OnePlusOne review

[Guest]

Okay so I have had my OnePlusOne for about 9 hours now, 5 of which I was sleeping.

 

I will try to do a review on everything:

 

Packaging

 

 

Packaging is premium, from the charger box to the box wich contains the phone, it feels like they really did their best with packaging the materials. The wall adapter is in a small box which feels very sturdy along with the SIM card removal tool. , the phone and USB cable are in the bigger phone box. The wall adapter box is opened by cutting a piece of tape that holds the inner box in place and then sliding it out. 

The phone box is closed by piece of string and attached to it is a OnePlusOne logo on a piece of round cardboard.

 

 

 

Just rip it open and done, open the box and take out the box within it. There will be a tab which you can use to slide the box out of the containing box (boxception). Then open the box with the phone.

 

 

Contents

 

 

First there is a wall adapter in the small box with a SIMcard removal tool, the tool is in a red piece of rubber, very nicely done. The wall adapter is white.

 

The phone box contains the phone itself and the USB cord.

 

The USB cord is red and the USB end is exposed, it is weird but it does work like usual USB wires. There is a piece of rubber attached to the USB cable so you will be able to roll the wire up. I must say, the wire is pretty short, but nothing major. The micro-USB end is goldplated and white/red.

 

 

 

 

Phone

 

When you take out the phone there is a sticker on top, you have to take it off from the screen of course.

 

The phone itself (I ordered the Sandstone Black version) is big but really feels good to hold, it's pretty satisfying to hold. The back is made of a sandpaper/velvet-like material, like others have described it.. It's really well thought of and it looks slick! The camera is well hidden in the back (not sticking out like a sore thumb) and it looks good on that location. The screen has a chromium edge around it, the screen sticks out a bit ABOVE that.  I wish the SIMcard tray was a little better made but really you only have to deal with it rarely so it's no big deal at all. 

 

The phone is 5,5 inch but it really doesn't feel like I am carrying a refrigirator like some people describe, it is actually pretty good in terms of size. It is also at a good weight at 162 grams.

 

 

Sensors, ports and other holes

 

 

On the left of the phone you can find the volume buttons and the SIMcard tray with it's hole to use the tool on. On top you can find 1 of 3 microphone holes and the audiojack. On the right you can find the power button. On the bottom you can find 2 speakers (yes, both are speakers, unlike the Nexus 5), another 1 of the 3 microphone holes and the MicroUSB port.

 

 

 

On the back you can find another microphone hole, also the logo's of Cyanogen and 1+ are located on the back along with the camera. The front has the lightsensitivity sensor and the 5 MP camera. It also has a speaker grill for the ear. Capacitive buttons are also located on the bottom if you wish to use them instead of the onscreen buttons. (I do use the capacitive ones)

 

 

 

 

 

Cyanogenmod

 

 

Cyanogenmod11S is on the OnePlusOne, this version of stock Android is really customizable, for example, you can choose the scrolling effect for when you slide to another homescreenpage, you can choose between capacitive and onscreen buttons. You can choose what the buttons do and don't do, for example, you can assign the homebutton to the camera, but the menu button can be assigned to that too, you decide.

 

There is also a themes section which you can use to select a theme for Android, like the LG G2 or G3 theme, TouchWiz, HTC Sense and many more, but you have to buy them. Sure, there are like 3 other FREE themes but I haven't used them.

 

The notification panel can be customized to have a settings ribbon there. (by default there, but I removed it, it is annoying). At the Quick Settings menu there is a + so you can customize it to your wishes, which options to remove and which to keep in, in whatever arrangement you want. 

 

The operating system itself is very slick, I have experienced no hiccups at all! No problem on that part, some people complain about it, but I find nothing wrong with the OS, no lag or anything.

 

There are a ton more things to customize but I don't think I have found them all yet.

 

 

Other small bonuses

 

 

They implemented gestures in the OnePlusOne, you can activate them by tapping on the screen while the phone is sleeping. So far they are:

 

- Tap the screen twice in sleep to turn on the phone

- Tap twice on the notification panel to turn the phone to sleep

- A circle motion on the screen makes it open to the camera

- A V-motion opens the flashlight on the back

- A Pause-sign pauses and plays music

- Left and right arrows go to the previous and next track respectively

 

You can choose to enable/disable these too.

