OnePlus 2 reservations surpasses the two million milestone

The reservation list is a new addition for the OnePlus 2 and is a way for prospective owners of the device to put their name down on a list in an attempt to ‘reserve’ any leftover invites. This list just surpassed the two million mark!

If your name is on the list, invites will begin to be sent out, according to OnePlus, on August 11 for the United States and Europe. Just because your name is on the list, doesn’t mean you’ll get an invite and it’s unclear just what being close to the top of the list will mean or how two million reservations will convert into sales.

Many have already decided to boycott the 2016 flagship killer given the controversy surrounding OnePlus and also the feature omissions the device many feel have already compromised the OnePlus 2 even before it’s released.

The 64GB version of the OnePlus 2 will cost $389, however, the 16GB model will not be available right away, but it will cost consumers $329. Where are you on the reservation list?

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Why I won’t be picking up the OnePlus 2

On Monday, July 27, OnePlus took to the stage to unveil its eagerly-awaited flagship smartphone of 2015, the OnePlus 2. At first, the handset looked very promising with its Snapdragon 810 chipset, 4GB of RAM and $389 price tag. However, once the event had finished and we had time to mull over what we’d just witnessed, it instantly became apparent that the device isn’t a “flagship killer” after all.

The OnePlus 2’s most noticeable downfall is its specifications. There are set to be two variants up for grabs when the handset launches on August 13 — one with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage and the other with 64GB of space and 4GB of RAM. They both pack a 5.5-inch Full HD display, a Snapdragon 810 processor and an Adreno 430 GPU.

Now whilst these internals may prove to be somewhat impressive today, they certainly won’t be in two weeks time when Samsung takes the wraps off the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ — leaving the OnePlus 2 to strive for the “ 2016 flagship killer” slot it so fervently boasted, but has no real possibility of ascertaining. In actual fact, I’d go as far as to say that the OnePlus 2 will be overtaken before the year is out and almost definitely won’t be able to compete with any of next year’s flagships.

To be completely honest, the over-exaggerated internals weren’t that much of a big deal for me as OnePlus smartphones do deliver one of the smoothest Android experiences on the market. However, something that is a big deal for me, is the lack of support for NFC, which I’m pretty sure will drive potential OnePlus 2 customers in their droves towards the hordes of competitors offerings that are sure to be out there.

Apple and Samsung have only just recently launched their respective mobile payment platforms (with Google’s Android Pay coming soon) and it’s fairly safe to say that they’ve been a huge success, but these services depend on the Near Field Communication chips that have been integrated into smartphones to operate, and from what we’ve seen so far from a collection of teardown images, the OnePlus 2 does not carry this specific piece of hardware.

So how can a smartphone aimed at the 2016 market be expected to compete with devices that feature better specifications and support for an emerging technology that’s already taking the world by storm? The simple answer is it can’t.

It’s not as if the OnePlus 2 excels in the display department, either. Although it features a Full HD screen, it’s hugely disappointing to see that the company didn’t opt for a 2K panel, which would enable it at least to compete with the likes of the LG G4 which features one of the best monitors available to date with its 1440 x 2560 resolution and 538 ppi pixel density.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the OnePlus 2 isn’t a good device. It’s a fantastic smartphone, but it’s not the “2016 flagship killer” I expected it to be. For that reason, I won’t be picking one up. I’d rather invest my money in a device that will see me through the next two years and be able to compete with the latest flagships as opposed to lagging behind before 2015 expires. That’s why I’ll be bagging myself the brand new Moto X Style when it hits the shelves. In my eyes, it’s much more bang for your buck.

Come comment on this article: Why I won’t be picking up the OnePlus 2

OnePlus launches charitable auction for OnePlus 2 invites

The OnePlus invite system used to obtain their smartphones, including their latest OnePlus 2 that was recently announced, is loved by some and hated by others. Whatever consumers may think though, OnePlus seems to think it is an effective way to sell their devices. In the past the company has made some missteps in developing campaigns to give away some invites as a way to increase interest, but they may have learned from those incidences. Their latest contest is called “Invites for a Cause” and will help raise money for the UNICEF Tap Project.

OnePlus is working with eBay through the Giving Works system to auction off 100 invites, fifty each day for two days. All of the proceeds will benefit the UNICEF Tap Project. The UNICEF Tap Project brings clean, safe water to underprivileged children around the globe.

The auctions work like a typical eBay auction where users submit their bids and try to end up on top when time runs out, which is slated to happen on August 8th. The invites are a little bit different from a normal invite though as OnePlus is only giving the winners one week to claim the invite and then one month to make their purchase of a new OnePlus 2 smartphone. The invites will be for the Sandstone Black version with 64GB of storage. OnePlus does indicate bidders need to be certain their shipping address is in a country where OnePlus can ship to.

source: OnePlus
via: Android Authority

Come comment on this article: OnePlus launches charitable auction for OnePlus 2 invites

OnePlus is using its invite system for good; donating to charity

OnePlus has been in the media a lot the past few months. Mainly it has been news and rumors surrounding their new device, the OnePlus 2. Today, it is a totally different story. OnePlus has partnered with eBay’s Giving Works and is auctioning off invites for the OnePlus 2 on eBay for the UNICEF Tap Project.

