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OnePlus 2 review: hype machine

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The OnePlus One was one of the standout Android devices of 2014. A new manufacturer entering the Android game with a merely average device would have been a marvel, but introducing a high-performance, low-cost handset like OnePlus did was completely unexpected. Now the company has released the sequel to that device, the OnePlus 2. After thundering into the Android world, will OnePlus find that lightning can strike twice? Read on for our OnePlus 2 review.

Update: On June 1, 2016, we learned that the OnePlus 2 would be available to buy directly through Amazon US and UK. Head to our 'release date and price' section for all the details.

OnePlus 2

Good

  • Solid build quality and design
  • Low price
  • Reliable fingerprint scanner
  • Decent screen and performance

Bad

  • Lack of battery options
  • Immature OS and features
  • Doesn't live up to the hype
OnePlus 2
OnePlus 2
OnePlus 2: All deals

OnePlus 2 release date and price

The OnePlus 2 release date was August 11, 2015, for the 64 GB model in the US and UK, but the 16 GB model wasn't available until later in the year. 

The 64 GB OnePlus 2 dropped to $349 in February, and now the price has fallen again, ahead of the OnePlus 3 launch. It now costs $299. Paired with free shipping on any orders over $100, it's a pretty good bargain.

OnePlus looks to be moving away from its invite model. The OnePlus 2 is currently available for purchase on Amazon.com for $299 and Amazon.co.uk for £249. You can purchase it from a private reseller on Amazon or buy it from Amazon directly. The price from the latter is currently lower. Follow the links below to pick one up.

 

OnePlus 2 design and build quality

The design of the OnePlus 2 impressed me from the moment I first saw it. I have to admit that it looks better than I had expected, a fact not always true of phones that have been as hyped up as the OnePlus 2. At first glance, the company’s "Never Settle" slogan seemed to have burst into affordably premium life. But first impressions can’t always be trusted.

For starters, the OnePlus 2 looks an awful lot like its predecessor. While some will appreciate that OnePlus has stuck to an existing design language, others who demand innovation at every step will likely be bored. We need only look at the backlash surrounding the design similarities between the HTC One M8 and One M9 to see this in action.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 OnePlus One front
The OnePlus 2 (right) shares a lot of visual similarities with the OnePlus One (left). / © ANDROIDPIT

The OnePlus 2 we got for review is the Sandstone Black color option: the same as the original OnePlus One. The textured back is a little rougher one the new device, and it feels nice at first, until you realize it is a textured plastic cover. Not that the back of the OnePlus One was real sandstone – it was a textured veneer over a plastic base too – but this one feels a lot cheaper than the back of the One.

While this may not be so significant for some, it definitely doesn’t feel like an improvement over the One. So why opt for this material choice? Because the back of the OnePlus 2 is removable. But don’t let this fool you into thinking the OnePlus 2 has a removable battery, because it doesn’t.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 box phone back
The back of the OnePlus 2 is slightly rougher-feeling than the One's. / © ANDROIDPIT

The reason the plastic battery cover of the OnePlus 2 is made of a flimsy plastic is that it enables you to switch rear covers. OnePlus previously tried to push StyleSwap covers with the original One, with pretty disastrous results (which actually led to the company cancelling the accessory).

The OnePlus 2 makes the process of swapping rear covers easier and less risky, but it comes at a price. Each StyleSwap option costs US$49. Fortunately, these options give you 'real' materials to work with: Kevlar, and three types of timber, Bamboo, Black Apricot and Rosewood.

These are sourced from China, Morocco and South America, respectively, and they’re certainly better than the stock Sandstone Black option, although the timbers feel a little slippery in comparison.

oneplus 2 back cover
The Bamboo and Kevlar StyleSwap covers for the OnePlus 2. / © ANDROIDPIT

On the other hand, OnePlus has made some significant improvements to the industrial design of the OnePlus 2. Both the volume rocker and power button protrude a little more, making them easier to feel out, and they are both located on the right-hand side.

The left side introduces a new Alert Slider, which we’ll come back to later, and there’s a new home button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner on the front. Under the back cover there’s a dual-SIM card tray but no microSD slot.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 dual SIM tray 5
Removing the back plate of the OnePlus 2 is much easier than on the OnePlus One. / © ANDROIDPIT

All other ports are in familiar places compared to the One, with just a few changes: the headphone jack switches sides on the top, while at the bottom, the twin speaker grills are larger and more noticeable (although there’s no stereo speakers here). They’re also less likely to get full of fluff you can’t dig out.

The OnePlus 2 also introduces USB Type-C for charging. The cable itself is thick and tangle-free and the male end is sturdy and provides a snug fit. Unfortunately you’ll have to carry the OnePlus 2 charger around with you for a while, at least until USB Type-C becomes more widespread.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 OnePlus One speakers charging port
The OnePlus 2 (bottom) makes the switch to USB Type-C and has twin speaker grills but not stereo speakers. That's the OnePlus One on top. / © ANDROIDPIT

Unfortunately though, the OnePlus 2 does not support fast charging with the included cable – or any other cable for that matter – or wireless charging. While we’re on the 'doesn’t have' list we should also mention NFC, microSD and a removable battery. How important these features are to you is a matter of personal opinion, but their omission shows where the company had to make compromises to keep the cost as low as it has.

