The OnePlus One smartphone was hailed as a 2014 flagship killer, with features to rival the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8, LG G3 and other flagship Android devices, yet it costed less than half the price at a super-budget $299/269/£229 (16GB model). On 25 March 2015 the price was increased to 299 Euro (16GB) and 349 Euro (64GB), but until 7 June you can pick up a OnePlus One from just £179. The OnePlus One is now available to buy without an invite. See also: OnePlus One review and OnePlus One video review.
OnePlus One: Troubled beginnings
We waited for what felt like forever to get our hands on the OnePlus One, and since OnePlus doesn't supply review samples we were in the same boat as all the other hopefuls. When we finally got an invite to buy it, our OnePlus One got delayed by customs, and then we were made to pay import duty (see: Where is the OnePlus One phone OnePlus One shipments delayed by customs). But we got there in the end, and it is worth the wait. Read more about the possibility of a OnePlus One mini, a OnePlus One tablet, and a OnePlus Two phone.
At first OnePlus was allowing people to purchase the OnePlus One through invitation only, but confusion over how to get a OnePlus One invite led OnePlus to re-assess the situation. Next it trialled a pre-order system for the OnePlus One. More recently, the company announced it would sell both 16GB and 64GB models without invites every Tuesday, and finally you are now able to buy the OnePlus One without an invite. Also see: Inside the OnePlus One phone - what the specs don't tell you.
OnePlus One: Release date
The OnePlus One is now available to buy on its site whenever you like.
OnePlus One: Price
The OnePlus One comes in 16GB Silk White and 64GB Sandstone Black varieties. The 16GB model originally costed $299/£229, while the 64GB OnePlus One was only slightly more expensive at $349/£269. On 25 March 2015, in response to the falling value of the Euro, OnePlus hiked the price from 269- to 299 Euro (16GB) and 299- to 349 Euro (64GB). However, until 7 June you can pick up a OnePlus One from £179 in a series of flash sales. Dates and times are listed below. See all smartphone reviews.
June 1 - 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)June 2 - 2:00 GMT (10 pm EST -1 day)June 3 - 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)June 4 - 2:00 GMT (10 pm EST -1 day)June 5 - 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)June 6 - 2:00 GMT (10 pm EST -1 day)June 7 - 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)
OnePlus One: Specs
The OnePlus One phone originally ran a modified version of Android KitKat known as CyanogenMod 11S, but has now been updated to Android Lollipop 5.0.2 via the CyanogenMod 12 Nightly ROM. You can install this on your OnePlus One using a custom recovery tool such as ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP.
CyanogenMod will instantly appeal to enthusiasts and tinkerers with its unlimited scope for customisation. It also features advanced Camera and Gallery apps, letting you make the most of the OnePlus One's 4k video-recording capability, plus improved privacy-protection features that include SMS encryption and PrivacyGuard. See also: Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Sony Xperia Z2 vs HTC One comparison review.
And then there's the hardware: OnePlus' motto is 'Never settle', and it's easy to see why. The OnePlus One phone bests the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One, running a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with Adreno 330 graphics and 3GB of RAM. It also features a higher-capacity - if non-removable - 3100mAh battery (beaten only by the Sony Xperia Z2's 3200mAh), a larger 5.5in full-HD touchscreen, and a 13Mp Sony Exmor IMX214 13Mp camera with f/2.0 aperture and dual-LED flash. The front camera is primed for selfies at 5Mp, while video recording stretches to 4k with 120fps slow-motion available at 720p.
The OnePlus One phone, which weighs 162g and measures 152.9x75.9x8.9mm, supports dual-band Wi-Fi, including the very latest 802.11ac standard, Bluetooth 4, NFC, GPS and 4G LTE. There are built-in stereo speakers and a tri-microphone with noise cancellation.
We can look past the OnePlus One phone's lack of a memory card slot for storage expansion, given that the 64GB model was at the time of release around half the price of Apple's 64GB iPhone 5s.
OnePlus claims its One smartphone boasts industry-leading design and superior build quality, with "subtle curves, sleek lines and a slightly raised jet-black display".
OnePlus Power Bank
The OnePlus Power Bank, at £13.99 for a 10000mAh lithium-polymer cell that has a 2A (10W) input and twin 2A (10W) outputs, and weighs just 220g, looks to be a fantastic deal that should charge your OnePlus three times on the move. Read our OnePlus Power Bank review and compare it to the competition by checking out our Best power banks 2015 chart.
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