Optus X Play: Plans | Pricing | Specs

The 3G-only Optus X Play provides basic smartphone functionality at a budget price point.

Of all the technology-based industries, smartphones might be one of the most confusing, simply because of the breakneck pace at which new handsets hit the market. You've got companies like Apple, Google, Samsung and Sony launching multiple models all year round, with each proclaiming that some feature or another solidifies their handset as the best in the business.

Navigating this endless onslaught of new phones can be tremendously tricky, especially if you're looking for something more affordable than your latest iPhone or Galaxy S handset. It's here that handsets like the Optus X Play stand out. Built to a strict budget, the Optus X Play foregoes fancy features and cutting-edge power in favour of a simple, stripped-back design that delivers basic smartphone functionality at an attractive price point. This makes it well-suited to first-time phone users and those who only need a device for making and receiving calls and texts.

Design

• A basic but functional design that serves its purpose.
• No 4G connectivity means Internet speeds are on the slow side.

• Read more on the Optus X Play's design

  

  The Optus X Play features a basic design very much in keeping with its budget price tag. A 4-inch touch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 sits atop three physical buttons used for navigating the Android interface. It's Android 6.0, also known as "Marshmallow", which brings with it features like better battery management, the ability to set security permissions on a per-app basis and context-based suggestions that aim to provide better advice, depending on what tasks you're engaged in.

  Optus also positions the X Play as something of an on-the-go entertainment device. There's a built-in FM radio plus a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting a pair of wired headphones. Bluetooth 4.0 support means you can sync up a wireless headset too, if you'd prefer. However, should you want to groove out to your own tunes, you'll probably want to purchase a microSD card: the Optus X Play only comes with 4GB of internal storage, of which just 1.1GB is actually available for user files. Just be mindful that it only accepts microSD cards of 32GB or less.

  It's also important to mention that the Optus X Play is strictly a 3G-only handset. For making and receiving calls and texts, this isn't really an issue, but if you want to browse the Internet either on the phone directly or by tethering it to another device, you'll be stuck with significantly slower speeds than you'd get with a 4G connection.

Camera

• 2MP camera is sufficient for very basic photography, though not much more.

• Read more on the Optus X Play's camera

  

  You're never going to get outstanding photos from a budget smartphone, but if all you need is a basic camera for recording pertinent information or for snapping pics you only plan on viewing on the phone itself, the Optus X Play will suffice. Its rear camera features a 2MP sensor with flash capabilities, while its front-facing camera uses a decidedly less-powerful VGA sensor.

  Video capture is more impressive, with the ability to record at 1080p and 30fps. Just bear in mind that you won't be able to watch those videos at full quality on the phone itself due to its lower-resolution screen.

Performance

• Low-power hardware should handle basic tasks, albeit at its own pace.
• 512MB of RAM does not lend itself well to smooth multi-tasking.

• Read more on the Optus X Play's performance

  With such a low price tag, it's no surprise that the Optus X Play lacks the power of most modern smartphones. At first glance, its quad-core 1.3GHz processor might sound relatively impressive, but when paired with just 512MB of RAM, it's very much at the low end of smartphone technology.

  In practice, this is likely to lead to sluggish responsiveness in more complex apps and especially in games. If you only plan on using the Optus X Play for calls, texts and other simple tasks, this might be perfectly fine, but if you go in expecting snappy menus and smooth multi-tasking, you're probably going to end up disappointed.

Battery

• Up to eight hours of talk time or up to 530 hours on standby, according to Optus.

• Read more on the Optus X Play's battery

  The Optus X Play is quite a small phone compared to your average modern handset, and this limits the amount of space available for its battery. 1,500mAh is what you get, and that's a marked step down from the 2,500mAh or more you see even in many budget smartphones these days. The flip side of this is the fact that the Optus X Play's low-power hardware doesn't need as much juice to function, enabling it to truck on even when rivals with batteries twice the size have kicked the can.

  Optus claims the X Play is good for up to eight hours of talk time or up to 27 hours of audio playback off a single charge. Solid numbers, but what's even more impressive is the X Play's purported standby time: up to 530 hours. For infrequent phone users or those looking for an emergency handset, that kind of longevity is dead handy.

Pricing and availability

Optus X Play

Bringing the smartphone back to basics

The Optus X Play is an affordable and accessible smartphone for folks who don't need all the bells and whistles.

Buy Now

• You can buy the Optus X Play for $59 from Optus directly or through retailers like Target, Big W and Officeworks.