OnePlus One
The OnePlus One is an Android smartphone that served as the debut product of OnePlus, a company established in 2013 by executives from Oppo. Announced on April 23, 2014, and initially released in limited quantities starting late that month, it featured a 5.5-inch 1080p JDI LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5 GHz, 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and storage variants of 16 GB or 64 GB without microSD expansion.[1][2][3] Equipped with a 13 MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, 5 MP front camera, and 3100 mAh battery, the device ran Android 4.4 KitKat customized with CyanogenMod (later transitioning to OxygenOS), and was priced at $299 for the 16 GB model and $349 for the 64 GB version—far below comparable flagship competitors.[1][2] This value proposition earned it the nickname "flagship killer," fostering rapid popularity through an invite-only sales system despite production delays and public relations challenges.[4]Development and Origins
Company Founding and Initial Vision
OnePlus was founded on December 16, 2013, in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, by Pete Lau and Carl Pei, both former executives at Oppo.[5][6] Pete Lau had served as vice president at Oppo for over a decade, overseeing product development, while Carl Pei managed international markets; both resigned from Oppo in late 2013 to establish the company as a separate entity focused on smartphone innovation.[7] The founders' initial vision emphasized producing premium smartphones with top-tier hardware specifications at significantly reduced prices compared to competitors, challenging the high margins of established flagship brands.[8] This approach, dubbed the "flagship killer" strategy, sought to eliminate bloat and inefficiencies in traditional supply chains by leveraging direct-to-consumer online sales and community-driven feedback for iterative improvements.[9] Central to this ethos was the "Never Settle" mantra, which guided OnePlus to prioritize uncompromising performance, smooth software experiences, and user-centric design without settling for industry norms on pricing or features.[10] The company aimed to build a global brand through transparency, e-commerce efficiency, and engagement with tech enthusiasts, positioning itself as an alternative to overpriced premium devices.[11]Product Conception and Specifications Planning
The conception of the OnePlus One originated in August 2013, when co-founder Pete Lau, then at Oppo, discussed frustrations with prevailing Android smartphones' compromises in user experience and performance during informal meetings with colleagues and friends in Shenzhen.[12] Motivated to build a device they would personally use, Lau prioritized uncompromised quality over initial cost considerations, emphasizing flagship-level capabilities without unnecessary features or bloat.[12] OnePlus was formally established on December 16, 2013, by Lau and Carl Pei, with an explicit global orientation from inception, assembling an international team to target overseas markets amid intense domestic competition in China.[13] Specifications planning centered on delivering superior hardware at a disruptive price point of $299 for the 16 GB model and $349 for the 64 GB variant, achieved by designing the optimal product first and then determining its near-cost pricing.[12] Key decisions included selecting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor at 2.5 GHz—upgraded from the initially considered Snapdragon 800 with direct support from Qualcomm—for its leading-edge efficiency and performance, paired with 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU to ensure smooth multitasking and gaming.[12] The display was specified as a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD panel from Japan Display Inc. for vibrant visuals at 401 pixels per inch, while battery capacity was set at 3,100 mAh for extended runtime without increasing device thickness; the rear camera adopted a 13 MP Sony IMX214 sensor with f/2.0 aperture for competent imaging, and storage options omitted microSD expandability to streamline costs and design.[12] Hardware rationale drew from Lau's Oppo experience, leveraging established supply chains like Foxconn for assembly and opting for a polycarbonate body over premium metals to balance grip, weight (162 g), and affordability without sacrificing perceived quality.[13] Software planning involved partnering with Cyanogen Inc. to preload a customized CyanogenMod 11S based on Android 4.4 KitKat, selected as the first device built natively for this ROM to provide extensive customization, privacy enhancements like SMS encryption, and a cleaner experience than stock Android or manufacturer skins, while avoiding carrier modifications.[13] This choice aligned with the "Never Settle" ethos, fostering community-driven refinements via forums pre-launch to iterate on user feedback, though it introduced potential stability trade-offs compared to optimized OEM software.[12] Overall, these decisions aimed to position the OnePlus One as a "flagship killer," matching or exceeding contemporaries like the Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One (M8 in core specs at half the price through direct-to-consumer sales and minimal overhead.[12][13]Launch and Distribution
Release Timeline and Invite System
The OnePlus One was announced on April 23, 2014, with full specifications and pricing revealed at that event. Limited pre-orders commenced on April 25, 2014, initially targeting the Chinese market where demand quickly outstripped supply. International shipping for global customers began in May 2014, restricted to an invite-only model via OnePlus's official website to prioritize fulfillment amid production constraints. The invite system required users to obtain a unique code to access purchases, distributed through initial allocations to early adopters, social media contests, forum engagements, and referrals from existing buyers. Each purchaser received a set number of shareable invites—typically starting with one or two, expanding as loyalty programs evolved—fostering a viral referral mechanism that limited scalping and ensured orders shipped within days of placement. This strategy, justified by OnePlus as a means to maintain quality control and avoid stockouts, created artificial scarcity but accelerated word-of-mouth marketing, contributing to over one million units sold by December 2014. Critics noted the system's drawbacks, including extended wait times of weeks to months for non-referred users and perceptions of it as a gimmick to inflate exclusivity. The policy remained in effect for international sales through much of 2014, with gradual expansions via additional invite waves; by late 2014, select regions like India transitioned to open sales through partners such as Amazon, launching on December 2 without mandatory invites. Full abandonment of invites for the OnePlus One occurred in subsequent months as supply stabilized, paving the way for unrestricted availability in remaining markets.Partnership Agreements and Regional Rollouts
