OnePlus X launches with premium design, mid-range specs and $249 price tag

OnePlus is taking a break from challenging flagships, as today the company announces its first mid-range smartphone. Called OnePlus X, it sports a premium design, competitive hardware specifications and a price tag of just $249. In keeping up with tradition, it too will require an invite come purchase time, but this is said to only last for the first month after going on sale.

The lower price tag -- compared to the OnePlus 2 flagship -- might lead you to believe that OnePlus X is lacking in the hardware department, but the new smartphone is actually quite impressive in terms of specs. You get quite a lot more than the price tag might suggest.

But, before diving into the specs, let's talk about its design first. OnePlus X, just like OnePlus 2, has chamfered metal edges and "strengthened, scratch-resistant glass" on the back. The buttons have the same finish. It looks more similar to a flagship like Samsung's Galaxy S6 than a typical mid-ranger in this price range. There are two color options, Ceramic and Onyx. Now, on to the specs.

OnePlus X is equipped with a 5-inch AMOLED display featuring a resolution of 1,080 by 1,920. Inside, you will find a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, coupled with 3 GB of RAM. Powering everything is a 2,525 mAh battery.

As far as cameras go, OnePlus X features a 13 MP shooter on the back, with an f/2.2 lens, and an 8 MP shooter on the front, rocking an f/2.4 lens. It can record 1080p video, and 720p video at 120 FPS.

Here are some of the other noteworthy specs: 16 GB of internal storage; microSD card slot for expansion up to 128 GB; Wi-Fi 802.11n; Bluetooth 4.0; dual-SIM support; 4G LTE support. It measures 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm, and weighs 138 g for the Onyx version and 160 g for the Ceramic model.

The second SIM slot doubles as a microSD card slot, so you will have to choose between using two SIM cards and having more available storage, in case you want to take advantage of this dual-SIM capability.

OnePlus X ships with OxygenOS, which is based on Android 5.1.1. I expect customizations to be kept at a minimum, just like on OnePlus 2 (expect a review of OnePlus 2 to arrive shortly).

OnePlus X will be available to purchase starting November 19. You can sign up for the reservation list by clicking this link. Those who happen to be in Paris between November 2 and 4 can head to the OnePlus X pop-up store at colette to get the smartphone.