Now that the OnePlus One is being received by more and more people this sticky thread is for people with the 1+1 to post their personal reviews. If you want to write up a review please post it here.
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OnePlus One User Reviews
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CafeKampuchia
Android Expert
TL;DR version: Despite some early screw-ups by Oneplus and the less-than-desirable invite system, the One is undeniably a GREAT device!
___________
I'm not going to write a lot because it's not necessary. There are lots of reviews out there, and they all pretty much say the same thing--the One is a great Android phone at a remarkable price point. It may not suit your needs, but I don't think any reasonable person can say it's not a great phone.
I'm not going to re-hash the reviews, but I will mention a few important things.
Design
It looks better in hand than in pictures. I've never been embarrassed to pull this thing out of my pocket. It looks great and the build quality is top-drawer. Samsung needs to take a lesson from OnePlus on how to properly implement a great plastic phone design. (Of course, we know they won't!
)
The back cover isn't as sticky as the soft-touch paint on my Nexus 5 making it a little trickier to manage with one hand (especially because its bigger and heavier), but my hand has adjusted. I always go caseless and have found that the texture of the back cover is susceptible to marring if you aren't careful.
Screen
It's a great LCD, a little lacking in the blacks but with great brightness and tack-sharp 1080p resolution. The only downside is that it lacks any oleophobic coating. I'm over it already.
While the color temperature is a little warm for my tastes, it is by no means yellow. And my device has none of the yellow banding or light bleed issues reported by early buyers.
Software
I love CM11 on my Nexus 5, and CM11S is a notch better - distinctly CyanogenMod and still AOSP at its heart. If you prefer "stock" Android, it's available. So are many other custom ROMs, and the best thing is that rooting/flashing/customizing won't void your warranty! I find very few things to complain about in this department unless you love bloated skins like TouchWiz. The only bloat on the One are Google apps I'll never use.
Camera
So far I'm impressed with the results I've obtained. The software is among the best I've seen, having used HTC, Samsung and Nexus devices in recent history. I wish it had OIS like the Nexus 5 for low-light shots, though.
Battery Life
Phenomenal. On my first charge I got 6 1/2 hours of screen time (heavy browsing & streaming) over 18+ hours.
Conclusion
Well, it's not a perfect device and there are a few compromises, but it's definitely a winner. As Kolio says below, the sum is greater than its parts. I see myself keeping this thing for a long while.
___________
I'm not going to write a lot because it's not necessary. There are lots of reviews out there, and they all pretty much say the same thing--the One is a great Android phone at a remarkable price point. It may not suit your needs, but I don't think any reasonable person can say it's not a great phone.
I'm not going to re-hash the reviews, but I will mention a few important things.
Design
It looks better in hand than in pictures. I've never been embarrassed to pull this thing out of my pocket. It looks great and the build quality is top-drawer. Samsung needs to take a lesson from OnePlus on how to properly implement a great plastic phone design. (Of course, we know they won't!
)The back cover isn't as sticky as the soft-touch paint on my Nexus 5 making it a little trickier to manage with one hand (especially because its bigger and heavier), but my hand has adjusted. I always go caseless and have found that the texture of the back cover is susceptible to marring if you aren't careful.
Screen
It's a great LCD, a little lacking in the blacks but with great brightness and tack-sharp 1080p resolution. The only downside is that it lacks any oleophobic coating. I'm over it already.
While the color temperature is a little warm for my tastes, it is by no means yellow. And my device has none of the yellow banding or light bleed issues reported by early buyers.
Software
I love CM11 on my Nexus 5, and CM11S is a notch better - distinctly CyanogenMod and still AOSP at its heart. If you prefer "stock" Android, it's available. So are many other custom ROMs, and the best thing is that rooting/flashing/customizing won't void your warranty! I find very few things to complain about in this department unless you love bloated skins like TouchWiz. The only bloat on the One are Google apps I'll never use.
