Smartphone vendor OnePlus unveiled its next-generation flagship handset, the OnePlus 2, which will be available by invitation in the United States starting Aug. 11.
The OnePlus 2, which is built around an aluminum-magnesium alloy frame that features jewelry-grade stainless steel accents, includes a full HD 5.5-inch In-Plane Switching (IPS) LCD display, a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, an Adreno 430 graphics processor, up to 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and up to 64GB of on-board eMMC 5.0 flash storage. The smartphone’s display can be read in direct sunlight and offers 178-degree viewing angles so it can be read from many positions.
The OnePlus 2 also features 4G LTE capabilities, a SwiftKey keyboard that learns words that are chosen often by users, a fingerprint scanner for security, a 3,300mAh lithium polymer battery, a USB Type-C charging port and dual SIM card slots that support two Nano SIM cards.
A 13-megapixel rear-facing digital camera is also built into the OneTouch 2, which includes six physical lenses, dual LED flash, an advanced Optical Image Stabilization system and an f/2.0 aperture for great images, even in low light conditions. Also built-in is a wide-angle 5MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The OnePlus 2 ships with OnePlus’ own operating system, OxygenOS, which is based on Android 5.1. OxygenOS allows users to customize on-screen gestures, buttons, quick settings and more.
“With the OnePlus 2, we’re making a bet on the future, and doubling down on a holistic product experience,” OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei said in a statement. “We’re excited for what our fans have to say.”
In the United States, the devices will be available in a 64GB model for $389 with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, while a 16GB model with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM will be available later this year for $329.
Buyers must apply for an invitation from the company or be offered an invitation from an owner of the previous OnePlus One smartphone to be able to purchase a handset, according to the company. The company also plans to hold special events on social media sites starting Aug. 1 where buyers can seek an invitation to purchase one of the handsets.
“From day one, we’ve prioritized our product and our community above all else—we carefully listened to our users’ feedback and incorporated suggestions in building the OnePlus 2,” Pete Lau, the founder and CEO of OnePlus said in a statement. “We chose premium materials, the highest performing components and forward thinking technology to make this an unparalleled user experience.”
The OnePlus 2, which has smooth curves and clean lines, will be available in Sandstone Black while customers will also be able to purchase a variety of covers made from wood, including bamboo, black apricot or rosewood. Covers made from Kevlar will also be available.
OnePlus’ original OnePlus One smart phone went on sale in April 2014 and sold more than one million units, according to the company. The phones are built to take on Apple’s iPhones, Samsung’s galaxy S6 devices and other premium phones from the world’s top manufacturers.