The UNICEF Tap Project helps to bring clean, safe water to underprivileged children around the world. Just $1 helps provide a child access to sanitary water for up to 40 days. You can read all about it here and learn about other ways you can help their mission.

While some people don’t like OnePlus’ marketing techniques or how they do things, you have to respect them for this. Their oft criticized invite system has brought a lot of frustration to fans, as some people put invites up on eBay for pure profit. OnePlus decided to use this to their advantage and raise some money for a good cause.

OnePlus is auctioning off a total of 100 global invites, that means they will work anywhere in the world. These auctions will be up for a total of five days and the entire proceeds will go to the UNICEF Tap Project. The invites will be for the 64 GB Sandstone Black OnePlus 2 and will be sent out via email. Once the invites are distributed on August 10th, fans will have one week to claim it.

If you would like to bid for an invite, you can do so at the official OnePlus eBay shop. You have to admit, even if it is to get in the good graces of the internet, it is still good to see them contributing to a good cause.

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OnePlus 2 already selling like hotcakes in China

Luckily, Chinese buyers of the new OnePlus 2 don’t need to go through the invite system like in other parts of the world. Sales began today in China, and even though the new Moto X Style seemed to overshadow the OnePlus 2 launch, that may not be the case.

OnePlus announced that it sold 30,000 OnePlus 2 units within only 64 seconds of availability.

The handset is already selling like hotcakes in its homeland and it will be interesting to see if the company can keep this momentum going. Last year, OnePlus completely mis-judged how many units would go on to sell, and hopefully the increased production the company has promised will be enough for the high-demand. Last year the company sold over 1 million units, and this year it expects to sell 3-5 million OnePlus 2 handsets by the end of 2015. Only time will tell if the company can reach its estimates.

Meanwhile, you can check out our comparison of the handset compared against Motorola’s new flagship the Moto X Style.

Source: OnePlus (Weibo)
Via: Phone Arena

Come comment on this article: OnePlus 2 already selling like hotcakes in China

Does no NFC make or break the OnePlus 2? AndroidGuys chimes in

It has been exactly a week since the OnePlus 2 was announced in the first-ever virtual reality product launch. While we knew many of the specs of the upcoming OnePlus devices beforehand, there was still a lot left to find out. Since the launch, it has many consumers split whether they like the device or not. On one hand, the OnePlus 2 has a great spec sheet and a very modest price tag, it starts at $329. On the other hand, OnePlus seemed to leave out a little feature known as NFC.

NFC or Near Field Communication, involves wirelessly transmitting data from one hardware device to another physical object, provided that the devices are in short range. Now that the world knows that the OnePlus 2 will not include NFC, it has caused quite the stir, even within AndroidGuys. Our group has been mumbling over this issue for a few days, so I decided to throw everyone’s opinion together for you guys to see.

I personally don’t find it as that big of a deal. I have rarely found myself using NFC; I can probably count the times on one hand. I remember one time I attempted to use NFC and Google Wallet to purchase a pop from a vending machine, but it failed. The other, more successful attempt, was using the NFC to setup a new device, which I actually found very convenient. It transferred all my accounts and apps in a matter of minutes, something that could usually take an hour or so.

On one hand, I do see the convenience factor of it and how it could be implemented in the future. Especially since the device is being branded as the “2016 Flagship Killer”. On the other hand, many users who are expected to buy the OnePlus 2 are phone enthusiasts and will most likely be looking to purchase the OnePlus 3 next year.

I get that OnePlus has cornered themselves with their decisions and marketing ideas, but give them a break. At the end of the day, press is press. It doesn’t matter if it is good or bad, they are getting the OnePlus brand name out there. Just think, if NFC was included on the OnePlus 2, we wouldn’t even be talking about the device as much right now. Maybe OnePlus did it on purpose because they knew it would create such a stir, and get them even more free press.

Here’s what the rest of AndroidGuys thought on the subject:

Scott Webster
I don’t have much of an issue with this feature as it pertains to the OnePlus 2. Specifically, it’s the sort of device that’s more niche and an educated buyer/user will know going in that it’s not included. It’s the type of smartphone that average people aren’t going to know much about or care about – yet. In short, the people who buy this are going to know all there is to know about it. If NFC is a pain point for them then they’ll likely not buy. Does it mean that NFC should not be employed in future models? No. I’ve had NFC off and on in my devices for years now and have yet to tap anything outside of a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. And, really, I could have used Bluetooth for pairing, anyhow.

Austin Hyde
I’m with Scott on this one. I have yet to see a practical application of NFC that would make me want to use it on a regular basis. Samsung’s pay system comes close, but there are too many options out there and the only vendors that I see supporting NFC are using it for Apple Pay. Google will have to come out with a unifying system for this work on Android.

