OnePlus CEO Lau responds to criticism over the OnePlus 5

by Alan Friedman / Jun 26, 2017, 8:54 PM

The back of the OnePlus 5 bares more than just a passing resemblance to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Nearly a week ago, the OnePlus 5 was unveiled, and instead of being introduced to a chorus of cheers, the latest flagship killer was met by a number of criticisms. Today, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Pete Lau responded to some of the issues that were at the heart of these complaints. Let's start with the story that the phone was rigged to produce higher benchmark scores.

Lau responded to comments about the OnePlus 5 allegedly producing high benchmark scores that were not legit by saying that "We only try to tap the full potential of the CPU. We don’t even know how to overclock." A company statement says that the boosted benchmark scores "best displays the true performance capabilities of the OnePlus 5." While we often write about the results of benchmark tests, we wouldn't say that the average guy on the street, or even the most sophisticated phone buyer, relies on them to decide which handset to purchase. As a result, even if OnePlus did manipulate the scores, it might not make much of a difference in sales.

One thing that made potential OnePlus 5 buyers wonder was the resemblance of the device to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. The two handsets look so similar with the dual rear-camera set up on both phones, they could have been perfect body doubles, or long-lost twins. Lau responded by saying that he has heard similar comments since the launch of the OnePlus One. "But time has proved everything," Lau said. "OnePlus One has become a classic."

Once again, the OnePlus 5 is caught up in the same old argument about the resolution of the screen. Many believe that a QHD panel is too much on a smartphone, and that you cannot tell the difference between an FHD or QHD panel. And even if you could tell a 1440p screen apart from a 1080p display, the question is whether it is worth the higher price and lower battery life in order to purchase the model packing a QHD screen. Keep in mind that it is not a coincidence that the BlackBerry KEYone and the Moto Z Play both sport an FHD resolution on their displays. Those two handsets have been able to achieve amazing battery life. Of course, the Snapdragon 625 chipset has a lot to say about that, but it helps when the battery on the phone doesn't have to feed a 1440 x 2560 display.

The OnePlus handsets are known for their low pricing compared to similarly spec'd flagship models. But the new OnePlus 5 features the highest price ever for a OnePlus phone. As CEO Lau points out, prices of components have been going up and the OnePlus 5 uses 8GB of RAM on some models. That can't be cheap. And Lau notes that something as seemingly minor as the cost of the retail box, has gone up in price this year.

For every issue raised by consumers and the media, the OnePlus CEO had an answer that might help the OnePlus 5 get back on track with consumers.

source: TheIndianExpress

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Display 5.5" 1080 x 1920 pixels

Camera 16 MP / 16 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 2457 MHz

Storage 128 GB

Battery 3300 mAh

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29 Comments

1. Pitrich

Posts: 239; Member since: Apr 13, 2016

US tech junkies are never happy. Seriously the toughest two please

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 9:21 PM 4

8. asiansatan

Posts: 59; Member since: Sep 18, 2014

Are you, by chance, a Chinese tech junky... just curious!

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 11:05 PM 6

16. you_sukk_it

Posts: 219; Member since: Apr 11, 2017

1-""We only try to tap the full potential of the CPU. We don’t even know how to overclock." irelevant because you can never use that potential power. like VW dieselgate that lied you get high mpg when in life you got very bad mpg 2-"We don’t even know how to overclock." I find it very hard to believe you wouldnt know how to overclock the cpu if you needed to. LIE 3-"he has heard similar comments since the launch of the OnePlus One." you didnt hear anything similar about the opo because it didnt look ANYTHING like an iphone. NOTHING the op5 is an apple clone. period. get some of your own styling going. china is the clone captial of the world. and I buy an android so it wont look like an iphone. 4-"same old argument about the resolution of the screen. Many believe that a QHD panel is too much on a smartphone" its an argument for so long because QHD has been in flagship phones for 4 years now. the only reason they didnt put a QHD in the op5 is price and more profit for them. QHD still costs a lot. and you can easily notice a FHD and QHD-EASILY. 4 months ago someone bragged on their new phone, immedietely I noticed there was no denseness to the type on the screen. battery life is better my ass. ZTE AXON 7 has better battery life then the op3/t so thats some bulls**t right there. once you have a QHD, FHD doesnt cut it. and whos the moron who buys BlackBerry KEYone and the Moto Z Play ? both shetty phones. the op5 is a frugal phone. meaning they give u the illusion youre getting a high end phone by using an 835 and 6gb ram but skimp on other things like a bigger battery or FHD or weather sealing no 2x camera zoom which isnt so wonderful to begin with. and it says "2x" on the button in the app. and HORRIBLE video stabilization. this phone will fail. with over 60% not liking the phone in pa poll

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 3:19 AM 0

18. ShadowSnypa786

Posts: 609; Member since: Jan 06, 2017

"he has heard similar comments since the launch of the OnePlus One" Thats referring to when OP3 was shown off and people said it looks like a HTC clone and once people got it into their hands their minds changed. Phone Arena did an article a few days ago and mentioned it. "same old argument about the resolution of the screen. Many believe that a QHD panel is too much on a smartphone" Apple devices are not even QHD yet no one minds yet if an android OEM stays on FHD its the worst thing ever?

