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THERE IS NO shortage of cheap Android phones out there on the market so anyone making one has to make a serious effort if they want to stand out.
One which is planning to make an impact is OnePlus, which has launched the third edition of its more budget-friendly smartphone range.
The Chinese startup made a name for itself by offering a phone with close to premium components for the price of a mid-range device and has a very dedicated fanbase because of it.
The 5.5-inch device costs €399 and comes with a 1080p display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 64GB of storage (but no expandable storage), a 16MP camera, 6GB of RAM, and a smaller 3,000mAh battery.
The design of it does take inspiration from the likes of Apple, HTC and Huawei with an aluminum body and home button doubling as a fingerprint reader.
The specs are higher than what you would usually expect from a budget phone, but it seems to have learnt from the mistakes of its previous phones. It runs on a custom version of stock Android called OxygenOS, which offers minor tweaks to Google’s operating system.
Probably the biggest change is how it has ditched the invite system. Previous phones from OnePlus required you to sign up to a waiting list or get codes from friends so you could order it – which made getting one so frustrating.
While it was only announced last night, a number of reviews have emerged. The overall consensus is that while it has its flaws, it’s one of the best phones in that price range.
CNET said while it won’t satisfy everyone, it is an “amazing and affordable” device thanks to stable software and a solid camera.
I try to remain skeptical of anything that garners as much hype as the OnePlus phones do. Following its first two flagships, OnePlus cultivated a loyal fanbase. But lo and behold, the OnePlus 3 lives up to its promise.
WIRED’s review was more considered, saying that it’s a great phone if you’re looking for horsepower, but not if you’re looking for consistency.
The OnePlus 3 won’t disappoint you. And if horsepower and customizability are you top priorities, you should get one, regardless of your budget. But if you care more about fit and finish, you probably can find something that better suits your needs. As fun as 6GB of RAM sounds, I’d rather not worry about how warm my phone gets. As pitch black as that display gets, I’d rather not get a constant reminder of the screen protector.
The Verge was more impressed, saying that while it had its flaws, OnePlus has learnt the lessons from its last phone.
The OnePlus isn’t perfect… depending on your priorities, it might not have everything on your wish list. But it’s a significant step forward for OnePlus, in terms of both quality of the product and how you’re able to buy it. It’s also a step forward for the industry as a whole: it’s a device that keeps pace with much more expensive products while costing much less. The OnePlus 3 is the rare kind of phone that I can recommend without reservations.
While Engadget said it “represents the best balance of price and performance you can find”.
You can certainly do better if you’re fine with spending more money, and there are better deals to be found if you’re not a stickler for high-end performance. The careful balance OnePlus has struck here is impressive, though, and while the OnePlus 3 isn’t for everyone, anyone looking for high quality without the corresponding price should start their search here.
Another one to keep in mind should you be searching for a new device.
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Good.
@Arya: but exactly what does it mean? Very non specific article
If you have to subsidise your employees wages with their own tips then maybe the restaurant business isn’t for you.
Seriously? You pay me out of your own pocket what we agreed on the contract. Tips are extra and should remain extras based on customer’s willing for providing them a service they like. Period.
They should just ban tips. I never appreciated how annoying they are until I went to Japan
@thephantomshit: care to elaborate?
@G Manning: Tipping is not customary in Japan. In fact, it can be considered rude and insulting in many situations
@G Manning: they don’t like tips at all. Seems weird at first but then you appreciate how relaxing every transaction becomes. Just pay the bill and that’s it. No head scratching and trying to determine how good the service was and coming up with a “fair” assessment.
@thephantomshit: Totally agree and failing that, i.e.outlawing tipping, clients should refuse to tip.
Tipping is demeaning for both the tipper (encouraging an ” I’m better than you” attitude) and for the receiver (encouraging “servility” and inter-colleague competition to attract attention).
Furthermore, kitchen/cleaning staff rarely receive tips although no meal would ever be served without their work.
I call for a total boycott of tipping by customers.
And if management doesn’t shape up with fair wages for all staff, a total boycott of that particular establishment.
@thephantomshit: oh ok, thanks
Tips are only for exceptional service… not to be expected as the norm.
Proper order! Not my duty to pay wages on top of already extortionate costs of eating out.
Service charges should be made illegal! It is outrageous that restaurants charge services charges especially just because you are a group of more than 6 or something stupid like that. It’s not as if you have a choice to collect the food yourself. Part of paying restaurant prices is that the food is served! Also tipped is a joke. I just don’t believe in tipping! Iike why should some jobs get tips?
@Dino Manning: Larger tables are much more awkward to serve, to cook for and can slow down the normal service to other tables, so a service charge is definitely fair so long as it’s not excessively large.
In Ireland tipping isn’t expected but it is a nice gesture if you did receive notably good service or the staff went out of their way to meet a request. Minimum wage workers more often than not work as hard as those in higher paid jobs and tipping is acknowledgement of their hard work.
@John Black: the price of food is madness nowadays a table of six is a win for owner without any charge it’s just greed
As long as they are declared to revenue
@Padraig O’Goire: how’s that gonna work?
@G Manning: Dual taxation like anyone else who runs their own business and works in the private or public sector.
@Padraig O’Goire: That’s another very valid point Padraig.Tipping constitutes a stream of “undeclared income” which is not subject to taxes and which increases tax avoidance/evasion. In my view(see above) it’s a despicable custom.
Dare you not tip a taxi driver or hairdresser! Love to have confidence not to tip. I never got tip on my 50 years work
ban practice altogher.
Bus drivers never get tips
@Mary Lyons: I don’t tip taxi drivers or hairdressers,but in a restaurant I always tip for good service and make sure it’s discreet
@Mary Lyons: I have never tipped a hairdresser or barman/barmaid. Never. I have occasionally tipped a taxi-driver if i was in a hurry and couldn’t wait for a few pence change – e.g. fare is 10 euros 30 and i hand him/her 10 euros 50, saying that’s OK
@Pete mc pete: I use MyTaxi for all taxi journeys and the Tip is built into the price. Barbers get €20 no matter what the price is, So the less the charge the better the tip.
Please tell me a restaurant that does this and I’ll put their windows in.
@Adolf Galland: Why would you reward them with new windows?
I always tip a minimum of 10% in Ireland. I’m used to travelling in the States and eating out there where tips are anything from 15% to 25%. 10% here feels like a let off
@Elizabeth Sheehan O’Reilly: in the US the tip is *part* of the waiter’s salary. In Europe la different.
I said it once before the way to stop this from happening is name and shame the establishment. And why would any person in the service industry work for a place like that. Withdraw labour too.
About time
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