The
OnePlus 2 is running to be this month's biggest smartphone release. The popular
smartphone manufacturer made a concerted push in announcing the latest
iteration to its flagship phone in both the standard and Virtual Reality mode.
The anticipation to the device comes with a launching app in Google Play that
allows early adopters of the prescribed VR headset to experience the said
announcement in full VR mode.
However,
the whole story is not about how the OnePlus 2 was launched, it's about how
it's going to be a "flagship killer" as the startup deems it to be.
So sit back, relax and join us as we dig deeper into the handset's hardware and
feature set.
OnePlus 2, the Flagship Killer
The
handset comes with a metallic finish like the other flagship handsets released
this year. Its premium steel finish highlights the device's magnesium frame and
its metallic-accented buttons along the sides. In terms of overall appeal, the
OnePlus 2 takes a leapfrog from the last year's offering.
The
OnePlus 2 gets a piece from LG G4's design book with its StyleSwap covers which
let you interchange your back plating with several finishes. You can choose
between bamboo, Kevlar, black apricot, rosewood and sandstone. However, it's
only the latter that comes out of the box.
The hardware
We
have been hearing about the infamous Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 in several leaks
before the official announcement; and certainly, the handset packs the same chipset
as the Sony Xperia Z3+. In its gut, the beefy 4GB of RAM reinforces the chipset
for faster app launching and breezy multitasking functions. There's also a
generous 64GB of internal memory on the fly.
The
OnePlus 2 settles with the same 5.5-inch full HD panel just like its
predecessor only with brighter and more accurate colour reproduction.
Camera
The
main camera of the OnePlus 2 is of 13-megapixel variety with 1.3 micrometer
pixel size. The camera module comes with optical image stabilization and laser
autofocus to augment those shaky hands. The rear camera has an f/2.0 lens and
is capable of recording 4K videos and HD 120 fps slow-motion footages. On the
front, the handset features a 5MP front facing snapper for social media
selfies.
OnePlus 2 Highlighted Features: Fingerprint Sensor, USB Type C
The
Fingerprint sensor pushes the OnePlus 2 to the top-of-the-line class. The
company claims that this sensor is faster than Apple's Touch ID. This module is
shaped like the one we saw in the recently-released Meizu MX5 and it also registers
up to five fingerprints.
The
handset also comes with a USD Type C at the bottom of the handset. Other
connectivity includes dual 4G LTE, dual SIM capability and a complete set of
radios. The package also comes with an adapter to allow backward compatibility
to microUSB devices.
Software, Battery and Availability
Powering
the OnePlus 2 is the Oxygen OS 2.0 which is a forked version of Android. The
hardware will also be treated by 3,300 mAh of juice to give the handset a good
mileage away from the wall outlet.
Just
like the previous handset, the OnePlus 2 will require an invite for purchase.
It will start hitting the shelves on August 11 in United States, Europe, China,
Canada and India. It is also planned to be released in Southeast Asia in Q4
2015 opening a highly probability of Philippine availability.
OnePlus 2 Specs
151.8
x 74.9 x 9.85 mm
5.5-inch
LTPS LCD full HD display with 1920 x 1080p at 401 ppi
Corning
Gorilla Glass 4
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 810
1.8
GHz quad-core Cortex-A57, quad-core Cortex-A53
Adreno
430
4GB
RAM with 64GB built-in memory
3GB
RAM with 16GB built-in memory
13MP
rear BSI camera, laser autofocus, dual LED Flash
5MP
front camera
Dual
SIM, Dual Standby (nanoSIM)
4G
LTE, 3G HSPA+ and 2G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
GPS,
AGPS
MicroUSB
2.0
Reversible
USB Type C
3.5mm
Audio Jack
Fingerprint
sensor
Oxygen
OS 2
3,300
Li-Po non-removable Battery
Swappable
back covers
USD
329, approximately Php 14,500 for 16GB with 3GB RAM
USD 389, approximately Php 17,200 for 64GB with 4GB RAM
USD 389, approximately Php 17,200 for 64GB with 4GB RAM
