If you are in the market looking for premium smartphones but running low on budget, you're in luck as there are multiple choices. With new smartphone makers entering the competitive market with attractive pricing strategy, end consumers make the most. Oppo, at the GETIX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) 2015 in Dubai, UAE, unveiled all-new R7s to take on the mid-range market, competing with the likes of Asus Zenfone 2 and even OnePlus 2 to an extent.

Since the OnePlus 2 smartphone has been popularised heavily despite lack of intense marketing, we thought of putting the new Oppo R7s in a face-off challenge with the "2015-16 flagship killer". The comparison is based on the specifications offered by each smartphone. Oppo is yet to release the price of its R7s, so we are holding out our final word.

Nevertheless, Oppo R7s vs OnePlus 2 should clear some of the curious buyers' doubts about which phone to buy.

Display and design

Oppo R7s features a premium design, beautifully clad in all-metal housing and aesthetic appearance. The handset features a 5.5-inch display with Full HD resolution, making it ideal for those who love to work on big screens. The display is designed using 2.5D glass to get a comfortable grip on the device.

OnePlus 2, on the other hand, packs a sturdy sandstone rear finish, removable back cover and a metal rim to outline the beauty of the device. The popular handset features a similar 5.5-inch display with Full HD resolution just like Oppo R7s.

Distinct designs of each smartphone can be a deciding factor here as both phones have similar displays and resolutions.

Camera

Oppo R7s offers a 13-megapixel camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus, f/2.2 aperture, Full HD recording, LED flash and Pure Image 2.0 app. Selfie lovers will be impressed with the 8MP front-facing camera found on the Oppo R7s, which features an f/2.4 aperture.

OnePlus 2 camera has found to be one of the most efficient ones we have reviewed and delivers great results. The handset sports a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with laser auto focus, f/2.0 aperture, Optical Image Stabilisation and dual-LED setup. The front camera is fitted with a 5-megapixel sensor.

Processor, RAM and storage

Oppo R7s is powered by Qualcomm's 64-bit Snapdragon 615 processor clocking speeds at 1.5GHz and backed by a generous 4GB RAM and 32GB internal space. If that's not suffice, you can add more storage using microSD cards. Given the combination of these specs, we are expecting a lag-free performance.

OnePlus 2 clearly delivers a lag-free user experience as it is powered by octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, which combines a quad-core A53, quad-core 1.8GHz Cortex A57 processor. The handset comes in two variants, 16GB with 3GB RAM and 64GB with 4GB RAM. In India, only the 4GB variant is available but the base model is expected commence sales by the end of this year. Sadly, there is no microSD card slot in OnePlus 2.

Since we reviewed OnePlus 2, we can say the handset promises exceptional performance. But the lack of microSD card slot can be a turned off for some users. In that case, Oppo R7s can take the lead with its 32GB expandable storage.

Battery

Oppo R7s draws its power from a 3,000mAh battery equipped with VOOC flash charging technology that enables 2 hours of talk time with just 5 minutes of charging.

In the case of OnePlus 2, there is a bigger 3,300mAh battery service as the powerhouse.

Add-ons

OnePlus bags the award here as it offers integrated fingerprint scanner along with a USB Type-C port. Sadly, none of these latest technologies are found in the Oppo R7s.

What both phones have in common is support for 4G LTE and dual networks. OnePlus 2 runs on Google's Android 5.1 Lollipop based Oxygen OS while Oppo R7s has its custom UI ColorOS 2.1.

Price and availability

OnePlus 2 is available only via invites in India and the 64GB variant costs Rs. 24,999. Oppo, on the other hand, did not reveal the pricing of its R7s but said the handset will be available in Europe and the US in December. India release is yet to be confirmed by the maker.

Verdict

Real-time performance and on-paper specs give different values. But OnePlus 2's review revealed that the handset is definitely a worthy purchase for its price. Since Oppo hasn't revealed the pricing of its R7s, it is hard to suggest what consumers are betting against.

OnePlus 2 has its own advantages such as a better processor, bigger battery, fingerprint scanner and a USB Type-C port, which the Oppo R7s lacks. But with the right price, R7s really has a lot of potential in the sub-Rs. 20,000 price range.