Josh Noriega
While I agree that I don’t use NFC that much, you just gotta have it if you’re gonna make the claim of a “Flagship Killer”. They should have known this was gonna bite them in the ass. And they specifically put a USB Type-C port to be “future-proof”. In light of Android Pay coming, NFC is being “future-proof”. And is it really such a pain/expense to put NFC on-board?

Derrick
Personally I don’t understand why there is such a big fuss about NFC. I have never used NFC one time on my phone, and for the ONE time I considered using it, pairing to a wireless speaker, my speaker didn’t even have NFC built-in. I ALWAYS turn off NFC whenever I get a new phone. I never use it.

Sure Android Pay is coming, but it has been here already for many years known as Google Wallet. And the grim reality is no one uses it. It was only this year when paying with your phone became popular and we can thank Apple for that. Google even had to rename Google Wallet to Android Pay to mimic Apply Pay. Google Wallet was a failure for payment using NFC and Apple hasn’t quite changed the landscape yet. How many of you use NFC payments 30 times a month? I bet a very small percentage of you do, and for that reason I can completely understand why OnePlus removed NFC.

So this NFC thing that everyone is complaining about is a bunch of nonsense. We won’t be using Android Pay next year, and even if I am wrong and have to eat my shoe, we will still have our wallets with us. We will still have to carry credit cards and cash even with Android Pay because there are millions of small businesses that will not accept Android Pay.
The point of OnePlus is to make an affordable flagship and I completely agree with their decision to remove NFC. It’s only the enthusiasts that are making a fuss over this…ask your mom, dad, brother, cousin, whoever if they use NFC. I can guess what their answer will be…If I was Carl Pei I would tell the whiners to shut up already.

I believe a lot of the backlash OP is receiving over this is due to their annoying advertising and invite system. People are looking to challenge OP over anything because of their negative sentiment. Get over it. The OP is a sweet phone at a very reasonable price and I guarantee if people could actually get their hands on it in an easy manner, they wouldn’t be complaining about not having NFC.

Benton
I think that everyone over-reacted to the news that the OP2 won’t have NFC. That being said, I do feel as though there is a principle here. OnePlus’ mantra is “Never Settle”, and with that they release phones that they hope you won’t have to “settle” for. Yet, if anyone was looking forward to the release of Android Pay with Android M, they will have to “settle” for the lack of NFC in the OP2. Consumers are already “settling” for the OP2 anyways, with lack of QuickCharge and the fact that any future updates will take quite a bit of time for OnePlus to build their OS around it. NFC is just one other thing on the list to “settle” for.

Henry
OnePlus wanted to create a phone that they were touting as a 2016 flagship killer, but they didn’t include NFC. Right now, that’s not a big deal. Few use it. But with Android M and Android Pay just around the corner, I see it becoming very popular in the next year. As does OnePlus’s CEO, who said that NFC would become big in about 12-18 months. That would make it 2016. So if he says they didn’t include NFC because it’s not important. But they they want their phone to be next year’s flagship killer. But then he says that NFC will become big next year. But then he says that it doesn’t matter because people will upgrade next year. That is the most flawed logic of all time! If OP wanted the 2 to be a 2015 flagship killer, okay. I still don’t think they should get rid of NFC, but I can understand it. But they want it to compete with phones coming out next year when NFC will be much more widespread. They seemed set on future proofing their device with USB-C, but no NFC? They even included a fingerprint scanner and didn’t think, “We should include NFC because people can pay more securely with their fingerprint”? And for people who are planning on keeping a phone for years, I feel like this will be a huge letdown. I believe NFC’s potential is mobile payments, and it will only become more usable as time goes on. So people who bought a OP2 will see their friends using mobile payments and wonder why their phone can’t do that. Maybe I just have too much optimism for the adoption of NFC payments, but I think that OP will regret this decision.

Cooper
I don’t care. I’m getting the Moto X Pure Edition.

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New OnePlus smartphone slated for a release around Christmas

OnePlus is gearing up for the release of the OnePlus Two, but there’s still one more device on the horizon this year for the company. There have been plenty of rumors about a second device, so this isn’t a huge surprise, but we’re finally getting some details directly from OnePlus about it.

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei didn’t divulge anything specific about what’s up their sleeve, but he did say that the next handset they release will probably be out in time for Christmas this year. We’re already in August, so that’s just a few months off. I think a higher-end version of the OnePlus Two is pretty unlikely (unless they fill in some of the blanks on its feature list) but a mini model could happen.

Pei also talked about the future of the company and about how the landscape of mobile phones will evolve over the next few years. He believes that within five years, there will only be room for three smartphone manufacturers, and he thinks that’ll be Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus. Other companies will die off or leave the market due to being unable to keep high enough margins to make any profit. He then followed that statement up by clarifying that OnePlus barely broke even with the OnePlus One. But for some reason, that won’t affect OnePlus’s ability to continue making smartphones.

I’ll let you think about that for a bit.

source: USA Today

via: Phone Arena

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