History of OnePlus Phones

OnePlus is a Chinese smartphone company founded in December 2013 by former Oppo vice-president Pete Lau and co-founder Carl Pei. The company’s goal was to create high-quality, feature-rich smartphones at an affordable price. In this discussion, we will take a look at the history of OnePlus phones in detail.

The Beginning: OnePlus One (2014)

OnePlus made its entry into the smartphone market in April 2014 with its first phone, the OnePlus One. The phone was highly praised by reviewers for its premium build quality, top-of-the-line specs, and affordable price. The OnePlus One had a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 13-megapixel camera. The phone ran on CyanogenMod, a custom Android ROM, which offered a unique user experience.

Follow-up: OnePlus 2 (2015)

OnePlus launched its second phone, the OnePlus 2, in July 2015. The phone was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus One, with a slightly improved camera, faster processor, and a fingerprint sensor. The OnePlus 2 also introduced a USB-C port, which was a relatively new technology at the time. However, the phone was criticized for its lack of NFC and wireless charging, which were becoming standard features in high-end smartphones.

More Refinements: OnePlus 3 (2016) and OnePlus 3T (2016)

In June 2016, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 3, which was a significant departure from its predecessors in terms of design. The phone featured a full metal unibody construction and had a 5.5-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a 16-megapixel camera. The phone also introduced OnePlus’ proprietary Dash Charge technology, which offered faster charging speeds than other smartphones.

Later that year, in November 2016, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 3T, which was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus 3. The phone featured a faster processor, an improved front-facing camera, and a slightly larger battery.

Going Big: OnePlus 5 (2017) and OnePlus 5T (2017)

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 5 in June 2017, which was a significant upgrade over its predecessors in terms of hardware. The phone featured a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and a dual-camera setup with a 16-megapixel primary camera and a 20-megapixel telephoto lens. The phone also introduced a new design language, with a slimmer profile and rounded edges.

Later that year, in November 2017, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 5T, which was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus 5. The phone featured a larger 6-inch 1080p display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, facial recognition, and a slightly improved camera.

A Shift to Premium: OnePlus 6 (2018) and OnePlus 6T (2018)

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 6 in May 2018, which marked a significant shift in the company’s strategy. The phone featured a glass back and metal frame construction, which gave it a more premium look and feels. The phone had a 6.28-inch 1080p display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and a dual-camera setup with a 16-megapixel primary camera and a 20-megapixel telephoto lens.

Later that year, in October 2018, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 6T, which was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus 6. The phone featured a smaller notch, a larger 6.41-inch display with an improved screen-to-body ratio, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a slightly larger battery. The phone also introduced a new color variant, Thunder Purple.

5G and More: OnePlus 7 (2019) and OnePlus 7T (2019)

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 7 in May 2019, which was available in two variants: the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7 Pro. The OnePlus 7 featured a 6.41-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and a dual-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The OnePlus 7 Pro, on the other hand, had a larger 6.67-inch 1440p display with a 90Hz refresh rate, up to 12GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. The phone also introduced OnePlus Warp Charge 30 fast charging technology.

Later that year, in September 2019, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 7T, which was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus 7. The phone featured a 6.55-inch 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

5G and More: OnePlus 8 (2020) and OnePlus 8T (2020)

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 8 in April 2020, which was also available in two variants: the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro. The OnePlus 8 featured a 6.55-inch 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The OnePlus 8 Pro had a larger 6.78-inch 1440p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 12GB of RAM, and a quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 5-megapixel color filter camera. Both phones supported 5G connectivity and introduced wireless charging to the OnePlus lineup.

Later that year, in October 2020, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 8T, which was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus 8. The phone featured a larger 6.55-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The phone also introduced OnePlus’ fast charging technology, Warp Charge 65, which could charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 39 minutes.

A New Direction: OnePlus 9 (2021)

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 9 in March 2021, which marked a new direction for the company. The phone was the result of OnePlus’ partnership with camera manufacturer Hasselblad and featured a new camera system that aimed to improve the phone’s photography capabilities. The OnePlus 9 featured a 6.55-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera co-developed with Hasselblad, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The phone also introduced Warp Charge 65T, which promised to charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 29 minutes.

OnePlus also launched the OnePlus 9 Pro alongside the OnePlus 9, which featured a larger 6.7-inch 1440p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 12GB of RAM, and a quad-camera setup with the same Hasselblad co-developed 48-megapixel primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The phone also introduced wireless charging to the OnePlus 9 lineup, with support for up to 50W wireless charging.

A Return to Roots: OnePlus Nord (2020) and OnePlus Nord 2 (2021)

In July 2020, OnePlus launched the OnePlus Nord, which marked the company’s return to the mid-range smartphone market. The phone featured a 6.44-inch 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The phone also introduced OnePlus Warp Charge 30T fast charging technology.

In July 2021, OnePlus launched the OnePlus Nord 2, which was an upgrade over the OnePlus Nord. The phone featured a 6.43-inch 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate, MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The phone also introduced Warp Charge 65 fast charging technology to the Nord lineup.

What are the pros and cons of using a OnePlus phone?

Pros of using a OnePlus phone:

1. Performance: OnePlus phones are known for their high-end specifications and top-of-the-line processors, making them one of the fastest and most responsive phones in the market.
2. OxygenOS: OnePlus uses its own customized version of Android called OxygenOS, which is known for its simplicity, customizability, and smooth user experience.
3. Value for Money: OnePlus phones are known for offering flagship-level features and specifications at a more affordable price point compared to other premium smartphone brands.
4. Fast Charging: OnePlus phones come with fast charging technology, allowing users to quickly charge their phones without having to wait for extended periods.
5. Design: OnePlus phones have a sleek and premium design with a metal frame and glass back, giving them a premium feel.

Cons of using a OnePlus phone:

1. Camera: While OnePlus has made significant improvements in the camera department in recent years, some users may find the camera quality to be not as good as other premium smartphone brands.
2. Limited Availability: OnePlus phones are not widely available in all regions, making it difficult for some users to purchase them.
3. Bloatware: While OxygenOS is known for its clean and simple user interface, some users may find the pre-installed bloatware to be a nuisance.
4. No Expandable Storage: OnePlus phones do not come with expandable storage options, meaning users cannot add additional storage beyond the capacity of their device.
5. Durability: OnePlus phones are not as durable as some other premium smartphone brands, with reports of cracked screens and damage from accidental drops.

Conclusion

OnePlus has come a long way since its founding in 2013, evolving from a startup that sold phones through an invite-only system to a major player in the smartphone market. While the company has faced some challenges along the way, such as controversies over software updates and pricing, OnePlus has remained committed to delivering high-quality smartphones with flagship-level features at a more affordable price point. With its latest offerings, such as the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus Nord 2, it’s clear that OnePlus is continuing to innovate and push the boundaries of what a mid-range or flagship smartphone can be.

As of my knowledge cutoff was in September 2021, and the most recent update from OnePlus was the launch of the OnePlus 9RT in October 2021. The OnePlus 9RT is an update over the OnePlus 9R and features a 6.62-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The phone also features OnePlus’ Warp Charge 65 fast charging technology and runs on OxygenOS 12 based on Android 11.