OnePlus 3 Now OFFICIAL

OnePlus' third handset emerges as the...OnePlus 3! Here's EVERYTHING you need to know -- release date, specs, price

Blimey that was fast. No less than four days after confirming the plans on its official web forum, OnePlus has pushed out its promised update for the OnePlus 3 designed to improve and optimise RAM performance and add an sRGB mode for the display, plus, it has been revealed, there are a few other tweaks as well. OnePlus said it would deliver the update in response to criticism and reports that RAM management was lacklustre - video evidence had emerged that showed the Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE, with 2GB less RAM, was much faster thanks to RAM effiiencies. The 396MB update, which brings Oxygen OS up to version 3.2.0(build designation: OnePlus3Oxygen_16_1607012342) is now rolling out to OnePlus 3 units and introduces the following changes (via):

• Enabled sRGB mode in developer options
• Improved RAM management
• Improved GPS performance
• Enhanced audio playback quality
• Updated custom icon packs
• Fixed some issues with notifications
• Improved camera quality/functionality
• Fixed some issues in Gallery
• Latest Google security patches
• Fixed bugs in Clock/Music apps

Update: ARGH! We spoke to soon! According to a statement from OnePlus on July 5 the firm has pulled the 3.2.0 update due to reports from users that many were experiencing new issues after installing the software build. The original plan was to complete the rollout in 48 hours, but the firm has been forced to backtrack and pause further updating, OnePlus said that some users had encoutnered problems with the update process but has not yet disclosed what kind of performance issues the update may cause once installed.

"Due to some reports of issues while upgrading, we are temporarily stopping the rollout to investigate. We will start back up as soon as possible," the firm said in an edit to its original announcement post on the company forums.

The OnePlus 3 essentially represents the Chinese OEM kicking its plans for world dominance into the next gear; the firm came out of nowhere a few years ago with an innovative approach to marketing and consumer interaction, an intriguing distribution model, and a handset with a relatively low price combined with decent specs. Over time it's become apparent that this was an experimental, testing-the-water phase, and now with the launch of the OnePlus 3 we're looking at the kid gloves being taken off.

Why's that? Well the limited number, invite-only distribution model has been cast aside - OnePlus has ramped up production of the OnePlus 3 to offer many more units to eager consumers, and it has teamed up with Amazon to sell the phone exclusively via the world-leading online retailer's webstores.

And rivals should be worried. They should be worried because OnePlus has also dialled up on its spec-to-price ratio offering a metal-build, premium-grade, flagship-level spec smartphone at a MID-RANGE price point - a mere £309 for the base model.

OnePlus handsets are cheaper than ones from nearly everybody else, but they have specs, design and features to go toe-to-toe with the best of them. The company saves cash by virtue of its corporate composition; it doesn’t spend millions on marketing, it controls the production and amount of its phones and, most importantly, it has built a hugely strong community around its brand.

We won’t know how much damage the entry of the OnePlus 3 will do until a few weeks after its release, but given the hype around the handset and the fact that it is significantly cheaper than 99.9% of Android phones today, it is very likely the OnePlus 3 will make HUGE waves in the Android space during 2016/17.

“JD.com is China's largest online retailer,” reports Phone Arena, “and is one of three selling the recently unveiled OnePlus 3 in the country over the internet. The company held a flash sale today for the new "flagship killer," and the phone sold out in just under ten minutes. The number of units offered was not revealed, but we can tell you that the phone was priced at the equivalent of $379 USD.”

OnePlus is really drilling down on this handset as well. The company confirmed that it will no longer sell its OnePlus X, a smaller, more cost effective phone that didn’t seem to catch on quite as well as its bigger brother, the OnePlus 2.

The OnePlus One sold well. The OnePlus 2 broke the million mark. But it is the OnePlus 3 that will put the firm on a similar footing to some of its larger peers in the Android Kingdom. The hype and interest around this phone should equate to very impressive sales and now that we know what the phone is all about, BIG sales seem even more likely — even more so when you factor there is NO invite system anymore.

So what’s the OnePlus 3 all about? Let’s take a look at what was announced shall we?

OnePlus 3 UK Price Hike Incoming Off Back Of Brexit & Falling Pound?

If you were planning to buy a OnePlus 3 then some new info may give you pause for thought. According to a statement the firm posted on its own webpage, the handset may see a price hike in the UK in response to shifts in the economy, specifically the dropping value of the pound, since the announcement of the result of the Brexit EU Referendum. With the British public voting to leave the EU, and the government and markets in dissaray, OnePlus said there was a "worrying downward trend of the GBP."

To clarify the situation, OnePlus said, "Our margins have always been thin, and our expenses are mainly in USD. This being the case, sudden drops such as the one that the Pound has recently experienced could have a direct impact on our prices."

"If you’re thinking of buying, we recommend doing so sooner rather than later," it added. The current price tag remains £309.

OnePlus 3 in RED In The Works

The OnePlus 3 is now readily available without invite from OnePlus. Available in two colours at present — Graphite, and the upcoming Soft Gold version — but it looks as if OnePlus could be adding in another variant as well. And that variant is a RED one.

