OnePlus 5, 'The Best Sub-$500 Phone You Can Buy', Launched (arstechnica.com)

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OnePlus 5, 'The Best Sub-$500 Phone You Can Buy', Launched (arstechnica.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday June 20, 2017 @05:25AM from the new-phones dept.

From an ArsTechnica article: Smartphone companies don't seem to care about cultivating a true "lineup" of phones. If you aren't spending at least $650, most companies will offer you anonymous, second-rate devices that seem like they've had no thought put into them. Enter the OnePlus 5, which continues the company's tradition of offering an all-business, high-end smartphone for a great price. Today OnePlus is both announcing the OnePlus 5 and lifting the review embargo on the device, which we've had for about two weeks now. $479 gets you an aluminum-clad pocket computer with a 2.45GHz Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a 3,300mAh battery. You still get OnePlus' physical 3-way alert switch, a USB-C port, capacitive buttons with a front-mounted fingerprint reader, and a headphone jack. The phone has two cameras on the back: one 16MP main camera and one 20MP telephoto camera, arranged in the most iPhone-y way possible. Besides the $479 version, there's a more expensive $539 version, which ups the RAM from 6GB to a whopping 8GB, adds another 64GB of storage for a total of 128GB, and changes the color from "Slate Grey" to "Midnight Black." Further reading: OnePlus 5 review: as fast and smooth as Google Pixel, without the price tag - The Guardian; OnePlus 5 review: the me-too phone - The Verge; OnePlus 5 Review - Wired.

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OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:28 · Score: 1

Question for OnePlus owners: does this outfit keep the device OS current?
1. Re:OnePlus by bluefoxlucid · 2017-06-20 05:45 · Score: 2
  
  I don't know; I'll skip the 3t (I have a OnePlus One) and wait for the OnePlus Five to get Lineage OS anyway. I don't play well with vendor OSes.
  When I had the OPO, they had regular updates until they dropped CyanogenOS for OxygenOS. The default OS was also very clean, although it pestered me to buy some themes with a non-removable notification (themes needed updates, which required a Cyanogen account or some such rubbish, which I wasn't into). Not quite straight CyanogenMod, but not the crapload of garbage as on regular phones.
  I think my last-run OnePlus One might be dying. Not sure. It seems to have a tad bit of trouble with bluetooth sometimes, and is slow about Wifi. I can't tell if that's CyanogenMod, hardware, or something else without another phone to compare to. The plastic part of the encasing body is chipping and fraying along the connection to the bezel as well.
  It's still an overall solid phone, despite being four generations out of date. I'm a little annoyed at it being only two years old and the 5 is coming out. The OnePlus Two is as of July, 2015; I got the OnePlus One around March, 2015. I pay about $160/year for unlimited voice and SMS, 2GB LTE+ on T-Mobile's network, one line; at two years's replacement, the phone is costing me $175 on top of that. At three it'd be $120. So long as it doesn't give out on me, it's still workable for now; this phone is still of a spec I'd buy new.
  I'd actually be interested in a phone with half the dimensions, the same screen resolution, and a stylus.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
2. Re:OnePlus by parallel_prankster · 2017-06-20 05:45 · Score: 2
  
  There is info in the article exactly about this. They've done a good job about updating mostly however, for one of their phones they walked back on their promise to update to Android 7.0 within a year. So, basically with anyone else other than Google, cant really expect much regarding OS updates. They do have a strong community though.
3. Re:OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:54 · Score: 0
  
  I recently updated my OPO to Lineage, and current release (nightlies) is much better than the last CM nightly (12/25/2016). I had many weird issues with that one.
  I presently get 3-4 days between charges on Lineage, and have only had 1 occasion since install that I needed to reboot the phone because of funny business. I'm sticking with my OPO for a while.
4. Re:OnePlus by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 05:58 · Score: 2
  
  That was the OnePlus Two (2015), they walked back support for Android 7. I have a OnePlus One with the stock Cyanogen still on it, and it's sitting at 6.0.1. The One launched in 2014 and I've been using it since without major issues since the first major update (the first update fixed several problems I had with the phone). It still feels fast and responsive, although it's running an older version of Android at this point. I never felt a need to upgrade the phone, but I may need to give the 5 a shot and sell mine.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
5. Re:OnePlus by Archangel+Michael · 2017-06-20 06:00 · Score: 1
  
  I have a 3T, it is a very nice phone. The Vendor OS is very close to stock Android, and the enhancements aren't in the way. I've had the OPO before, and a Nexus 6P, and the 3T is way better than those, by every measure. battery life is awesome. Fast Charge is amazing. 1/2 hour charging will last me 10 hours actual use.
  I am hoping the 5 is as good as it seems.
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
6. Re:OnePlus by bluefoxlucid · 2017-06-20 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  I haven't been below 70% charge in years.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
7. Re:OnePlus by SirSlud · 2017-06-20 08:43 · Score: 1
  
  I installed LineageOS on my OnePlus one, works like a charm.
  
  --
  "Old man yells at systemd"
8. Re:OnePlus by Rob+Y. · 2017-06-20 09:50 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, OnePlus's biggest selling point is their track record on updates. They're actually not all that great on updates, but they do use mostly stock Android, and they are good about letting you install 3rd party Android ROMs - which is the next best thing.
  My issue with this is, sure the OP5 is now the best $500 smartphone you can buy. But who wants a $500 smartphone? Last year saw a whole crop of $400 phones - led off by the OnePlus 3 and followed up by the ZTE Axon 7, the Huawei Honor 8 and others. All at roughly the same $400 price point. The OP3 was probably the best of the bunch - again, if only for their stock Android OS. But as they take their success as an invitation to move up the food chain toward 'true flagship' pricing, they're getting out of their depth. The best $400 phones are still OP's midrange category-mates from last year.
  But at $500, you might consider stretching your budget and going for the next Pixel where you get actual OS upgrades from Google. Or sticking with the $400 phones and dealing with their dodgy OS's. I got an Axon 7 for $350 last November, and I'm pretty happy with it. ZTE has it on it's oddball version of Android 7.1.1, but it's still technically 'current'. And if they stop providing upgrades, it's still possible to load LineageOS on the thing. I hope OnePlus doesn't end up redefining midrange to be this new $500 price point and ruin what had become a real bargain point with lots of competition.
  
