10 Reasons OnePlus One Is a Strong Alternative Android Smartphone

by Don Reisinger

Looking at the design of the OnePlus One, the smartphone isn’t necessarily groundbreaking. The handset, which weighs 5.7 ounces, has a thin design and rounded corners, but looks like many other Android-based handsets on the market. Apple and Samsung have arguably pushed the envelope a bit on design, and it’s time for OnePlus to catch up with the One.

For a while, companies were bundling the biggest displays possible into their smartphones. But the latest launches from Android-based vendors have been devices featuring screen sizes at or around 5 inches. OnePlus One, however, comes with a 5.5-inch screen similar to the iPhone 6 Plus. Like Apple, OnePlus ostensibly believes that the larger phablet design is superior.

No one should be worried about the OnePlus One’s ability to handle any app on the Android market. The device comes with the 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and the Adreno 330 GPU. In addition, OnePlus One has 3GB of RAM, making it one of the more powerful Android devices on the market today.

Here’s a bit of a surprise: OnePlus One is running on Android, but it’s not Google’s version. Instead, the device comes with the Cyanogen OS. Cyanogen is a true open-source operating system that isn’t as locked-down as Google’s Android. It provides vendors with more opportunities to modify the platform and create a truly unique experience. Cyanogen is running on few devices right now, but the numbers should rise significantly with time.

OnePlus focuses heavily on the camera technology of its One handset. In fact, the company has an entire section of its page dedicated to the 13-megapixel rear-facing camera built into the device. The reason for that is that its camera is based on the Sony Exmor IMX 214, featuring six lenses to address possible issues with distortion. It’s a feature that puts the OnePlus One in direct competition with the highest-end smartphone cameras on the market.

Gesture support is an important component in the OnePlus One. The device’s operating system, which was configured by OnePlus, fully supports gesture control. Tapping twice on the screen turns the handset on, while drawing an image on the display will open the drawing app. OnePlus even promises that the screen will respond if a person’s fingers are wet, something that few other products can offer.

OnePlus has touted the security features built into the One. The device maker claims that Cyanogen is a more secure operating system than anything smartphone buyers would find elsewhere. The handset includes the ability to send text messages with end-to-end encryption to other devices running its software. OnePlus’ Cyanogen installation also includes software customization to ensure certain apps can’t access user information. Control and security seem to be central features of the handset.

Are you interested in buttons that are part of the operating system and on-screen, or those that sit below them? With the OnePlus Cyanogen installation, users can decide to use standard capacitive key buttons, like home and back, positioned under the display or virtual buttons at the bottom of the touch-screen that perform the same actions. Only one set of those buttons can be used at a time. OnePlus argues the feature is just another example of its delivering on its mission to “never settle.”

Carrier availability is not universal. In the United States, for instance, the OnePlus One will only work on the T-Mobile and AT&T networks, which means current Verizon and Sprint customers are out of luck. The reason for that is that OnePlus One runs on that GSM wireless technology supported by T-Mobile and AT&T. The CDMA-based Verizon and Sprint networks are out.

The OnePlus One comes in two flavors: 16GB Silk White and the 64GB Sandstone Black. But what’s perhaps best for customers is that they’re both affordable off-contract. The 16GB option goes for $299, while the 64GB version is available for $349. Considering the iPhone 6 will cost about twice as much as that (or more), depending on the version, the OnePlus One’s affordable price tag could make it even more popular than it already is.