With OnePlus’s debut just last April with the OnePlus One, the new Chinese smartphone manufacturer already revealed plans to release its successor: the OnePlus 2. OnePlus is marketing its new phone as the “2016 Flagship Killer,” confident that its new features and improved specs will dominate its competition against smartphone giants such as Samsung and Apple.
However, those looking to get their hands on one when it arrives August 11 might have to jump through a few tedious hoops to get it, as you won’t be able to just pick it up at your local Best Buy. Here’s everything you need to know about the OnePlus 2, including its improved specs, enhanced features, and how to get it.
NEW FEATURES
The OnePlus 2 offers a wide variety of new features that weren’t available in the OnePlus One, including a resilient and lightweight aluminum-alloy body . Some of these include an improved camera, USB Type-C and additional SIM ports, a new fingerprint scanner, and what OnePlus is calling an “Alert-Slider.”
While the OnePlus 2 offers the same 13MP camera that the OnePlus One did, laser autofocus technology has been added, as well as an improved Sony Exmor light sensor —both of which will make for faster and better picture-taking, especially in low light conditions.
The OnePlus 2 is set to come with a USB Type-C port. This is great news to Android users looking to purchase a new phone, as this type of port is universally used across most Android smartphones for charging, and connecting to computers. Those who own a OnePlus One will also be happy to learn that an adapter for the OnePlus 2’s charger will be made available for purchase—a backwards-compatible device that will allow for easy connectivity between the two.
OnePlus has also installed a fingerprint sensor in the OnePlus 2 for tighter and easier security. To those who cringe at any mention of a fingerprint scanner, scarred by the mostly non-functional nightmare that has been Touch ID, there is no need to fear any longer. Early reviews of the OnePlus 2’s new installment are raving about the sensor’s consistently fast and accurate ability to scan, taking the user straight to the homepage with a single quick tap, outshining other smartphones who were perhaps not yet ready to jump on the fingerprinting bandwagon.
Tired of being alerted constantly by unnecessary notifications, most of which are for apps or services you never use? With the “Alert Slider” on the OnePlus 2, users will be able to take back control over their notifications. Using the new feature, you would be able to choose exactly which apps or services you would like to receive notifications for, or simply turn them off altogether.
ENHANCED SPECS
Technically speaking, the OnePlus 2’s specs offer only minor improvements over its predecessor, with most of the phone’s enhancements taking place internally. The OnePlus 2 boasts the same 1920 x 1080 resolution, 16 or 64GB of storage room (depending on the model you choose), 13MP rear-facing/5MP front-facing camera, and OxygenOS software that the OnePlus One had.
However, those disappointed in the new phone’s lack of improved hardware will be excited to learn of its increased battery life, as the OnePlus 2 boasting a much more powerful 3,300mAh—a vast improvement from the former phone’s 3,100mAh. The OnePlus 2 also offers a model that can hold up to 4GB of RAM, making for a speedier and more fluid experience than the OnePlus One’s 3GB. But perhaps the most exciting is the phone’s new processor, as it uses the 1.8GHz Snapdragon 810 –the latest processor in the “Snapdragon” processor family.
HOW TO GET ONE
Those looking to get their hands on a shiny new OnePlus 2 come its August 11th release date won’t be able to simply buy one at the nearest tech store. Similar to the release of the OnePlus One last April, customers will need to either participate in one of OnePlus’s promotional contests, or request an invitation to purchase one from the company website and hope for the best. OnePlus has said very little as to why they choose to market their brand using an “invitation-only” policy, with their only explanation coming from their website: “Launching a second flagship product to an exponentially larger community brings a whole set of new challenges, and invites will help us manage them.”
Pricing for the OnePlus 2 will start at an affordable $329, with the 64GB model maxing out at $389. A wide variety of StyleSwap covers will also be available for the OnePlus 2 at launch, including “Sandstone Black,” “Kevlar,” “Bamboo,” and “Rosewood.”