  --
  Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
9. Re:OnePlus by nephilimsd · 2017-06-20 10:04 · Score: 1
  
  I have a OnePlus 3t and just this weekend got an OS update for security and enhanced features regarding BlueTooth and Android Auto.
10. Re:OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 13:29 · Score: 0
  
  Thanks for this comment. I've got a OnePlus 3, and while I love the ease of flashing upgrades to it, my biggest bugbear is how bad it is with Bluetooth. Their upgrade notification did not mention that they had put more work into Bluetooth - looks like I'll need to upgrade (sigh... my other bugbear with the phone was I could not run an adblocking hosts file because the root partition is mount ro - fixing this is more work then I like - maybe I need to write a script to do it for each new release!)
11. Re:OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 23:35 · Score: 0
  
  I've had my OnePlus 3 for over a year at this point and they've been reasonably quick with updates. Didn't have to wait long to get Nougat. Seems like OOS updates come pretty regularly. In fact, I recently received an update that seems to improved my battery life and fixed some bluetooth issues I was having. If my OnePlus 3 wasn't so good still I'd be thinking about the OP5 but I feel like I'm going to have the OP3 for at least 2 more years (maybe more).
12. Re:OnePlus by samwichse · 2017-06-23 04:50 · Score: 1
  
  My wife's OPO is now running Lineage. That stock Cyanogen hasn't been supported since Cyanogen went belly up (but it was right until then).
  The Lineage update was fairly seemless (except having to hold a button combo after flashing the recovery image or it wipes and replaces with stock again, that part was annoying to figure out, but now fixed forever).
  Because Lineage is just an extension/fork of Cyanogen, support for the OPO is flawless under it.
13. Re:OnePlus by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-23 05:24 · Score: 1
  
  Probably a stupid question, but did you have to copy all of the data back to the phone after installing?
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
14. Re:OnePlus by samwichse · 2017-06-26 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, unfortunately I did have to recopy everything.
  As soon as you unlock the bootloader, the phone is wiped.
pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:34 · Score: 0

not even an SD card slot. my $40 flip phone has that, ffs, and has 20x the battery life.
1. Re:pathetic, actually. by alex67500 · 2017-06-20 05:37 · Score: 1
  
  One of the 2 SIM slots could be used as an SD Card reader in the past. Don't know about this one though.
  And really, what do you keep on your phone that doesn't fit on 100+GB of storage??
2. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:49 · Score: 0
  
  How do you copy files ifrom your computer onto your phone in the first place without an SD card slot? That MTP garbage doesn't work.
3. Re:pathetic, actually. by DontBeAMoran · 2017-06-20 05:55 · Score: 1
  
  I thought all non-iPhones were a USB storage device for computers?
  
  --
  #DeleteFacebook
4. Re:pathetic, actually. by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 05:59 · Score: 1
  
  You plug it in with a USB cable and set it to file copy mode instead of charge mode. I just did that last night on my OnePlus One to pull several videos from my phone to computer. It's not hard.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
5. Re:pathetic, actually. by ShanghaiBill · 2017-06-20 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  what do you keep on your phone that doesn't fit on 100+GB of storage??
  The point of a card slot is not having "extra" storage but having "removable" storage. I can pop out the card, edit the files on my laptop, or give it to a friend or co-worker.
  Also, my family photo album is way more that 100+ GB. I don't really need to carry all the photos and home-movies with me, but it is nice, and a 256GB MicroSD card costs less than $40, so why not?
6. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:03 · Score: 0
  
  Talk about a clumsy workaround.
7. Re:pathetic, actually. by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:04 · Score: 1
  
  Aside from that, one can also use Bluetooth. Or back up the phone's files on Google Drive, and then download it to the computer.
8. Re: pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:05 · Score: 0
  
  AirDroid?
9. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:14 · Score: 0
  
  Airdrop is not the killer feature you think it is. And files can be transferred via BT just as easily.
10. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:17 · Score: 0
  
  Not really, it's how most people do it, because plug/unplug a cable is quicker (on most phones) than taking out/putting back in the card.
11. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:40 · Score: 0
  
  yes its much more graceful to take everything, stream it to apple, let them scan it and send a copy to the NSA and download it back to your phone all over the internet than just using a usb cable and tapping the screen once
12. Re:pathetic, actually. by by+(1706743) · 2017-06-20 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  I recently installed this for getting files off of my phone. I ssh'd into my phone and rsync'd back to my computer, worked like a charm. Nexus 6P, not rooted.
13. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 07:03 · Score: 0
  
  You plug it in with a USB cable and set it to file copy mode instead of charge mode.
  That worked on Gingerbread, but the stupid MTP protocol they switched to in Ice Cream Sandwich makes this a lot harder.
14. Re:pathetic, actually. by Desler · 2017-06-20 07:57 · Score: 1
  
  I drag and drop files on to an iPhone or iPAd all the time. It's called iTunes File Sharing and doesn't require having to enable anything for it to work.
15. Re:pathetic, actually. by Overzeetop · 2017-06-20 08:00 · Score: 1
  
  AirDroid. Good wireless is as fast (or faster than) all but the most expensive uSD cards anyway. Android has a real, accessible file system so you're never really at a loss for transferring things onto, or off of, your phone.
  
  --
  Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
16. Re: pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:13 · Score: 0
  
  You guys have not had the pain of backing up 12gb of photos and videos after a year with a device. Personally I scp from my phone to a server but that doesn't excuse this week excuse of a solution.
17. Re:pathetic, actually. by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  Doesn't that require your files to go to iCloud?
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
18. Re:pathetic, actually. by bobbutts · 2017-06-20 08:23 · Score: 1
  
  $40 is not currently a realistic price for 256GB MicroSD card from a decent company. They're over $100 and closer to $150.
19. Re: pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:53 · Score: 0
  
  True, I backup daily. Automatically... Why wait for a year? I cannot think of a single use case.
20. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 09:02 · Score: 0
  
  The point of a card slot is not having "extra" storage but having "removable" storage. I can pop out the card, edit the files on my laptop, or give it to a friend or co-worker.
  Yes, this is very important. If only there was a way to transfer files between computer without a physical storage medium between. I mean, first we had punch cards and tape, then diskettes, then CD ROM and DVD. Now it's SD cards. One would think that somewhere along the line, someone might have thought about the idea of putting some wire between machines and transferring files that way. Heck, it could even have been designed so that there was a big network of wires, so you could practically transfer files to any machine on earth! If we're really gonna be wild, we could even imagine someone inventing something based on that radio magic Marconi and those other clever chaps started experimenting with recently, and then phones could have been included in this network as well! One could dream...
21. Re:pathetic, actually. by gaiageek · 2017-06-20 09:27 · Score: 1
  
  ... a 256GB MicroSD card costs less than $40, so why not?
  Either you're writing from the future, you have a special hookup, or you're talking about junk no-name "256GB" microSD cards that corrupt your data and aren't actually 256GB. No reputable (reliable) brand is selling 256GB microSD cards for less than $100.
  Maybe you meant 128GB, which would be more realistic.
  
  --
  www.gaiageek.com
22. Re:pathetic, actually. by ncc74656 · 2017-06-20 09:35 · Score: 1
  
  It's called iTunes File Sharing and doesn't require having to enable anything for it to work.
  
  It does require iTunes, though. If I want to move files on or off of my Android devices, I only need an OS with MTP support (or PTP, if you only want to pull pictures off).
  
  --
  20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
23. Re:pathetic, actually. by Teun · 2017-06-20 10:28 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed, this option works well on my One+3 (Android 7.1.1)
  But because I'm a Linux user I'm also blessed with KDE Connect that integrates the phone nicely with the file manager on the laptop.
  Another option that works is an OTG USB cable and a flash drive, I've even successfully had a 500GB 2.5"HD connected that way.
  
