flagship device, its gaming performance and battery life are worth exploring. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the phone's battery life. According to our tests, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition packs a 5000mAh power battery that supports up to 65W fast charging. In the first 30 minutes of charging, the battery was able to reach 71%, indicating a decent charging speed. However, it took around 22 minutes to get fully charged. The battery life itself is quite impressive, with moderate usage allowing for a day and a half or even two days of use on a single charge. This is thanks in part to the phone's power-efficient chipset and optimized software. While the battery life may not be the most exciting aspect of the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition, it is certainly a redeeming quality that sets it apart from other budget smartphones. If you're looking for a phone with decent gaming performance and a reliable battery, the Ace Racing Edition is definitely worth considering.
Display
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition's display is a 1080p LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. This results in a wider chin and larger bezels compared to other flagship phones. The front camera hole punch is also larger, which might be considered a drawback by some users. In terms of visual quality, the LCD screen on the Ace Racing Edition looks sharper than the one found on older OnePlus devices, particularly when displaying text. However, it falls short in color contrast and brightness compared to OLED displays. Colors appear lighter, and there's less depth to them, which might be a disappointment for those who enjoy watching movies or TV shows on their phone. One notable omission from the display features is HDR support, which means users won't be able to watch content with enhanced colors and contrast. Another feature missing from this device is Always-On Display (AOD). This means that users will need to manually wake up the screen to check notifications or glance at the time, unlike on other OnePlus devices. In comparison to the standard OnePlus Ace display, the LCD screen on the Racing Edition looks sharper. Nonetheless, it's still an LCD screen and doesn't offer the same visual experience as OLED displays found in more premium phones. The display is serviceable for everyday use but might not be ideal for users who prioritize a superior viewing experience. Overall, while the display on the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has its strengths, it also falls short in several areas, particularly when compared to other devices on the market. This might be something that potential buyers should consider before making their purchase decision.
Camera
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has been touted as an affordable gaming smartphone from the Chinese brand. While it excels in certain aspects, its camera capabilities are a letdown, particularly compared to other phones in the same price range. Firstly, the main camera on the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has only two lenses, whereas many of its competitors offer triple or quad-camera setups. Moreover, it lacks Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and anti-shaking technology, which is a significant omission for a phone that's designed to handle demanding tasks like gaming. In terms of image quality, the main camera on the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition produces decent results in bright lighting conditions, but struggles in low-light scenarios. The dynamic range and detail performance are similar to the OnePlus 8, but the colors appear lighter and less vibrant. This is likely due to the smaller sensor size and lack of OIS support. The ultra-wide-angle lens on the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition performs better than expected, particularly in bright lighting conditions. However, its results are not as impressive as those from other phones with larger sensors. In challenging scenarios like nighttime or dimly lit environments, the camera's limitations become apparent. Interestingly, when you enable the Night mode feature and extend the shutter time, you can capture some decent photos with better detail performance than the OnePlus 8. This suggests that the camera hardware is not entirely to blame for its mediocre performance. Overall, the camera experience on the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition feels like a compromise made to keep costs low. While it's not terrible, it's certainly not impressive, especially considering the standards set by other phones in this price range. If you're an avid photographer or someone who wants a phone with exceptional camera capabilities, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition might not be the best choice for you.
Price and Value
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has been making waves in the market with its impressive gaming performance, despite being an entry-level product. As we dive into the details, it's clear that this phone is not just a stripped-down version of the flagship models, but rather a well-crafted device that offers great value for its price. Priced at a competitive [insert price], the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is a solid choice for those who want a reliable and feature-packed smartphone without breaking the bank. The phone's design may not be as sleek as some of the other models, but it's certainly not unattractive either. The use of plastic material with a matte finish does prevent fingerprints, although it might not be ideal for heat dissipation. One of the standout features of the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is its gaming performance. With a 1080p 120Hz LCD screen and a powerful Dimension 8100 Max chipset, this phone can handle demanding games without any issues. While it may not be as smooth as some of the flagship models, it's still an impressive feat for an entry-level product. Overall, the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition offers great value for its price. It may not have all the bells and whistles of a flagship model, but it's certainly a solid choice for those who want a reliable and feature-packed smartphone without breaking the bank.
Performance
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is a budget-friendly smartphone that seems to be deviating from the brand's flagship-focused philosophy. Despite its lower price tag, it still packs some impressive performance credentials. Powered by the Dimensity 8100 Max chipset, this phone delivers decent gaming performance. In our testing, the phone maintained a smooth frame rate of around 50 fps for the first 10 minutes, but as the device heated up, the frame rate dropped to around 40 fps. While it's not ideal, I didn't feel that the phone was too hot during extended gaming sessions. We also tested the phone with PUBG, and while it managed to run the game at a maximum frame rate of 40 fps with HDR graphics settings, it's clear that the device is struggling to optimize performance. The Dimensity 8100 Max chipset seems underutilized in this context. One area where the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition excels is in its support for up to 65W fast charging. Charging from 0-71% took just 30 minutes, and a full charge was achieved in around 52 minutes. While not as powerful as some of OnePlus' flagship devices, the performance of the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is still respectable for its price range. However, it's clear that some compromises have been made to keep costs down, which may impact gaming performance and overall user experience.
Pros
1. The phone's plastic material with matte finish can be very effective in preventing fingerprints.
2. The support for 3.5 millimeter headphone jack is a welcome feature, especially for gamers who want to avoid high latency or wireless headphones.
3. The phone's 1080p 120hz lcd screen looks sharper than the OnePlus Ace, especially when displaying text.
4. The side recognition button serving as a fingerprint reader has better unlock speed and success rate compared to under-screen fingerprint recognition.
5. The phone's gaming performance is able to compare to oneplus flagships, with a frame rate of around 50 fps in PUBG and up to 40 fps with HDR graphics settings.
6. The ultra wide angle lens performs similarly well as the OnePlus Ace, with better detail and color performance.
7. The phone's battery life is decent, with fast charging capabilities that can charge up to 71% in just 30 minutes.
8. The phone's price range makes it a good entry-level product for new users who are new to oneplus.
Cons
1. The design of the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition is based on Oppo K10, making it hard to notice the difference between them.
2. The back cover and material are similar to the Oppo K10, which may not be good for heat dissipation during gaming tests.
3. The camera module looks identical to that of the Oppo K10, although OnePlus has added a decorative camera shape in the lower right corner.
4. The phone actually has only two lenses really working in daily shooting and another macro lens of only 2 megapixels.
5. The LCD screen doesn't perform as well as OLED in terms of color contrast and brightness, with lighter colors and lower contrast.
6. The phone doesn't support HDR content or Always-On Display (AOD), which may be a disappointment for some users.
7. The phone's performance optimization is still too conservative, resulting in frame rates dropping to around 40 fps during gaming tests.
8. The main camera doesn't support OIS anti-shaking, although this may not be a concern for the phone's target group.