SINGAPORE — Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has taken Singapore by storm with its low prices, but if you are looking for another inexpensive device that comes with better features, you may want to turn to another manufacturer from China — Oppo.

The highlight of the N1 (picture) is the 13-megapixel camera, which can be rotated 206 degrees to provide users with the best selfie experience I have ever had with a smartphone.

Front-facing cameras on most smartphones usually offer poorer picture quality and the lack of flash makes it impossible to shoot in low-light conditions.

Using the rear camera offers better picture quality, but users will be shooting blind.

Oppo’s swivelling camera, however, does not have such issues. Pictures taken with it were sharp and perfectly exposed and its allows you to take snaps of subjects in awkward angles.

The N1 also has some impressive hardware to complement its unique camera.

The 5.9-inch, Full HD screen displays vibrant colours and the 1.7 GHz quad-core processor makes loading apps painless. The phone also has a huge 3,610 mAh battery, which lasted for a day and a half with heavy use.

Its O-Touch panel on the back of the phone makes using the phone with only one hand a breeze. It takes time to master, but the panel allows users to scroll, tap or snap photos without touching the screen. You can also customise your own gestures to launch a specific app without having to unlock the phone.

The N1 also comes with a remote control called the O-click, which supports a range of up to 15m when connected to the phone via Bluetooth. The device, which is designed to fit on a keychain, sets off an alarm to help you find your phone if you lose it, and also allows users to remotely operate the phone’s camera.

The N1 may not have the price point to beat offerings from Oppo’s rival Xiaomi, but with its swivelling camera and excellent specs, it is easily today’s most innovative smartphone. The N1 retails at S$769 and is available at authorised retailers. HIRANAND SUNNY