  --
  "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
24. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 10:51 · Score: 0
  
  How old is your computer? I just plug my Galaxy into my computer, then drag and drop like normal.
25. Re:pathetic, actually. by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 11:11 · Score: 1
  
  How's that clumsy?
  1. Plug the USB cable into the phone and computer.
  2. Pull down on the notification menu thing for the phone, click to change from "Charging" to one of the other options you want.
  3. Open the phone/folder on your computer and copy files.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
26. Re: pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 11:11 · Score: 0
  
  MTP does work everytime for me. Odds are it's a computer issue, not a phone issue.
  You could always use WiFi, BTW. Android is a reasonably flexible OS, so you are welcome explore it's possibilities.
27. Re:pathetic, actually. by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 11:13 · Score: 1
  
  Did you miss the part where I did this on a OnePlus One, which is not running Android 4? There were several options to choose from in the USB connection menu, I picked the one about just copying files. There was something else for media that I ignored, maybe that's what you're referring to.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
28. Re:pathetic, actually. by Cmdln+Daco · 2017-06-20 11:45 · Score: 1
  
  I paid $25 for a 128GB MicroSD last Black Friday. Granted it's from an unknown brand (Samsung).
29. Re:pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 14:13 · Score: 0
  
  Yep. No SD card slot, no replaceable battery and a low resolution screen makes this thing worse than my ageing G3.
  Also the screen is OLED, which means it will wear out over time whereas my IPS screen won't.
30. Re:pathetic, actually. by Caedite+Eos · 2017-06-20 17:43 · Score: 1
  
  Airdroid is the best way.
31. Re:pathetic, actually. by tehcyder · 2017-06-20 19:10 · Score: 1
  
  I paid $25 for a 128GB MicroSD last Black Friday.
  That does not mean that you can get a 256GB card for $50.
  
  --
  To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
32. Re: pathetic, actually. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-21 11:44 · Score: 0
  
  Syncthing
I have the original OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:36 · Score: 1

I'm ready to upgrade, though not in a hurry. It's been a great phone and is lightyears ahead of the garbage that Apple and Samsung are dumping into the market.
1. Re:I have the original OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:44 · Score: 1
  
  I have a oneplus 3. I loved it until the latest "security update" this past weekend. I've gotten 3 push notifications from OnePlus regarding the OnePlus 5 since then. There is no way to shut off these notifications - at least none that I have found.
  Other than that, I love the phone.
2. Re:I have the original OnePlus by Teun · 2017-06-20 10:31 · Score: 1
  
  I've not seen such notifications, just a mail.
  It might depend in which jurisdiction you are, I'm in the EU.
  
  --
  "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
3. Re:I have the original OnePlus by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 15:34 · Score: 0
  
  When it pops up in your notifications again, long press it and choose to disable notifications. That's standard on any Android v6.0 and up.
How much? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:41 · Score: 1

How much malware, spyware, and other surveillance software comes pre-installed?

2017:
Carrying around an electronic leash
Being this much of a dumb cuck
Paying out the ass for the privilege of being treated like trash
It's like you all WANT to be treated like convicts in prison, or animals in a zoo.
1. Re:How much? by DontBeAMoran · 2017-06-20 05:56 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Convicts don't want to be in prison.
  Animals don't want to be in a zoo.
  Therefore, we can conclude that these people's IQ is below both convicts and animals.
  
  --
  #DeleteFacebook
2. Re:How much? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:58 · Score: 1
  
  I comes with a Chinese version of CyanogenMod called OxygenOS. It comes preloaded with all kinds of Chinese state surveillance software, firmware, AND hardware, designed to steal as much information as possible and send it home to our future Chinese masters.
3. Re:How much? by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:05 · Score: 1
  
  I thought these phones have to be bought w/o any contract. In which case, you don't have any more spyware than what Google's built in by design
4. Re:How much? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:39 · Score: 0
  
  2017:
  Not understanding that spyware, malware, and other surveillance software now gets baked right into the firmware at the factory
  
  Do try to keep up, son.
5. Re: How much? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 07:30 · Score: 0
  
  s/Chinese/NSA/g
6. Re:How much? by Desler · 2017-06-20 08:00 · Score: 1
  
  What does a carrier contract have to do with anything? Samsung, HTC and LG phones can be bought off contract and yet still have preinstalled vendor crapware.
Verizon by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:43 · Score: 0

But does it work on the Verizon network?(I'm on a MNVO that uses the Verizon network, as AT&T's and Sprint's network sucks in my area, and T-Mobile....well their coverage doesn't even exist in my zip code.
I always liked OnePlus phones, but can't use then because they don't work on Verizon/Verizon-based MNVOs.
1. Re:Verizon by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 06:03 · Score: 2
  
  Here's the spec sheet, scroll down a bit to Connectivity and you'll find the supported bands. It shouldn't be hard to find out which bands a particular carrier uses.
  https://oneplus.net/5/specs
  One good thing about this phone, I think it's the first one that has a single edition instead of localized versions. With the 3, for example, you could pick North America or Europe/Asia, but not a single phone that supports all of those bands. It looks like they finally have a radio that supports all kinds of bands and a single edition of the phone.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
2. Re:Verizon by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  Verizon would have to pre-qualify any phones, and one can't buy an unloaded phone and just add a Verizon SIM to it. Reason being that any Verizon phone, aside from being 4G compatible, needs to be able to fall back on Verizon's 3G/2G services in areas that don't have 4G coverage. Same would be true of Sprint
  With Verizon, one's choices are the iPhones, the Pixel, the Galaxies and some Mot models.
3. Re:Verizon by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 13:56 · Score: 0
  
  The new HTC U11 I think might be the first of the Verizon LTE only phones that don't have the fallback to the older services. Verizon has supported VoLTE (HD Voice) for many years, if you happen to be in a spot with reliable Verizon LTE coverage the U11 will work.
  As far as I know Verizon uses LTE Band 13 as their primary band in most locations. The OnePlus phones don't support that, nor do they support the older 3G/2G services from Verizon.
Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by 0100010001010011 · 2017-06-20 05:44 · Score: 1

When smart phones first came out it was a gold rush to get a 'good enough' device. Looking back at photos from my early phones they were... terrible. The screen cracked if you looked at it. The OS was slow, feature lacking and had a long way to go.
Since then I've stopped buying the latest and greatest and transitioned to 1-2 cycle old products. I tried out a Note 5 and 6 but they really didn't seem that impressive over my Note 4. (As compared to say my Note 4 over my 2010 HTC).
The camera is as good as my old P&S. Accessories are cheap. They've been rooted and ROMs are available.
The same reason my laptop is a 2012 model. It still has decent performance, storage and memory and used costs a fraction of what a new one does.
1. Re:Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:11 · Score: 1
  
  I quite agree w/ this. I have an iPhone 7, an iPad mini 4 and a Verizon Ellipsis 10. They are the last devices I'll have, unless one either breaks down, or unless I give one of them to my sister, and therefore get a new one. The last couple of upgrades I did to the iToys was due to insufficient storage in both, but now that each has 128GB, I'm good to go. On the Ellipsis, it's still on Lollipop, but I have a 128GB SD card on that. The day I can get either M or N on it, I'd define the SD card as internal memory and the 16GB internal storage as external memory, and I'll be off to the races.
2. Re:Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:15 · Score: 0
  
