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OnePlus inadvertently left a backdoor on its phones (updated)
OnePlus' security troubles aren't over yet. Users have discovered that many of the company's phones from the past few years (including the OnePlus 5) include a Qualcomm testing app, EngineerMode, that lets you get root-level access to the phone without having to unlock its bootloader. An attacker would likely need physical access to your phone to do any damage, but that still means they could insert trackers or otherwise compromise your phone with very little effort.
The £399 OnePlus 3T hits the UK on November 28th
OnePlus' motto is "never settle," but it's probably best not to remind OnePlus 3 owners of that right now. Less than six months has passed since the launch of that flagship, and yet the company has already announced a new model to replace it. The OnePlus 3T is basically an improved variant, with a Snapdragon 821 chip, bigger 3,400mAh battery and better 16-megapixel front-facing camera for high-quality livestreams. The primary shooter is now covered with sapphire glass to ward off scratches, too. The only other major change is the higher price, with the OnePlus 3T costing £399 for the 64GB model or £439 for the 128GB config when it launches in the UK on November 28th.
OnePlus already has a new flagship with modest upgrades
It hasn't even been six months since OnePlus took the wraps off its latest flagship, and the company already has an upgraded version. The OnePlus 3T will replace the OnePlus 3, bringing improvements like a newer Snapdragon 821 CPU, a larger battery and sharper front camera. Of course, these enhancements come at a price. The OnePlus 3T starts at $439 for a 64GB model -- a $40 increase over the original.
The OnePlus 3 gets its first taste of Android Nougat this month
Watching Android Nougat make its way to phones Google didn't have a hand in making has been, well, a little excruciating. Some major players are getting the update out first, but now it looks like the upstarts at OnePlus are next in line. Brian Yoon, the startup's head of software, confirmed to Engadget that a Nougat beta "community" build would be ready for the OnePlus 3 this month. Even better: once all the kinks have been ironed out, Nougat will be pushed out over-the-air to all OnePlus 3s by the end of the year. Not a bad way to ring in the holidays, right?
New in our buyer's guide: The iPhone 7 and Fitbit Charge 2
Well, well, well. After just a few months of phone releases and reviews, our smartphone buyer's guide section looks very different than it did recently. New to the guide, as you'd expect, are the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, both of which earned strong reviews from us. The HTC 10 and Galaxy S7 have held their spots there, with the OnePlus 3 rounding out the list at the lower end. (And yes, we are thanking our lucky stars that we didn't have time to add the highly rated Galaxy Note 7 into the guide before it was recalled and discontinued.) We've also made some changes to our wearables section, with the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 both making the cut (the Series 2 is the best in absolute terms, but we recommend the Series 1 for more people). You'll also find the Fitbit Charge 2, our new favorite all-around fitness tracker. Find all that and more right here in our buyer's guide, and be sure to check back soon -- we plan to review some highly anticipated releases like Google's new Pixel phones as well as the PlayStation Pro.
OnePlus 3 gets its first UK carrier partnership in O2
Over the past few years, OnePlus has made a name for itself by releasing powerful flagship smartphones at lower-than-expected prices. The unlocked model lets people buy their devices outright, enabling them to get a better deal on a SIM-only contract. But as the company has moved away from its invite system and faced up to the battle of fulfilling every order as soon as possible, it's also begun to expand into retail. Today, OnePlus has announced its first ever partnership with a UK mobile operator. O2 is the company in question and will begin selling the OnePlus 3 from September 29th from £28 per month.
The iPhone 7 Plus vs. the competition: How even is the field?
The iPhone 7 Plus finally brings a dual camera to the iPhone line. But there are plenty of other big handsets out there with their own stellar features, including the LG's newly unveiled V20 and its Hi-Fi Quad DAC. Check out the table below to see how these two compare to phones like the Moto Z, which, like Apple's new lineup, ditched the headphone jack in favor of USB-C. We've even thrown in the Galaxy Note 7: Sure, it's been recalled but, before it started randomly exploding, the Note was one of our favorite devices this year.
Engadget giveaway: Win a OnePlus 3 smartphone with all the add-ons!
Smartphone competition has been fierce lately, if only due to the number of smaller international brands that have stepped up their game. Amongst the leaders of the pack is OnePlus and its latest handset, the $400 OnePlus 3. You get heaps of value for your money with this 5.5-inch device, which is fronted with Gorilla Glass 4 and a vivid 1080p Optic AMOLED display. Inside, a Snapdragon 820 processor keeps things thrumming and the experience is nearly stock Android. Overall, the build quality gets top honors and it performs like a champ, but there are also plenty of extras, and this week, one lucky reader will get the whole package. There's a OnePlus Loop VR headset, a battery to give you added juice, a car charger to re-up the handset or battery and the entire selection of protective cases. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this OnePlus 3 package! Winner: Congratulations to Maverick D. of Hudson, WI!
Online sales of the OnePlus 3 will soon be paused across Europe
Starting August 9th, OnePlus will temporarily halt sales of the OnePlus 3 in select European countries as it is struggling to meet demands for the device.
The Axon 7 finally fulfills ZTE's 'affordable premium' promise
Over the years, smartphones have either been high end and expensive, or dirt cheap and shoddy. But, two years ago, the industry shifted and midrange phones that had great specs for lower prices started to fill the gap. ZTE has long been a proponent of what it calls the "affordable premium" device, and has thrown out middling handset after middling handset that met only the "affordable" part of that promise.
