OnePlus 2 smartphone will be unveiled on July 27

The Chinese startup will be live-streaming the launch event to the world in virtual reality (VR), making it the "first product launch in VR".

OnePlus 2 smartphone will be unveiled on July 27
NEW DELHI: OnePlus has finally revealed the launch date of its upcoming flagship smartphone, OnePlus 2. The successor to popular smartphone One Plus One will be unveiled next month on July 27.

And the company has planned a unique unveiling event for the device. The Chinese startup will be live-streaming the launch event to the world in virtual reality (VR), making it the "first product launch in VR".

Making the announcement through the official blogpost Carl Pei, co-founder wrote, "A VR launch lets you stand right next to our team and our fans as we unveil our new flagship. You'll be able to look around as you check out the phone in a new way and maybe even find a few hidden Easter eggs."

For this, OnePlus has engineered its own custom "cardboard" VR headsets something similar to what Google offers. "We applaud Google Cardboard for advancing the dream of bringing VR to homes around the world, but we believe it could be even better. Even more accessible. In addition to the Cardboard 2.0 features, we've made a few more improvements," says the One Plus blog post.



(Image: www.forums.oneplus.net)
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In the last few days, has already shared some specifications of the upcoming smartphone. The company recently revealed that the smartphone will sport a reversible, USB Type-C connector. Making the announcement on its Google+ page and Twitter, the company spokesperson posted, "Our second spec revealed: The OnePlus2 will be the first flagship smartphone to use the latest Type C USB. We want to lead the way in power connectivity."

The highlight of the USB Type-C cable is that it's reversible so you don't need to check which side of the connector is up while inserting it. The Type-C port on the OnePlus 2 could allow file transfer speeds up to 10Gbps and allow the smartphone to charge faster.

Earlier, OnePlus confirmed it would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor version 2.1. "Although there have been reports that the 810 runs warmer than its predecessors, we assure you that we have taken all the necessary precautions and beyond to prevent this from occurring in the 2. We worked very closely with Qualcomm's engineers to integrate an improved version of the chipset (v2.1) in the OnePlus 2, and fine-tuned both hardware and software.
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Xiaomi Mi 4 vs OnePlus One: Which one to buy?
1/6
Text: Anupam Saxena, TOI Tech

Xiaomi has introduced its 2014 flagship smartphone, Mi 4, in the Indian market.

The phone is priced around Rs 20,000, bringing high-end hardware specifications to the mid-range segment, similar to the Mi 3 smartphone that it launched in July.

However, the landscape has changed radically and surprisingly, consumers have other options to choose from.

Xiaomi pitted the phone against these and other high-end offerings and even showcased a related slide at a launch event in New Delhi.

One name that appears to one up the Mi 4, at least in some counts, is the OnePlus One.

Priced slightly higher at Rs 21,990, the ‘flagship killer’ is Mi 4’s biggest rival.

Here’s how they stand against each other…
Text: Anupam Saxena, TOI Tech

Xiaomi has introduced its 2014 flagship smartphone, Mi 4, in the Indian market.

The phone is priced around Rs 20,000, bringing high-end hardware sp..
Read More
The Mi 4 has a softer persona thanks to rounded corners and looks premium with the steel frame and chamfered edges.

It also has a comparatively smaller form factor.

The OnePlus One on the other hand falls in phablet territory but doesn't feel very bulky thanks to the optimum weight to dimension ratio.

The One is made largely from high-quality polycarbonate materials and the clean lines and subtle curves dominate the minimalist design philosophy of the phone.

Both of the phones are slightly curved at the back, enhancing ergonomics but the OnePlus One comes with a sandstone grey finish which is very unique; it is resistant to smudges and even grime stains are less apparent.

Xiaomi Mi 4 looks more premium but the OnePlus One scores more when it comes to day to day use. However, users who want better one-hand use experience will prefer the Mi 4.
The Mi 4 has a softer persona thanks to rounded corners and looks premium with the steel frame and chamfered edges.

It also has a comparatively smaller form factor.

The OnePlus One on..
Read More
Xiaomi Mi 4 is powered by a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB RAM.

Interestingly, the OnePlus One also features the same chip and RAM configuration.

