09/08/2014
OnePlus One
30th Jul 2014 | 15:01
Here's why OnePlus One equals 4.5
TechRadar rating:
4.5 stars
The OnePlus One offers Samsung Galaxy S5
performance for less than half the price. If that doesn't
make it attractive it also has a customisable OS and a
1080p display. There are a few downsides, but overall
the OnePlus One is amazing value for money.
Like:
Unbelievably low price; Top-notch specs; Tweakable yet
unfussy OS;
Dislike:
No microSD slot; Non-removable battery; Over-sensitive
gestures;
Introduction
Ratings in depth
The Google Nexus 4 , the Google Nexus 5 , the Motorola
Moto G , and now the OnePlus One; this 5.5-inch bolt
from out of the blue (well, China) joins an exclusive list
of smartphones that offer an awful lot of smartphone
for not a lot of money.
But having used the OnePlus One as my primary phone
for several days, I'm wondering whether it needs to be
placed in a category all of its own.
Here is a device that rivals the HTC One M8 and the
Samsung Galaxy S5 for raw specs, but at a cost of just
£229, $299 (around AU$320). That's less than half the
price of those aforementioned big hitters.
As such, much of my early time with the phone was
spent warily turning it around in my hands, like some
kind of mysterious artefact of unknown origin, not quite
ready to believe what was being promised of it. There
has to be some compromise here, right?
Well, yes there is. In fact, there are several. But it's
staggering how small they seem when weighed against
that double-take-inducing price tag.
An issue to get out of the way early on is the availability
of this handset. OnePlus is persisting with a slightly
strange invite-only system, limiting the number of
people who can order a handset.
That's probably so the startup firm can keep on top of
production, but means you'll have to hunt around for
an invite - find someone who has already purchased a
One and they may be able to sort you out.
Usually when a cheap smartphone boasts specifications
that bloody the noses of the big boys, it's the design
that suffers. It's far harder to make a solid, stylish, and
hard-wearing mobile device than it is to throw in the
latest off-the-shelf chip from Qualcomm.
However the OnePlus One is a pleasure to hold and to
use. Okay, so it lacks the HTC One M8's gorgeous
metallic sheen, and you won't turn any heads when
you take it out of your pocket like you would with a
golden iPhone 5S . But show me the phone that does.
