Optus X Spirit: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Matt Sayer

Last updated: Apr 11, 2019

The Optus X Spirit makes basic smartphone features like 4G Internet and the Google Play app store accessible to those on a budget.

5 inches

Display size

480 x 854px

8GB

Internal storage

5 MP

Rear camera

2,050 mAh

Battery size

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Display

Display Size

5 inches

Resolution

480 x 854px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

196 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

5MP

Rear camera aperture size

N/A

Video recording

720p

Front camera megapixels

2MP

Front camera aperture size

N/A

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

140.7mm x 71.8mm x 10mm

Weight

125g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

N/A

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

N/A

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android 6

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 32GB

Battery capacity

2,050mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

Launch price (RRP)	$99
Launch date	N/A

Matt Sayer

Matt Sayer is a technology writer and editorial engineer for Finder, combining industry expertise with data-driven solutions to help people make better decisions. His extensive portfolio spans investigative reporting on the roll-out of 5G, statistical analysis on the legacy of E3 and guides for popular products like mobile phones and smart speakers. Matt has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about finding ways that technology can better our lives.

Where to buy

What's in this guide?

Design
Camera
Performance
Battery
Pricing and availability
Specifications

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

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

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

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

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

Display

Display Size

5 inches

Resolution

480 x 854px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

196 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

5MP

Rear camera aperture size

N/A

Video recording

720p

Front camera megapixels

2MP

Front camera aperture size

N/A

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

140.7mm x 71.8mm x 10mm

Weight

125g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

N/A

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

N/A

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android 6

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 32GB

Battery capacity

2,050mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

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Optus X Spirit: Plans | Pricing | Specs