Chinese handset maker OnePlus launches 16GB variant of flagship smartphone 'One' for Rs 18,999 in India

After making its India debut in December last year, Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has now launched a 16GB variant of its flagship smartphone 'One' in the market. The device sports a 5.5 inch display and runs on runs a custom version (named 11S) of CyanogenMod, an open source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android mobile platform.

According to the company, the operating system brings the features users love (like 'quiet hours', an enhanced home screen, and a configurable 'quick settings' panel etc.) while giving them the freedom to mold their smartphone. The smartphone has been priced at Rs 18,999, and will be available for purchase exclusively on Amazon.in in the country.

Similar to its global sales model, OnePlus is offering the smartphone on an invite-only basis in India. In the country, the company has tied up with HCL Care to offer after-sales services for the smartphone in 20 cities.

In comparison, the 64GB version of the smartphone is available for Rs 21,999 in the country. While the 64GB version is available only in sandstone black colour, the 16GB model has been launched in silk white colour.

Here is a look at the specifications of the device.

The smartphone sports a 5.5 inch full HD IPS capacitive touchscreen display (1920×1080 pixel resolution) with 401 ppi pixel density and runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. It is powered by a 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and has 3GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 16GB, but further memory expansion is not available.

OnePlus One comes with a 13 megapixel autofocus rear camera with dual-LED flash that can also record 4K Ultra HD videos at 30 frames per second, as well as slow motion videos (720p) at 120 fps. In addition, it has a 5MP front facing camera for video calling. On the connectivity front, it has Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G LTE, as well as a microUSB port.

The dimensions of the device are 152.9mm x 75.9mm x 8.9mm and its weight is 162 gm. The company has provided a 3,100 mAh battery in the device, which also comes with GPS (with A-GPS support), bottom facing dual speakers, and Near Field Communication (NFC). It is available in silk white colour.

In terms of competition, the smartphone will primarily face off against the likes of Huawei Honor 6 and Xiaomi Mi 4 that are available for Rs 17,999 and Rs 19,999 respectively. Interestingly, while Honor 6 is Rs 1,000 cheaper than OnePlus One (16GB), Xiaomi's offering is costlier by that exact same amount.

Within a fortnight of making its India debut, OnePlus was banned (in Dec 2014) by the Delhi High Court from marketing, selling and shipping its smartphones in the country. At the time, the company had been instructed to refrain from shipping any stock bearing the mark 'Cyanogen' in India.

The temporary injunction was secured by home grown handset and tablet manufacturer Micromax, who claimed that by selling its smartphones in the country, OnePlus would be infringing the exclusive rights Micromax had acquired by an 'ambient services and application distributions agreement' with US-based Cyanogen Inc. The ban was lifted by the Delhi High Court later the same month.