$299 CyanogenMod Phone

[Compton_effect]

Foosa like



The new most powerful Android phone is the OnePlus One, and it’s only $299

By Russell Holly Apr. 23, 2014 7:25 am

For a scrappy new hardware company about to start selling their first smartphone, the folks at OnePlus have been working hard to get your attention by any means necessary – even trash talking all the competition. Now that it’s time to put up or shut up, however, the OnePlus One seems to have delivered in a big way.

If you’re looking at an Android phone today, your choices are almost beyond count. Each of the big manufacturers puts their best foot forward every year with great unique experiences on top of the line hardware, and then Google comes along and launched the next Nexus phone to undercut them on price and offer a “pure” vision for the next version of Android.

If you want the more premium hardware experience delivered by these manufacturers but not the software that comes with it, you can always go through the process of rooting and flashing CyanogenMod to replace it. The OnePlus One is the first phone to be sold with CyanogenMod as the only version of Android available for the phone, and the hardware it comes with is more than a little impressive.

OnePlus has managed to stuff a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 with 3GB of RAM, a 3100mAh battery, and a choice between 16GB or 64GB of onboard storage. The 5.5-inch 1080p display at 401ppi uses Gorilla Glass 3, and the 13MP dual LED camera on the curved back completes an impressive 8.9mm thin package.

On paper, it should be more than enough to compete with the current flagship smartphones as well as offer significantly more battery life than the Nexus 5. Given that every time you install CyanogenMod on a phone you almost always see a huge boost in performance over what was there before, there’s more than a good chance that this phone will outperform every high end Android phone currently available.

Cyanogen has included a modified version of their immensely popular third party Android distribution with the OnePlus One. CyanogenMod 11S claims to be “the first phase of a unique visual experience” on top of the existing CM we’re all used to. The big benefits here are in customization though a theme engine that allows users to play around with most of the icons and colors in the OS without needing to go through cobbling together multiple root apps. If you’re not a fan of this new visual experience, it can be completely disabled and you can be returned to the standard CyanogenMod you see with every other install.

While this impressive piece of hardware and software could easily stand on its own merits, the phone has one more impressive feature to it – the price tag. OnePlus has managed to make the 16GB version of the phone only $299, and the 64GB version will be available for $349. This is a huge stab at Google’s Nexus phones, which have been “the best phone for the money” for the last two years.

OnePlus will be opening their website to take orders within the next few days and shipping some time after, so keep your eyes peeled.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

 

[ian_stagib]

At that price I'll even import one if I have to, pay the taxes and still save a boat load

 

[koeksGHT]

gees :O

Just installed new CM on S3, its now essentially a S5

 

[Budza]

Removable storage?

I was considering an S5, from an S3.

The IP67 certification is great, but this phone at this price is probably a better bet

 

[RogueTr00per]

If I got this phone i would go for the 64gb model and then I could live without removable storage.

 

[Bryn]

If I got this phone i would go for the 64gb model and then I could live without removable storage.

Same. $349 for the 64GB is the deal of the century. Also, the OnePlus One looks better in black.

The question is how the hell do we get one. Demand is going to be insane, and their website isn't forthcoming about the ordering process.

 

[RogueTr00per]

Very irritating, here in SA we have to accept the scraps that get thrown our way ELSE fight an uphill logistical/risky/expensive battle in getting these devices from overseas to SA shores.

 

[Nishano]

Awesome advertising campaign... ( smash your phone for 1USD )

[video=youtube;Vs8yHw68FG0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs8yHw68FG0[/video]

Every techie will want one....though, being at the bottom of the planet and not on the participating country lists ...
,slim chance of any of us picking one if these little monsters up...

Even if their factories can keep up with the demand, by the time it gets here,

it will be bloated with software, "Metallica" mentality will prevail and one of us here on this forum will add our standard greed tax to the device....which will end up costing us almost double....

wow....with age, i've become pessimistic...restore my faith in the world , anyone ?


If anyone really wants to get access to this device, best bet is to utilize ebay once the phones launched...
pay the duties and review it for us on this thread.

 

[Bona Botse]

gees :O

Just installed new CM on S3, its now essentially a S5 without CM

FTFY .

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Im going to import the Oppo Find 7. While the One plus One has impressive specs, so does the Oppo. The Oppo will be much easier to get hold of, and Oppo are pretty well known following on from their previous phones like the Find 5

 

[Icemanbrfc]

https://en.oppo.com/

 

[Nishano]

very cool...

 

[Nefertiti]

Im going to import the Oppo Find 7. While the One plus One has impressive specs, so does the Oppo. The Oppo will be much easier to get hold of, and Oppo are pretty well known following on from their previous phones like the Find 5

How much is everything costing you? I see shipping is free. Not sure what customs will charge.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Ive imported the Meizu previously from Alibaba, and basically told them to indicate that its a gift. So didnt pay anything at customs. I suppose if there are anybody from customs on here, then well oops lol

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Btw in terms of cost, postage is free if you buy direct off their website. With the rand being a pain against other countries currency, im still looking at different conutries, where the rand might be a bit stronger and seeing who might slash the price, or give an even better deal. Right now im looking at roughly between 350 and 400 dollars as a starting point.

 

[Nishano]

very interesting to look at alternate brands...

checking the orange store za ( damit, they really need to start giving me commission for punting them)

they have an onslaught of these new TYPE devices....Geek phone with dual OS ( WOW, that fifefox os looks like buttering,

CAT have a phone, thats strong like the moto defy probably,
Acer have some top end tech for cha cha cheap
wiko stairway
Black phone ( it sounds too cool )
Meizu MX3

then there's the Lumigon T2 which is supposedly pretty styling as well

At least someones trying to give us access to different devices, Im so tired of the boring design and sheep follwing cool yiuppie nature of cell phone ego.