  The same reason my laptop is a 2012 model. It still has decent performance, storage and memory and used costs a fraction of what a new one does.
  The MBP that my employer provided for me in 2014 is still as sufficient as ever. The iPhone 4s which I got as part of my carrier's plan, not so much. It still does the basics, which is all that I want it for. I don't really need the battery to last for more than a couple hours, so that is not an issue. But despite adding no apps in years, the storage is constantly maxed out, probably because:
  https://apple.slashdot.org/story/17/06/16/1649233/the-size-of-iphones-top-apps-has-increased-by-1000-in-four-years
  Oh, and of course it can not run any of the latest OS updates.
  Its inevitable that I will have to update to a new handset that blows my current 4s away in terms of speed, storage and battery capacity, just to eke out the same level of usefulness of my current phone during its 2010-11 heyday.
3. Re:Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:55 · Score: 0
  
  So the last devices you'll have just happen to be the latest and greatest models. Yeah, keep kidding yourself buddy.
4. Re:Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by squiggleslash · 2017-06-20 08:02 · Score: 1
  
  There's room for improvement, they just never concentrate on that with the arguable exception of speed and memory (RAM and storage), and on the latter what they add they take away (slightly more storage, but bye bye SD card slot...)
  I don't think any devices out there right now are "good enough", I use them because they're better than nothing, but for the most part I won't spend more than $100 on a device right now because slim, 6 hour battery life, keyboardless, unexpandable devices are not worth $600, no matter how many Bitcoins they can farm per century.
  
  --
  You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
5. Re:Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by drinkypoo · 2017-06-20 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  Yep. Anything with at least four cores and 2 GB of RAM is probably plenty fast enough to do everything anyone wants to do. The only exception is 3d gaming, which yes is a thing but frankly is not a big deal even for a lot of gamers. Playing a complex 3d game on a screen that size is pretty annoying. It seems to me that the really interesting battle is who can provide the most functionality for the least money, not who can most efficiently suck $500+ out of the pockets of fools.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
6. Re:Phones have been "good enough" for a while. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 13:47 · Score: 0
  
  I'm still running an HTC One M8 (2014) - Android 7.1.2 - I have an SD card in there for extra storage but I'm not really bumping up against the built in 32GB. I'm not seeing any real reason to upgrade. The next upgrade I do will probably be spurred by needing up stay compatible with radio technologies.
Give me a break by 110010001000 · 2017-06-20 05:45 · Score: 1, Funny

No one is going to buy a $479 Android phone.
1. Re:Give me a break by Archangel+Michael · 2017-06-20 05:57 · Score: 2
  
  Especially, when the option is a $700-900 iPhone!
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
2. Re:Give me a break by DontBeAMoran · 2017-06-20 05:57 · Score: 1
  
  I'd buy a $4.79 Android phone.
  
  --
  #DeleteFacebook
3. Re:Give me a break by bluefoxlucid · 2017-06-20 05:59 · Score: 1
  
  I'm surrounded by people with $800 Android phones.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
4. Re:Give me a break by The+Grim+Reefer · 2017-06-20 06:05 · Score: 1
  
  No one is going to buy a $479 Android phone.
  Yeah, and the iPod was going to be a flop too.
5. Re:Give me a break by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 06:06 · Score: 1
  
  Totally. That's why OnePlus went out of business in 2014 and definitely hasn't launched 6 phones. That $300 million in revenue in 2014, when they only had a single phone out, is fake news.
  Also, 640kb should be enough for everybody, and the iPod will never beat the Nomad.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
6. Re:Give me a break by geekmux · 2017-06-20 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  No one is going to buy a $479 Android phone.
  Due to the "only $19.95 a month!" hardware purchasing gimmicks built into a lot of cell contracts these days, what you meant to say is no one realizes they're already paying for a $479 Android phone...
7. Re:Give me a break by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:12 · Score: 1
  
  My sister bought a OnePlus 3 b'cos the iPhone 7 was outside her budget.
8. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:23 · Score: 0
  
  People are buying iPhones for even more than that, so why not?
9. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:43 · Score: 0
  
  I pulled a phone company on the phone company
  The LG-G6 is half off if you sign up now!
  ok, here's half up front, what's that do to my bill, -19.99$ per month for the next 3 years
  done
10. Re:Give me a break by Oswald+McWeany · 2017-06-20 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  Nice fishing, you reeled a few.
  That said, this does highlight something important; OnePlus started as an "affordable" solution for people wanting an almost premium phone but not wanting to pay the obscene prices of Samsung, LG, or Apple.
  At almost $500 this is outside the "affordable" bracket now and ventures into the premium phone territory they were differentiating themselves from.
  They're still cheaper than Samsung or Apple by a long way, but they're not "an almost premium phone at a decent price" anymore.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
11. Re:Give me a break by Powercntrl · 2017-06-20 07:15 · Score: 1
  
  Due to the "only $19.95 a month!" hardware purchasing gimmicks built into a lot of cell contracts these days, what you meant to say is no one realizes they're already paying for a $479 Android phone...
  The carriers don't really push service contracts anymore. Lately, they're actually quite upfront about how much you're financing when you buy a high end phone. People are willing to spend more for the same reasons they'll overspend on anything else they can finance (cars, homes, hot tubs, water treatment systems, timeshares, etc.)
  
  --
  
  ---
  DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
12. Re:Give me a break by 110010001000 · 2017-06-20 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  I said "Android" phone, not iPhone.
13. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:13 · Score: 0
  
  Stop responding to this more than obvious troll. for fuck's sake this person is a complete moron.
  Hugs and kisses,
  Juan Epstein
14. Re:Give me a break by millette · 2017-06-20 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  From the article:
  
  Compare this to other Snapdragon 835 devices, like the $750 Galaxy S8 and the $650 HTC U11, and that $479 price still looks pretty good.
15. Re:Give me a break by 110010001000 · 2017-06-20 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  No one is buying those either. People buy them in contract "bundles".
16. Re:Give me a break by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 08:24 · Score: 1
  
  Is this a joke? I recently traded in my Note 5 on an extended warranty and they didn't have any left so I got $800 cash for it, turned around and bought a OnePlus 3T and kept the extra $200+.
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
17. Re:Give me a break by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 08:26 · Score: 1
  
  I'm happy with OnePlus simply because they're the phone that doesn't *WAY* over charge you for 128Gb storage.
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
18. Re:Give me a break by Solandri · 2017-06-20 08:32 · Score: 1
  
  You're falling for a misunderstanding of statistics parroted by the many ignorant iPhone fans writing in the media. Most of the Android phones sold are low-end handsets, which drags down the mean price of an Android phone.
  