Camera
So far I'm impressed with the results I've obtained. The software is among the best I've seen, having used HTC, Samsung and Nexus devices in recent history. I wish it had OIS like the Nexus 5 for low-light shots, though.
Battery Life
Phenomenal. On my first charge I got 6 1/2 hours of screen time (heavy browsing & streaming) over 18+ hours.
Conclusion
Well, it's not a perfect device and there are a few compromises, but it's definitely a winner. As Kolio says below, the sum is greater than its parts. I see myself keeping this thing for a long while.
K
KOLIO
Guest
Well,I've had the 1+1 for two weeks now,long enough to decide if it's a keeper,or,start looking/waiting for the next big thing.
It's a keeper.For myself,the smoothness of operation & outstanding display separate this phone from the pack,not to mention the CYANOGEN extras on-board (theming/profiles/privacy guard/CPU tuning to name a few).
Oh yeah,I almost forgot:
NO CARRIER BLOAT!arty:
The basics are covered:Call quality on both ends,display,smoothness,plenty of memory & great battery life.
The one feature that I would like to have seen included is wireless charging,but,the 1+1 makes up for this with its extremely quick charge time.
I suppose you could throw I/R Remote Blaster on the wish list also,but,I've substituted WI-FI remote apps that work just as well,so,not really pining for this feature too much.
I'm not much of a picture taker,so,I'll leave that for others to give their impressions.
The dual mono speakers on the bottom work well enough for me,admittedly though that the volume & richness is a notch below that of the HTC M8/LG G-FLEX & G3.
As for ergonomics,there's no getting around the physics of it,it's a rather large phone.
However,the feel-in-hand is very similar to that of the G3.The curved-back design makes for a nice feel-in-hand,as does the sandstone texture finish on the back cover.
While I'm a fan of the LG Volume/power button layout,surprisingly,the side-mounted power button doesn't bother me as with past handsets (I'm looking at you,SAMSUNG).The buttons have enough tension to avoid accidental depression w/o being over difficult to use,a perfect balance.
That about covers the basics.
This is a REALLY nice phone,best described as the sum is greater than its parts.
Most flagship phones do just about everything well,but,I guess,for a lack of a more technical/definitive reason other than the above statement,is why this phone is looking to be a long-term keeper vs the rest.
To those that are familiar with my recent run through several phones,I'm sure you're all
@ the LONG-TERM KEEPER proclamation. 
:rofl:
And you'd be right to do so,got an eye on this:
http://global.oppo.com/en/products/find7/
I'm willing to bet the 1+1 will still be around when the new kid on the block shows up.............
It's a keeper.For myself,the smoothness of operation & outstanding display separate this phone from the pack,not to mention the CYANOGEN extras on-board (theming/profiles/privacy guard/CPU tuning to name a few).
Oh yeah,I almost forgot:
NO CARRIER BLOAT!
arty:The basics are covered:Call quality on both ends,display,smoothness,plenty of memory & great battery life.
The one feature that I would like to have seen included is wireless charging,but,the 1+1 makes up for this with its extremely quick charge time.
I suppose you could throw I/R Remote Blaster on the wish list also,but,I've substituted WI-FI remote apps that work just as well,so,not really pining for this feature too much.
I'm not much of a picture taker,so,I'll leave that for others to give their impressions.
The dual mono speakers on the bottom work well enough for me,admittedly though that the volume & richness is a notch below that of the HTC M8/LG G-FLEX & G3.
As for ergonomics,there's no getting around the physics of it,it's a rather large phone.
However,the feel-in-hand is very similar to that of the G3.The curved-back design makes for a nice feel-in-hand,as does the sandstone texture finish on the back cover.
While I'm a fan of the LG Volume/power button layout,surprisingly,the side-mounted power button doesn't bother me as with past handsets (I'm looking at you,SAMSUNG).The buttons have enough tension to avoid accidental depression w/o being over difficult to use,a perfect balance.