Having said all of this, the OnePlus 2 does look great. OnePlus has done a nice job on this front, even if I’m no fan of the rear cover. A metal frame is the must-have 'premium' material choice of recent times for devices as wide-ranging as the HTC One M9, Galaxy S6, iPhone 6 and various offerings from Xiaomi and Huawei.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 HTC One M9 Galaxy S6 Galaxy S6 Edge metal 2
The metal edge club (from top): Galaxy S6, HTC One M9, OnePlus 2, Galaxy S6 Edge. / © ANDROIDPIT

There’s no denying that the phone will be too large for some, but anyone used to the OnePlus One, or any other 5.5-inch device, will feel right at home. The phone has a curved rear, like its predecessor, and fits nicely into your hand or pocket. The world has become more accustomed to larger phones in the year since the One anyway.

One thing that is entirely new is that Alert Slider on the left-hand side of the phone. Similar to the iPhone’s mute switch, the OnePlus 2 has three sound profiles: None, Priority and All.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 alert slider
The 'Alert Slider' on the OnePlus 2 manages notification profiles. / © ANDROIDPIT

The bottom position is your default 'let it all in' setting. The middle position is for Priority Notifications only, which you can edit in the phone’s interruptions settings. The top-most position is basically Do Not Disturb mode, where you’ll only be interrupted by alarms. Notifications will still appear on-screen, you just won’t get any audio alerts.

The Alert Slider takes a little while to get used to, especially if you’re still on KitKat and can activate silent mode with the volume buttons (this option was removed in Android Lollipop). Once you get used to making use of the Alert Slider though, it’s actually quite handy because there’s no need to turn your screen on to switch audio modes.

oneplus 2 fingerprint scanner 2
The capacitive button that's kind of a physical button. / © ANDROIDPIT

The OnePlus 2 also has another significant addition: a physical home button. Well, it looks like a physical button, but it's actually more of a recessed capacitive button that houses a fingerprint scanner.

The button does not click, because it is not actually a physical button like on a Galaxy device. You’ll get haptic feedback when your press has been detected, but you have to press it a little harder than the other capacitive buttons on either side. If you disable haptic feedback to save battery life, you may find yourself wondering if your home button press has even been registered.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 on screen buttons 2
You have the option for on-screen buttons if you prefer. / © ANDROIDPIT

While the OnePlus 2 retains the option for on-screen buttons, if you’re using the home button to unlock your phone and on-screen buttons for navigation you’ll have to constantly switch between button locations. This is hardly a huge problem, but it is a little awkward to get used to.

On the positive side, the two capacitive buttons are very adaptable. This is for two reasons. The first is physical: unlike the One, which had backlit icons for Recent Apps, Home and Back, the OnePlus 2 simply uses backlit horizontal lines.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 fingerprint scanner super grubby
Just to demonstrate how easy it is to leave greasy fingerprints on the scanner. / © ANDROIDPIT

The second reason is that they are customizable. You can easily switch the location of Back and Recent Apps in the settings, and you can also set long-press and double-tap options as well. Not having markings means you don't get confused. It's also nice for custom ROM fans as well as those who like to have more control over their navigation keys.

The lack of a visual indication of a button’s function may seem odd at first, but you’ll quickly remember which button does what and you’ve always got the on-screen option. Of course, you can also turn off the backlight for the capacitive buttons too.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 app drawer
The OnePlus 2 display is pretty good, but it doesn't seem as bright as OnePlus claims it is. / © ANDROIDPIT

OnePlus 2 display

The OnePlus 2 houses a 5.5-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) LCD display behind Gorilla Glass 4. The display itself is nice, but not exceptional. While OnePlus made much of the 600 nits brightness of the OnePlus 2, it really doesn’t seem that bright in practice. That's not such a bad thing; all that brightness is only going to kill your battery faster in any case.

As well as the display not seeming super bright, it also feels a little flat and lacks vibrancy. Colors are quite muted, similar to the LG G3. While I personally don’t mind more realistic and subdued color reproduction, the OnePlus 2 does look a little washed-out in comparison with the Galaxy S6.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 display 1
The OnePlus 2 display is bright enough and colorful enough without going overboard. / © ANDROIDPIT

Your preference for saturation levels and display brightness will naturally determine whether you like or loathe the OnePlus 2 screen, but it must be noted that its viewing angles are not really up to par either. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly acceptable screen for a phone in this price range, but it doesn't offer the same quality you’d see in other, more expensive flagships.

How you feel about OnePlus' decision to opt for Full HD resolution rather than QHD will depend on you feel about QHD. It takes more power to push the extra pixels of QHD, so Full HD is the more energy efficient option. But Full HD resolution will feel dated to those who incessantly demand higher numbers for everything. Personally, I’m perfectly happy with a Full HD display.

