The OnePlus 2 invites itself to the flagship phone party
The OnePlus 2 could well add up to a big headache for established smartphone makers as long as consumers don't mind waiting for an invite to buy it.
OnePlus is a Chinese tech startup which has been making waves in its native China with its elegant and powerful handsets but with its latest phone, it's looking to wow European and American consumers in the same way.
In terms of specifications alone, the new handset -- technically a phablet by virtue of its 5.5-inch display -- could very well do that. It is a genuine Android flagship, worthy of comparison with anything Samsung or LG is currently offering their most affluent and tech-savvy customers. However, at just $390 when it goes on sale in August, it's only half the price.
But a bargain basement price doesn't mean a cut-price construction, and the handset is as high on premium materials and aesthetics as it is on processing power.
The body is formed from an aluminum-magnesium alloy with stainless steel accents the company claims are of the same grade used in jewelry. It also has a personalization aspect with a choice of real wood and even Kevlar back covers.
That back cover protects a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of filming 4K video or 120fps slow motion in 720p HD. It also uses a six-lens array and optical image stabilization so that images, static or moving aren't jerky and it even has a laser for super-quick auto focus -- like the latest LG flagship handsets. Selfie fans are also well catered for. The front-facing camera is a wide-angle 5-megapixel unit.
Making everything work quickly and smoothly is a Snapdragon 810 processor and a massive 4GB of RAM, while a 3,300mAh battery should be good enough for a full day's use between charges. For security there is also a fingerprint sensor that can recognize up to five differ fingers and attach a command to each.
It all sounds too good to be true, and there is a catch. The handset -- which will cost $390 for a 64GB version and $330 for a 32GB model when it goes on sale on August 11 -- will be available via invitation only.
The simplest way to get an invitation is to join the waiting list like 415,423 consumers around the world already have, but the company is also planning to open nine pop-up stores in nine cities around the world on July 31 where visitors will be able to jump the queue and score an invite.
The cities are New York, San Francisco, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, New Delhi, Bangalore and Jakarta.
