OnePlus One Retrospective: 10 Years Later!
Ғылым және технология
Can you believe that there was once a budget Android brand that had people queueing up for the opportunity to buy their phone? A brand that seemingly came from nowhere to inspire the kind of adoration we'd only ever seen for a new iPhone launch.
This was the central genius of the OnePlus One, a decade ago. $299 for a phone with flagship specs and software tailor-made for Android power-users... only, because of the need to wait for an invite code YOU can't buy it.
Here's our retrospective on this fan-favorite Android phone, a decade on!
0:00 Intro
0:25 You can't buy it
1:26 OnePlus origins
3:00 Classic hardware revisited
4:08 Specs and performance
6:20 Growing pains
8:13 Software
10:10 Cameras
10:47 Wrap-up
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Пікірлер: 122
Damn it's been 10 years
@MrRicearonie
Ай бұрын
It’s seems both longer and shorter than that somehow
I had the OnePlus 3. It's such a nice unassuming phone. And the last good phone they made was the 5T. Once they started using glass for the back, and remove the headphones jack, I knew they were no longer a flagship killer. They've become flagship.
@jonathan.helmersen
Ай бұрын
for real! i loved my 5T, lasted 5 years without any problem.. awh man
@BojanTomic
29 күн бұрын
6T was an amazing phone for an amazing price. That's the last good phone they made. Then they started changing OxygenOS and started charging more for less.
@jonathan.helmersen
29 күн бұрын
@@BojanTomic yup, 6T was fiiiine
@bhushandoiphode
27 күн бұрын
OnePlus 3 was one of a kind. I loved that phone to death.
@rayo3708
12 күн бұрын
No way you're all downplaying the 7 pro
OnePlus 12 owner here. When i was looking into making a purchase of a flagship that is gonna last me atleast the next 4 years i considered other brands and none of them came close to the value OnePlus offers. 100 watts charging, SD 8 Gen3, amazing cameras, gorgeous display, beautiful design, fast storage and latest Bluetooth and wifi connections, a decked out gaming mode and a smooth and clean OS all for €500-700 less than Xiaomi, Samsung, Apple at their respective storage. Definitely didn't settle.
@mkamilnadeem
29 күн бұрын
Same. Oneplus 12 ftw.
@grey7045
23 күн бұрын
Do you have any issue with the phone build quality? I see some of the users have issue with the gap near the camera
@hannthenan
22 күн бұрын
The only issue i have with recent OnePlus phones is the design of the camera hump
It didn't come out of nowhere nor was it some scrappy startup. It was another brand started up by BBK as a sister brand to Oppo.
I got an invite code back in the day from a family member. It was a great phone. I enjoyed the OnePlus phones that I had over the years. Crazy how it's been 10 years.
Funny story: I actually pre-ordered the OnePlus One back when it was under that online invite code program. Back then it was offered by my local carrier and seeing it was limited release and only offered by them I decided to just register my interest. Turns out I got lucky and was able to get an invite and only needed to purchase it. But I didn't since I was a broke ass college kid learning to get my diploma and not even money to buy this thing 😂. Still it was a great feeling but now I'm just ready to buy a new phone by myself. 10 years is such a long time and I'm glad I've grown a lot by then. Still this one takes the cake for my tech purchases 😂.
@SaiRam-dn4xw
28 күн бұрын
Yo're basically me back in 2014 🫂
@joelconolly5574
28 күн бұрын
@@SaiRam-dn4xw yup. Life was great then too. Feels like yesterday I graduated 😂
Bought mine from a guy off Craigslist. He had gotten a code from a friend. I loved that phone. It was really cool and it had this unique textured back cover. The red cord charger looked really cool. I should not have sold it to another guy when I wanted a new Samsung.