Both of the phones don’t feature external storage slots but the OnePlus One has an edge over the Mi 4 as it comes with 64GB of storage space.

The Mi 4 offers just 16GB so you’ll need to think twice before storing your music library or transferring a movie.

The Mi 4 also doesn’t come with support for 4G. The OnePlus One on the other hand, supports Band 3 or FD-LTE 1800MHz which will be used by network providers in India for future deployments.

Both phones don’t support TD-LTE Band 40 2300MHz, which is being currently used. So, OnePlus One will be able to support some 4G networks in India, when they’re rolled out.

Mi 4 comes with a 3080mAh battery and according to Xiaomi, the battery would last one and a half day with normal use.

OnePlus One comes with a 3100mAh battery and the phone lasts a full day with heavy use.
Xiaomi Mi 4 is powered by a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB RAM.

Interestingly, the OnePlus One also features the same chip and RAM configuration.Read More
Xiaomi Mi 4 runs MIUI 6, a new version of the company's operating system, based on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The OnePlus One comes with CyanogenMod 11S, a custom aftermarket version of Android 4.4 KitKat developed by Cyanogen.

While OnePlus one’s interface is extremely close to Stock Android, MIUI resembles Apple’s iOS in design and navigation and doesn’t come with a separate app drawer.

CyanogenMod is known for its customisability, enhanced security and additional features, while MIUI focuses on ease of use in addition to offering enhanced native apps, better notifications and things like call recording and call blocking.

Both operating systems support themes and let users customize all UI elements. Of the two, Xiaomi’s MIUI has a richer themes and wallpapers content store.

It’s worth pointing out that there’s an ongoing dispute between OnePlus and Cyanogen due to which OnePlus One will not receive any software updates in the future.

However, OnePlus is working on its own Android ROM(based on Android Lollipop) which will be released in February. The new software may be devoid of some CyanogenMod features.
Xiaomi Mi 4 runs MIUI 6, a new version of the company's operating system, based on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The OnePlus One comes with CyanogenMod 11S, a custom aftermarket version of Android 4.4 ..
Read More
The Xiaomi Mi 4 sports a 13MP rear camera featuring Sony Exmor RS stacked image sensor, 6-element lens, f/1.8 aperture, Real-time HDR and 4K UHD video recording with an LED flash.

The phone’s front camera also features an 8MP tracking Exmor RS back-illuminated image sensor, 80 degree wide-angle 5-element lens, and f/1.8 aperture.

The phone’s front camera lens is one of the best among the current crop of devices and the rear camera also takes good quality pictures in sufficient light.

The OnePlus One also features a 13MP rear camera with Sony Exmor IMX 214 sensor, 6 lenses, f/2.0 aperture, 4K video with stereo recording, support for RAW files (in DNG format), Slow Motion - 720p video at 120fps,and a dual LED flash. The phone’s front camera has a 5MP sensor.

The OnePlus One has a great camera and takes low light shots with the same elan as it captures daylight shots.

Both of the phones offer good camera features and hardware.
The Xiaomi Mi 4 sports a 13MP rear camera featuring Sony Exmor RS stacked image sensor, 6-element lens, f/1.8 aperture, Real-time HDR and 4K UHD video recording with an LED flash.

The phone’s ..
Read More
Xiaomi Mi 4 has been priced at Rs 19,999, while OnePlus One retails at Rs 21,999. The Mi 4 will be exclusively available on Flipkart through weekly flash sales.

The OnePlus One on the other hand is an Amazon India exclusive. It’s invite-based and to get your hands on one, you’ll first need to get hold of an invite.

Both the phones are difficult to acquire and you’ll need to go through the hassle of fetching for an invite or trying your luck in the flash sale.

So which one should you be buying? If you can make do with limited storage, aren’t looking forward to try 4G (to be realistic, it’ll take some time before going mainstream) and don’t want a phablet-sized device, the Mi 4 is your best bet.

If you want to store your entire music library on your phone, want a big phone and like stock Android with high customisability, look no further; the OnePlus One it is.
Xiaomi Mi 4 has been priced at Rs 19,999, while OnePlus One retails at Rs 21,999. The Mi 4 will be exclusively available on Flipkart through weekly flash sales.

The OnePlus One on the other h..
Read More
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