OnePlus: How midrange flagship brand is discreetly inching towards premium

With smartphone prices gradually increasing with every new generation, the midrange flagship brand OnePlus has turned into a premium brand. Here is a look at the company's journey so far.

In 2014, Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus debuted in the smartphone space with the launch of the OnePlus One, which was termed a flagship but had the price of a midrange device. Thanks to its top-notch specifications and brilliant build quality, the phone famously became the first midrange flagship, giving birth to a smartphone segment that had never before been explored or experimented with but had a huge potential in India’s price-conscious smartphone market.

Over the years, the company has continued to offer value-for-money products in the midrange segment, redefining the flagship smartphone segment and proving that a flagship need not be costly. However, with every consecutive launch, the company has raised the price substantially and moved closer to the premium smartphone segment. 

OnePlus still continues to offer value-for-money smartphones when compared with premium flagships. However, with the premium edition of its current-generation flagship priced at nearly Rs 44,000, OnePlus does not look like a midrange flagship brand any more.

OnePlus One

Launched in 2014, the OnePlus featured a premium design and top of the line innards. However, it was the launch price of Rs 21,999, almost half of other premium smartphones' cost that changed the notion of flagship smartphones, making this the first midrange flagship. The OnePlus One redefined the flagship smartphone segment and showed that a flagship need not be costly.

OnePlus 2

Riding on the success of the OnePlus One, the company launched the OnePlus 2 in 2015. Priced at Rs 24,999, the second-generation OnePlus smartphone featured top-tier specifications, coupled with a top-notch build quality which made it a value-for-money product that was hard to beat at its price.

OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T

Launched in 2016, the OnePlus 3 was a game-changer for the company. With the OnePlus 3, the company not only plugged the shortcoming of its predecessor, but also brought a new operating system that made it a robust flagship with an all-round performance. That justified its price tag of Rs 27,999.

Later that year, the company upgraded the model with a new processor, camera and improved user interface. Named the OnePlus 3T, the phone was an all-rounder. Launched at Rs 29,999, the phone had everything you expect from a premium flagship, but it had the price of a midrange. It is this smartphone that set the benchmark for the company’s future smartphones....Read More

Article Source BS

OnePlus 6 gets Android 9.0 Pie beta update: How to install, risks and more

The OnePlus 6 Android 9.0 Pie beta software update brings new user interface, Android P gesture navigation and host of improvements compared to current stable Android Oreo-based ROM.

OnePlus, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has rolled out a beta update for its current flagship, the OnePlus 6. Based on Google Android 9.0 Pie operating system, the software update is the first beta version to roll out for the smartphone. It brings new user interface, Android P gesture navigation and host of improvements compared to current stable Android Oreo-based ROM.

The new beta update integrates OnePlus customisation features over the existing new features that comes bundled as a part of Android Pie operating system. The beta operating system supports theme accent colour customisation, new do not disturb mode with adjustable settings and new Gaming Mode 3.0. It also adds a new notification mode for text messages and calls from third party apps such as Skype.

Note of caution, the software upgrade is strictly meant for beta testing. It has bugs that might lead to inconsistencies in phone. Therefore, user should upgrade to such beta software at their own risk.

Here is how upgrade from stable ROM to beta software update based on Android P:

Download the ROM upgrade package from the OnePlus official forum for OnePlus 6

Copy the ROM upgrade package to the mobile phone storage.

In the phone’s setting menu, go to system updates and click on local upgrade option available inside the top right menu. Click on the ROM package to install the upgrade

Wait for mobile to install software. It will reboot in the process.

The Open Beta update platform is an initiative from OnePlus that allows early adopters to test beta versions of scheduled software update for any sort of inconsistencies. Based on the feedback, the company adds or remove some elements from the upgrade and polish it further before rolling it out as a stable ROM to all users as over the air update (OTA).

The beta software needs to be downloaded and installed manually for the first time. Users on beta ROM only get beta upgrades as OTAs. However, they can revert back to stable ROM anytime to enroll back again for stable ROM updates.

Here is how to roll back to stable ROM from beta software:

Download the stable ROM package from OnePlus forum

Copy ROM package to the mobile phone storage root directory

In the phone’s setting menu, go to system updates and click on local upgrade option available inside the top right menu. Click on the ROM package to install the upgrade

Wait for mobile to install software. It will reboot in the process

Another note of caution, moving from stable ROM to beta software and vice-versa might clear all contents of the phone. Therefore, it is advised to take complete backup before installing.

