The OnePlus 2 is launching on July 27 at 7:00 PT, entirely in virtual reality using OnePlus' upcoming VR headset. Ahead of the device's official unveiling, OnePlus has been leaking a steady stream of information about the handset, the latest being that it will be smaller than the OnePlus One, but feature a bigger battery. Head below to find out everything we know so far about the OnePlus 2 price, specs, and features.
OnePlus 2 design
The image below contains both the OnePlus One and the OnePlus 2. "Impossible," we hear you cry. Not so. In this image, posted on Reddit by OnePlus, the OnePlus 2 is apparently hiding underneath the OnePlus One; the company's way of demonstrating that the OnePlus 2 will be smaller than the OnePlus One. What do you think? Is there really a OnePlus 2 hiding under there?
Along with the above image, OnePlus said that despite its smaller size, the OnePlus 2 will feature a beefy 3,300mAh battery, which will make it large even among phablet batteries. Finally, the OnePlus 2 back cover will be replaceable with other 'StyleSwap' covers for added customizability.
At the start of July, an image appeared claiming to show an official render of the OnePlus 2. We kept the dimensions of the original image on Weibo, which seem a bit on the elongated side and make it hard to tell what kind of screen size we're looking at (though rumors point to a 5.5-inch one). If it's real, the image confirms rumors that the OnePlus 2 is ditching a plastic chassis in favor of an aluminum one.
However, the image also contradicts previous leaks which suggested that the OnePlus 2 will feature a fingerprint sensor on the back, as there is no scanner visible here. Given that OnePlus recently confirmed that the OnePlus 2 will feature a fingerprint sensor, maybe it'll be on the front instead?
Before that, PhoneArena claimed to have (very murky) images of both the front and back of the OnePlus 2. Do you think this is the OnePlus 2? We've contacted OnePlus for comment but they politely declined to respond. From what the images seem to show though, we can see a bezel-less design, front-facing speakers and a fingerprint scanner on the back - which conflicts with the more recent render pictured above. Who do we believe in these uncertain times?
Our source at OnePlus tells us though that the OnePlus 2 will ''share the same philosophy and design'' as the OnePlus One. We couldn't get anything more in terms of size, but we did chat vaguely about the rumors of a second, smaller device appearing this year.
OnePlus 2 specs
In another post on the OnePlus forums, OnePlus has revealed that the OnePlus 2 will launch with 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. LPDDR4 RAM is the mobile equivalent of DDR4 RAM which can be found on current PCs, and is primed to take full advantage of 64-bit processors like the Snapdragon 810.
This type of RAM offers a number of benefits including better battery life (the LP in LPDDR4 stands for 'low-power') and faster load times compared to other memory types.
The OnePlus 2 will become the first phone to utilize a whole 4 GB of this type of RAM, which also beats the 3 GB of memory housed on competing flagships like the LG G4, Galaxy S6 andXperia Z3+.
Whether 4 GB of RAM is even necessary on current smartphones is another matter, but we don't have long to wait before we can find out.
OnePlus recently confirmed that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 will be the CPU used in the OnePlus 2. As OnePlus stated in their forum: ''We worked very closely with Qualcomm’s engineers to integrate an improved version of the chipset (v2.1) in the OnePlus 2, and fine-tuned both hardware and software. The 2 will be 'cooler than ever'" - so keep your fingers crossed that thermal throttling is not an issue anymore.
We also now know that the OnePlus 2 will be the “first global flagship smartphone” to come with a USB Type-C connector. I previously called it “the all-in-one cable you've been waiting your entire life for” - hit the link to find out why.
At this point, we're inclined to believe that the OnePlus 2 will have a Full HD resolution, given the price point of the device. OnePlus will be keen to provide fans with a similar product to the OnePlus One - and including a high-quality QHD display could increase the device's production costs a little too much.
OnePlus 2 release date
The OnePlus 2 release date is July 27 at 7:00 PT. The launch will kick off simultaneously worldwide via a synchronized Google Cardboard-assisted launch in virtual reality (OnePlus is making their own version of Cardboard for the event).
For more info, visit the OnePlus forum. This mid-year launch will give the OnePlus 2 a solid head-start on the devices coming at IFA 2015 in September (which we think will include theGalaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus as well as the rumored LG G4 Pro).
The official teaser sent out previously and the competition that went with it, were all just a fake-out from OnePlus and the winners of that competition will not attend the launch, but actually help create it in VR. For reference, the OnePlus One became available on April 25, 2014, first in Asian and European markets, before making its way to the US.
The OnePlus 2 will be priced slightly higher than the original, at (or around) 399/449 USD for the two versions. When asked on Reddit whether OnePlus One owners would get some kind of privileges when purchasing a OnePlus 2, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei replied, "Our early supporters will be prioritized". Sounds like good news for OnePlus loyalists.
The OnePlus One started at 299 USD / 269 Euro / 229 GBP for the 16 GB model, and 349 USD / 299 Euro / 269 GBP for the 64 GB version. Both variants have now received a permanent reduction of 50 USD.
OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 2 will still be sold using the invite system, at least to begin with. While it has taken a whole year for the One to outgrow the invite system, the 2 will still need to be manufactured and shipped at lower volumes at the start, and this means the invite system will return. Stay tuned for more information on how to get a OnePlus 2 invite.
OnePlus One discounts
At CES 2015, Carl Pei confirmed that once the OnePlus 2 launches, the OnePlus One will be sold at a discounted price until stocks run out. This price cut turned out to be a mere 50 USD, but we also know that the OnePlus will continue to be supported (for the next year or eighteen months) and will be built until demand dries up.
In late June, we got confirmation that the OnePlus 2 will feature a fingerprint scanner. The OnePlus 2 will be capable of storing five different prints to access five different user profiles (or five fingers of the same person).
According to the announcement on the OnePlus forum, the OnePlus 2 fingerprint scanner will be twice as fast as Apple's TouchID. We've had mixed feelings about fingerprint scanners in the past, so we'll be interested to see if OnePlus gets it right.
The OnePlus One arrived running a customized version of CyanogenMod, CyanogenMod 11S, and Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Since then, OnePlus has split with Cyanogen Inc and developed its own operating system known as OxygenOS: this is the UI which will be used on the OnePlus 2.
How does the OnePlus's latest OTA update, Cyanogen OS 12, compare to OxygenOS? Find out in our OxygenOS vs Cyanogen OS 12 comparison. OnePlus promises us that the slimmed down ROM will mean faster updates with more features added as time goes by.
Are you looking forward to a OnePlus 2? What do you hope to see from this phone?
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