I literally had to catfish some dude with my gfs picture to get an invite haha
@astral6749
Ай бұрын
What a madlad lmfao
@The313dash
Ай бұрын
Bro developers were passing out invites on XDA 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@MrMegatron85
Ай бұрын
@@The313dash man I just couldn't get one. I panicked
Wow this was nostalgic. I remember randomly receiving an invite and proceeded to lose it after 24 hours because I didn't realize the invite code expired. Then bought the Never Settle shirt just to get another invite. And then flashing a new ROM every day. This phone was fun lol
loving these retrospective videos! I’ve been watching since your first one in XDA and it’s great to see these phones again. keep it up!
OnePlus grew up so fast. They were already big within 5 years. I have used almost all of them, although I was only able to own the OnePlus 6. For android fans who wanted a great value proposition, OnePlus was it.
Love these retro videos. Great job.
My last OnePlus was the 3t and I still think that's the best in hand feel of any phone I've ever owned. Wish they could find a way to do metal and wireless charging.
@siriusblack5187
11 күн бұрын
Nord 4 seems to be a step in the right direction. Although it doesn’t have a wireless charging
My first OnePlus was the 5. Upgrading from a Moto G2, it was a gamechanger in performance. I still remember how that phone was the staple for every youtuber's speed test comparison. I give the 5 to my mom when I got the 7 Pro, and even today the 5 is still powering strong like locomotive. Its screen has burn-ins and color shifts, and the battery isn't holding charge as it used to, but performance is still rock solid. That was one of the peak OnePlus era phones.
I have this device and is still working!
This was and still is my most treasured phone I ever owned, bought mine also on invite was part of a dev community on xda and the OnePlus forum back then. OnePlus these days have completely lost the charm and the character that they threw away ever since the OP3T came out. Nowadays it's obscenely expensive underwhelming phones and extremely awful cheap mid range phones that struggle with basic tasks. This was back when phones were fun and community and its feedback mattered. Thanks for the upload!
@reply_off
Ай бұрын
The 1+5T was good
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
@@reply_offnope 1 minus always sucked
@keithwoodcrest
Ай бұрын
Stinking loved my 3t. Really enjoyed the 5t, 6t and 8t, too, but kinda lost interest after that. Really don't like the camera layout
always thank you for this kind of videos, it’s nostalgic 😅
Knew the exact Cartman quote and South Park episode you were about to refrence as soon as you said, "Cartman school of business" LOL 😂
I bought two when it came out. I still have a one plus one brand new in its original factory sealed box. It was a game changer at the time
As a former OnePlus fanboy, I can attest to the brand's evolution and its impact on loyal users. The original OnePlus One left an indelible impression, particularly with its unique sandstone back cover. This distinctive texture, reminiscent of 60-grit sandpaper, provided an unparalleled tactile experience that sadly didn't persist in later models. OnePlus consistently delivered solid build quality and reliable performance throughout its early iterations. The OnePlus 7T, my last purchase from the brand, continued this tradition of dependability. However, as OnePlus shifted its strategy and increased prices, many long-time fans, myself included, began to explore other options. Despite moving to a Samsung device, I still hold OnePlus in high regard. The brand has never produced a subpar phone, and its devices have always been trustworthy companions. While OnePlus may have departed from its initial "flagship killer" positioning, its products remain impressive. My potential for a return to OnePlus is all down to a significant price reduction and once again proving to the the flagship killer, ON PRICE that is.
Got the invite for the OPO through the Paranoid Android ROM G+ page. I had just purchased the Nexus 5 a few months before and was happy, but was really intrigued with the phone. It was everything I loved about the N5 but at least 3x better. Better camera, better speakers, better screen, better build quality, better everything. I never replaced that phone. I actually repaired it when I upgraded to the Nexus 6P and still used it until I sold the 6P and got the OP3T. That was the last OP phone I bought. It was a good one to go out on. I think I still have it somewhere running LineageOS for microG.
Big love Alex, many thanks. Kindest regards, Richard U.K
Man, it was such a great phone and great time for phones! My brother had one, with the bamboo back. Then I got it, as my Nexus 5 wasn't cutting it with 2GB of RAM and that one extra gig made a big difference. Then I used the phone for starlapses as for some reason setting the focus to infinity was actually infinity. I never expected this from a Oneplus.... It's still used today, as a Spotify connect player and can last more than a day streaming over wifi.