Keep in mind that there are still relatively few apps that take advantage of QHD resolution. If your icons, apps and movies are all still calibrated to Full HD, there’s not much point in having QHD either. QHD would also have upped the price of the OnePlus 2. 

oneplus 2 vs oneplus 1 camera
The OnePlus 2 (left) retains a lot of style elements from the OnePlus One. / © ANDROIDPIT

As of the update to OxygenOS 2.1.0, the the OnePlus 2 now includes a "color balance" slider in display settings. This allows you to change the color-temperature of the display from cooler blues to warm red tones. It's not an essential feature, but it's worth playing around with to see what colors you prefer the most.  

OnePlus 2 special features

The fingerprint scanner on the OnePlus 2 allows you to store up to five fingerprints, like most other fingerprint-equipped Android smartphones. The registration process is very simple and quite fast.

The OnePlus 2’s scanner is amongst the most reliable I’ve come across on Android, right up there with the S6, Note 4 and Huawei Ascend Mate 7, although it is slightly odd that the percentage of your fingerprint recorded increases even when you place the exact same part of your finger on the scanner.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 register fingerprint
Registering a fingerprint on the OnePlus 2 takes just seconds. / © ANDROIDPIT

You can also unlock your phone while the screen is off, unlike the Galaxy S6 or iPhone 6. With those devices you must first wake the phone to scan your fingerprint. The OnePlus 2 does away with this clumsiness nicely and will read your fingerprint from a screen-off state, from which it fires up in about a second.

We’ve already discussed the OnePlus 2’s Alert Slider in the Design section above, along with the USB Type-C cable that's included in the box. At this point we should note one 'special' feature the OnePlus 2 is missing: NFC.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 dual SIM tray 2
It's a shame the OnePlus 2 doesn't have NFC on board. / © ANDROIDPIT

If you’ve grown used to using NFC to pair Bluetooth devices such as your phone and speakers or headphones, or even to set up a new device using Android’s stock Tap & Go feature, the lack of NFC on the OnePlus 2 will be problematic and irritating.

If you aren’t already a fan of NFC, you probably won’t care that the feature didn’t make the cut for the OnePlus 2 specs sheet. The question must be asked though: why say "Never Settle" when hardware features as standard as NFC get left out?

This is especially relevant with Android Pay is due to be launched with the Android Marshmallow release in a couple of months. Without NFC you won’t be able to use your OnePlus 2 to make payments with your phone, so it’s a curious omission, not least because NFC would have cost very little to add.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 dark theme settings
You've got a dark theme and accent color options on Oxygen OS. / © ANDROIDPIT

OnePlus 2 software

The OnePlus 2 features an all-new operating system, Oxygen OS version 2.0, which appeared alongside the OnePlus 2 at launch. Before we delve into the features of Oxygen OS itself, it’s worth mentioning the OnePlus 2’s recovery mode, as I had to flash firmware on the OnePlus 2 before it went out OTA.

For anyone used to flashing custom ROMs or pottering about in recovery, the OnePlus 2 has a very simple and clean recovery mode. This only matters to those who plan to modify their OnePlus 2, but it’s certainly a nice feature to have.

It’s one of several features that make the OnePlus 2 feel as though it’s trying to make modifications as easy as possible. In this sense it feels a little like a My First Nexus – and this is a good thing.

On the subject of modifications, Oxygen OS is a slightly tweaked version of stock Android. The look is very similar to what you’d find on a Nexus or Motorola device, but OnePlus has added a few custom ROM-like features.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 quick settings arrange
You can easily customize the Quick Setting toggles on the OnePlus 2. / © ANDROIDPIT

These include theming, including a system-wide dark theme, a new software feature called Shelf and a great Audio Tuner for tweaks to your audio settings. You’ve also got a customizable LED notification indicator, Buttons sections for managing your capacitive and on-screen button options, off-screen gestures to quickly access apps and features, and granular app permissions.

Shelf is kind of like a fledgling Google Now. It’s an optional extra during startup and lives in Google Now’s location in the far left home screen. It’s pretty basic right now, with room for the weather, your favorite contacts and most used apps, along with a few options for widgets.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 shelf
Shelf is quite basic for now, but has potential. / © ANDROIDPIT

OnePlus is happy to admit that Shelf is a beta feature still in development, but wanted to offer up OnePlus 2 owners the chance to provide feedback on its usefulness while it’s still in development. So while its functionality is currently quite limited, it definitely has potential, and you can opt out of using it if you prefer.

The OnePlus 2 does, however, have a basic customization section. You’ve got a dark theme, which hasn’t even made it to stock Android yet, and options to choose an accent color for your settings menu and quick settings.

There’s also a simple LED notifications section for global notifications, full battery, low battery and charging battery. It’s nowhere near as detailed as some apps such as LightFlow or LED Manager, but it’s better than nothing.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 display 2
The OnePlus 2 feels like stock Android, and offers some features that you usually need apps for. / © ANDROIDPIT

The OnePlus One’s off-screen gestures have made a comeback, so you can use double tap to wake or draw various shapes on a dark screen to quickly access the camera, flashlight or control your music. While these all worked fine I simply didn’t find myself using them very often. But again, it’s nice that they’re there.