 

 

RGB Led. 

 

 

I was really happy to find out that the OnePlus had an RGB notification LED. Also instead of using Lightflow you can customize it from within Cyanogenmod, I put green for Whatsapp messages, dark blue for Skype messages and light blue for other notifications.

 

The notification LED is on the upper left/middle on the screen, next to the ear-speaker grill.

 

Battery life

 

 

I can't really speak about battery life, I hope to get at least 5-6 On screen time out of it, but I can't say anything because I only have only had it for 9-maybe 10 now- hours. It seems to fare well so far though. It is a 3100 mAh battery so it should last a while. Keep in mind the battery is NOT removeable.

 

UPDATE: The battery life is actually very good, you will get 5 hours on screen time at least. Also the speed at which it charges via the wall is astonishing, just insanity.

 

 

Speakers

 

 

Coming from the HTC One M7 I was prepared to lose a lot of audio quality, but really it's not that bad, I compared it side by side before selling the M7 to my friend and the speakers are quite well. Not quite the clarity the M7 can reach but definitely the loudness.

 

 

Storage

 

I got the 64GB version and with Android and all it's updates to 4.4.4 Android, along with all my apps I have 54 GB left. For me it is maybe a bit of too much storage but I love the breathing room. I guess I could put a ton of music on there instead of using Spotify.

 

 

Camera

 

Personally I don't know much about camera's but the 13 MP shooter seems very good even if it lacks OIS. It is absolutely fine for mosts tasks. Don't forget it can shoot in 4k too! 

 

The 5MP front camera is what I am most happy about, will be a blast in conjunction with Skype.

 

 

LTE/4G bands

 

 

Okay so I was scared that the phone had no LTE/4G connectivity in the Netherlands. Turns out there are 2 kinds of signals 4G/LTE here the 800 mhz and the 1800 mhz. I am on T-Mobile which happens to be one of 2 providers which use the 1800 mhz band, so yes, I have full LTE/4G on this phone.  800 mhz does not work on it because it does not have that band. 1800 mhz does.

 

Replaceable back cover

 

You can buy a different back cover for your phone, like Bamboo, Denim, Kevlar etc. This means that yes, the back cover is replaceable but it is hard to get off. 

 

 

 

Price/Perfomance

 

 

Even though I bought this phone for 400 instead of 300. (but it being much faster delivered by a guy who already bought it in the Netherlands but had the box completely unopened, down to the plastic around the box, so brand new)

 

Even so, for 400 this is a GOOD phone. The flagship phones here cost 560 at least if I remember correctly, at their cheapest. Like the M8 and the S5. This is a steal compared to those prices, with having the same specs and all.

 

I imagine for 300-350, this is pure robbery.

 

 

Other issues

 

I personally have found 0 issues with the phone, I have no yellow tint at all, call quality is good and it does what it needs to do.

 

 

 

Okay, so I did my best. Hope you enjoy it.

[Freaky_spider]

do you have a yellow border on the bottom of the display?

 

didnt read the last line, sorry -.-

 

and im coming from a M7 and looking into a 1+1

 

have you seen the amazing bamboo cover? 

 

im probably going to buy one and rock this beaty naked

 

great and informative review (and not too long )

[ColorfulShardMC]

Can't wait for mine!

[Guest]

do you have a yellow border on the bottom of the display?

 

didnt read the last line, sorry -.-

 

and im coming from a M7 and looking into a 1+1

 

have you seen the amazing bamboo cover? 

 

im probably going to buy one and rock this beaty naked

 

great and informative review (and not too long )

Yeah, I am looking for errors and such in the review. I have no yellow tint issues, but that could be because my phone had time to 'cure' because of it not being used for a long while. I am not sure how that works. They say you can fix the Yellow tint issue with UV light (look it up on youtube)

[Freaky_spider]

 

Yeah, I am looking for errors and such in the review. I have no yellow tint issues, but that could be because my phone had time to 'cure' because of it not being used for a long while. I am not sure how that works. They say you can fix the Yellow tint issue with UV light (look it up on youtube)

yea ive seen the fix, but its like a 50% that it works or something like that..

