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OnePlus 2 boasts killer flagship features at an unbeatable price

By Liu Hongzuo - on 28 Jul 2015, 3:42pm

OnePlus 2 boasts killer flagship features at an unbeatable price

 OnePlus 2's fingerprint sensor on the front, doubling as the Home button.

Just hours before the official launch, we shared detailed photo leaks of the OnePlus 2. The leak confirmed some of the visible functions of the smartphone. Now, OnePlus has officially announced the remaining details with more insight, including the phone's killer price tag and availability.

We’ve gathered the remaining information through the VR video-stream available on OnePlus' proprietary OnePlus 2 launch app found on Google Play, combined with details announced through live tweets about the OnePlus 2 conference held in China, as well as hands-on information found on OnePlus 2’s official page.

Specifications

Rear cover that hides the dual-SIM port of the OnePlus 2. 

The OnePlus 2 will come with a 13-megapixel rear camera with a 1.3-micron sensor size and f/2.0 aperture. It is assisted by laser autofocus and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). We're unsure at this time if the laser autofocus is the same technology found in LG's flagship G4, but it seems to be similar. The smartphone also comes with a 5-megapixel front camera. OnePlus 2’s rear cover is removable, but the battery isn’t – removing the rear cover allows you to stick your two nano-SIM cards in, and covers also come in four styles - Bamboo, Black Apricot, Rosewood, Kevlar, plus the Sandstone Black that the phone comes shipped in. Each cover has a different finish as well. For example, the Sandstone Black has a grippy, textured finish.

The lower left image features the Alert Slider, with an image of the reversible Type-C USB port next to it.

The sliding hard-switch seen in the leaked photos is OnePlus' new Alert Slider feature. Essentially, it's a physical toggle switch that lets you switch between three different notification modes: alerting on all notifications, receiving only priority alerts, or muting notifications entirely.

Interface-wise, OnePlus 2 will ship with Android-based OxygenOS, a creation from the OnePlus team. One notable software feature is its privacy controls on a per-app basis.

Early rumors suggested that the OnePlus 2 would have a 5.5-inch QHD display, however, the final product is instead fitted with a 5.5-inch Full HD panel (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) at 401ppi. The display has a contrast ratio of 1500:1, and uses in-cell IPS LCD technology. Storage-wise, the phone will come in 16GB and 64GB variations and there is no MicroSD card slot, like its predecessor.

The official announcement also confirmed details that were leaked prior to the launch. OnePlus 2’s processor is indeed the improved 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 called v2.1, powered by 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM (3GB RAM for the 16GB model), and it still boasts having that fingerprint sensor said to be faster than Touch ID. A USB Type-C port stays, and the battery capacity is at 3,300mAh as promised.

Pricing and Availability

The official OnePlus 2 retail price in US dollars.

The Oneplus 2 will retail in two versions at cut-throat price points. The 16GB will retail at US$329 (S$450) and the 64GB version will be hitting the shops at US$389 (S$530). We are disappointed to learn that there’s no official retail price for Singapore, despite having detailed retail prices for many other countries in the world.

The OnePlus 2 with pricing for certain countries. No news on Singapore retail prices yet.

Previously, we mentioned that there are three different versions of the Oneplus 2 in the works with each version meant for varying 4G network compatibility. The US will get their own phone that works with their LTE telcos, and China will also have the same exclusivity. The last version is 4G-compatible with the remaining regions, including Asia, UK, and Australia.

The 64GB version will see retail starting from 11 August 2015 for selected regions (the US, India, Europe, etc.), with the 16GB to follow at a later date. According to the VR stream, the Southeast Asian region – that’s us – will only get the Oneplus 2 in Q4 2015.

OnePlus 2 retails through an invite-only system.

Like its predecessor, sales of the OnePlus 2 will be through an invite-only system. Invites will be given out through peers who have already purchased the phone, or through contests and promotions organized by OnePlus. We've also heard that there will be a pop-up store in Singapore this Friday (31st July) where you'll be able to sign up for an invite, however we are currently awaiting confirmation from OnePlus on this. Update: According to OnePlus, there will not be a pop up store in Singapore this Friday, however, more details on how to get an invite will be announced then. 

On the plus side (hah), the OnePlus 2 will have a larger first-shipment to accommodate demand – reportedly with 1.5 million units prepared by them.

 

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