Damn 10 years. I owned a OnePlus One, OnePlus 3T, OnePlus 6T, OnePlus 8 pro and now the OnePlus Open. What a time.
I’d love for this kind of aesthetic to come back… lowkey camera array, sleek no nonsense design, back fingerprint sensor, beefy battery
@ikuturso7570
Ай бұрын
Yes please. Just make it smaller (sub 5 inch @ 16:9) for me.
One plus 12 is still top specs, less price and never settle attitude with their crazy charging speeds and cooling technology, compare it with current gen flagships like S24 series or Iphone 15 series.
I was one of those people who had the chance to buy this at the time, one of the best phone I've had at that time, still have it
Can't believe its been 10 years... Remember when it first came out and I really wanted it cause of that sandstone back and minimal software. But I loved my Htc M7 enough to end up not getting. Plus the design of the laser bodied M8 was tempting me too.
I remember buying the now forgotten oneplus x. So sleek and premium for the price. To this day probably the best value in a phone I've ever gotten.
Didn't know anything about one plus till 2021 I had a nord n10 and ran square home launcher I really loved that phone So smooth
I had the OnePlus one. Used to hang out in the forums every day. Good times. It had that textured sandstone back too.
I still have my one plus one with the sandstone version. I wish the modern android phones have outdoor mode to increase the display brightness even with the screen brightness maxed out in manual mode. I always used and always enabled outdoor mode to increase the display brightness on my one plus one. The older android phones during the era of the micro usb era had android phones with outdoor mode to increase the screen brightness. It sucks that the newer phones don't have outdoor mode as a settings that can be toggled on and off like it used to be with the older android phone. I used to outdoor mode 24 /7 even indoors with the display brightness maxed out with. I would still enable outdoor for the max display brightness maxed out 24/7 even indoors if it was available on newer phones even with oled displays with dark mode always off and auto brightness turned off in manual brightness mode maxed out. I would even risk burn in on all oled displays since I already have burn in issues with oled displays. All the oled displays that I use already have burn in issues because I treat all displays the same whether they are oled and non oled displays.
Man I miss these days when the modding communities were strong and so many phones were coming out. I know there are a lot of phones now, but just something about those days were better. I also loved flashing phones to Boost mobile. It's just not the same.
I went from the OnePlus One to the OnePlus 7T (which im typing this on). The Oneplus One was my favorite phone ever (close with nexus 4/5).
my ever first oneplus phone was the 6, then the 7 pro, then the 8 pro, then the 7t pro mclaren, then the 9 pro. Opting for the 12 now. The best one, however, was the 7t pro mclaren, hands down.
I miss old OnePlus
DANG...!!!! Its been 10 years now ??????
The invite system is the reason I just completely ignored the Oneplus One. I did get one later second-hand, but I'm never lining up or playing games to buy a product.
I'd love to see a quick tutorial of you flashing Lineage on this thing
I remember getting an invite code and buying this after breaking my Nexus 4. Traveled a lot with it and took a lot of decent pictures. I remember downloading the Pixel camera apk and the color OS camera apk to get better quality out of it. I had the sandstone black, silk white, and bamboo back for my OPO. Would swap the backs regularly but usually stayed with the white because of the slimmer frame. The speakers were very loud as well. I had downloaded a mod to increase the earpiece volume and get better stereo sound from them. Ended up selling it to a friend once i upgraded. I believe he sold it but Im not too sure. I wish i had kept it
The time when One Plus really were flagship killers.
I had the Oneplus 5 and 7 pro which I would say was the last true Oneplus phone. Something about the current Oneplus, just isn’t as compelling as the old never settle Oneplus.
Revolutionary Device❤
I still have my OnePlus One and it Still Works just Fine. 😊
Got the One second-hand and kept it for two years. Best phone I had. I only got rid of it because it was the Chinese version and sadly didn't support 4G in my country.
10 years damn
they settled!