That about covers the basics.
This is a REALLY nice phone,best described as the sum is greater than its parts.
Most flagship phones do just about everything well,but,I guess,for a lack of a more technical/definitive reason other than the above statement,is why this phone is looking to be a long-term keeper vs the rest.
To those that are familiar with my recent run through several phones,I'm sure you're all
@ the LONG-TERM KEEPER proclamation. :rofl:And you'd be right to do so,got an eye on this:
http://global.oppo.com/en/products/find7/
I'm willing to bet the 1+1 will still be around when the new kid on the block shows up.............
K
KOLIO
Guest
Yes,the 1+1 is 100% compatible w/both AT&T & T-MOBILE's 4G LTE Networks.
I've tested this myself,w/post-paid T-MOBILE & AT&T's GO PHONE SIM Cards.
CafeKampuchia
Android Expert
Mine is working great on Straight Talk/AT&T with sold LTE.
CafeKampuchia
Android Expert
To show the developer options menu, go to Settings > About phone and click on build number repeatedly.
To update your One manually, check out this thread. Notice that there are two updates, not one, for the same new build number.
thanks! I was able to get to developer options. as far as the updates, I do not know how to do that. when I downloaded the zip file, the browser said unable to open. I did not do something right. phone still shows no updates through menu
guess I will have to wait until it does.
BTW, due to coverage factors, I moved my at&t Sim card to the moto g/LTE and T-Mobile $30/5gb Sim to the one plus. I won't be using the larger, more premium phone as travel/everyday carry around phone.
the less exposure to damage the one plus gets, the better for my budget.
guess I will have to wait until it does.
BTW, due to coverage factors, I moved my at&t Sim card to the moto g/LTE and T-Mobile $30/5gb Sim to the one plus. I won't be using the larger, more premium phone as travel/everyday carry around phone.
the less exposure to damage the one plus gets, the better for my budget.
K
KOLIO
Guest
You'd have to flash that zip in recovery.
Not sure if that would work on an unrooted device or not.
I no longer have the stock recovery,& I'm rooted.
Otherwise,I'd try it out w/stock-unrooted & post the results.
I think MacFett updated via the zip file w/a stock recovery,not sure if he was rooted or not.
The update via OTA is supposed to roll out to everyone by the end of the week,so,if you wish to remain stock/unrooted,you shouldn't have to wait too much longer.
Just received my OnePlus One phone from a Swappa user. Bought the 64 GB Sandstone phone for $400. I tried for months to get an invite but without any luck so I settled for a lightly used OnePlus One for $50 more than buying new, which logically makes no sense until you realize this phone is impossible to get and even if you wanted to buy it new you probably would have to buy an invite from someone for $25-$50 and then pay shipping and wait for it to be made for you. I didn't want to wait and bought preowned.
So the phone came in perfect beside a small mark on the back plate. The mark looks like a small portion of the back was worn down not chipped. The best comparison I can make for the feel of the back (sandstone) is rough velvet. Now imagine that small part of velvet was slightly worn down, that is what the defect looks and feels like. I can't really even notice since the backing is grey and it isn't until I peer 2-3 inches from the back do I see this tiny mark. Other than that physically the phone was in great shape, plus hopefully sooner than later OnePlus will release their new backs (Bamboo!).
Oddly enough the last big or phablet phone I had was a Samsung Galxy Note 3 and while I loved the speed and features, the size was just too big. Looking for a cheap replacement for my Nokia Lumia 1020 I picked the OnePlus One, which is also a very big phone. No doubt the OPO is a two hand phone but it is thinner and oh so slightly less wide compared to a Note 3. The phone doesn't creek and has a really nice feel on the back that feels like hard velvet. I do have concerns about the durability of the Sandstone backing since I have heard it wears down and even chips/peels off over time on occasion. I will defiantly be casing my OPO not only to protect the back but because the glass is raised and is just asking to be cracked if the phone is dropped.