The next major Android version is as good as guaranteed for the OnePlus 2, but try as I might, I couldn’t get OnePlus to assure me it would be out this year. It seems the company knows when to let loose with wild claims and when to keep tight-lipped. Of course, three of the most notable Android 6.0 Marshmallow features are dark mode, a fingerprint scanner and granular app permissions, and the OnePlus 2 already has these.

oneplus 2 dark mode
The OnePlus 2's customization menu: dark theme, accent color and LED picker. / © ANDROIDPIT

OnePlus 2 performance

The OnePlus 2 features an underclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. 4 GB of RAM is a lot for any smartphone, but the Snapdragon 810 is the CPU behind a lot of the overheating and thermal throttling stories you may have seen this year. The OnePlus two has four cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and four at 1.8 GHz, rather than the max of 2.1 GHz.

one plus two vellamo benchmarks
Vellarmo benchmark results for the OnePlus 2. / © NextPit

Despite not particularly believing OnePlus’ claims that the 810 in the OnePlus 2 was "cooler than ever" I never found that phone got exceedingly hot. This is sadly due to underclocking the 810 and throttling though. During benchmarks or hi-res gaming with Asphalt 8 the phone got warm, as any phone would, but it never got too hot.

I didn’t experience any significant heat-related issues like those that plagued the Xperia Z3+, but the OnePlus 2’s performance does drop during heavy workloads. For example, I saw around a 30 percent drop in benchmark score after playing 1,080p video and then gaming for 10 minutes or so. This is thermal throttling in action.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 top edge headphone jack
The top edge of the OnePlus 2 is where it gets the hottest during stressful tasks. / © ANDROIDPIT

Under strain, the OnePlus 2 does get a little warm on the top metal edge and on the back between the camera and volume buttons, but it disperses that heat quite well. Even at its warmest, the OnePlus didn’t seem jaggy or force close any apps, but it did drop a frame or two in games.

The OnePlus 2 just doesn’t feel super fast. Considering it is basically a Nexus – high-end specs running a very slim version of Android – the interface just doesn’t seem as snappy as it could. I killed animations and transitions in the settings to give the illusion of greater speed, but that shouldn’t be necessary on a brand new phone with specs like this.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 AnTuTu benchmark
The OnePlus 2 is capable of high benchmark scores, but it throttles when under strain. / © ANDROIDPIT

Benchmark results were good though – hovering around the 62,000 mark in AnTuTu for a 64-bit test, but dropping to around 44,000 after gaming and watching video. 

one plus two antutu benchmarks
The AnTuTu Benchmark results for the now-several-months-old OnePlus 2. / © NextPit

We conducted another AnTuTu benchmark (shown above) when the device was several months old. There was a significant drop in the score since the first set of tests we did when the device was new (from around 60,000 down to the low 50,000s). This drop was not mirrored in the other benchmarks we conducted, but is still worth noting.

Oxygen OS seems pretty decent for what it is: a very early release of a new ROM. I didn’t have any issues multitasking or app-switching and the general response was stable, but not as stable or quick as stock Android. OnePlus has added some very nice features to Android and things will progress over time. Just don’t expect too much too soon.

one plus two geekbench benchmarks
OnePlus 2 results in Geekbench 3. / © NextPit

OnePlus 2 audio

The OnePlus 2 may have twin speaker grills on the bottom, but only the one on the right produces any sound. Fortunately, that’s the speaker grill that you’re less likely to cover with your hand when gaming, but if you do cover it up, the OnePlus 2 practically becomes silent.

The OnePlus 2 is capable of a pretty impressive level of sound though. Volume is quite high, although it’s hard to tell the difference between half and full volume, and clarity is above average. We’re not talking HTC BoomSound quality here, but it's not at all bad for a phone in this price range.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 Audio Tuner
This is the Audio Tuner with custom settings for games, movies and music. / © ANDROIDPIT

The OnePlus 2 also comes with the impressive Audio Tuner pre-loaded. You’ve got default settings for movies, games and music and you can tweak things to your heart’s content. So if you think things are too tinny or not bassy enough, you can make adjustments. Not every user will bother to adjust these settings that much, but once again, it's great to have this option.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 sandstone back camera
The OnePlus 2 has a pretty good 13 MP camera with optical image stabilization and laser auto-focus. / © ANDROIDPIT

OnePlus 2 camera

The OnePlus 2 has a 13 MP main camera with f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization, dual-LED flash and laser auto-focus. You've got a 10-minute limit on shooting 4K video, along with options for Full HD (1,080p) and HD (720p).

The OnePlus 2 camera app is similar the Google Camera, with some additions. You’ve got additional shooting modes, including HD slow-motion at 120 fps, time-lapse and panorama.

The regular camera mode has three basic options. The first is Beauty, which smoothes out wrinkles and blemishes and does a decent job of making your subject look nicer without overdoing it. This can’t be said of all beauty modes – many can make your group photos look like a wax museum.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 camera app
The OnePlus 2 camera app is a modified version of the Google Camera. / © ANDROIDPIT

Then there's HDR, which brightens up high contrast or gloomy subjects. It does a pretty good job without being the best in its class. Even without HDR though, the OnePlus 2 doesn't tend to blow things out or create super shadowy images. It’s quite quick to shoot in HDR and it adds saturation, so you may as well leave it on unless you’re shooting moving subjects.

