The STK X2 is a British smartphone with OnePlus in its sights

British manufacturer STK is preparing to dip its foot into budget water with the X2. This handset isn’t, however, intended to rival market leaders in the specs department. STK is, instead, hoping to appeal to customers by delivering an unrivalled support system. Here’s the low-down.

What is the STK X2?

Described by STK as a “OnePlus for non-techies,” the X2 is an affordable mid-to-high-end Android smartphone that’s been designed to deliver a powerful punch at a low price. It’s set to launch in the United Kingdom sometime in April, where it will command a modest £259.

Related: MWC 2018

STK X2 Specs: Is it powerful?

STK X2 First Look: What’s it like?

Let’s not beat around the bush: the STK X2 feels really good. I had a chance to handle it at MWC, and it doesn’t feel like a sub-£300 smartphone. The unit itself is almost entirely made from durable 3D glass – save for the aluminium frame that’s used to hold everything together – which a characteristic that’s shared by the market-leading Samsung Galaxy S8.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S9

The 5.7-inch HD+ screen was pleasant to look at, achieving a somewhat decent maximum brightness. I can’t help but wish, however, that it was an OLED panel, as it struggled to match the rich colours found on the OnePlus 5T. Maybe one day we’ll get a phone at this price with an OLED.

Performance seemed good. The handset blitzed all the tasks I threw its way, keeping a straight face while switching between multiple intensive applications. That’s apparently down to STK Care, a ROM-based optimisation tool that’s intended make the STK X2 feel like it’s brand new every time you pick it up. We’ll need to spend lots more time with the phone to see if that’s really the case though.

There’s a dual-camera setup on the rear (13MP + 13MP) and a 16MP shooter on the front, though I didn’t have a chance to try out either during my time with the device. Based on the samples I flicked through, however, it’s adequate. Shots taken in daylight looked crisp, while those snapped at night lacked clarity and detail.

Where the STK X2 goes above and beyond is in the software department. It ships running a near-vanilla build of Android 8.1 Oreo that’s armed with a slew of additional support features, including a 24-hour support system and an on-device diagnostic tool for troubleshooting hardware issues – like a faulty GPS chip.

STK X2 Release Date and Price: When will it hit the shelves, and how much will it cost?

The STK X2 will hit the shelves in the UK in April. It will be priced at £259 outright. There’s no word on whether it’ll make its way to additional markets.

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