Article Source BS

Despite imperfections, Poco F1 can beat OnePlus and Asus on their own turf

The Poco F1 offers top-of-the-line innards at a starting price of a mid-range budget device, challenging the popularity of OnePlus and Asus in the mid-range flagship segment.

Poco, a sub-brand of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi, seems to be redefining the mid-range flagship segment with the launch of the Poco F1. The smartphone offers top-of-the-line innards at a starting price of a budget mid-range device, challenging the dominance of OnePlus in its own game, and almost killing the budding new names in mid-range flagship segment, such as Asus.

A smartphone is more than just the sum of its components. This is true of every smartphone, be it one from OnePlus or Samsung, Apple, Asus or Xiaomi. 

Like a camera, which is more than just the megapixels, a lot more than just a processor defines a smartphone. A powerful processor, coupled with an optimised operating system, proper RAM management, healthy battery, capable camera units with software-based image enhancements algorithms, etc, are a few things that complete a smartphone.

Here is a look at the key players in the mid-range segment and how they stack up against one another:

OnePlus 6:

The OnePlus 6 smartphone is a result of experience that the company gathered over years. It boasts a top-notch hardware, best-in-class Android-based operating system and a premium glass-metal-glass body. Importantly, the consistent software upgrade cycles and a healthy community group that shares regular feedback to the company make this device even better with time.

Poco F1

The Poco F1 is a fresh new experience. It also boasts premium innards but cuts corners on design, camera and some other features to keep the cost in check.

It is important to note that the Poco brand is part of Xiaomi, which has been a dominant player in the country with its value-for-money phones. However, the company’s last flagships did not make an impact in India’s price-conscious smartphone market due to irregular launches and uncanny price tags. Compared to OnePlus, Poco has had a similar start with the F1, which is not perfect, but sets the benchmark for future Poco-branded smartphones.

Asus Zenfone 5Z:

The Asus Zenfone 5z, which is also a capable mid-range smartphone that could be considered the only alternative to the mighty OnePlus 6. The Poco F1 not only takes the cheapest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845-based smartphone title from it, but also makes it look overpriced. However, Asus has so far been consistent with the support, providing regular software upgrades that continue to make the Zenfone 5z even better. However, with rising competition, it remains to be seen if Asus continues to be a relevant player in this segment.

But one thing is clear: A segment that has long been dominated by OnePlus is finally seeing some competition. With rising competition among brands, the consumer is sure to be the real winner.

Article Source BS

OnePlus captured 40% of Indian premium smartphone mkt in Q2, beats Samsung

In terms of best-selling models, OnePlus 6 was the best in the premium segment followed by Samsung S9 Plus and OnePlus 5T.

Riding on the success of its OnePlus 6 device, Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus captured 40 per cent of the premium segment in India in the second quarter of 2018, a new report has said.

Samsung captured 34 per cent share of the premium segment while Apple 14 per cent - its lowest ever.

According to Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research, the premium smartphone segment (Rs 30,000 and above) grew 19 per cent annually and 10 per cent sequentially during Q2 2018.

"The uptick in consumer demand in the premium segment was driven by increasing offers around the new launches as compared to a year ago," said the report, released late on Monday.

The top three brands -- Samsung, OnePlus and Apple -- contributed 88 per cent of the overall premium market as compared to 95 per cent a quarter ago.

"This is due to the entry of new players in the segment led by Huawei (P20), Vivo (X21), Nokia HMD (Nokia 8 Sirocco) and LG (V30 Plus)," the report added.

Samsung captured over a third of the total premium smartphone market during the quarter with promotions around its flagship S9 series remaining strong.

In terms of best-selling models, OnePlus 6 was the best in the premium segment followed by Samsung S9 Plus and OnePlus 5T.

"The steady focus on high-end flagship smartphones and unprecedented community connect helped OnePlus earn user trust and spread brand awareness through word of mouth," said Neil Shah, Partner and Research Director, IoT, Mobile and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research.