 

if i have it and its not too bad (= not noticable unless really light background) ill just deal with it, its pretty perfect for the price otherwise

[Guest]

 

 

yea ive seen the fix, but its like a 50% that it works or something like that..

 

if i have it and its not too bad (= not noticable unless really light background) ill just deal with it, its pretty perfect for the price otherwise

 

Yes, it's absolutely fantastic, my 12 year old sister is mesmerized by how awesome it is.

[Freaky_spider]

Yes, it's absolutely fantastic, my 12 year old sister is mesmerized by how awesome it is.

yea, its gonna suck when the 5.5 inch iphone is out and everyone is going to hype the fuck out of, while its like nothing new... (the 5.5 inch screen)

 

does it have an IR blaster? its kinda fun to mess with it during class (useless ones like 'godsdienst' dont know what that would be called in english tho, religious education? idk), like turning off the tv's while the teacher is doing a powerpoint and such

[Guest]

yea, its gonna suck when the 5.5 inch iphone is out and everyone is going to hype the fuck out of, while its like nothing new... (the 5.5 inch screen)

 

does it have an IR blaster? its kinda fun to mess with it during class (useless ones like 'godsdienst' dont know what that would be called in english tho, religious education? idk), like turning off the tv's while doing a powerpoint, 

Sadly no, I will miss that about my HTC One, had a lot of fun with that.  Especially in large media stores with a ton of tv's.

[Freaky_spider]

Sadly no, I will miss that about my HTC One, had a lot of fun with that. 

yea, ill probably keep it just in case i ever want to use it to mess with people (its screen is broking but its still functional)

[Assassin]

Hey is the back cover replaceable?

[Guest]

Hey is the back cover replaceable?

Yes, but hard to get off.

[Freaky_spider]

Hey is the back cover replaceable?

yes, 

 

oneplus is even going to release some interesting official back covers

 

EDIT:  like this http://oneplus.net/oneplus-one-bamboo-styleswap-cover

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

Nice review, I might have to get one for myself!

[Guest]

Nice review, I might have to get one for myself!

You must!

[Assassin]

Yes, but hard to get off.

 

 

yes, 

 

oneplus is even going to release some interesting official back covers

 

EDIT:  like this http://oneplus.net/oneplus-one-bamboo-styleswap-cover

I really hope they release the white back cover separately.

[AlexGoesHigh]

looks nice, also the V gesture for flashlight is something i didn't knew it had, also how's the wifi quality on it

[Guest]

looks nice, also the V gesture for flashlight is something i didn't knew it had, also how's the wifi quality on it

You have one Alex? 0_o

Anyway, it seems it has a better reception than my M7.

[AlexGoesHigh]

You have one Alex? 0_o

Anyway, it seems it has a better reception than my M7.

lol, i dont have one, i just have read about it a few times, and if i had one i would tell you to cancel the indiegogo

[Guest]

lol, i dont have one, i just have read about it a few times, and if i had one i would tell you to cancel the indiegogo

Yeah, thought something like that.

[Guest]

Now that I look closely I do have a very slight yellow tint, but only noticeable of you look hard for it and in the dark completely. So yeah, that's how small the issue is.

[MrTomnus]

HOLY CRAP THIS THING IS ONLY £300?!?!?!?! WHY DID I NOT LOOK AT THIS BEFORE?????

 

*buys*

[ShadowCaptain]

HOLY CRAP THIS THING IS ONLY £300?!?!?!?! WHY DID I NOT LOOK AT THIS BEFORE?????

 

*buys*

 

yeah good look "buying" haha

 

Yeah they are pretty good for the money though

[MrTomnus]

yeah good look "buying" haha

 

Yeah they are pretty good for the money though

There's some sort of invite program isn't there?

[ShadowCaptain]

There's some sort of invite program isn't there?

 

aye there is!

[MrTomnus]

aye there is!

Ugh, that's gonna be tough to get into