Tag: oneplus one

Specifications of Mysterious OnePlus Device Revealed

OnePlus Two, the successor of last year’s flagship killer, is anticipated to boast an unprecedented set of specs while maintaining the impressive price scheme. It has already created a buzz with the revelation of it’s price ahead of the launch, i.e. 2499 Yuan or Rs. 25,700, and a fingerprint scanner that is expected to be much better than Apple’s Touch ID. Now, fresh specifications of an unknown OnePlus device have surfaced on Geekbench Test results, that may be the rumoured OnePlus One variant, or the future flagship OnePlus Two.

The benchmarking report speaks of a new device, OnePlus One, with model number A2001. This is different from the model number of the original OnePlus One, which was A0001 running on quad-core Snapdragon 801. The test results confirm that the next smartphone is armed with an octa-core processor, with each core clocked at 1.55 GHz. The device would run on the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Another notable detail of the spotted OnePlus handset includes 3GB RAM, which is a little disappointing for OnePlus fans who were expecting an upgrade. Here are the complete benchmark results.

Earlier this year, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau announced another smartphone release alongside OnePlus Two. There is a possibility that these benchmarks are of the other OnePlus device, which is rumoured to be called OnePlus Lite.

The Chinese smartphone firm hasn’t announced its forthcoming device yet, but there are reports of the OnePlus smartphone coming in the next few weeks. It is still unclear if it would be another flagship or a low-end alternative of OnePlus One, but the coming weeks will unfold many unanswered questions by the company.

May 21, 2015
OnePlus and Cyanogen Officially Break Up

The two budding players in their respective fields, Cyanogen and OnePlus, are finally breaking their last thread. Both the companies went through ups and downs in the past few months and now, the two have decided to part ways. A confirmation came from Cyanogen at the Global Mobile Internet Conference in Beijing when Cyanogen’s co-founders announced about ending their relationship with OnePlus.

The Co-Founder of Cyanogen, Steve Kondik spoke on the issue –

That’s probably the last you will see from that partnership.… Two new companies are trying to do crazy stuff, a lot of people collide.

Kirt McMaster and Steve Kondik, Co-Founders of Cyanogen stated that both the companies have different goals, and their visions are not coinciding at a point. The fledgling firms will now be heading with their own goals.

The conflict between Cyanogen and OnePlus started when Cyanogen decided to jump into bed with Micromax. For a period, the One devices were banned by the Supreme Court of India. The two companies went back and forth for a while, but have now officially decided to part ways.

Happier Days : OnePlus running Cyanogen

Meanwhile, it is learnt that OnePlus has moved on quickly, and is already working with new brand partners. This might help them scale up the production of the next software to reach the markets quickly. No names linked with OnePlus have come up till now, but it is likely to be an inexpensive Chinese manufacturer. The Chinese equipment maker confirmed on the separation and its association with other partners –

OnePlus shipped reasonable volume, but nothing compared to what some of these other partners can ship… we are working with partners that can scale much quicker.

For now, OnePlus has launched its first own OxygenOS that would fill in for CyanogenOS. After that, the new (unknown) software is expected to replace OxygenOS or provide an alternative for it.

April 29, 2015

Spec Battle : ASUS ZenFone 2 Vs OnePlus One

The ASUS Zenfone series is a highly appreciated lineup in the Indian smartphone market. The Taiwanese electronics maker already has Zenfone 4, 5 and 6 in its India handset portfolio and today, it expanded its ZenFone range in the country with the launch of ZenFone 2. The latest iteration is a mid-range smartphone and known to boast the powerful 4GB of RAM.

Priced at Rs. 22,999, ZenFone 2 holds quite a good spec sheet. It has an edge over many the high-end smartphones and competes with devices like Huawei Honor 6 Plus, iPhone 5c, and LG G3. We have pitted it against the flagship killer of 2014 i.e. OnePlus One and here are the differences between the two.