Clear Image mode stitches together a bunch of individual shots for additional clarity. The effect is pretty good but it takes longer to capture the image and the resulting file will be larger than normal photos, so you’ll need steady hands and plenty of storage space. It’s the same interlacing thing Oppo did with the Find 7. It’s good for detailed shots, but not much else.

There is also a variety of ways to access the camera on the OnePlus 2. When the phone’s screen is off, you can use an off-screen gesture to launch the camera app without unlocking it. Otherwise, you can access it from your lock screen or with an assignable button option (if you unlock your phone first).

Auto-focus was a bit of a problem. It seemed to jump around a lot in video and got a little confused in photos too. This doesn’t happen with the G4’s laser auto-focus so I’m not sure what the problem is with the OnePlus 2. 

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 removable StyleSwap cover
Despite having a removable back cover, the OnePlus 2 does not have a removable battery. / © ANDROIDPIT

Since we first published this article the OnePlus 2 camera has received an upgrade as part of the OnePlus 2 update to OxygenOS 2.1.0. This update introduced RAW support for third-party apps and a manual camera mode allowing for more control over photography settings, which are both welcome additions to the camera interface. 

Sadly, the auto-focus issues mentioned above have not been addressed in any significant way; I have seen no difference in how it performs. All of this being said, the OnePlus 2 camera hardware is generally capable and the software is perfectly fine. Don’t expect Galaxy S6 or LG G4 standards and you won’t be disappointed. It’s definitely not the best camera on Android, but it’s pretty close to the top in this price range.

OnePlus 2 battery

The OnePlus 2 battery comes in at 3,300 mAh, which is pretty decent for a 5.5-inch Full HD phone; some other, more expensive phones with QHD displays have smaller batteries. The only issue is that those phones have some pretty aggressive battery optimizations and settings, which that OnePlus 2 lacks.

The only advanced battery setting the OnePlus 2 has is the stock Android Battery Saver mode. This is enough to get you through a solid day of usage, even with the screen set to high brightness, but don’t expect any miracles.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 battery usage
Battery life is perfectly acceptable but lacks advanced management options. / © ANDROIDPIT

If you watch lots of video or do a lot of gaming, you’re going to kill the OnePlus 2 quite quickly. But then that is true of any phone. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the OnePlus 2 does not support fast charging, wireless charging or have a removable battery, so your recharge options are limited to lugging around that USB Type-C cable everywhere you go.

If OnePlus push battery management in a future Oxygen OS update – and they really should – things could get a lot better. But for now they’re just OK.

Considering the price of the OnePlus 2 however, this a pretty good battery and a great camera, so keep those things in mind. Think back to what we were happy to accept with the Nexus 5 in the camera and battery department when that device launched.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 USB Type C connection 2
Get used to carrying around that USB Type-C cable around with your OnePlus 2. / © ANDROIDPIT

OnePlus 2 technical specifications

Final verdict

The OnePlus 2 is a great phone, but it suffers from two things: the necessary limitations that needed to be placed upon it to meet its price point and the negativity that One Plus' incessant hype-beasting produces as a result.

If OnePlus hadn’t banged on so much about the OnePlus 2 being the 2016 flagship killer and "never settling", then the minor issues and omissions of the OnePlus 2 would be perfectly acceptable.

AndroidPIT OnePlus 2 display 3
The OnePlus 2 may not be all it was hyped up to be, but for the price is it definitely worth a look. / © ANDROIDPIT

But when you set everyone’s expectations impossibly high, you only have yourself to blame when not everything is up to scratch and you get called out on it. The OnePlus 2 is missing some critical features, and some of the of the included features – and even the OS itself – are still in their early stages and need time to mature.

But the OnePlus 2 is a big improvement over the OnePlus One and is barely more expensive. It’s a great phone for the price if you can accept that you do have to settle occasionally after all. To think otherwise, you would be deluding yourself. Or listening too much to marketing.

What do you think of the OnePlus 2? Does it live up to the hype? Let us know in the comments.

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Kris Carlon

Kris Carlon
Senior Editor

Kris is a former AndroidPIT Editor who came to the team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.

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  • Tanishi Jewels 1
    Tanishi Jewels Apr 22, 2017 Link to comment

    One plus 2
    Very poorly services provider phone
    100%Not worth buying


  • Rudy Brushell 1
    Rudy Brushell Apr 25, 2016 Link to comment

    This O P 2 looks great for price. My research indicates Oneplus doing well in India, so they will stick around! 👹
    O P may sell 1.5 million phones in 2016, sounds small, but Asus only selling about 4 mil.
    ...w.androidauthority.com/oneplus-one-1-5-million-units-sales-627816/
    I own Z3, HONOR 5X and LG G FLEX


  • Lily Huynh 1
    Lily Huynh Mar 11, 2016 Link to comment

    Worse customer service ever. Middle button broke down, now the displayed. I opened the call on january 19th, still no news.

    Seems there is a lot of issues with the oneplus 2. Just crossed your fingers that it won't give up on you as the customer service is really really bad...


