OnePlus 2 16GB

The 64GB variant of the OnePlus 2, the model that we’ve reviewed here and the one that’s available to buy currently, is priced at Rs 24,999. If we were to take the price approach to weigh it against competition, its closest rivals would include the likes of the top-end variant of the ASUS ZenFone 2 (review) and the Honor 6 Plus, and both of these are compelling options in their own unique ways. However, we feel that the OnePlus 2 packs in enough to clearly emerge as the strongest in its segment after we factor in everything it has to offer – smooth performance, solid build, good cameras and useful features like the fingerprint scanner.If we were to take usage experience as a metric, we’ll admit the OnePlus 2 does have a few rough edges. Maybe we’re making it a victim of our heightened expectations after using the OnePlus One, which was a device that seemed extremely polished in almost all respects. The OnePlus 2 feels a tad less so. That said, we believe that OnePlus has a worthy and solid hardware platform in the 2, and most of the rough edges we allude to centre around software. And you know what? Software can be updated. We know it’s easier said than done, but we’re firm believers in the power of software. OxygenOS is still a relatively new platform, but we won’t really call it a work in progress. In some sense, a software platform should always be work in progress… a living, breathing thing that grows, matures, learns, evolves, and adapts, and generally keeps getting better with each new iteration. Obviously, this holds true for every mobile computing device out there. OxygenOS is extremely usable as a platform right now, but we can’t wait to see what the company does with it going forward.Calling the OnePlus 2 a ‘2016 flagship killer’ might be too ambitious, but let’s not go that far into the future. It could do with a few small improvements, but the way things stand right now, the smartphone makes for a very worthy buy, comfortably standing out as a loaded, capable smartphone that doesn’t demand a kidney in exchange. For your money, you’ll get a device that looks good, feels premium, makes mince meat of everything you care to throw at it and shoots good images you’d love to share. If you haven’t done so already, it could be time to start looking out for one of those elusive invites. We’re doing the same as you read this.