  However, that does not mean Android only sells cheap handsets as these writers in the media who flunked statistics think. It simply means a greater share of Android phones are cheaper units. But because Android phones outsell iPhones by more than 6:1, the number of high-end Android phones sold is still about the same as or exceeds the number of iPhones sold, even though the mean price of an Android phone is lower.
19. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 09:20 · Score: 0
  
  So ultimately, they're buying those phones.
20. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 15:23 · Score: 0
  
  Based on what evidence? I try to avoid bundles like cancer. Bundle practice may be common in the US, but at least in the countries I have lived, bundles are outright viewed as "scams targeting people who are not economically knowledgable"
21. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 16:17 · Score: 0
  
  Make me.
  Love Vinny
22. Re:Give me a break by geekmux · 2017-06-21 00:25 · Score: 1
  
  Due to the "only $19.95 a month!" hardware purchasing gimmicks built into a lot of cell contracts these days, what you meant to say is no one realizes they're already paying for a $479 Android phone...
  The carriers don't really push service contracts anymore. Lately, they're actually quite upfront about how much you're financing when you buy a high end phone. People are willing to spend more for the same reasons they'll overspend on anything else they can finance (cars, homes, hot tubs, water treatment systems, timeshares, etc.)
  A multi-year financing agreement is essentially a service contract. A turd by any other name...
23. Re:Give me a break by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-21 17:39 · Score: 0
  
  Where I live (in the EU) it's made VERY clear just how much you're paying for that bundled phone. I don't know if it's an EU legislation or some "gentlemen's agreement" between the carriers but, when you walk into the shop or go to the provider websites, and poke about for a phone/contract deal you are shown:
  1. The "naked" SIM card (without phone) and presented with the clear monthly price on prepaid or contract, plus what you actually get (egg flat rate calling X number of GB included in-country, X number og GB while roaming EU, and any details about roaming international)
  2. A selection of phones is shown with price to buy outright, price to add to contract over varying contract lengths (12 months, 24 months etc).
  3. A final total is shown/given which combines the SIM price with the phone price (if you picked a bundled phone).
  Where I live anyway... the true phone cost is no longer hidden... it's very clear if you care to look. You can of course walk into the shop and say "Fuck the price, give me the $SHINY_NEW_PHONE_WITH_SHIT_I_DON'T_NEED!!! Now now now because all my friends have the phone and I'm a social outcast unless I get the exact same phone"
Battery information is too vague by Weaselmancer · 2017-06-20 05:45 · Score: 1

...and a 3,300mAh battery.
Which would be great if we knew how much current this thing is pulling. I'm expecting not a trivial amount, with a 2.45Ghz processor.
How about you have it run Netflix or some games and tell us how long you've got until it craps out?

--
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
1. Re:Battery information is too vague by bluefoxlucid · 2017-06-20 06:01 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  It's got one of those heterogeneous processors I think. Runs a slow and a fast core at the same time.
  If you're running Netflix, you're probably close to a charger, like in the car or something. Either that or you're a sad, pathetic fool who goes out to the McDonalds so you can sit there watching Netflix on your phone for 2 hours.
  I get decent battery life out of Spotify, at least.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
2. Re:Battery information is too vague by amicusNYCL · 2017-06-20 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  How about you click on the article and pay attention to the slideshows of benchmarks? You could also take note that the 4 cores running 2.45Ghz don't do all of the work, the 4 lighter cores do a lot also.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
3. Re:Battery information is too vague by geekmux · 2017-06-20 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  ...and a 3,300mAh battery.
  Which would be great if we knew how much current this thing is pulling. I'm expecting not a trivial amount, with a 2.45Ghz processor.
  How about you have it run Netflix or some games and tell us how long you've got until it craps out?
  Cracks me up we still call these things "phones" when it's obvious that's the last damn feature anyone gives a shit about.
4. Re:Battery information is too vague by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:52 · Score: 0
  
  You don't have to worry. Android being a shitty OS, throttles the CPU if you actually try to use it.
5. Re:Battery information is too vague by BenBoy · 2017-06-20 06:59 · Score: 1
  
  ... you're probably close to a charger, like in the car or something. Either that or you're a sad, pathetic fool who goes out to the McDonalds so you can sit there watching Netflix on your phone for 2 hours
  Ha, shows what you know ... when I pathetically watch Netflix at McDonald's, I always sit near an outlet.
6. Re:Battery information is too vague by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:54 · Score: 0
  
  you can watch netflix at mcdonalds? the one here feels like dialup.
7. Re:Battery information is too vague by Teun · 2017-06-20 10:47 · Score: 1
  
  As the promo says it's 30% more efficient than the one+3T which is better than the one+3.
  I have the one+3 and it has sufficient power to watch a full movie.
  But to be sure I also bought a €10.- external power pack, during a recent 7hrs flight the cute girl next to me ran out of juice on her fancy Samsung so I borrowed here the power, I still had enough at the end of the flight.
  
  Never the less, I sure wished they'd add 1 or 2 mm of thickness for a much larger battery!
  
  --
  "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
/. Your best source for a quick ad. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:53 · Score: 0, Offtopic

I remember back in the day when /. meant articles.
1. Re:/. Your best source for a quick ad. by Scottingham · 2017-06-20 06:01 · Score: 0
  
  No you don't.
2. Re:/. Your best source for a quick ad. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:02 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I remember back in the day when people scrolled past articles that didn't interest them instead of posting whiny comments.
3. Re: /. Your best source for a quick ad. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 09:02 · Score: 1
  
  Shenanigans. If you did you would be posting with your 5 digit UID instead of AC. Meaning, slashdot has had whiners since about the 90k user mark
No microsd slot? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 05:57 · Score: 0

No microsd slot? Not happening for me. As long as they are available I'm never upgrading to another phone without one.
1. Re:No microsd slot? by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:13 · Score: 1
  
  How much storage do you need on a phone? Do you use it to download your movie collection or record your missed TV programs? I can understand if this was about a set top box or even a computer, but a phone?
2. Re:No microsd slot? by by+(1706743) · 2017-06-20 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  I've found it pretty useful to download wikipedia dumps when I'm on vacation without internet access. Last time I downloaded the text-only, it weighed in at about 14GB I think, but including images it gets north of 60GB. A 64GB phone ain't gonna fit that, and a 64GB microSD card is probably way cheaper than the cost to upgrade to 128GB.
3. Re:No microsd slot? by YuppieScum · 2017-06-20 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  I think this qualifies as an edge case...
  
  --
  This sig left unintentionally blank.
4. Re:No microsd slot? by Overzeetop · 2017-06-20 08:04 · Score: 1
  
  Oddly enough, I have have a uSD in my Galaxy and never remove it. BUT, everything gets stored there so that, if there's a problem with the phone (and it's happened), all my stuff transfers and I don't have to wonder if I've moved all my personal files off the handset before I reset it or wipe it before selling or trading in.
  