@jamescassar5348
Ай бұрын
They really haven't. I have the OnePlus 12. It's basically 500-700 cheaper than the most expensive iPhone and latest Xiaomi and Samsung flagships. THAT is value for money
@rushfortacos
Ай бұрын
@@jamescassar5348 they did for a while and got a reputation drop rightfully. Only this gen has turned things around.
@chieflingco
26 күн бұрын
You should see the 11 and 12 series. They most definitely didn't settle. My OnePlus 11 running smooth after having it for a year. Battery is still amazing after using and abusing the 100w charging
Damn Alex, how you hijacked Pocketnow from XDA?🤣
Loved that phone.
I remember!!!
Oneplus was once fun. Nothing and CMF are the new Oneplus. They're fun, creative and don't break the bank.
Nice
I got a 1+ on the invite, then a 3 ,now a 1st gen nord and about to buy a 10 pro :)
@zeerikraza3771
Ай бұрын
Don't buy the 10 pro I'm currently using it and the battery is just terrible.
So much for Never Settle 😁
Loved my One+1... but the One+2 disappointed a bit!
They settled!
Can we file a petition to bring back sandstone black Oneplusone had ❤😢
Also the Oneplus One was a rebranded Oppo Find 7.
waooo
funny enough i dropped my oneplusone while on a rollar coaster. Fell out of my pocket never found it.
I miss op7 🎉🎉
Oh my gosh OnePlus also decade now Samsung oppo vivo and OnePlus these are the future of peak mobile industry after nokia i will hate for this but its my opinion
Oneplus peaked at oneplus 7t. Since then it went down hill fast. The 8 wasnt that great the 9 pro was ok and now with the 12R they seem to be getting back into the flagship killer motto
I was mad back then i couldn't get a code l😂😂😂
OnePlus 7 pro was their peak, the brand has died after that slowly
Loved the story of Nintendo going to cyanogen to develop the OS for the Switch and cyanogen basically laughed in their faces. So Nintendo did it them selves and the switch became one of the highest selling game devices in history and cyanogen goes out of business 🥴
Now they're just another of those throwaway chinese clone.
I only bought OP5 from them..
Damn, i miss that Never Settle atitudine, i'll never buy OnePlus again....
What ever happened to cyanogen?
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
It went down the toilet where it belongs
Watching this video with same brand and a lots of green lines
Where's Jaime????
@my1mcfc
Ай бұрын
He's crying cuz italy lose to swiss😢
@RanjanManohar
Ай бұрын
Isn't he Spanish?
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
Not here obviously duh stop crying
Where is Mr Taco Man?
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
Next to Lasagba Man
Watching this on my Nothing 2 phone.
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
Nothing because it has nothing worth on it
Second best phone of all-time IMO is the OnePlus 7 Pro. Title goes to hTc One M7.
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
Nope my S22 Ultra way better
Assalamualaikum... Salam Zulhijjah... I'm from Johor, Malaysia.. First..m
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
No little girl you never ever was first and would be disqualified if you ever was cause you got nothing to say just a little baby looking for attention
@DENVEROUTDOORMAN
Ай бұрын
We don't care where you from and don't want to know your name
It lives on in the nothing phones.
@chieflingco
26 күн бұрын
No it's not lol. Carl pei specifically said that nothing is doing something completely different than what oneplus is.
OnePlus really fell off. Now it's just your typical Chinese phone.
@ikuturso7570
Ай бұрын
True. Also, their model range is a mess first there was "Oneplus", then "OP Nord", "OP Nord CE' and nowaday even "OP Nord CE lite". And naturally that last bottom of the range has msrp greater than OP1.
@H4554Nx
Ай бұрын
I digress I got the OP12 it's a beast
@nahush6299
29 күн бұрын
Not really, I have seen several people dunk on Chinese phones but their flagships are on par & even exceed flagships of Western companies in certain regards. If you don't like Chinese phones, that's on you, doesn't make the phone bad. Especially phones like OP12 that are absolute value for money & are any day better than similarly priced phones like Pixel 8, S24, etc.
1 minus...trah garbage phone for cheapies
Because I love it, I bought two of them. When it launched ❤
Still have mine but the screen is broken. 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