Specs	OnePlus One	ASUS ZenFone 2
Display	5.5-inch Full-HD, 1080×1920 pixels	5.5-inch Full-HD, 1080×1920 pixels
Processor	2.5GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.3GHz quad-core Intel Z3580
RAM	3GB	4GB
Storage	64GB, non-expandable	64GB, expandable up to 64GB
Camera	13MP Rear and 5MP Front	13MP Rear and 5MP Front
Battery	3100mAh	3000mAh
Operating System	CyanogenMod 12	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 21,999	Rs. 22,999

As you can see in the table above, both OnePlus One and ASUS ZenFone 2 bear nearly the same specifications. Both the devices have a 5.5-inch Full-HD display, 64GB onboard memory, 13MP primary shooter, and 5MP selfie camera. The One has a slightly bigger battery and stuffs a Snapdragon processor, while the new ZenFone houses an Intel chipset. The ZenFone is priced Rs. 1,000 higher than the OnePlus One.

OnePlus has an edge over the ZenFone as it give a variation to the users by offering CyanogenMod which can now be upgraded to CyanogenMod 12 or Oxygen OS now. The ZenFone 2, on the other hand, comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop. We won’t be able to give a final verdict till we’ve reviewed Asus’ new flagship. Stay tuned, more coming up on iGyaan.

April 23, 2015

OnePlus Announces Flat 50% Off on All One Accessories, Only for Today

OnePlus, the Chineses company famous for its flagship-killer OnePlus One, turns a year older today. To celebrate this occasion, a few days back OnePlus announced it had waived off the invite system globally. Today, OnePlus is offering a 50% discount on all OnePlus One accessories, throughout the day on Amazon.in. The accessories include, back covers, flip covers, screen protectors, and earphones.

You will also be surprised to learn that the company has slashed a mere some of Re. 1 from its flagship devices: the 64GB OnePlus One Sandstone Black Model (Rs. 21,998) and the 16GB Silk White Model (Rs. 18,998). OnePlus explained the Re 1 difference in its official blog:

[quote text_size=”small” author=”OnePlus Official Blog”]

It’s a symbolic gesture; a reminder that the One is still a fantastic value without any promotions or discounts. We strongly believe that the One is one of the most amazing, user-focused devices on the market. We know that this move may seem odd to some, but our message is clear: we refuse to overcharge for our devices, just to slash prices later in a marketing blitz. Our flagship killers have an amazing price tag, starting from day 1.

[/quote]

OnePlus created a sensation in the mobile world after the company released the OnePlus One last year. We’re now looking forward to the company unveiling its next offering, the OnePlus Two.

Click here to purchase the discounted accessories:

 

April 23, 2015
OnePlus Pauses Cyanogen OS 12 Update Roll Out to Include ‘OK OnePlus’ Feature

After weeks of delay, OnePlus finally rolled out the much-awaited CyanogenMod OS 12 (CM OS 12) based on Lollipop. It was only for a few days that the release sustained and after that, the company decided to halt its roll out. The Chinese smartphone brand did have a sold reason for this. They announced that the OTA update of CM OS 12 had been paused temporarily to add a new feature called “OK OnePlus”.

The Co-Founder of OnePlus commented on the issue on Twitter. His quote is captured in the screenshot below:

As per his comments, the roll out will resume mid-week with the new ‘OK OnePlus’ feature. He also added, “Those who don’t want to wait, feel free to flash manually.” The new tool on OnePlus One functions similar to ‘OK Google’ on Android phones. It will also work when the device is in sleep mode; a feature that was introduced with the Moto X.

For folks who have updated their One devices with CM 12 will also be able to access the feature. Users with the pre-installed operating system will receive an OTA update to incorporate ‘OK OnePlus’ tool on their handsets. It is not certain if the Indian version of OnePlus’ custom ROM OxygenOS will get the voice command feature.

The latest CyanogenMod OS 12 update brings some unique features like new Cyanogen email app, Exchange Support, Multiple Account integration and canned responses for quicker replies.

April 22, 2015
OnePlus Finally Ends the Invite System for the One

Last week, OnePlus revealed that they were planning to make a big announcement on 20th April. All signs pointed towards the OnePlus Two, new gaming hardware or a power bank. Nobody had anticipated that the Chinese company would announce that they’ve finally decided to do away with the infuriating invite system. So, starting today the 64GB Sandstone Black and the 16GB Silk White variants will be available without an invite forever, on Amazon.in

With this announcement OnePlus also confirmed that OnePlus Two is in fact, on its way. Though they said that the second flagship will only be available through the invite system.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Carl Pei ” author_title=”Co-founder and Head of Global, OnePlus”]

By rigorously testing and improving our logistical structure over the last one year, we are far more confident that our processes have matured enough for us to handle the increased production and after-sales support that comes along with opening up sales. It’s what we’ve been working towards, and now we’re ready. This current shift from an invite system to a non-invite system is a big step, one from which we will learn a great deal before the OnePlus 2 launch, with invites, in the third quarter of this year.