OnePlus secured a non-exclusive, two-year licensing agreement with Cyanogen Inc. in early 2014, enabling the OnePlus One to ship with Cyanogen OS, a commercial fork of the open-source CyanogenMod customized Android distribution.[14] This collaboration, formalized through a trademark license and partnership documents dated February 2014, positioned Cyanogen OS as a key differentiator, offering enhanced customization and features over stock Android without Google apps preinstalled in certain variants.[15] The agreement granted worldwide rights but later sparked conflicts when Cyanogen pursued an exclusive deal with India's Micromax Informatics, leading to temporary restrictions on OnePlus sales in India and the partnership's eventual termination in April 2015.[16] Distribution relied on an invite-only system through the OnePlus website to control supply and generate buzz, limiting initial batches to manage component sourcing and assembly in China.[17] To expand access, OnePlus arranged limited-time sales without invites via Amazon in the US starting October 2014, bypassing the system for select periods to boost volumes ahead of year-end targets.[18] Regional availability began with a limited rollout in mid-May 2014 across 16 markets, including the United States, several European countries (such as the UK, Germany, and France), and China, priced at $299 for the 16 GB model and $349 for 64 GB.[19][20] India saw delayed official entry on December 2, 2014, exclusively through Amazon.in, amid growing demand but interrupted by a Delhi High Court injunction in late December following the Cyanogen-Micromax dispute, which halted imports and sales until resolution in early 2015.[21][17] This phased approach prioritized direct online channels over traditional retail partnerships, reflecting OnePlus's strategy to maintain premium pricing control in emerging and mature smartphone markets.Technical Features
Hardware Architecture
The OnePlus One employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) system-on-chip, fabricated on a 28 nm process, featuring a quad-core Krait 400 CPU operating at up to 2.5 GHz and an Adreno 330 GPU clocked at 578 MHz.[1][22] This configuration provided flagship-level processing performance for its era, supporting multitasking and graphics-intensive applications efficiently.[23] The SoC integrates a modem for 4G LTE Cat. 4 connectivity, achieving download speeds up to 150 Mbit/s.[1] Complementing the SoC, the device includes 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM running at 1866 MHz, enabling smooth operation of multiple applications simultaneously, and internal storage options of 16 GB or 64 GB using eMMC 5.0 flash memory, without expandable storage via microSD.[24][23] Input is handled through a capacitive multi-touch display and physical buttons, including a volume rocker, power button on the right side, and a three-stage alert slider on the left for silent, vibrate, and ring modes.[1] The 5.5-inch display utilizes Japan Display Inc. (JDI) LTPS IPS LCD technology with a 1920 × 1080 resolution, delivering 401 pixels per inch density, and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for scratch resistance.[24][1] Imaging hardware consists of a rear-facing 13 MP Sony IMX214 sensor with f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization, and dual-LED flash, alongside a 5 MP front camera for selfies and video calls.[1][23] Power is supplied by a non-removable 3100 mAh lithium-polymer battery, which supports extended usage through fast charging via Qualcomm Quick Charge 1.0, though the charger provided operates at standard rates.[1][24] The chassis integrates a magnesium alloy unibody for durability and lightness, measuring 150.9 × 75.9 × 8.9 mm and weighing 162 grams, with sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, and ambient light for enhanced functionality.[24][1]| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (28 nm), Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400, Adreno 330 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | 16/64 GB eMMC 5.0 |
| Display | 5.5" JDI LTPS IPS, 1920×1080, 401 ppi, Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Battery | 3100 mAh Li-Po |
| Rear Camera | 13 MP, f/2.0, OIS |
| Front Camera | 5 MP |
Design and Materials
The OnePlus One employs a unibody construction made from polycarbonate plastic for its back panel and frame, offering a balance of durability and reduced weight compared to metal alternatives.[25] The device measures 152.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm in dimensions and weighs 162 grams, contributing to its ergonomic handling despite the large 5.5-inch display size.[1][24] The front face features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for scratch resistance, while the plastic rear provides a textured finish available in variants such as the standard black model with a soft-touch coating.[1] This material choice prioritized cost-efficiency and heat dissipation over premium aesthetics, aligning with the device's positioning as a high-spec budget flagship.[26] Reviews consistently praised the build for its solidity, with no reported creaks or flex under pressure, though it lacks the premium feel of glass or aluminum contemporaries.[27][28] Physical buttons include a power key on the right side and volume rocker on the left, with a 3.5 mm headphone jack and microUSB port at the top and bottom, respectively, emphasizing practical layout over innovative form factors.[24] The design's simplicity extended to minimal bezels around the display, enhancing the screen-to-body ratio for its era.[28]