Article Source BS

Is Asus Zenfone 5z better than OnePlus 6, Honor 10, Vivo X21? Click to vote

The Zenfone 5Z is priced at Rs 29,999, Rs 32,999 and Rs 36,999 for 6GB/64GB, 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB variants, respectively. It will be available in midnight blue and meteor silver colours.

Asus, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, on July 4 launched the Zenfone 5z in India. The phone is priced at Rs 29,999, Rs 32,999 and Rs 36,999 for 6GB/64GB, 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB variants, respectively. The phone will be available in two colours -- midnight blue and meteor silver – and will go on sale starting from July 9, exclusively on Flipkart.

First unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in February, the Asuz Zenfone 5z is a flagship smartphone with top-of-the-line innards, notch-based screen, dual rear cameras and system-wide artificial intelligence capabilities. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC), the Zenfone 5z boasts 90 per cent screen-to-body ratio, thanks to its 6.2-inch fullHD+ screen that covers almost the entire front. The 19:9 aspect ratio leaves just a small notch on top to accommodate an 8-megapixel camera, earpiece and sensors.

On the back, the smartphone sports a dual-camera set-up, which features a 12MP primary shooter and a wide angle 8MP shooters. The primary 12MP sensor boasts f/1.8 aperture and the 8MP sensor features 120-degree wide-angle lens. Both the front and rear cameras are backed by AI for automatic scene selection and portrait photography, and machine learning to improve the output by learning usage patterns.

In a quick hands-on experience, the phone seemed to be on par with other smartphones in same segment, which includes the OnePlus 6, Honor 10 and Vivo X21. But, is Zenfone 5z the smartphone that can take on these smartphone and set a new benchmark for midrange flagships? Take the poll and let us know:

Vivo X21 review: A worthy mid-range flagship to challenge OnePlus dominance

Priced at Rs 35,990, the Vivo X21 is a premium mid-range device strong in almost all areas; the phone's modest processor seems a downside, but it shows no signs of weakness in real-life scenario.

Vivo X21 Review : After showcasing the prototype of in-display fingerprint sensor technology at the Consumer Electronic Show, 2018, Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on May 29 launched the Vivo X21 with a fingerprint sensor under the display. For a mid-range smartphone, the X21 boasts premium features like dual rear cameras, artificial intelligence capabilities, face-unlock mechanism, Hi-Fi sound with dedicated AMP and modern notch-based screen. These features propel it in the league of mid-range premium smartphones – at least on papers.

Vivo X21 design

The Vivo X21 glass-metal-glass sandwich design looks similar to other mid-range smartphones. The design, especially the frame, looks close to the OnePlus 6, but the front is dominated by a notch-based screen stretching almost edge to edge on three sides and leaving only a thin chin on the bottom. On the back, the reflective glass design with horizontally aligned dual camera set-up on top left is in line with the current trend and looks similar to the Honor 10.

The thin frame that holds the front and back glass feels pointed, something similar to the Nokia 8 Sirocco. While the frame makes it easy to hold and operate the phone, the razor thin volume rocker keys and a power button on the right side of the frame are somewhat uncomfortable to use.

On the bottom, the phone sports an outdated microUSB port for charging and data transfers, coupled with a mono speaker on the right and dual-SIM slot on the left. The left side of the frame is vacant and the top side features a 3.5mm audio output port and secondary microphone.

Overall, the design looks modern, but not refreshing. The metallic frame gives to the convenience to hold the phone with confidence, but the thin volume rocker keys and power button reduce the utility overall.
Vivo X21 display
The Vivo X21 sports a 6.28-inch fullHD+ notch-based display. Being a super AMOLED unit, the display looks vivid and shows deep blacks, which in turn boosts colour reproduction and looks lively. The screen supports the always-on mode, which shows an active fingerprint sensor location brightening up and registering fingerprint as soon as you put a finger on it.
Unlike other phones, the notch is enabled by default and there is no provision to turn it off. The screen area around the notch is not optimised, so it shows inconsistencies that do not go well. Otherwise, the screen looks vivid and stays legible under direct sunlight.

Read More

OnePlus 6 launching today event livestream to start at 9:30 PM; India launch set for May 17

The OnePlus 6 India launch is set for May 17. The phone would go on sale starting May 21, exclusively for Amazon Prime members. Here are all the details you need to know.