[/quote]

It’s great to hear that the company has managed to catch up the production to the smartphone’s demand. This also sends a strong message to OnePlus’ arch rival, Xiaomi. Xiaomi continues its tedious flash sale system, which has made it quite a task for interested buyers to purchase the smartphone. Although Xiaomi had also recently opened up the sales of the Xiaomi Mi 4, which is currently available to buy on Flipkart.

For interested OnePlus customers, no more scouring for invites – the flagship killer is finally available to buy whenever, you want it!

Check out our hands on review of the device here:

 

April 20, 2015
OnePlus Expected to Announce a New Device on 20th April

There are several exciting things coming up next week. Two days before OnePlus’ competitor, Xiaomi, makes its global smartphone announcement in India, OnePlus may grab its spotlight. The Chinese company hinted via Twitter, that they might be launching something big on 20th April. Although they’ve decided to keep things mysterious. The image simply reads, “You’re Invited” along with a tag line “From here on out, anything could happen.”

From here on out, anything could happen. #NeverSettle pic.twitter.com/pK84nYrzcd

— OnePlus (@oneplus) April 17, 2015

Yesterday several reports surfaced that the company had decided to unveil the OnePlus Two in June. Could it be possible that OnePlus decided to move up the date, to stay ahead of the competition?

The OnePlus Two is rumored come with a massive 5.5-inch display with a 16MP primary camera and a 5MP front camera. Along with that, we might see a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and powered by a 3,300mAh battery.

But, the OnePlus Two is just one of the several possibilities. At the MWC 2015 in Barcelona, OnePlus Co-FOunder teased that the company was working on an entirely new category of product and hinted out three posters. The posters come with the captions: ‘Start a New Game’, ‘For The Fun Of It’ and ‘You’re in Control.’ The three posters hints out more towards a gaming device or a console.

OnePlus shot to fame after the release of the OnePlus One, a device that delivered high-end specifications at affordable rates. Sometime back, OnePlus also released the OnePlus Power Bank that houses 10,000mAh of power.

Which new device is in store for us will only be revealed on 20th April. Till then, keep checking iGyaan for updates.

April 18, 2015
Lollipop-Based Cyanogen 12 Starts Rolling Out to OnePlus One Devices

Cyanogen 12 is officially out and is currently rolling out to OnePlus One devices first. The update for the rest of the devices will soon follow in the coming weeks. Cyanogen 12 brings Android 5.0 with Material Design language in all its glory on the modified OS.

It also brings a new App Themer feature that allows users to change the styling of the interface, including third party apps. Once updated, users can avail a vast variety of themes, both paid and unpaid.

Along with this, debuting for the first time is the new Cyanogen email, powered by Boxer. This version will be available for free to all Cyanogen OS users. The new Cyanogen mail brings features like Exchange Support, Multiple Account integration and canned responses for quicker replies. Boxer also added customization LED lights for email notifications. More news on the update will follow soon.

It is highly probable that the Yu Yureka devices may receive the Cyanogen 12 update next. Yu announced last month it would soon be releasing the update and have already started working on the beta version.

Till then, OnePlus One users, keep hitting that refresh button.

April 14, 2015
OnePlus Co-Founder : Lollipop-Based CM12S to Roll Out in the Next Few Days

The long overdue CyanogenMod12s based on Android Lollipop will soon arrive on Indian OnePlus One handsets. The Chinese consumer electronics company had earlier promised its release before March 31, but it failed to keep its word and blamed certification for the delay. The firm has now assured OnePlus fans with a statement on Twitter that CM12s will release “in the next few days”.

The co-founder of OnePlus, Carl Pei, took to Twitter to announce –

.@jorgepenteado CM12s just passed certification today. Thanks for the patience, expect rollout in the next few days.