I can go on and on about the specs, but everyone knows them by heart now. What I would like to address is Cyanogen, which is like a custom Vanilla Android OS. While a Nexus will always be able to get the latest and greatest software updates first Cyanogen/OPO have really been true to their word and updated the One very often and they have promised Android L 90 after its release which is pretty great since I know some people (Verizon) will be waiting forever for the L update. Cyanogen is really clean looking with little to no bloatware and is very customizable. As you know you can move you keys to on screen, which I highly recommend or you can even calibrate you screen. I didn't notice any of the mentioned bugs so far BUT for some reason my phone was making a constant buzzing noise with the volume raised. It sounded like the ocean. I rebooted the phone and it went away. After reading and viewing a lot people's OPO reviews it seems Cyanogen mod has some quirks that defiantly will be ironed out in time but the quickest fix might be rebooting.
So I have only owned the phone for a couple hours and I am really digging the Android, Cyanogen, and the OPO hardware which screams, but my biggest qualms have nothing to do with the phone itself but OnePlus the company. Will OnePlus stand by their phones and provide excellent customer service? Will the OPO be constantly supported and updated (looks like a yes)? and will OPO finally end the elitist invite system so everyone can buy a phone that truly never settles? If your brave and willing to forgo carrier and manufacture support greatly than I can recommend the OPO without a doubt.
I change my phone ever 6 months to a year so finding that "perfect" phone is a constant battle. I think hardware and price the OnePlus is a must try since buying is impossible, but if OnePlus is listening (doubt they are), please make a mini version at 4.75".
So the phone came in perfect beside a small mark on the back plate. The mark looks like a small portion of the back was worn down not chipped. The best comparison I can make for the feel of the back (sandstone) is rough velvet. Now imagine that small part of velvet was slightly worn down, that is what the defect looks and feels like. I can't really even notice since the backing is grey and it isn't until I peer 2-3 inches from the back do I see this tiny mark. Other than that physically the phone was in great shape, plus hopefully sooner than later OnePlus will release their new backs (Bamboo!).
Oddly enough the last big or phablet phone I had was a Samsung Galxy Note 3 and while I loved the speed and features, the size was just too big. Looking for a cheap replacement for my Nokia Lumia 1020 I picked the OnePlus One, which is also a very big phone. No doubt the OPO is a two hand phone but it is thinner and oh so slightly less wide compared to a Note 3. The phone doesn't creek and has a really nice feel on the back that feels like hard velvet. I do have concerns about the durability of the Sandstone backing since I have heard it wears down and even chips/peels off over time on occasion. I will defiantly be casing my OPO not only to protect the back but because the glass is raised and is just asking to be cracked if the phone is dropped.
I can go on and on about the specs, but everyone knows them by heart now. What I would like to address is Cyanogen, which is like a custom Vanilla Android OS. While a Nexus will always be able to get the latest and greatest software updates first Cyanogen/OPO have really been true to their word and updated the One very often and they have promised Android L 90 after its release which is pretty great since I know some people (Verizon) will be waiting forever for the L update. Cyanogen is really clean looking with little to no bloatware and is very customizable. As you know you can move you keys to on screen, which I highly recommend or you can even calibrate you screen. I didn't notice any of the mentioned bugs so far BUT for some reason my phone was making a constant buzzing noise with the volume raised. It sounded like the ocean. I rebooted the phone and it went away. After reading and viewing a lot people's OPO reviews it seems Cyanogen mod has some quirks that defiantly will be ironed out in time but the quickest fix might be rebooting.
So I have only owned the phone for a couple hours and I am really digging the Android, Cyanogen, and the OPO hardware which screams, but my biggest qualms have nothing to do with the phone itself but OnePlus the company. Will OnePlus stand by their phones and provide excellent customer service? Will the OPO be constantly supported and updated (looks like a yes)? and will OPO finally end the elitist invite system so everyone can buy a phone that truly never settles? If your brave and willing to forgo carrier and manufacture support greatly than I can recommend the OPO without a doubt.
