OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus X: A Look At OnePlus' 2015 Offerings

OnePlus release two phones in 2015, the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus X — so what’s deal with them and how do they differ?

OnePlus came straight outta nowhere a few years ago and thanks to its interesting approach to building, pricing, and marketing smartphones, particularly with an emphasis on fostering community interaction, it has managed to maintain quite a high level of interest from its bloc of dedicated fans.

It all started with the OnePlus One, which tested the water rather effectively and prompted a follow-up wth two handsets inside 2015 - the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X. Later on in 2016 will see the company unveil the OnePlus 3.

Two handsets, it would appear, are better than one in today’s marketplace. Everybody’s doing it — even Apple. OnePlus’ pitch is slightly different, though, because ALL of its handsets are a lot cheaper than all of its peers’ offerings. And with the OnePlus X the company has an even cheaper proposition next to its flagship OnePlus 2.

OnePlus has also now confirmed a rather substantial price cut for its OnePlus 2 as well: 

“When it first launched last year, you could only buy a OnePlus 2 if you had a special invitation. Now, OnePlus has lifted its invite restriction to make its second flagship smartphone available to all. If that wasn't enough, OnePlus has just lowered the price of the OnePlus 2 to an astonishing £249, making it practically half the price of almost every other major top-end smartphone currently available,” reports Expert Reviews. 

It added: “This is incredible value, as you not only get a massive 64GB of storage, but it also comes with one of Qualcomm's top of the range octa-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 810 chipsets and a massive 4GB of RAM, giving the same amount of processing power as other 2015 flagships such as the Sony Xperia Z5.”

This article is designed to show you the differences between OnePlus’ 2015 releases and, hopefully, help you decide which one is right for you should you decide to buy a phone from OnePlus, as a lot of people did in 2014/15. Below we’ll take a look at the design, specs, hardware and price of both handsets, as well as how they compare to similar phones like the Nexus 5X.

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus X: Design

The OnePlus 2 looks like a progression on from the OnePlus One. OnePlus refined the look and feel and improved the build materials, all the while keeping similar proportions. The OnePlus X looks like the iPhone 5s — and, no, I’m not just saying that because I’m an Apple fanboy. It does. Period. Even the bottom of the OnePlus X looks the same as the iPhone 5s.

The OnePlus X measures in at 140 x 69 x 6.9mm and is the smallest handset the company produces, while the OnePlus 2 measures 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.85mm, making it quite a bit larger. Similarly, the OnePlus X has a 5in display while the OnePlus 2 uses a 5.5in panel. Both are 1080p panels and both a very competent with respect to overall performance and brightness.

The OnePlus 2 is available in one colour (sandstone black), while the OnePlus X comes in two flavours: Onyx and Ceramic; the latter is the standard model, weighs 138g, and features a black glass and metal bezel. The ceramic edition is, well, limited and is therefore pretty tricky to get one’s hands on — OnePlus only made 10,000 of them.

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus X: Specs & Hardware

OnePlus X:

Dimensions: 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm (5.51 x 2.72 x 0.27 in)
Display: 5in AMOLED 1080 x 1920 pixels (~441 ppi pixel density)
OS: Android Lollipop
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
Memory: 3GB
Storage Options: 16GB
SD-Support: Yes
Imaging: 13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 2525 mAh battery

OnePlus Two:

Dimensions: 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.98 x 2.95 x 0.39 in)
Display: 5.5in LTPS IPS LCD 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density)
OS: Android Lollipop
Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810
Memory: 3/4GB
Storage Options: 16GB/64GB
SD-Support: No
Imaging: 13 MP, f/2.0, OIS, laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus X: Camera

The OnePlus X has a very respectable 13MP rear camera (f/2.2) that features autofocus, HDR and Clear Image. The front-facing shooter is an 8MP setup, replete with “Beauty Mode” to make all your imperfections disappear.

The OnePlus 2 also has a 13-megapixel rear camera but the aperture is slightly wider at f/2.0. It also features optical image stabilisation, unlike the OnePlus X, and a larger sensor (1/2.6in), so you’re able to take steadier, more detailed shots which result in better captured images and video footage.

Both are respectable, but the OnePlus 2 has the obvious edge here with OSI and a wider aperture.

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus X: Price

OnePlus X prices start at £199 for the Onyx edition. If you’re feeling flush and you can find one, you can pay £269 for the ceramic version. Think of the OnePlus X as the entry-level model, the budget phone, the one you might buy your mum or technophobe uncle for Christmas.

The OnePlus 2 starts at £239 for the 16GB model and jumps to £289 for the 64GB model. Given how paltry 16GB is these days we’d advise you to go for the 64GB model. It does cost more, obviously, but 16GB just isn’t enough storage for the modern user — even more so if you take a lot of pictures.

As of February 8 2016, OnePlus has revealed a permanent price cut for the OnePlus 2, down to £249 for the 64GB model. Here's what the firm posted on its official forums:

"We learned a lot from our first flagship phone. The invite system helped get the OnePlus 2 off the ground, and now thanks to both timing and scale, our operations have sized up to the Goldilocks principle of just right. So, why not let our fans join us in celebrating the fruits of our labor? The OnePlus 2 now has a price modification of $349, forever. If you’ve ever needed to give a friend another reason to join Team OnePlus, here you go."

OnePlus 2 vs. OnePlus X: Verdict

The way I see it this is simple: the top of the line OnePlus 2 costs £90 more than the OnePlus X. In the grand scheme of things this isn’t a lot of dosh and you get quite a bit more bang for your buck with the OnePlus 2, which has a better camera, larger battery, better chipset and all round better performance than its smaller sibling, the OnePlus X.

For that extra £90 you’re going to get a phone that is relevant for longer. The OnePlus 2 is a 64-bit smartphone, it has plenty of memory and a very decent camera. The OnePlus X’s Snapdragon 801, however, is now starting to show its age and we don’t expect its got many more years left in it. For this reason and a bunch more we’d 100% go for the OnePlus 2.