    • Tanishi Jewels 1
      Tanishi Jewels Apr 22, 2017 Link to comment

      I do agree with you
      100% not fit .. Service support almost nil
      Not worth buying


  • 4
    Bill Brown Feb 9, 2016 Link to comment

    No removable storage? No thanks.


  • Android Desire 1
    Android Desire Jan 28, 2016 Link to comment

    Immature os? what a waste of time reading.

    The OS is working better then cm12.1 and cm13, but ofc if you expect a sloggish experience you better buy a samsung and keep it stock.


  • Hayley Su 2
    Hayley Su Dec 8, 2015 Link to comment

    The phone is awesome and so is the review!

    Rudy Brushell


  • 2
    Shaniya1234 Nov 21, 2015 Link to comment

    OnePlus 2 phone is now on sale


  • 2
    panbourc Nov 12, 2015 Link to comment

    It's very nice. But if something happens you can't find out with support. It is the worst ever


  • 1
    Anaida Basit Nov 8, 2015 Link to comment

    OnePlus Phones are now on sale only at (goo.gl/IAalF6)


  • raj chowdary 1
    raj chowdary Oct 29, 2015 Link to comment

    i have 3 india invites mail me at rajendrachowdary09@gmail.com or whatsapp 9490652656


  • 1
    censcherry Oct 28, 2015 Link to comment

    Does the touch ID problem solved? Since the ONeplus ONE, I haven't buy it as these problem like Touch ID problem, battery died fast, I am now focus on the Bluboo Xtouch, seems good from the review


  • 4
    Anurag Soni Oct 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I have one plus two invite of US. Anybody interested may contact me on ±919464444797 on whatsapp. Validity is jst 60 hours.


  • 4
    Anurag Soni Oct 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I have one plus two invite of US. Anybody interested may contact me on ±919464444797 on whatsapp. Validity is jst 60 hours.


  • 4
    Anurag Soni Oct 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I have one plus two invite of US. Anybody interested may contact me on ±919464444797 on whatsapp. Validity is jst 60 hours.


  • 2
    Jacob Black Oct 26, 2015 Link to comment

    OnePlus 2 is now available online only at (goo.gl/TXeDR9)


  • 1
    Maria Oct 25, 2015 Link to comment

    I've just received this phone and the colour screen is awful. I can't work out how to adjust settings. The brightness settings dont make any difference. Currently everything has a yellow tint to it. Reds look like burgundy. Bright greens look like light lime. Royal blue looks like pale blue.
    If I take a photo it looks like a pale blue/yellow. But if I transfer the picture to another phone the colours come out ok so it's definely the screen that's the problem


  • 31
    Deactivated Account Oct 22, 2015 Link to comment

    yeah yeah impressive (throttled!) spec's, it looks really nice blah blah can I buy one and have it delivered in UK in a couple of days NO.... I need inviting lol ...... I didn't and don't need an invite for a custom spec no hassle to buy moto X or any other phone I like....


  • 3
    Scott McCredy Oct 18, 2015 Link to comment

    I dropped my Samsung and I am phone less ( oh, the humanity.). Any invites out there while I wait for mine?
    Smccredy@msn.com


    • 4
      Anurag Soni Oct 27, 2015 Link to comment

      I have one plus two invite of US. Anybody interested may contact me on ±919464444797 on whatsapp. Validity is jst 60 hours.


  • 2
    Elizabeth Rose Oct 14, 2015 Link to comment

    OnePlus 2 is now available online only at (goo.gl/TXeDR9)


  • 31
    Deactivated Account Oct 14, 2015 Link to comment

    it's real substance is hype....


  • 7
    ifare Datagni Oct 14, 2015 Link to comment

    the swap covers are $26.99.... please verify your sources first


  • 1
    Sandipan Banerjee Oct 13, 2015 Link to comment

    One plus 2 is no way a flagship killer.It is a decent phone with great specs and a crappy and buggy os on board .Lots of bugs in oxygen os. Cpu is also underclocked to avoid overheating.Charging time is ridiculous takes almost 3 hours to fully juice it up as there is no fast charging available. screen quality is good .Using it for 12days now I have say SD810 suffers from overheating and when it overheats battery drains like hell.camera is decent but lags may be due to software .Also some apps like Facebook is not working after recent 2.1.0 update.IMO OPO is far better then it.


  • Venci Danailov 1
    Venci Danailov Sep 23, 2015 Link to comment

    Hello! May someone send me an Invite? I would greatly appreciate it and be sure to pass on the favor to other memebers here when I buy my phone and get the shareable invites from OnePlus. Thank you for considering passing the movement on!
    Venci

    venci.danailov@gmail.com


    • 4
      Anurag Soni Oct 27, 2015 Link to comment

      I have one plus two invite of US. Anybody interested may contact me on ±919464444797 on whatsapp. Validity is jst 60 hours.


  • 1
    J P Sep 21, 2015 Link to comment

    Some unboxing videos and comparisons with other devices.
    goo.gl/EDcNeV
    goo.gl/Dl9nYz


  • iPraby 2
    iPraby Sep 20, 2015 Link to comment

    Nice review. I want to buy this phone, can anyone please send an invite.?