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) April 10, 2015

While there will be a short delay in the roll out of CM12s, users can install the all-new custom ROM by the company. OxygenOS was recently made public a couple of days back. The new OS based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop is built based on the “back to basics” approach. The interface is clean, bloat-free and is built to provide maximum performance and battery life.

Here’s a quick look at the cool features of OnePlus’ OxygenOS.

April 11, 2015
OnePlus One Retains Original Price Point in India Despite Increased Custom Duty

With the unveiling of Union Budget 2015-2016, the Indian government made clear that importing mobile devices is not going to remain cheap anymore. The Government of India increased the exercise duty to double and made it 12.5 percent on imported mobile devices; raising the prices of popular phones. However, the flagship killer of 2014 will continue to sell at the same price as OnePlus sent us a message which reads “No Price Hike” for the One devices in India.

Users can still buy OnePlus One at the original cost of Rs. 21,999 for 64GB model and Rs. 18,999 for the 16GB variant. The General Manager of OnePlus India, Vikas Agarwal, commented on this development –

In line with our #NeverSettle philosophy and long term commitment to the Indian market, we assure our users that we are constantly evaluating what works best for them; part of that is to continue to make the One available at an attractive price point.

He further added to his comments, “It is an ambitious step for a young startup, but for us, it’s about returning maximum value to our users by offering them great products and unique experiences.”

OnePlus One has seen a price hike in Europe, but it seems like the tough competition in the Indian market with homegrown makers (such as Micromax) has forced the Chinese firm to stick to the initial rates. The device is available in Sandstone Black and Silk White colour options and can be ordered online via Amazon India, that is if you have an invite. Both the 64GB and 16GB variants hold similar specification and differ only in internal storage space.

Watch our review here:

April 8, 2015
Quick Look at the Coolest Features of OnePlus’ OxygenOS

A couple of days back, OnePlus launched its promised Android-based ROM OxygenOS, thereby reducing its dependance on Cyanogen. It’s the first in-house version of OxygenOS by the Chinese firm and is based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

The new custom ROM is built on “back to basics” approach and is said to be light with subtle essential features. The company hasn’t played on gimmicks or bloated features, and has built OxygenOS to provide maximum performance and battery life.

Let’s have a look at its features:

1. Quick Notifications Customization

The OnePlus’ OxygenOS offers the Quick Settings option which brings with itself the freedom to customise tiles. In the notifications bar, users can add, remove and re-arrange toggles and can make them disappear just by turning them off. This way, you can have an absolutely empty notifications tray.

2. Freedom of Customization

OnePlus One users really have the freedom to customize with OxygenOS. One can pick from the various wallpapers and set it as thier lock screen. Besides which, users can choose from hardware and software navigation keys from the Setting menu and can disable the capacitive touch screen buttons at the bottom. They’ve provided various short keys for the hardware navigation keys like adjusting the backlight, customizing home button, menu button and more.

3. Off-Screen Gestures

OxygenOS incorporates many off-screen gestures like Double tap to wake up the screen, drawing O to open camera, drawing V to toggle flashlight and pressing three fingers together to start music.

All the other features are unaltered and OnePlus has opted for a minimal-change strategy. OnePlus will release more versions of OxygenOS and the company has asked users’ to provide feedback to help them further make a better and user-friendly OS. The Chinese brand hasn’t released an OTA update and the One users have to install the update using a 6-step installation guide, which is slightly tedious for an average smartphone user.

April 6, 2015
OnePlus Finally Rolls Out OxygenOS for the One

OnePlus One users had been patiently waiting for the fresh operating system – OxygenOS, which the company had announced would release by March end. The deadline passed, however OnePlus didn’t keep its vast user base longing for too long. The Chinese electronics giant today officially unveiled its first, much-talked about operating system, the Oxygen OS, based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

OnePlus updated its official website with an introduction to OxygenOS. The web page reads, “OxygenOS, a Pure Android experience optimized for the OnePlus One.” Below the text are two links, one is the Installation Guide that walks users through the various installation steps, and the other is the Download Oxygen link, clicking on which the download of the OS starts.