I change my phone ever 6 months to a year so finding that "perfect" phone is a constant battle. I think hardware and price the OnePlus is a must try since buying is impossible, but if OnePlus is listening (doubt they are), please make a mini version at 4.75".
Dpadre
Member
I was listening to The Tech Guy last week and here is what they wrote about it on Tech Guy Labs :
"Ron had a One Plus One, and it's a great phone, but the customer service is terrible. His phone broke and he's had a hell of a time getting his problems addressed. Leo says you'd have to send your handset overseas after logging to their website and communicate via eMail. And it's tedious. But considering the cost you paid for the phone ($350), there's no margin to offer support. Leo says it's a desirable phone, at an impressive price, but if support is bad, that's a bad thing."
"Ron had a One Plus One, and it's a great phone, but the customer service is terrible. His phone broke and he's had a hell of a time getting his problems addressed. Leo says you'd have to send your handset overseas after logging to their website and communicate via eMail. And it's tedious. But considering the cost you paid for the phone ($350), there's no margin to offer support. Leo says it's a desirable phone, at an impressive price, but if support is bad, that's a bad thing."
K
KOLIO
Guest
Just a quick follow-up review:
This was one of my favorite phones to-date,ditto for the 1+1 community here in this forum! :thumbup:
However,as an avid ANDROID enthusiast,I like to try out new/different hardware & U/I's & as of today,I no longer have a 1+1.
I picked up the NOTE4 today & was also able to make a sale of my OPPO N1,but,the deal also included the 1+1.
The person wanted/needed two phones asap & made a surprising offer for both,but,was only interested in getting both & not the OPPO N1 on its own.
So,basically,I grudgingly agreed,as 3 phones would again be one too many for my rotation.
I've had two go-arounds w/the 1+1,& thoroughly enjoyed the experience both times,so,a 3rd bite at the proverbial apple in the immediate future is not out of the question.
I hope that everyone here enjoys the 1+1 as much as I have.
Not going too far away from this forum,I definitely wanna keep up w/all things OnePlus & everyone here.
PEACE ! :rock:
This was one of my favorite phones to-date,ditto for the 1+1 community here in this forum! :thumbup:
However,as an avid ANDROID enthusiast,I like to try out new/different hardware & U/I's & as of today,I no longer have a 1+1.
I picked up the NOTE4 today & was also able to make a sale of my OPPO N1,but,the deal also included the 1+1.
The person wanted/needed two phones asap & made a surprising offer for both,but,was only interested in getting both & not the OPPO N1 on its own.
So,basically,I grudgingly agreed,as 3 phones would again be one too many for my rotation.
I've had two go-arounds w/the 1+1,& thoroughly enjoyed the experience both times,so,a 3rd bite at the proverbial apple in the immediate future is not out of the question.
I hope that everyone here enjoys the 1+1 as much as I have.
Not going too far away from this forum,I definitely wanna keep up w/all things OnePlus & everyone here.
PEACE ! :rock:
CafeKampuchia
Android Expert
Congrats! The Note 4 is one of the (very) few phones I'd consider replacing my OnePlus One with. But I'd have to sell it and my Nexus 5 both to afford it. A big part of the decision for me would be how TouchWiz works over Lollipop.
K
KOLIO
Guest
1st post from it right here.
Lotta features as you're aware,annnd,some bloat as well.
De-bloating/disabling/setting-up the basics.
Would luv to see a CYANOGEN ROM w/the S-Pen/IR-BLASTER features folded-in.The rest of the U/I I can do w/o.
Even though the 1+1 is 1/2 the price of the GN4,the 1+1 has a more premium feel & look.
I can definitely see myself getting another 1+1 real soon,I miss it already........
