Summary

The Oppo X 2021 is an impressive smartphone concept capable of expanding thanks to its wrapable screen.We have taken charge of this product and even if it is not doomed to marketing, it already makes us dream.

The Oppo x 2021 extended and held in hand // source: Arnaud Gelineau - Frandroid

Bzzzzzt.The noise of the engine is slowly heard, for a very small handful of seconds.The sound is stopping and here I am magic with a device in tablet format in his hands when he had, the moment before, the appearance of a classic phone.It is the Oppo X 2021, an extensible smartphone concept with a unopenable screen allowing to enlarge the display area without suffering from the slightest fold in the middle.Impressive.

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We took charge of the Oppo X 2021 which, remember, had been released in November in China.Far from having reached the finished product stadium, it nevertheless has the merit of exploring a very different path from those of folding smartphones.Should we see here the true future of our smartphones, or is it only to squander?Without pretending to answer this thorny question, we invite you here to discover our first reactions and observations.You can then build your opinion in a way, we hope, more enlightened.

Remember as well an essential thing: the Oppo X 2021 is not doomed to be marketed.It is a technological showcase for its manufacturer that seeks to show its know-how and to reflect on the innovations it wishes to offer on the market in the future.

A technological slap

When I grab the Oppo X 2021 for the first time, it is in classic smartphone format.Finally, I say "classic", but you should know that even under this appearance, the object is rather imposing with its 6.7 -inch diagonal and its substantial thickness.It makes me think a little about a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra or a Huawei Mate 40 Pro, but bigger.

Our Frandroid site on the Oppo X 2021 in smartphone format // Source: Frandroid

The technological slap is soon manifested, because I hasten to extend the screen by soliciting the motorized system that takes care of doing this for me.The result is amazing, no more or less.The transition from the smartphone format to the tablet format is fluid and does not know any particular hook.The screen went from 6.7 to 7.4 inches of itself and without suffering from the slightest fold in its middle, contrary to what is often criticized on a Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Our Frandroid site on the Oppo X 2021 in tablet format // Source: Frandroid

There is no irregularity when the slab extends, the whole is perfectly uniform.The feat is therefore not only technical, it is also aesthetic.

Since we are talking about Samsung, also know that the Oppo X 2021, in its tablet version, offers a display format higher but narrower than the Samsung jewelry.

The Oppo X 2021 posed next to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 // Source: Frandroid

The Oppo France team unfortunately could not confirm the dimensions and weight of the device.With a colleague present on site, we therefore measured ourselves with a rule of measurements of 168 x 76 x 11 mm in smartphone mode.In tablet format, the width rises to 114 mm according to our double extra decimeter, but the thickness does not change or almost unlike foldable smartphones.For the weight, deprived of a balance, I could only trust my feelings: the Oppo X 2021 is very heavy.

We must also approach the way in which the screen size of the screen is started.There is a physical button on the right edge of the Oppo x 2021.The latter allows you to unlock the smartphone in a classic way, but it is also he who allows it to extend it.

Double support on the Oppo X 2021 unlock button also allows you to extend the smartphone // source screen: Frandroid

To do this, double press or slide the thumb over the key recess.For the first method, I did not meet any concerns, for the second ... I did not get there, not once, never.The manager of Oppo who demonstrated did not meet with concern, but I did not meet the same success.

The Oppo X 2021 being a concept above all, it lacks certain things.There is no front photo sensor or buttons to adjust the volume - you have to go through the system settings for that.

This unflattering selfie was made with the rear photo module in the absence of a front sensor on the Oppo x 2021 // Source: Frandroid

So many elements that prove that you will not see this model of the market.To continue the owner's turn, it should be noted that the USB-C Port below encroaches a little on the demarcation line at the level of which the smartphone unfolds to grow.

The USB-C port of the Oppo x 2021 // Source: Frandroid

Line found on the back of the device, a little at an angle.We also see a triple photo module in the upper left corner, but we couldn't really test it.

An interface to finish but with good ideas

Well, a smartphone that extends and shrinks to the goodwill of the user, it is necessarily very cool.However, how does the software part manage to follow the pace?Before going further, it should be noted that the Oppo X 2021 firmware is absolutely not over.For example, for example, I caused the terminal extinction twice just by chaining too many applications.Despite these limits, some interesting details are to be emphasized.

The Oppo X 2021 can take the form of a tablet // Source: Frandroid

First of all, on the home screen, the transition from one format to the other is done in an extremely transparent way, without any particular animation.It’s very nice and successful.However, the observation is not the same when you open an application.On YouTube or on the browser, the Oppo X 2021 operates a fade - a kind of soft transition but very visible to the eye - between smartphone content and tablet content.

It looks almost like a deliberately outdated television effect, but I found it to be a good solution so as not to rush the user experience.There is probably better to do, but it's a good start.

However, in these applications, the smartphone is content to extend the content.It is practical and more comfortable, but it does not fully exploit the technology of this concept.However, the extended screen is better used in the settings.Each submenu comes in a column to the right of the main menu.We have more elements under the eyes.For more advanced uses, third -party developers will have to adapt their applications in turn so that this Oppo X 2021 becomes really relevant.Again, it will not be for immediately.

100,000 uses

For this technological feat, Oppo has put the means and protected itself with multiple patents.To enlarge the display area, the manufacturer obviously does not use an elastic slab, but well -wrapped.Indeed, part of the screen remains hidden in smartphone format and takes place as soon as we go into tablet mode.

Oppo x 2021 in hand in its extended format // Source: Frandroid

In this regard, Oppo is very proud of its motorized system specially designed for this product, from its two -plates mechanism that move away or get closer to each other and even the curved of the calculated screen "perfectly ”to ensure impeccable operation.There is also a thin metal layer made up of several links and arranged like a caterpillar placed below the screen to help the slab to take place while offering it better robustness.Please note, the screen remains more fragile than the standard.

Besides, speaking of robustness, Oppo ensures that we can extend and shrink this Phone concept up to 100,000 times.The manufacturer targets 200,000 times, but tests are still underway to reach this level.

Smartphones to fold or stretch?

To conclude, I think we can all agree that this Oppo X 2021 is impressive.It is frankly the most appropriate adjective to describe it.However, is it relevant?Difficult to say for the moment and for a more interesting reflection, we must above all ask ourselves what vision should be preferred for the future of our hybrid smartphones, the folding or the roller?

A Galaxy Z Fold 2 effectively protects its internal screen when folded, but does not yet know how to get rid of its fold.The Oppo X 2021 allows a transition between smartphone and tablet formats, but does not protect its screen.Oppo is also aware of this and very clearly explains that he does not consider this product at all as ready.

To go further we took lots of selfies with the first photo sensor under the screen of a smartphone and it is not terrible

The company claims indeed wanting to provide devices guaranteeing a certain longevity and which meet consumer expectations, especially in terms of price.However, it is impossible to know for the moment if this concept can bear the throes of time and conversely, there is no doubt that if it had an official price, it would be very high.

In the meantime, the Oppo X 2021 puts stars in our eyes and it is also a little bit the beauty of new technologies.