The OnePlus One’s Camera and Gallery apps have been (unofficially) made available to download for other Android-powered smartphones. They’re based on the stock CyanogenMod 11 apps, which are based on the stock Android 4.4 KitKat apps — but they offer some nifty features that you don’t get direct from Google.
We all knew the OnePlus One was going to be cheap — for a flagship phone, at least. But I don’t think any of us anticipated it would start at as little as $299 off-contract when competing devices — such as the Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8 — cost around $600. So, how has OnePlus made its debut smartphone such a bargain?
It hasn’t skimped on build quality or specifications, that’s for sure. What it has done is pass up the opportunity to make any kind of profit. The Chinese startup won’t make a penny when you buy its first device because they’re all sold at cost.
For a high-end smartphone, the Galaxy S5 feels a little… cheap. I absolutely love mine; it’s one of the best Android phones I’ve ever owned thanks to its super speedy processor, stunning display, and excellent 16-megapixel camera. But I choose to carry the HTC One M8 instead. It’s just as capable in almost every way, and its sleek aluminum form factor is a joy to hold.
Like many of its predecessors and siblings, the Galaxy S5 has received criticism for its plastic design, and now the man who oversaw it is moving on. Chang Dong-hoon, head of Samsung’s mobile design center, will be replaced by vice president of mobile design Lee Min-Hyuk.
The most exciting smartphone of the year so far is also a cause of immense frustration for many.
Everyone wants to get their hands on the OnePlus One, which combines cutting-edge specifications with an affordable price tag, but you need an invite if you want to buy one — and they’re incredibly hard to come by right now. But don’t spend your savings on another smartphone just yet.
OnePlus has told fans that the One will be much easier to get hold of if you want until June.
Over the past month or so, I’ve been asking friends and colleagues whether they’ll be choosing the HTC One M8 or the Samsung Galaxy S5 when it’s time to upgrade their smartphone. A number of the responses have surprised me. Rather than picking the latter — which I assumed most would — several told me they would be waiting for the LG G3 instead.
That wait will end on May 27, when LG will announce its new flagship at events held simultaneously in six cities around the world.
