The R5’s most standout characteristic is its asymmetric design
Handling of OPPO R5,The phone frames have symmetrically rounded corners for both aesthetic and ergonomic reasons. This approach, however, was not suitable for the OPPO R5’s 4.85mm ultra-thin frame. Each corner of the R5’s frame has two curves that are the same diameter but are different heights (in contrast with commonly used symmetrical curves), with the upper curve being slightly longer than the lower curve, this results in side curves slightly tilting up in a more robust fashion.
To be exact, the frame’s upper curve is 2.6mm and its lower curve 1.4mm. This seemingly minor difference in length allows the phone to fit exactly within your palm, this ergonomically designed curve is what OPPO calls the “micro-arc frame”.
Unparalleled Investment: Customized Tools Plus Hand-Polishing
The construction of the micro-arc frame, which combines an excellent grip with pleasing aesthetics is rather complex because it involves an unprecedented application of CNC* machining to a high-hardness material like stainless steel. Therefore, OPPO worked with its suppliers to tailor-make a set of tools to machine the micro-arc frame for the R5.
In order to ensure adequate hardness, the stainless steel used to make the micro-arc frame had undergone four forging applications and was pressed five times in order to take it to a hardness of 250HV, which is around 50HV higher than most other smartphones released previously this year. A new tailor made tool was installed for every 100 R5 frames produced to ensure flawless quality.
Sophisticated Manufacturing Processes Rreate a Silky Smooth Texture
The considerable input into the making of the micro-arc frame was just the first step to in creating the perfect handset.
To minimize scratches from daily wear and tear, OPPO made use of a unique PVD*** process to strengthen the integral structure of the R5, whiched increased the hardnessfrom 250HV to 400HV. Aditonally, OPPO constructed a specially treated aluminum alloy body and frame that work in cohesion through 3D welding. In total, the R5 is forged four times, undergoes five rounds of high pressure treatment and a fully comprehensive 55-step production process, which is the most complicated in mobile history. The concluding results are what can be considered as the toughest ultra-thin smartphone in the world.