OnePlus, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, on May 16 held an event in London to unveil the  OnePlus 6 . Followed by an international unveiling in London, the phone would be launched in India on May 17 and go on sale starting May 21, exclusively on Amazon India. OnePlus also launched the company's first wireless earphones "Bullets Wireless." It will be priced at $69, which is approximately Rs 4,674. Bullets Wireless will be available starting June 5, 2018.

OnePlus 6 price

OnePlus 6 price starts at $529 for 6GB RAM+64GB storage version. Indian pricing is unclear at the moment and we could expect it to be revealed when the phone makes debut on May 17 in Mumbai. Based on leaks, OnePlus 6 price could starts at Rs 36,999 and go up till Rs 40,000 plus.

Top features of OnePlus 6

OnePlus 6 notch-based screen

The phone sports a notch-based screen of 6.28-inch, in-line with what the company’s co-founder Carl Pei confirmed in an interview with technology-based online portal The Verge. The screen is of optic AMOLED breed, which is the same technology used in OnePlus 3 and later phones. It sports fullHD+ resolution in 19:9 aspect ratio and features iPhone X-inspired gesture-based on-screen navigation.

OnePlus 6 glass build

The OnePlus 6 features a glass-metal-glass design, unlike an aluminium build of the predecessor. However, it retains the signature horizontal lines and curved design of the current generation flagship.

OnePlus 6 design elements

The new glass-based design of the OnePlus 6 feature 6-nanotech coating, which gives it a ceremic-like looks without making it less durable. The phone's first batch would get deep black and glossy black colour options, however, the white and blue colour options would be added later to the line-up.

OnePlus 6 camera

The phone sports dual-camera set-up on its back featuring a 16-megapixel sensor, paired with a 20MP sensor. The primary 16MP lens is mated with optical image stabilisation and electronic image stabilisation for improved low-light imaging. The selfie camera sports a 20MP sensor.

The OnePlus 6 features slow motion video recording feature, but not the ultra slow-mo as was expected earlier based on various teasers company shared on social media platform. However, the OnePlus has made some improvement to make slow-mo videos more fun. The OnePlus 6 is capable to record 1080p slow-mo video for up to one minute. The video can later be edited and infused with music track using native in-build video editing tool.

Portrait mode is another feature that has been improved in the OnePlus 6. The new portrait mode allows using different shapes for blur, such as hearts, stars, etc. The feature has already been there in Samsung Galaxy S-series.

OnePlus 6 specifications and features

The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and have a 256GB storage variant paired with 8GB of RAM. The mid-range smartphone also comes in 64GB and 128GB variants, paired with 6GB of RAM. The device is now water resistant. However, the company did not share exact ingress protection (IP) rating details.

OnePlus 6 to have glass design, nanotech coating, says CEO: Details here

The OnePlus 6 will depart from the present trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body but retain the horizontal lines and curved design, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a blog post.

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is gearing up to unveil the fifth iteration of its flagship smartphone, called the OnePlus 6. The smartphone will make a departure from the current trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body, but it would retain horizontal lines and curved design,OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a blog post.
Little has so far been officially said about the notch screen-based OnePlus 6, except that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and have a 256GB storage variant paired with 8GB of RAM. But OnePlus has been teasing the features of the smartphone in the form of tweets and as part of other social media promotion activities –ingress protection (IP) rating for water and dust resistance, for example.
Now, talking about the design of the OnePlus 6, Pete Lau wrote a long blog explaining OnePlus’ approach to adopting new industrial designs. In the post, the CEO explained the rationale for the company’s move from a sandstone design in the OnePlus1 to an aluminium design in the OnePlus 3, and now the glass design for the upcoming OnePlus 6. Lau also shared that the new glass build would contain five printed layers of Nanotech coating, which would give the device a stronger impression of depth.

Here is the complete blog post shared by Pete Lau on OnePlus forums:

Before I start to talk about the industrial design of the OnePlus 6, I would like to share with you some facets of our overall design philosophy.

In my last deep-dive, I mentioned that good user experience should be burdenless. Products are deeply tied to the people who use them. Excellent industrial design should give people a sense of ease, which is best embodied by a burdenless feeling.

But to truly achieve such a feeling requires a serious approach and thought-out rationale, and the pursuit of this achievement can sometimes be painful. A company needs to be honest about the design of the product. It also needs to work on a daily basis to refine the subtle details, even if those details may seem minor.