    My email id is prabhat.iu@gmail.com


  • 1
    V.jothi Ganesh Sep 16, 2015 Link to comment

    please think twice before buying oneplus 2 . phone heats up and u cannot keep near ears more then 2 minute


  • 1
    Yason Marques Sep 12, 2015 Link to comment

    I own one and my biggest complains are the terrible battery peformance and the camera. But these can be updated in the upcoming updates.


  • 1
    L Z Sep 10, 2015 Link to comment

    Is anybody interested in an invite?
    luca dot za at gmail dot com


    • Venci Danailov 1
      Venci Danailov Sep 23, 2015 Link to comment

      thank you... I have sent you a private email


  • 4
    John Matthews Sep 5, 2015 Link to comment

    OnePlus 2 can now be preordered only at TopAndroidPhoneDeals .com

    Deactivated AccountHannah RyanDeactivated Account


  • 1
    Keshav Bisht Aug 28, 2015 Link to comment

    Great Review. I wish I had one in my hand.
    My current Samsung crashed today. I wish I had a Oneplus invite. But sadly I will have to buy another phone as I can not wait any more.


  • 1
    Daryl Caudill Aug 28, 2015 Link to comment

    Great review! I cant wait to pick mine up!


  • 1
    Vikram Mandal Aug 28, 2015 Link to comment

    can anyone plzz send me invites..i can pay money for invite ..my mail id. vikrammandal888@gmail.com


    • jay suka 1
      jay suka Sep 7, 2015 Link to comment

      I have an invite 40 is yours


      • 1
        Nishant Bagrecha Sep 9, 2015 Link to comment

        Can u send it to nishant.bagrecha.nb@gmail.com


      • iPraby 2
        iPraby Sep 20, 2015 Link to comment

        can you please send an invite to me at prabhat.iu@gmail.com


  • 1
    gunjan Aug 27, 2015 Link to comment

    Can anyone please send me an invite for One plus two.please share if anyone of you have it at gunjanaggarwal24@gmail.com ... thanks


  • 2
    Kalpesh Shah Aug 25, 2015 Link to comment

    so kindly send invitation for me on shrisai.ec@gmail.com


  • 2
    Kalpesh Shah Aug 25, 2015 Link to comment

    i love to purchase this but need invitation


  • Bhupendra Yadav 1
    Bhupendra Yadav Aug 24, 2015 Link to comment

    please send me an invite please....


  • Bhupendra Yadav 1
    Bhupendra Yadav Aug 24, 2015 Link to comment

    Hi folks,

    Can anyone please send me an invite for One plus two.. really exited for this phone, have been trying to get invite from couple of weeks.. please share if anyone of you have it at bhupendv@gmail.com ... thanks


  • 6
    christian Aug 21, 2015 Link to comment

    awesome,just awesome


  • 6
    just me Aug 18, 2015 Link to comment

    Thinking of 'fast charge' and high amp chargers. Has anyone done any life cycle testing on the high amp charges. I do believe that when you apply a high amp charge to batteries you normally get a shorter life of the battery. Thanks


  • 6
    just me Aug 18, 2015 Link to comment

    Your review did give me information. BUT ..... in the intro GOOD/BAD you did not state ... 'No NFC' and this I just do not understand. I also did not see in the specs any information for hearing aid users as to the HAC ratings (Mx/Tx). Please remember that the HAC is much more important to hearing aid users than anything about the speakers. Thank you.


  • 2
    Vitor Gonçalves Aug 13, 2015 Link to comment

    Is that a real review? Did you actually had an OP2 on your hands? Where are the benchmarks?

    Scott Adam Gordon


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Aug 18, 2015 Link to comment

      I wrote a "hands-on" review when I saw the device at a press event and used it for about 30 minutes. I was clear in that initial article about what I did and did not have time to test.

      Now we have the device in house the review has been updated. I hope you like this version ;)


  • Erik Kruse 1
    Erik Kruse Aug 8, 2015 Link to comment

    NO NFC??!!! Seriously?? After ApplePay and Google Wallet just start gaining traction, major stores have it up and running, and OnePlus decides to leave this OUT?? Why would a manufacturer take a feature AWAY? This is a sticking point for me, and one reason perhaps NOT to buy the new one. I love my OnePlus One and have been using the NFC pay often. This is a really nonsensical decision which makes me question their sanity. #smh @oneplus


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Aug 18, 2015 Link to comment

      Yeah but not THAT many people use it :)


      • 6
        just me Aug 23, 2015 Link to comment

        Come on Scott .... "Yeah but there is not that much content available" was the excuse used to sell non HD tv sets. Lets have a little foresight.


  • 1
    palka Aug 6, 2015 Link to comment

    Very informative article indeed. OnePlus Two is definitely a value buy for the kind of specifications and features, it is offering. In the price range of Rs. 24,999 for OnePlus Two 64GB variant and 22,999 for OnePlus Two 16GB variant, it is really a steal deal. Moreover, the addition of fingerprint sensor, latest OS and processor and USB Type-C connector make it more desirable than OnePlus One. But if you already have OnePlus One, then comparison between the two shows that upgrade is not relevant unless and untill you insist on buying newest device from the company. refer blog for more www.price-hunt-blog.blogspot.in/2015/08/oneplus-one-vs-oneplus-2-is-it-worth


  • 1
    Tj Paton Aug 6, 2015 Link to comment

    Definitely getting this!
    !