  --
  Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
5. Re:No microsd slot? by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  Consider that you get 128Gb storage for a pretty good price...
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
SIM form factor flash? by unixisc · 2017-06-20 06:03 · Score: 1

Something like 15 years ago, I used to see SIM form factor SD-cards from Sandisk. Since I don't see it anywhere nowadays, from what I can tell, that's been discontinued. Does anyone make it anymore?
I agree w/ the 2nd point. Up to 32GB, it looked like the entire phone storage could be eaten up by the OS. But at 64GB, is there a compelling need for more storage? I only consider an SD card a must have if the main storage is 32GB or below
1. Re:SIM form factor flash? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 16:19 · Score: 0
  
  But at 64GB, is there a compelling need for more storage?
  Yes. Just because you don't need something doesn't mean nobody needs it.
2. Re:SIM form factor flash? by alex67500 · 2017-06-21 00:18 · Score: 1
  
  And as usual, if you need, somebody else thought about a solution: https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk...
3. Re:SIM form factor flash? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-21 05:29 · Score: 0
  
  Not practical to keep connected to your device.
But, can I live with it... by Shotgun · 2017-06-20 06:05 · Score: 1

I don't necessarily play the latest 3D game with my phone, but I would like to play a real game in the 3D world with it. Having to constantly worry that it'll get broke, or will go haywire if I get it wet from sweating to much.
"How *livable* is this phone?" is the only question I want answered from any reviews now-a-days.
I was spoiled by a Casio Commando which I kept for years until I lost it from the handlebars of my motorcycle while doing 80mph down I-40.

--
Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
1. Re:But, can I live with it... by geekmux · 2017-06-20 06:22 · Score: 1
  
  "How *livable* is this phone?" is the only question I want answered from any reviews now-a-days.
  Who needs reviews? Experience and Greed tells us they don't build jack shit these days to last like it used to.
2. Re:But, can I live with it... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:43 · Score: 0
  
  I remember when a car with 50,000 miles on it was high mileage and 100,000 miles meant it was ready for the junk yard. I remember when bias ply tires lasted 12,000 miles and spark plugs lasted 5,000 miles.
  Most things today are a hell of a lot better than back in the alleged good-old-days.
3. Re:But, can I live with it... by drinkypoo · 2017-06-20 08:49 · Score: 1
  
  That's why I bought a Motorola phone. Their hardware is not as durable as it was back in olden times when they used to make stuff out of green plastic, with actual metal knobs, but it is more durable than average. I took pretty good care of my LG Nexus 4 and it died, just stopped responding to touches. I think it's because I'm too sweaty. Now I have a Moto G 2nd. It's lasted long enough to where... I'm still using it. The 1GB RAM really is not enough, so I would suggest spending enough to get 2GB, but otherwise the phone is totally adequate. I don't think they made a big deal of its moisture resistance, but it totally is moisture-resistant.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
4. Re:But, can I live with it... by geekmux · 2017-06-21 01:50 · Score: 1
  
  I remember when a car with 50,000 miles on it was high mileage and 100,000 miles meant it was ready for the junk yard. I remember when bias ply tires lasted 12,000 miles and spark plugs lasted 5,000 miles.
  Most things today are a hell of a lot better than back in the alleged good-old-days.
  I also remember when troubleshooting cars didn't require custom factory tools, diagnostic crash carts, and software flashing. Back when you could buy individual parts instead of everything coming in a "kit" costing hundreds of dollars. Back when a fender bender didn't create thousands of dollars in damage. Back when a 100,000 mile car could be saved from the junk yard by dropping a new motor into it with a handful of tools over a weekend. Back when a spark plug job was 5 minutes because they were not buried under an intake manifold.
  Cars may last longer today, but that sure as hell doesn't mean they're any cheaper in the long run, or getting any easier for the DIY person to maintain.
"probably close to a charger" by SuperKendall · 2017-06-20 06:07 · Score: 5, Informative

If you're running Netflix, you're probably close to a charger, like in the car or something. Either that or you're a sad, pathetic fool... ... I was not aware that millions of people that have long commutes on a bus or train were sad, pathetic fools.
Or the millions of people who take plane flights often lasting three hours or longer for domestic flights...

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
1. Re:"probably close to a charger" by bluefoxlucid · 2017-06-20 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  Planes today have built-in entertainment, including power ports and even USB ports to charge your phone. Buses ... don't. I mean, they do here, but I get that this isn't basically every bus in the world just yet. On the other hand, I also can't imagine a regular bus trip that takes that long enough for which you would reasonably expect to kill a battery watching NetFlix (which, for the most part, is going to be the screen eating most of the power).
  Most endpoints seem to not be places you'd think to go just to sit around watching movies on your phone, except for a hotel or your home. Transit seems the most likely use case, and transit generally doesn't invoke "NetFlix killed my battery" concerns because it's either short or it's very long and right next to a charger.
  Besides that, though, pretty much every concern about battery life seems to be "how fast will it die while I watch HD movies on my phone?" I just don't see how you imagine your phone dying from that, gives how frequently you have access to a charger, and how likely you are to be watching movies on your phone in any given situation. I also don't imagine everyone's daily commute is 3 hours each way to the office by bus.
  Even when I think really hard about proposed situations in which this could happen, it's like listening to people ask if a computer given incorrect inputs will still arrive at correct conclusions. There aren't any natural thoughts which would lead me to reason such a situation, although there are conceptual sequences of events which could do it. Thus far, every one of those concepts seems like something that wouldn't occur.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
2. Re:"probably close to a charger" by redmid17 · 2017-06-20 07:11 · Score: 1
  
  Most domestic planes do not have power or usb ports.
3. Re:"probably close to a charger" by bluefoxlucid · 2017-06-20 07:18 · Score: 1
  
  Huh. I thought power was a long standard for decades now. USB is fairly-new. Planes have had headphone ports (powered) pretty much as part of being on a passenger airplane forever, and some fancy new planes have display screens there now; they've been built to deliver wiring to seats effectively for as long as pretty much every passenger plane in service today has been in service, and retrofitting seating with electrical wiring is trivial. Given that every airliner seat I've ever seen for real or depicted in any media has had power ports so you can plug in a laptop, I'd assumed that part was pretty much ubiquitous.
  
  --
  Support my political activism on Patreon.
4. Re: "probably close to a charger" by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:31 · Score: 0
  
  SWA flys 25 year old planes. Their newest planes have USB, including the 737-max but the older 737-200s for example do not. Hell they still fly planes without wifi. Double hell, I got on a southwest flight that did not have any graphical displays on the cockpit panel (the flight computer had adjacent panels with radar and mapping but nothing on the instrument panel). So lack of USB doesn't really surprise me.
5. Re:"probably close to a charger" by JThundley · 2017-06-20 11:42 · Score: 1
  
  If you're running Netflix, you're probably close to a charger, like in the car or something.
  
  The "something" is a plane, which has chargers. You're close to chargers in planes.
What about the best sub-$100 phone you can buy? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:37 · Score: 0

I lose or destroy phones often enough that I'm unwilling to pay more than $100. What's the best sub-$100 phone I can buy? So far, my two best ones have been $20 Android specials.
1. Re:What about the best sub-$100 phone you can buy? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:05 · Score: 0
  
  I've been a VirginMobile user for years, last year bought a VM branded Moto G3 for $80. Slapped a closeout sale Otterbox on it. Amazed it gets security updates, and firmware (6.0.1), so I'm happier than a kitten following a leaky cow!
No user-replaceable battery, no interest by blind+biker · 2017-06-20 06:41 · Score: 1

My Samsung Galaxy S4 has plenty of capacity for anything I need it for (Viber, OsmAnd, games, calendar, Gmail). My main concern is to have it work as long as possible, because switching phones is always a bit of a PITA. As long as the battery is user-replaceable, I will be able to use this phone for years.

