Mobile Technology

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus One

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus One
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the 2015 flagship OnePlus 2 (left) and the 2014 version, the OnePlus One
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the 2015 flagship OnePlus 2 (left) and the 2014 version, the OnePlus One
View 26 Images
Size
1/26
Size
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the 2015 flagship OnePlus 2 (left) and the 2014 version, the OnePlus One
2/26
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the 2015 flagship OnePlus 2 (left) and the 2014 version, the OnePlus One
Battery
3/26
Battery
Build (back)
4/26
Build (back)
Build (frame)
5/26
Build (frame)
Buy without invite
6/26
Buy without invite
Camera aperture
7/26
Camera aperture
Camera megapixels
8/26
Camera megapixels
Charging/data connector
9/26
Charging/data connector
Processor
10/26
Processor
Display size
11/26
Display size
Display resolution
12/26
Display resolution
Display type
13/26
Display type
Fingerprint sensor
14/26
Fingerprint sensor
MicroSD card slot
15/26
MicroSD card slot
Navigation buttons
16/26
Navigation buttons
NFC
17/26
NFC
Notification profile toggle
18/26
Notification profile toggle
RAM
19/26
RAM
Release
20/26
Release
Removable battery
21/26
Removable battery
Software
22/26
Software
Starting price
23/26
Starting price
Storage
24/26
Storage
Weight
25/26
Weight
Wireless charging
26/26
Wireless charging
View gallery - 26 images

Like its predecessor, the OnePlus 2 offers compelling specs and features at a very reasonable price point ... that is, if you can get your hands on one. Read on as Gizmag compares these two wallet-friendly devices.

Size

Size
Size

The OnePlus 2 is a hair shorter and narrower than the OnePlus 2, but it's also 8 percent thicker than the newer handset.

Weight

Weight
Weight

The OnePlus 2 is 8 percent heavier than the older smartphone.

Build (frame)

Build (frame)
Build (frame)

The new model switches from a faux metal (plastic) frame to an aluminum/magnesium alloy.

Build (back)

Build (back)
Build (back)

The OnePlus 2 ships again with a sandstone back (likely a thin layer of sandstone on top of plastic) by default, but users can pick up natural wood or kevlar replacement backs from the company's store for US$27 a piece, then swap them out at home.

It's a similar story with the OnePlus One, but if you're looking to go beyond sandstone, your only option is bamboo.

Display size

Display size
Display size

OnePlus stuck with a 5.5-inch screen size for the new model.

Display resolution

Display resolution
Display resolution

While plenty of Android phone manufacturers have moved their flagships into the land of Quad HD, OnePlus stuck with 1080p for its 2015 smartphone.

The company has reportedly upped the contrast ratio on the newer handset, which now rests at 1,500:1, besting the iPhone 6's 1,400:1 panel (at least on paper).

Display type

Display type
Display type

Both devices have IPS display panels.

Navigation buttons

Navigation buttons
Navigation buttons

Both handsets give you the choice between using onscreen or below screen (capacitive) navigation keys.

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor
Fingerprint sensor

One of the big additions to the company's 2015 handset, the OnePlus 2 follows in the footsteps of Samsung's and Apple's recent handsets, offering a fingerprint sensor on its front center key.

Storage

Storage
Storage

OnePlus sells both its flagships in 16 and 64 GB of internal storage tiers.

MicroSD

MicroSD card slot
MicroSD card slot

It might be wise to opt for the more spacious internal storage option, though, as there's no microSD card slot on either handset.

Processor

Processor
Processor

The OnePlus One carries one of 2014's most competent chips, but the newer phone's 64-bit, octa core offering is easily the stronger of the two.

RAM

RAM
RAM

The 16 GB version of the OnePlus 2 offers 3 GB RAM, while the 64 GB variant jumps up to 4 GB.

Battery

Battery
Battery

The OnePlus 2 has a slightly bigger battery than we saw in the older model.

Removable battery

Removable battery
Removable battery

Neither device allows you to swap out its battery.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels
Camera megapixels

The megapixel count is identical on both models.

Camera aperture

Camera aperture
Camera aperture

It's the same story here, with both rear shooters having ƒ/2.0 aperture.

Wireless charging

Wireless charging
Wireless charging

Neither handset has wireless charging tech.

NFC

NFC
NFC

While most high-end smartphones include NFC, OnePlus left it out of its 2015 flagship.

Charging/data cable

Charging/data connector
Charging/data connector

You'll find a standard micro USB connector on the OnePlus One, while the OnePlus 2 makes use of the newer USB Type C standard. It's reversible, so you won't have to fumble around, figuring out which way is up.

Notifications toggle

Fingerprint sensor
Fingerprint sensor

A unique addition to the newer handset is a physical toggle for switching among Android's different notification profiles ("All," "Priority" and "None"). On other Lollipop-running phones (including the OnePlus One), you'll need to wake up your phone to make that change.

Software

Software
Software

While the OnePlus One originally shipped with the highly customizable Cyanogenmod flavor of Android, the company has since created its own custom version of Android, known as OxygenOS. That's what you'll now find running on both devices.

Based on the latest Lollipop flavor of the OS, the skin is pretty close to stock Android, with just a few changes – including those swappable navigation keys, a dark mode, gesture launch shortcuts and pre-installed Swiftkey keyboard.

Release

Release
Release

The OnePlus 2 will start shipping to some customers starting on August 11. That asterisk next to the OnePlus 2, though, leads us into the next category ...

Buy without invite

Buy without invite
Buy without invite

Though the OnePlus One is now available for anyone to order, the company resurrected its invite-only system for the OnePlus 2: you'll need to sign up and wait for an invite before you can buy the handset. By the time you get your hands on one, you may also have the option of buying new 2015 flagships from Apple, Samsung (Galaxy Note 5) and Motorola.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price
Starting price

Both OnePlus' smartphones offer outstanding specs-to-price ratios. Setting aside the annoying invite system for a moment, the OnePlus 2 may sit alongside the Moto X Style (Pure Edition) as the two best bang-for-your-buck Android flagships of the year.

For more, you can read Gizmag's review of the original OnePlus One.

View gallery - 26 images
1 comment
1 comment
AnupamKhurana
OnePlus Two is definitely a value buy for the kind of specifications and features, it is offering. But if you already have OnePlus One, then above comparison between the two shows that upgrade is not relevant unless you insist on owning newest device from the company. In the price range of Rs. 24,999 for OnePlus Two 64GB variant and 22,999 for OnePlus Two 16GB variant, it is really a steal deal. Moreover, the addition of fingerprint sensor, latest OS and processor and USB Type-C connector make it more desirable than OnePlus One.