Coming to what OnePlus’ first own operating system has to offer, then the foremost notable point of the OS is that it’s light with subtle essential features. It comes with a slew of features such as smart off-screen gestures, improved file manager and Quick Settings. Users can wake the screen up by performing simple gestures on the lock screen of the OnePlus One. These include O to start camera, V to toggle flash, and pressing three fingers together to play music.

OxygenOS offers a customizable lock screen and allows users to switch between hardware and software navigation keys. The Quick setting feature offers users to add, remove and re-arrange tiles with with few simple clicks.

OnePlus commented that instead of gimmicks and bloated features, they have focused on performance and battery life. It’s the first version of OxygenOS and the firm wants to shape it to ensure a smooth experience for its customers. The tech major has asked feedback from the One users to further make the OS better and user-friendly.

https://youtu.be/Tn4hHhIHLxk

April 4, 2015
OnePlus is Building a Dedicated Customer Support Team, Says it Hears You Loud and Clear

OnePlus has emerged as one of the fastest growing companies in the tech domain. It’s first and only smartphone, the One, is a flagship decimator that provides aggressive performance at an affordable price point. The Chinese smartphone brand got rave reviews for the handset, but was criticized for not having an established Grievance Redressal unit. The company is now working on fixing the loophole by improving their support team.

The firm addressed in its official blog post they understand the need of a customer support team and are working to make the support experience amazing for every customer. OnePlus mentioned that it has expanded the customer service team and the department now employs the highest number of members in the company. The support team has increased by 4500% since the time of its launch. Meanwhile, social media like Twitter and Facebook will continue to be the main platforms to address customer complaints.

Agent expertise is the next segment where the company will have its major focus. The agents catering to customers feedback will undergo an intensive training through weekly workshops where they will learn soft skills, tech support, policy changes and more. This means, customer service executives will be trained to be as polite as they can.

Also, OnePlus shared one more update about the warranty and return policy of its products. The company remarked that from now on, all its accessories will come with an extended one year warranty, and a no-questions-asked return policy extends from 14 days to 15 days. In addition, OnePlus stated that it tries to respond to every request within the minimum time frame of 9 hours, which is faster than the average industry response time of 21.2 hours.

It’s nice to see that a company that is about a year old making efforts to maintain a healthy customer relationship. We hope that the smartphone label establishes a strong link with its customers and stays true to the promises it makes.

April 3, 2015
OnePlus Misses Oxygen OS Rollout Deadline, Will Compensate with Giveaways

On March 18, we broke the news that OnePlus will be releasing the upgrades; CM 12S and OxygenOS. The Chinese electronics manufacturer promised the OnePlus One users that OxygenOS, the Lollipop-based ROM, will officially be made public on or before March 27, which is today. But OnePlus has missed the deadline leading to disappointed customers who were really looking forward to their Lollipop updates.

OnePlus notified its users saying that there will be further delay in the release of the update. The company representative David posted on Reddit –

We are gonna be giving away the 5 devices sometime tomorrow, yes :(

However the company is ready to give away five 64GB OnePlus One smartphones as promised, It is not the first time OnePlus missed a deadline for the launch of its new OS. It had previously declared that it will release its own new operating system Oxygen on February 12, but didn’t carry out the roll out.

OnePlus is a young smartphone brand that has released just one smartphone till now. It is planning to expand its line of devices and is expected to launch a second smartphone soon. It’s certain that the delay would be because of the company’s efforts to bring out a stable version, and we appreciate its dedication. We hope that the firm will not keep its users waiting for long this time and will release OxygenOS as soon as possible.

March 27, 2015
Flagship-Killer OnePlus One to Go Invite-Free for a Day in India

OnePlus One is going on open sale on the 24th of March on Amazon India. The handset will be available without an invite. The sale will kick off at 10am IST and both the 64GB Sandstone Black, as well as the 16GB Silk White OnePlus One will be available.

There is no announcement about the number of units going up for sale, however, the company has stated that they’re coming with limited stock.

OnePlus makes sure to keep one-day open sales every now and then; the last one was on the 10th of February (not including the Happy Hour sales). Although they may say they’re coming with limited stock, the last time the smartphone was available on Amazon for quite a few hours – unlike Xiaomi’s notorious 5-second flash sales.

Know anyone who has been trying to score an invite? Go ahead, spread the word.

Before you make the purchase, don’t forget to check out our full review of the device:

March 20, 2015