--
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:41 · Score: 0

is $399 and it's awesome. No idea what this is about.
1. Re:iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  is $399 and it's awesome. No idea what this is about.
  It's kind of like the apple only it runs a real operating system.
No thanks by WaffleMonster · 2017-06-20 06:53 · Score: 1

Stopped reading at "3300 mAh (non-removable)" and no SD card slot.
1. Re:No thanks by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:15 · Score: 0
  
  what will have a user replaceable battery?
2. Re:No thanks by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:31 · Score: 0
  
  My LG Stylo 2 has a removable battery.
3. Re:No thanks by apoc.famine · 2017-06-20 09:09 · Score: 1
  
  Why? I've got a Galaxy S7 with a non removable 3000 mAh battery, and it's been an awesome phone so far. With great power management tools and fast charging, I run out of power far, FAR less than I did with my S4 with an extra battery on hand. The fast charging means 15 minutes plugged in and I'm good to go for a couple of hours, at least.
  
  I was in your camp until I broke the charging port in my S4, and was sort-of forced to switch to the S7. I am far happier with this phone than I ever was with the removable batteries of the S4.
  
  Now, I do sort-of get the complaint about the SD card slot. I at least get one of those with the S7. Granted it's in this weird sealed compartment that requires a long thin piece of metal (included, but a toothpick would possibly work) to get at. But the extra storage is nice, because this particular model only has 32gb of onboard storage. The OnePlus starts at 64gb and goes up to 128gb, which I think reduces the pressing need for an SD card for most people. If you're storing 128GB of stuff on your phone, that's a little extreme. And in that case, you're limiting yourself to very few phones on the market.
  
  But the battery being glued in? That's really a non-issue, in my experience.
  
  --
  Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
4. Re:No thanks by WaffleMonster · 2017-06-20 10:13 · Score: 1
  
  Why? I've got a Galaxy S7 with a non removable 3000 mAh battery, and it's been an awesome phone so far.
  Batteries go bad. I've replaced batteries in numerous phones including my current phone which first went on the Market over four years ago. Also own a massive ~9000 mAh aftermarket battery I plop in on long trips which is just awesome. Phones are expensive, batteries are inconsistent and have a shelf life even while left unused. I see no point in rolling the dice when you don't have to.
  
  The OnePlus starts at 64gb and goes up to 128gb, which I think reduces the pressing need for an SD card for most people. If you're storing 128GB of stuff on your phone, that's a little extreme.
  My current 128 GB SD card has only 5 GB left and will soon be replaced with 256GB version. Storing total of 150 GB on phone now between SD card and internal storage.
  
  And in that case, you're limiting yourself to very few phones on the market.
  Absolutely. At any given time there may be just one or even no current phones on the market that meet my requirements.
5. Re:No thanks by RespekMyAthorati · 2017-06-22 13:09 · Score: 1
  
  Storing total of 150 GB on phone now between SD card and internal storage.
  Wow! That's a lot of porn.
Yet another phablet? by Powercntrl · 2017-06-20 07:05 · Score: 1

Why is Apple the only company "courageous" enough to still offer a model of their flagship phone in a pocketable form-factor? Every time I read one of these new Android phone announcements, it's always a huge disappointment when I get to the screen size specification. It really seems like with Android phones if you want a smaller screen, you've gotta make big sacrifices in the CPU, RAM and camera quality departments. Manufacturers are only willing to put smaller screens on low-end phones.
At least OnePlus bucked the idiotic curved glass trend. I already lived through the CRT era; geometric distortion should've stayed in the past. I can't believe all these Millennials who actually think it looks cool to see the edges of everything being distorted across the sides of their phones.

--

---
DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
1. Re:Yet another phablet? by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  I see many people say this, yet I've never had a problem fitting a phone in my pocket.
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
2. Re:Yet another phablet? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 09:34 · Score: 1
  
  Strange the SE is touted as being close to the 6S, not the 7 which I'm informed is a massive upgrade and well worth forking out a fortune for to replace a 6S.
3. Re:Yet another phablet? by Powercntrl · 2017-06-20 17:58 · Score: 1
  
  I see many people say this, yet I've never had a problem fitting a phone in my pocket.
  No, I'm not a skinny-jeans-wearing hipster; I'm sure a 5.5" screen phone would still fit in my pocket just fine. It's just a lot harder to ignore that it's there, especially when sitting down.
  There are those of us who do like the conveniences of a smartphone (with a decent camera), but we don't need to be perpetually entertained.
  
  --
  
  ---
  DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
Domestic flights mostly without USB still by SuperKendall · 2017-06-20 07:11 · Score: 1

Planes today have built-in entertainment, including power ports and even USB ports to charge your phone.
Only international flights, most domestic flights still do not have a USB ports in the seats (I ave never, for example, seen a USB port on a Southwest or JetBlue flight and on Spirit they actually hook electrodes to your body to drain energy from you to power the avionic system). Planes have also been more recently getting rid of in-seat screens and having you watch things on your tablet/phone (they will also loan you a tablet if you need one).
I mean, they do here
Now I see the fundamental problem, a bad case of Silicon Valley Vision. Sigh...
You simply do not understand how the rest of the world lives, not even an inkling.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
1. Re:Domestic flights mostly without USB still by DaTrueDave · 2017-06-20 08:00 · Score: 1
  
  I don't often fly on the cattle cars that Southwest operates, but they're the only domestic airline that I haven't seen a USB port on. Every domestic flight I've taken in the last decade has had power, and most now have nice USB ports in the seat back instead of under your seat.
  Try flying on decent airlines that will treat you like a human being. It's well worth the $15 more than those budget airlines charge.
2. Re: Domestic flights mostly without USB still by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:24 · Score: 0
  
  Southwest treats you the best, I think. I think people don't like southwest because the only time their status matters is when boarding. Otherwise everyone has the same seat, there is no first or business or economy plus. I think that is about as proverbially fair as you can get with airlines. They always gave you free food drink and tv, what other domestic carrier did that through downtimes rather than squeezing every penny for shareholders? Also until Delta renegotiated, southwest paid their pilots and maintenance crew the most! So I would argue they have better planes then the majors. ALSO, they only fly 737s so their pilots, as a whole, are better trained than the majors.
  But you don't like them because they treat you like cattle to maintain one of the industry's best on time records? Seriously trying to understand the SWA hate over literally every other shit shitty domestic airline in existence today
3. Re: Domestic flights mostly without USB still by slashdot_commentator · 2017-06-20 15:31 · Score: 1
  
  Just don't be too fat to fly.
  
