Optus X Spirit: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Where to buy

It wasn't so long ago that we all saw smartphones purely as luxury items – incredibly helpful yet prohibitively expensive for anyone operating on a strict budget. As mobile technology has advanced, however, smartphone manufacturers have been able to incorporate cheaper components into their handsets and provide budget-conscious phone buyers with versatile devices at an affordable price point.

This is exactly what you get with the Optus X Spirit. Retailing for an agreeable $99, about $50 cheaper than the Optus X Smart, the low-cost handset offers basic smartphone functionality including 4G Internet connectivity, access to the Android app library and capable front and rear cameras. For cash-conscious phone buyers wanting a handset with modern capabilities, this makes the Optus X Spirit worth consideration.

Design

• Standard design is simple yet functional
• Android 6.0 remains a capable operating system

• Read more on the Optus X Spirit's design

  Plain and simple is the order of the day with the Optus X Spirit. You've got the typical smartphone design elements of a slim, rounded frame and a trio of capacitive buttons below the touch screen. That screen is a sizeable 5 inches, though it's locked to the relatively low resolution of 854 x 480.

  Like most Android phones, you've got a 3.5mm audio jack for plugging in a pair of wired headphones, as well as Bluetooth 4.0 support if you'd rather sync up a wireless headset instead. Either way, you can then chill out with the built-in FM radio or load the Optus X Spirit up with your own music library. Just bear in mind that there's only 8GB of onboard storage, and all but 3.5GB of that is taken up by system files. You can expand capacity with a microSD card, though only up to a maximum of 32GB.

  A smartphone isn't much good without a sufficiently versatile operating system, and that's exactly what you get with the Optus X Spirit's Android 6.0 installation. Android 6.0 may be a few generations old at this point, but it's still a solid mobile operating system that introduced handy features like app-specific security permissions, improved battery management and more context-based suggestions to help you navigate the Android interface.

Camera

• For basic photography, the 5MP camera should be adequate

• Read more on the Optus X Spirit's camera

  Smartphone camera technology has advanced in leaps and bounds over the last decade, going from barely functional to downright jaw-dropping in the latest premium handsets. Budget smartphones haven't missed out on the action, either. Improvements have made their way down to even the most affordable handsets, as is evidenced by the camera hardware inside the Optus X Spirit.

  Packing a 5MP sensor at the back and a 2MP sensor at the front, the Optus X Spirit has the means to take decent, if not remarkable, photos. You're not likely to win any prizes with such shots, but if you're just looking to add a few happy snaps to your digital family album or document your latest holiday, it should prove entirely adequate.

  Video capture is similarly decent, with the ability to record at 720p resolution and 30fps.

Performance

• Far from a powerhouse, but fine if you're only using it for basic phone tasks

• Read more on the Optus X Spirit's performance

  Slow performance is one of the more common complaints regarding budget smartphones, and it's one that remains applicable to the Optus X Spirit. Its quad-core 1.1GHz processor simply doesn't have the grunt to deliver a slick and snappy experience, and you're likely to encounter slowdown when doing anything more complex than making calls or sending texts. This is exacerbated by the 1GB of included RAM which limits the amount of multi-tasking you can get away with before the handset starts chugging.

  All that said, if you're shopping for a budget smartphone, odds are you're prepared to accept a few hiccups and hitches in return for that affordable price tag. Using simple apps like YouTube and Facebook as well as engaging in basic web browsing should be totally viable provided you have a little patience, and standard phone functions are unlikely to pose much trouble.

Battery

• Up to 11 hours of talk time or 440 hours on standby, per Optus benchmarks

• Read more on the Optus X Spirit's battery

  Budget smartphones can often get away with smaller batteries thanks to their low-power components, so it's no surprise that the Optus X Spirit only packs a 2,050mAh battery when your typical modern smartphone rarely dips below 2,500mAh. Optus seems fairly confident in the X Spirit's efficiency, however, claiming that it is capable of delivering 11 hours of talk time on a single charge. Music lovers get an even better deal, with a promise of as much as 44 hours of audio playback out of a full battery.

  Reinforcing the Optus X Spirit's suitability as a backup phone or one you only use on occasion is its claim of as much as 440 hours of battery life on standby. Given most modern smartphones kick the bucket after just a day or two even when not in use, that's quite an impressive feat.

Pricing and availability

• Price: RRP $99
• Where to buy: The Optus X Spirit is no longer sold in Australia

Specifications

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