OnePlus came out of nowhere last year with its sensational flagship killer , the OnePlus One , which offered high-end smartphone specifications at a third of the price most tier one brands would command. This year the company launched the OnePlus 2 , which received mixed reviews .

Unlike the OnePlus One and the OnePlus 2, the new OnePlus X ($249; 16GB) isn't being advertised as a "flagship killer." Instead, it is aimed at shaking up the budget market. This compact, premium Android phone doesn't make any major hardware compromises—and it's easy to use one-handed. That makes it a rare commodity these days, but thanks to a pesky invite-only purchase system and the lack of key North American bands, the OnePlus X is difficult to recommend over rival unlocked phones like the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 4.7 and the Google Nexus 5X. Design, Display, and FeaturesThe OnePlus X has an attractive, premium build. It's essentially two slabs of glass held in place by a metal frame, similar in design to the classic Apple iPhone 4. It measures 5.51 by 2.72 by 0.27 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.86 ounces, making it easy to hold and use with just one hand. The Nexus 5X (5.79 by 2.86 by 0.31 inches, 4.8 ounces) is notably larger, while the Idol 3 (5.40 by 2.59 by 0.30 inches, 3.88 ou...

The unlocked OnePlus X is a premium Android phone for an affordable price, but missing North American LTE bands and a frustrating invite-only setup makes it hard to recommend for U.S. users.

Affordable; Premium build; Nice display; Sharp camera; Bloatware-free; MicroSD and dual SIM slots

Missing key North American LTE bands; Frustrating invite-only purchase system; Aging processor

Priced at Rs 16,999, OnePlus X fulfills anyone looking for a great performing mid range phone. It has a stunning design, great display and good software along with great performance.

There were no smartphones in the $250 price margin which have solid construction and snappy performance. The market is still filled with plasticy smartphones that lack aesthetics.

Stunning construction Light weight Regular updates Long battery life No UI skins to bloat the OS Inexpensive Beautiful AMOLED screen

Average camera sensor Low light performance is not that great Slight heating while heavy games are being played No NFC and 5GHz WiFi band No fingerprint scanner Invite system Almost non-existent customer support

The OnePlus X is definitely one of the best phones in the sub-Rs 20,000 segment and is the phone who don't like PLUS sized phones. If you are reading this review, you are in all likelihood know all features of OnePlus X which was recently launched in India at Rs 16,999.

Compact and attractive design; High end Snapdragon 801 CPU; Decent battery back up

Due to Glass body it is a bit slippery and attracts smudges a lot; Hybrid SIM slot; LED Flash light's performance less than desirable; In low light; cameras output goes for a toss

OnePlus is a relatively new phone maker to have come onto the global scene. But within a year of its launching the OnePlus One, the Chinese phone maker has been on the radar of not just the Android-modding crowd but also regular users who want an affordable phone with high end specification set.

Chinese upstart's latest Android device is excellent value for money with great screen, good camera and dual-sim support – if you can manage to buy one

solid build; nice feeling; good screen; microSD/dual-sim; decent camera; notification switch

can be difficult to buy and support mixed; old version of Android; mixed performance; no NFC

Has OnePlus managed it AGAIN?

Great design; Cool customisation

Juddery performance; Poor low light camera

After having released its flagship killer OnePlus 2 back in August, OnePlus recently released the OnePlus X in November. The OnePlus X is the first mid-range smartphone offering from the stables of the Chinese OEM OnePlus.

Slippery; Fingerprint magnet; Capacitive buttons are not back lit; Average camera; No NFC

Low cost; Great design and good build quality; Great performance; Battery will get you through the day on average usage; microSD card support

I was ready to crown the OnePlus X as one of the best budget smartphones of 2015. Compared to other $250 unlocked devices, it's more powerful than the Motorola Moto G , more beautiful than the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 and runs a more updated OS than the Huawei P8 Lite .

The inexpensive OnePlus X is fast; beautifully designed and has some nifty customizable features

The glossy handset is slippery and has limited compatibility with key LTE bands in the US