  --
  There is no America. There is no democracy. There is only IBM and AT&T and DuPont, Dow, General Electric, and Exxon
Never settle??? by LaughingRadish · 2017-06-20 07:17 · Score: 1

Never settle? This phone? It looks like if you're picking this phone, you're settling for a non-removable battery and no SD card slot. I'm getting rather sick of companies taking away features and touting the results as better.
1. Re:Never settle??? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 07:35 · Score: 0
  
  Exactly, this really isnt any better than the 3T, just with a higher price. And can we stop with higher and higher megapixel cameras? That does not make a phone better. Im starting to think OnePlus might be losing their way. Google did it with their Nexus line. Look how popular that was, compared to the Pixel? Lots of people developed and had Nexus devices, not the same can be said for the Pixel line.
2. Re:Never settle??? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:01 · Score: 0
  
  Never forget - The lack of the SD-slot is due to the Microsoft-tax...
3. Re:Never settle??? by drinkypoo · 2017-06-20 08:50 · Score: 1
  
  Never forget - The lack of the SD-slot is due to the Microsoft-tax...
  No, it is not. Android is perfectly happy to let you use any supported filesystem (e.g. ext3) on an sdcard. Stop making excuses for manufacturers.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
4. Re: Never settle??? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 09:43 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  The grandparent is correct nonetheless, any phone with micro SD slot has to pay the license. That's because Microsoft managed to get the micro SD standard to adopt and enforce EXFAT.
  No EXFAT (preformatted) , no uSD (or SD) label /marking on the product packaging.
  All devices with uSD/SD slots pay the fee, including any android phones, digital cameras, etcetera...
  No idea if it could help to shift the name back to transflash...
  aRTee
5. Re: Never settle??? by drinkypoo · 2017-06-20 09:55 · Score: 1
  
  No EXFAT (preformatted) , no uSD (or SD) label /marking on the product packaging.
  So what? You don't need the logo in order to put the slot in the device, or to say "compatible with SD cards" in a normal font on the packaging which hey, guess what? Is totally legal, even given trademark law.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
6. Re:Never settle??? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-21 05:28 · Score: 0
  
  +1
  I'm curious to try one of their phones, but no user-replaceable battery really keeps me away
One Plus X by think_nix · 2017-06-20 07:18 · Score: 2

Have a One plus X , bought it for 269 â , or something like that a year ago.
Best $mart phone I ever bought for the money. The specs (at the time) were more than enough for what I need it for (I dont play games on the phone) . Call, email, txt , camera, occasional browsing , and news apps.
Has dual SIM and a SD slot. Plus the battery life is amazing, I dont overload it with useless apps either. Most my colleagues at work have One as well , all different models. While the battery servicing is an issue not one of my colleagues has ever had a battery issue. Also maybe we are all engineers and use / charge our batteries properly for longevity.
1. Re:One Plus X by Tough+Love · 2017-06-21 00:23 · Score: 1
  
  While the battery servicing is an issue not one of my colleagues has ever had a battery issue.
  Because maybe they don't own their phones long enough? I have replaced the battery on every phone I have owned, with the exception of those ancient candybars (that lasted 8 days on a charge)
  
  --
  When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 07:51 · Score: 0

I don't care about half the stuff they add to the mid-tier phones. It just needs an SD card slot for more storage.
And it would be best to be name-brand since I absolutely do not trust those fly-by-night electronics outfits that rebadge stuff.
1. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 08:30 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Why do you need more than 128Gb on a phone? Genuinely curious.
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
2. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 11:32 · Score: 0
  
  Simple : your music, videos, photos and openstreetmaps
  Not "in the cloud"
3. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 12:44 · Score: 0
  
  Porn what else???
4. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 13:21 · Score: 0
  
  I have about 100GB of movies on my phone and another 20GB of my music. My commute frequently involves sitting for a 90+ minute ferry ride with spotty to no service.
  Yes I could just rotate out movies but it is easier just to put everything on the 200GB SD card I stick in my phone. There are also some games now days that will take several GB for their installs.
5. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 13:47 · Score: 0
  
  If you can't fill 90 minutes with 50Gb of movies you must be the most restless person ever.
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
6. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by fluffernutter · 2017-06-20 15:48 · Score: 1
  
  Don't you have a laptop somewhere to store most of your library on? Are you really that lazy that you can't swap some songs once a month? Doesn't iTunes have functions to build a random playlist for you and sync your device with it?
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
7. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 23:44 · Score: 0
  
  I have 64 GB on mine and it's just about enough. I don't put all my stock in using online storage since I don't always have data where I go and cellphone data in the USA is a total joke in terms of usage caps so I tend to keep some movies and a bunch of music stored locally for long drives or trips.
  Also recording in 4k for videos takes up a lot of storage. I probably don't need to record in 4k but I'm going to since the phone supports it.
8. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-21 03:02 · Score: 0
  
  I have a nexus 6p with 128, its 75% full, Most of it is pictures and videos of the kids. There are various pdf's and a few apps. (battery is horrible after a year and a half but I just performed surgery and revived it with a new battery and I made my phone great again!, will run it until the updates stop coming (although I do like the oneplus, I want to see how the thing reviews first. (I might just get the next pixel instead.
9. Re:What's the best ~$100 or less Android phone? by slashdot_commentator · 2017-06-21 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  With 65GB free, you can put a version of wikipedia on it.
  
  --
  There is no America. There is no democracy. There is only IBM and AT&T and DuPont, Dow, General Electric, and Exxon
I'll wait by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:22 · Score: 0

Meh, I'll wait for the OnePlus 4
Too big by ichthus · 2017-06-20 08:30 · Score: 1

I have a OnePlus X, and it's the perfect size. Best phone I ever had (except for the Nokia 8290 and the Moto SLVR L7). Running LineageOS on it, and I love it. The only thing it's missing is NFC, which, I mean... comeon.
But this thing, just like most of the "flag ship" phones out there, is just too damned big.

--
sig: sauer
OnePlus: never again by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 08:45 · Score: 0

They abandoned the OnePlus X after a few months it was out. No more updates, no more *security* updates, no bug fixes.
They say it's because Qualcomm stopped supporting the SoC. I don't care: they should have negotiated better.
The only sensible choice in this ugly Android world is to go with Google devices (Pixels).
Cheating and Trust by ohnocitizen · 2017-06-20 09:40 · Score: 2

Apparently they are cheating at benchmarks: https://www.xda-developers.com...

I don't know how much to trust them as a company. Also the comment further up about them spamming older phones with ads for the new phone, with no way to turn it off. Even Samsung doesn't do that.
1. Re:Cheating and Trust by postglock · 2017-06-23 13:54 · Score: 1
  
  I wish I had mod points! Thank you for that information. I'm in the market for a new phone, and now I know to avoid OnePlus like the plague!
Rootable by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 10:49 · Score: 0

Is it rootable? I WILL root my next phone, and I WON'T buy a non-rootable device. If my carrier does not have a rootable phone, I will leave it.
How did IQ come into the picture?! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 13:36 · Score: 0

Convicts don't want to be in prison.
Animals don't want to be in a zoo.
Therefore, we can conclude that these people's IQ is below both convicts and animals.
Socrates is a man
All men are mortal
Therefore, we can conclude that Socrates wears blue socks.
1. Re:How did IQ come into the picture?! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 16:10 · Score: 0
  
  you silly bunt, he has gangrene.
Not anymore. Google ruined it. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-06-20 15:10 · Score: 0

The crappy MTP protocol showed me just how evil Google went. They tossed out a simple mount protocol and designed an abomination that is completely unstable and a royal pain to use. I can just see them drooling over everyone giving up and going cloud storage for everything.