  • 2
    Rampal Choudhary Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

    V v nic phone thanks to owner for future all wish for you


    • 2
      Rampal Choudhary Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

      To good sir


      • 2
        Rampal Choudhary Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

        Osom


  • Alex 1
    Alex Aug 3, 2015 Link to comment

    I was on the list and got the invite. Get yourself on the invite list before it gets too big: oneplus.net/invites?kolid=2GAJDA


    • 1
      Mytchel Bourget Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

      Any chance you could send me an invite? ;)


  • 1
    Darshan Chawla Aug 3, 2015 Link to comment

    Great phone made by great people could i get the invite for one plus 2 when it is launched


  • 4
    aman Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment

    i think battery is the main focus every user is looking into a flagship and everyone wants to charge mobile fast rather than rubbish type C USB. i don't see any required extra use of type C USB.


    • Laurent G. 7
      Laurent G. Aug 2, 2015 Link to comment

      The OnePlus 2 offers 1 hour of SOT with only 24 min of charge with a 2A adapter (Quick Charge 1.0). I am so happy because initial reports mentioned QC wasn't supported!


      • 2
        aenews Aug 3, 2015 Link to comment

        The reports are not true, and of annoys me that so many people are completely misinformed. The OnePlus One did not have any "Quick Charge" Support. It still charged fully in two hours. Same goes for the OP2. Like the OPO it comes with a high ampage charger (2A) and charges in just over two hours. It has a larger battery than almost every single competitor, and so it charges at a competitive rate. The only mainstream phone with a larger battery that I know of would be the S6 Active. Nearly every single other phone has a smaller battery. The OP2 should offer fantastic battery life and fast charging just like the OPO. Also, it's odd that this inacurracy gained so much publicity when the OPO also did not have official Quick Charge Support and charged extremely fast.

        Sprocket Rocket


      • 1
        Sprocket Rocket Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

        This is my experience also. The rapid charging and extended battery life are impressive in practice. I've just put my OPO on charge (Now at 27%) after; 30 mins of emails and social media checking over WiFi, 1.5 hour drive using GPS and Spotify; 5 hour flight on airplane mode reading Kindle, listening to Spotify and gaming - Geometry Wars, Hitman and flight sim, followed by 3 hour drive using telephone, bluetooth, GPS and Spotify, then 3 hours of checking emails and social media, updating apps texting etc The battery and power management are great even without tweaking the phone.


  • 4
    aman Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment

    for me the biggest drawback is no rapid charge or fast charge option.... really disappointed...


    • 2
      aenews Aug 3, 2015 Link to comment

      It charges fully in two hours like the OPO. It has a larger battery than competitors, so that means battery life should be fantastic and that two hours is a competitive charging rate for such a large battery.


  • 13
    Arjun Paliath Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment

    Although the phone has amazing value for money, it does not come with NFC which I use a lot.
    But I don't think lack of expandable memory is a big thing since it has 64gb in built and with the advent of cloud service providers offering upto 1000gb for photos and videos it should not have a issue. :)


    • 2
      aenews Aug 3, 2015 Link to comment

      Lack of NFC was a terrible decision on their part. I agree with the storage. The S6 offers no MicroSD. This phone offers 64GB of internal storage at a very low price point. Some phones that offer a microSD start out at 16GB Storage in the first place. The OP2 is definitely very competitive and has more speedy internal storage than a lot of phones.


  • Laurent G. 7
    Laurent G. Jul 31, 2015 Link to comment

    A few point of correction :
    1) There is only a mono speaker, not sure about dual
    2) The camera has been a big area of focus for OnePlus, they hired many engineers only to work on the camera whereas last year they pretty much used the Sony drivers. Sure the current version of the camera app is a little bit bare but they have planned to implement raw format, manual controls and better low light calibration mid August in their next update
    3) The display is brighter but it can be set up less bright to conserve battery, so I don't see how this is a concern. And the choice of 1080p oder QHD coupled with the largest battery of any flagship device this year is sure to make the 1+2 one of the best performers in terms of battery life.
    4) The announced charging time of 3h10min is strange considering the 1+1 only needed 1h30 min. I wouldn't be surprised if this were marketing tactics on OnePlus' part to be able to make money out of a type C quick charger further along the line. Knowing oneplus that's the only plausible explanation. I don't really see them settling for a charging time 2.5 times more than the previous model...

    Otherwise good review.

    aenews


    • 2
      aenews Aug 3, 2015 Link to comment

      OnePlus confirmed it charges in just over two hours like the OPO. People who quoted the "3-Hours" probably weren't familiar with how the OPO charged extremely fast for a high-capacity battery even without official Quick Charge Support. Glad you caught that. I thought the same about the display =). And yes the camera is a huge improvement. I wouldn't be worried about camera quality by a long-shot. Glad to see someone well informed lol. A lot of people just don't know what they are taking about unfortunately and it's been generating bad publicity.

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