Lotta features as you're aware,annnd,some bloat as well.
De-bloating/disabling/setting-up the basics.
Would luv to see a CYANOGEN ROM w/the S-Pen/IR-BLASTER features folded-in.The rest of the U/I I can do w/o.
Even though the 1+1 is 1/2 the price of the GN4,the 1+1 has a more premium feel & look.
I can definitely see myself getting another 1+1 real soon,I miss it already........
Ah, yes. The divorce had both an emotional and financial cost.....already looking for another one just like your first?
I absolutely love my OPO, I've had zero problems with it after flashing to the CM11S-38R build. Rooted it and put custom recovery, and disabled unused services that were running (G+, logging services, etc). I've gone 3 days (on accident) without charging, while playing a PSP emulator off and on with absolutely zero problems. Currently using an Orzly tempered glass, and a bamboo case I got off ebay.
The only downside (preference based) is that there's no SD card. But I guess you really don't need one since it has 64GB built in.
And if you plan on rooting it/custom recovery/flashing ROMs, do it as soon as you get it, because currently the only way to root it is to have it wiped (one time only).
I give the phone a 10/10, met and exceeded expectations! =)
The only downside (preference based) is that there's no SD card. But I guess you really don't need one since it has 64GB built in.
And if you plan on rooting it/custom recovery/flashing ROMs, do it as soon as you get it, because currently the only way to root it is to have it wiped (one time only).
I give the phone a 10/10, met and exceeded expectations! =)
Ahmad Imran
Newbie
After using this phone for 4 weeks, I must say that it is definitely an excellent phone to keep and enjoy. The three biggest strengths for me are the value for money, hardware specifications and the design.
There a few niggles not to forget but the value for money factor is so overwhelming and huge that these niggles are forgivable. Great phone and well done OnePlus.
All eyes now on the 2015 flaghsip killer !!!
There a few niggles not to forget but the value for money factor is so overwhelming and huge that these niggles are forgivable. Great phone and well done OnePlus.
All eyes now on the 2015 flaghsip killer !!!
alhadee12
Newbie
Niggles?
Ahmad Imran
Newbie
Read here for all niggles - http://reasontouse.com/phone/oneplus-one-verdict-beauty-forgivable-niggles/ hope this helps to summarise my view point.
alhadee12
Newbie
Thanks for the link. I have one coming in about a week and I'm hoping it's as good as others are saying especially with the Note 4, Edge, Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 Plus out there.
Ahmad Imran
Newbie
Good luck, and I hope you enjoy and like it.
vipul1407
Lurker
Now that the OnePlus One is being received by more and more people this sticky thread is for people with the 1+1 to post their personal reviews. If you want to write up a review please post it here.
Cheers
I am sharing my experience of OnePlus One (OPO) which I am using since November 2014. I have updated my CyanogenMod to 11.0-XNPH44S.
Pros:
Good screen resolution and brightness. I have left my phone on automatic brightness and never got trouble in seeing my screen even in sun light. Touches are smooth and no ghost touches as said in some reviews.
Good build quality. The sandstone black finish feels premium and gives a comfortable grip.
Performance is quite good, never felt lag or hangs or app crashes till date. No heating problem.
Good battery life. Lasts a day for me with all day 3G activated and wifi at home. I mostly use internet on my phone only. Few races on Asphalt 8 daily and few hands on teen patti.
Good day light camera. The images are very vibrant in day light and also have good infinity focus. My friend has Mi3 and day light images are better in OPO.
Loud in-call volume. I never used my phone with full volume. If the volume is full I can hear the other person even if my phone is at a distance from my ear.
Cons:
Available via Invite only
No dual sim
Poor night camera. Photos in night are not at all premium.
Lack of service center in India
No idea of CyanogenMod support due to Micromax - CyanogenMod deal.
Little less battery (since its big and powerful you would like to use it more)