OnePlus 3 'Soft Gold' edition arrives in understated luxury
About a month after releasing Engadget's favorite sub-$400 phone, OnePlus is classing up the solid, budget-minded OnePlus 3 with a new, "Soft Gold" color variant. "This isn't your typical gaudy gold smartphone," a OnePlus staffer wrote in the subtweet-heavy product announcement. Instead of a jewel-encrusted piece of hardware, OnePlus has gone for a toned-down, "low-profile take on gold" to match the phone's budget-friendly price.
OnePlus 3 gets a £20 price bump after Brexit madness
As the UK government crumbles before our very eyes, the fallout from the vote to leave the European Union is even starting to impact our beloved gadgetry. OnePlus was eager to warn us last week that the falling value of the British Pound might cause the company to revisit handset pricing -- much in the same way a Euro exchange rate slump was reflected in a jump in the cost of the OnePlus One early last year. That warning has become a reality today, with the announcement that as of July 11th, the price of the much-praised OnePlus 3 will increase from £309 to £329.
Mini review video: Our verdict on the OnePlus 3 in a minute
While you were refreshing Engadget to see all the new stuff Apple, Microsoft and Sony announced this week, you may have missed the fact that OnePlus came out with a new phone. The OnePlus 3 -- yes, that would be its third-generation flagship -- comes in at a reasonable $399 and as usual, boasts some impressive specs for the price. In addition to offering top-notch internals, it brings a more premium-feeling aluminum design as well as dual SIM support.
OnePlus X series is no more, says CEO
While it's common practice for smartphone makers to offer two or three product lines to cover all the bases, OnePlus has recently decided to go from two to one. At the OnePlus 3 launch event in Shenzhen today, CEO Pete Lau confirmed that his company's more affordable offering, the OnePlus X, will not have a follow-up model. That's not to say it was a bad phone (even we liked it) nor was it unpopular, but Lau said that OnePlus will instead focus on just one "true flagship" line from now on in order to strengthen its foundation -- something that Lau admitted his team neglected last year -- rather than fighting the low-end price war.
OnePlus 3 review: The best phone you can get for $399
OnePlus has been trying to craft a full-blown, "flagship killer" of a smartphone since day one, but how successful it's been is up for debate. From my perch, the company's first phone proved that a relatively unknown startup could build a high-caliber handset and a die-hard fanbase around it. Its second-generation device pushed it even further into the big leagues. And now there's the $399 (£309) OnePlus 3, which launches today. Make no mistake: The competition is even fiercer than ever, but OnePlus is trying to meet the challenge. Best of all, that pain-in-the-ass invite system is finally gone. Suffice to say, this year's launch is a big deal for OnePlus, and it's only fitting that the OnePlus 3 mostly represents this young company at its best. Indeed, right now you'd be hard-pressed to find any other phone this good for this price.
OnePlus is ditching its invite system once and for all
The worst part about OnePlus phones? Trying to buy them. All three of the company's phones have been sold, at least initially, using an often frustrating invite system. Fans could obtain one by completing various competitions, responding to social media posts or by cajoling their friends who had already bought a OnePlus phone. But no more. With the OnePlus 3, which will be launching on June 14th, the company is killing the invite system once and for all. Fans with a OnePlus VR headset will get a head start, but then it's fair game from 3pm ET on the OnePlus website.
OnePlus starts selling phones via Amazon UK
If you've been eyeing up a OnePlus phone, there's now another place you can order one in the UK. The company is selling the OnePlus 2 on Amazon UK for £249 -- the same, recently reduced price found on its own website. A spokesperson for OnePlus has also confirmed to Engadget that both the OnePlus 2 and smaller OnePlus X will, eventually, be sold through Amazon US too. The move should improve the sales of both handsets, due to the added exposure and consumer trust associated with Amazon. It could also be a useful way to sell off old stock ahead of the OnePlus 3 launch.
OnePlus wants you to order its new phone using a VR headset
OnePlus doesn't think that last year's VR launch for the OnePlus 2 was just a gimmick... in fact, it's ramping things up. The fledgling smartphone maker has unveiled its own VR headset, the Loop VR, and it's giving away 30,000 units for free (plus shipping) ahead of the OnePlus 3's introduction. And it's not just for the sake of impressing diehard fans, either. If you visit OnePlus' VR shopping experience, you'll get to order the OnePlus 3 before anyone else. Yes, you'll have to immerse yourself if you want to get the first crack at the company's next flagship.
OnePlus 3's official render could be a decoy
This morning, a render of the much anticipated OnePlus 3 flagship phone (pictured left) has been making the rounds on the internet. We can confirm that this "leak" is legit as we also got it directly from OnePlus' China PR rep, who didn't say anything other than that this is a "OnePlus 3 render." But the company has clearly been seeding the same image to other Chinese media outlets as well, which is why we're smelling a decoy here -- a tactic often deployed by OnePlus' sister company, Vivo, to stir up hype before a product launch. Leaving the HTC-like design aside, we have a hard time believing that OnePlus would remove laser autofocus and dual-tone flash from its next flagship device; but hey, at least NFC is back, as hinted by the T-shaped antenna band.
