Tech

Here's an up close and personal look at the hottest Android phone in the world right now

Dave Smith

2015-08-05T20:56:25Z

Millions of people have already signed up to purchase the OnePlus 2, the sequel to last year's most exciting Android phone, which you can only purchase if you receive an invite from the company.

The Chinese startup OnePlus unveiled the new phone in July, and sold out 30,000 units of the OnePlus 2 to Chinese customers in just 64 seconds. (The first round of invitation-related sales will begin on August 11.)

Last year's OnePlus One was special because it offered a big, powerful, premium phone that cost less than half the price of an unlocked iPhone. It was also loved by critics. And since quantities were limited from the start, demand skyrocketed as a result.

OnePlus hopes to keep its positive momentum going with this year's model. Here we break down all the features of the OnePlus 2 to give you an idea of why people are so excited about this phone.

For starters, the OnePlus 2 features a 5.5-inch display with 401 pixels per inch (ppi) to ensure a crisp, colorful display. It sounds identical to the 5.5-inch display with 401 ppi in the iPhone 6 Plus.

The OnePlus 2 also has a premium feel. Its body is made from an aluminum-magnesium alloy that was crafted to optimize antenna reception, temperature regulation, and performance. The screen is made of Gorilla Glass, the same scratch-resistant material Apple uses in its mobile devices.

If you need a fast, powerful Android phone, look no further. The OnePlus 2 is built with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processor and an Adreno 430 GPU for high-performance computing and quality graphics. It also has 4 GB of RAM for quick multitasking (the iPhone 6 Plus has 1GB of RAM).

Moving to the camera, the OnePlus 2 features a 13-megapixel rear shooter with a f/2.0 aperture and dual-LED flash like the iPhone 6. OnePlus also added a six-element lens to prevent distortion, laser-autofocus to take shots in just 0.2 seconds, and a big image sensor for quality performance in low-light settings.

The OnePlus 2 is great for shooting videos, too. Like the iPhone 6 Plus, it features optical image stabilization to correct unwanted bumps and shakes to ensure smooth videos.

This phone is great for people who travel or need two different phones for home and work. The OnePlus 2 features dual-SIM capabilities so you can connect to two networks simultaneously.

To help you manage your notifications and stay organized, the OnePlus 2's Alert Slider lets you switch between three different notification settings on the fly: all notifications, priority interruptions, and no interruptions.

For added security, the OnePlus 2 also features a fingerprint sensor below the phone's screen. Like the iPhone, you can store up to five different fingerprints that can instantly unlock your device with just a quick touch.

The OnePlus 2 also embraces the future of connectivity: It's powered by USB-C, a reversible cord that works as a power source, USB port, and also supports every type of display connection, including HDMI.

The OnePlus 2 features "all-day" battery life to help you at all hours. It's unclear, however, how many hours of life you'll get exactly.

The OnePlus 2 also offers a unique system to change the look of your phone in just seconds, called "StyleSwap." OnePlus offers five different rear covers with different colors, textures and styles — from bamboo to black apricot to kevlar — that are all easy to swap in and out.

Even with all of these premium features, the OnePlus 2 is still sold at a reasonable price: In the US, the OnePlus 2 will cost $329 for 16 GB and $389 for 64 GB.