As you can see, the OnePlus 3 in red looks rather dashing. The image was picked up on Chinese social networks but it is unclear when it will be made officially available — if at all. Red is OnePlus’ signature colour after all, so the inclusion of it into its most recent handset’s bodywork isn’t all that odd.          The handset was also spotted on OnePlus’ webpage, adding further weight to assertions this variant will drop very soon. It has since been removed, making us think it was A) a mistake, or, more likely, B) an self-made leak designed at testing reactions to a red version and getting a bit of free press in the process.

Either way, we’re sold. So hurry up and make it official, OnePlus!

OnePlus 3: Design

OnePlus' previous handsets; the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2, and OnePlus X, have all seen the manufacturer experimenting with a range of materials, including ceramic, and interchangeable backs made from everything from wood and bamboo, through to Kevlar, leather, and even denim. A full metal build, however, has been absent from the firm's line-up, and given the current lay of the land in the mobile market that's clearly something which needed addressing. Enter the OnePlus 3, the first OnePlus flagship crafted into a premium aluminium unibody.

While the handset looks very different from previous editions, there's no getting round the fact that it also mirrors design features from rival OEMs. Most prominently the HTC 10. Still, if you're going to imitate something at least pick something that looks good, right? The OnePlus 3, derivative or not, is one hell of a striking bit of aesthetic design. The phone is cut from a single block of aluminium too, so there should be no creaks and groans when operating it. Exact measurements are 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm and it weighs in at 158g on the scales.

The display is a 5.5in Optic AMOLED panel with a 1080p resolution (more on that later) and is protected by Gorilla Glass 4 reinforced glass. Below this is a fingerprint scanner for Android Pay and secure access. The bezel around the display is tiny as well at just 7.75mm and OnePlus has kept the button configuration for the volume rocker and alert silencer the same.

OnePlus 3 "Soft Gold" Colour Option On Hold Until July

Gooooooooooollllllddddd. Yes, it's all the rage in the smartphone world, but OnePlus took to Twitter to confirm that the "Soft Gold" color option for the OnePlus 3 will not be available straight away. Nope, it's being delayed until July apparently. At present, if you go to the OnePlus store you'll only see the "Graphite" edition, but Carl Pei responded to consumer questions on the bird-themed social network saying the golden colour would come "some time in the later part of July". As well as being the "gold" option, "Soft Gold" is also the only edition with a white front fascia, while the "Graphite" grey/silver metal model has a black front fascia. We have a feeling OnePlus anticipated the gold/white version being more popular and is delaying it in order to produce more units.

OnePlus 3 Display

The display, if you’re being picky, is the one area where the OnePlus 3 falls short of its Android peers. The panel is a 1080p setup, which gives you around 401ppi — the same as the iPhone 6s Plus, but way behind the likes of the HTC 10, Galaxy S7 and LG G5.

I say picky because 1080p displays don’t really bother me all that much; they’re friendlier to batteries, still pack enough punch and are for the most part still very much fit for showing most content crisply and cleanly — even when a lot of handsets now use QHD panels.

OnePlus 3 Camera

OnePlus has leveraged Sony’s IMX298 sensor for its OnePlus 3, bringing a 16MP sensor with 1.12µm pixel size to the 2016 Android phone party. You also get Optical Image Stabilisation, an f/2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus, making this one hell of a competitive setup given its exceptionally low £309 price tag.

Like other BIG Android flagships, the OnePlus 3’s camera also packs in plenty of features: auto HDR, something called Dynamic Denoise - a noise reduction technology - raw image file support, 4K video at 30fps and 720p slow motion at 120fps are all present and accounted for.

The front-facing shooter, a Sony IMX179 this time, is an 8MP setup with 1.4µm pixels and an f/2.0 lens, which should equate to very good performance, especially in low light.

OnePlus 3: Specs & Hardware

THIS is where the OnePlus 3 REALLY comes into its own. You get 6GB of RAM as standard. That’s right: SIX! Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 CPU, up to 64GB of storage, dual-SIM support, all the usual LTE modems and Wi-Fi features, a 3,000mAh battery and a very compelling camera setup, both on the front and back.

And you get ALL that for just £309. I know, that’s more than the OnePlus 2 and WAY more than the OnePlus One. But just look at what you’re getting here — this is a hugely impressive phone and it costs £40 less than Apple’s 4in iPhone SE, which is effectively a 2012 iPhone 5s on steroids.

OnePlus 3 Release Date & Price

The OnePlus 3 will be up for sale from the OnePlus website from 20:00 BST on June 14. It will cost £309 and THERE IS NO INVITE SYSTEM.

“The invite system has a special place in our history,” said OnePlus on its official blog. “When we first started out, our team was incredibly small. We had no idea what the demand of the OnePlus One would look like. We also weren’t fans of flash sales, where there’s a risk of everything selling out immediately, forcing fans to wait indefinitely. To address this, we designed the invite system to give customers a chance to purchase a phone as soon as we had inventory ready.”

Since then OnePlus has grown as a company, both in terms of size, market presence and, no doubt, financial clout. For this reason — and likely a few others it hasn’t mentioned — OnePlus is now able to operate outside its safety-net invite system. And this is VERY good news for those eager to pick up the new handset right away.

“With the OnePlus 3,” OnePlus added, “we’re officially saying goodbye to invites. It’s a big step for us as a company, our fans, and fellow tech enthusiasts. After sending out millions of invites over the past two years, it’s hard to not think back to the early days and how far we’ve come. We’re proud to have reached a point where we feel confident in making our new device available without invites from day one.”