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 3:26 AM 1

20. you_sukk_it

Posts: 219; Member since: Apr 11, 2017

1-dont refer to nothing. he said opo. none of the phones looked like iphones. the op5 is a horrible clone. the reason people are pissed is because they dont want an iphone looking android device. feck apple ok. stop comparing. compare op with android phone. people who buy apple are too stupid to know what they want. apple forces it down their throats and tell them, this is what you want. these are not the droids youre looking for stuff. they havent put a QHD on a phone for many years. last year they got away with it barely. this year they failed by not putting it. theyre trying to deflect with pitiful excuses. bottom line. theyre using a cheaper regurgitated screen because it costs them less and they want more profit. theyve been selling phones for $400 and now want to bump prices and give less expensive components. when a ZTE AXON 7 can sell for $400 and have an excellent QHD screen, I call BS with op. I wouldnt mind if they bumped the price and offered better components. and no water sealing to boot. watch and see. the hype will die down in 2 months. it will fail. the poll PA did where over 60% did not like the op5...it says it all.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 3:38 AM 1

22. ShadowSnypa786

Posts: 609; Member since: Jan 06, 2017

He said since the launch of the OPO meaning the 1st phone till now, not just the One Plus One. Of course you can compare to iphones why cant you? They a smartphone right? If thats the case you can never compare samsungs to iphones or huawei to iphones and obviously everyone does. Who doesnt bump up prices??? Huawei's used to be cheap and they went up and when the galaxy S1 and S2 were released they were cheaper than iphones and their prices increased too. It always happens its nothing new. But the fact is right now there is no android device with Snapdragon 835 with 6 or 8gb of ram for less than £600.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 4:26 AM 0

23. JC557

Posts: 1925; Member since: Dec 07, 2011

Well Phonescoop's criticism sounds pretty reasonable. Considering the price of the OnePlus 5 they damn well better deliver.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 6:01 AM 0

2. redmd

Posts: 1947; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

Other Chinese OEM have better design and value for money. "Oneplus one has become a classic" copycat that is.

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 9:32 PM 6

3. ZeroSlack_Jack

Posts: 35; Member since: May 02, 2017

Is this a sponsored post as well? Certainly looks like one.

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 9:50 PM 6

4. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

OMFG, stop calling it a flagship killer, LMFAO

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 9:51 PM 8

10. dimas

Posts: 3394; Member since: Jul 22, 2014

To be fair with Lau, their pricing is still a flagship killer. You won't get a snapdragon 835 for that price

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 11:18 PM 5

27. yoghibawono

Posts: 240; Member since: May 04, 2016

Umm with your name indicating where u r from/born, you get a cheaper sd835 in xiaomi mi6 at your country.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 9:33 AM 0

29. you_sukk_it

Posts: 219; Member since: Apr 11, 2017

im wondering if zte will launch an axon 8. the 7 was better then the op3/t for less.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 1:19 PM 0

5. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3109; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

Fail.

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 10:13 PM 4

6. dampv

Posts: 33; Member since: Oct 06, 2012

typical thicked skin chinese lol

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 10:29 PM 2

7. kiko007

Posts: 7520; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

Isn't the phrase "thin skinned"?

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 10:46 PM 0

21. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

Thick skin as in the thicker the skin, the more shameless a person is. You know, WiFi...thick wall, wave penetration low...thin wall...easier access.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 3:59 AM 2

24. yann

Posts: 614; Member since: Jul 15, 2010

That's why phones have so called antenna bands. One is for network receiver, other is for WiFi. It is nothing in common with thin skin of the phone.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 8:18 AM 0

28. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

Lol... Really? Do you know what we're talking about? The Wi-Fi was just an analogy.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 10:43 AM 0

9. boozer

Posts: 7; Member since: May 24, 2014

" Lau responded by saying that he has heard similar comments since the launch of the OnePlus One" The original OPO was based on the design of the Oppo Find 5 (as a matter of the fact the camera and speaker grill decals are fairly different between the two) and no, it does not resemble anything like an iPhone.

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 11:07 PM 4

11. bossman

Posts: 264; Member since: Jan 27, 2016

"But time has proved everything," Lau said. "OnePlus One has become a classic." That still doesn't excuse the fact that the OP5 looks like iPhone 7 plus with a oneplus logo on it.

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 11:18 PM 8

12. jove39

Posts: 2148; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

"OnePlus One has become a classic." Lol...my one plus one is dead and collecting dust. I'll drop it for recycling on next trip to best buy.

posted on Jun 26, 2017, 11:41 PM 5

13. sasch

Posts: 40; Member since: Sep 19, 2012

No one will ever be entirely happy! You can only do so much with the design and the camera placement come on if it looks similar to an iPhone the that's ok last year it looked like an htc thanks to the antenna bands. Pricing is about to go up if you fill up with features and storage plus huge ram so I totally can live with the 1080 screen it loads oks great and no need to go 4 k and ruin the great battery life I am sure the op5 t will have some improvements people have to stop being so unappreciative of what they getting for this sort of money

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 12:59 AM 1

14. Anchor

Posts: 160; Member since: Jun 16, 2017

I think he's right, a 2k screen is definitely not worth it on a smartphone, Android OEMs like packing specs in their phones without considering what's really best for the consumer and there's where iPhone excel, they just know to do enough, sure they may not be as innovative as they were but they don't go hay wire with specs and totally ignore reason. What I said still doesn't justify the price tags on the iPhone. I think people have to realize that no matter how many pixels you pack in your phone, you can't still see the future with it.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 1:13 AM 1

15. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

"I think he's right, a 2k screen is definitely not worth it on a smartphone" That's entirely subjective. "Android OEMs like packing specs in their phones without considering what's really best for the consumer"... It is the consumers to decide what is best for themselves. Others want at least 1440p for VR content, others do not want VR and prefer more battery life... You can't meet the need of each and everyone in a single device.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 1:27 AM 3

17. Mr.Pussy

Posts: 348; Member since: Feb 16, 2017

Lau should go dig a big hole next to Steve Jobs and tell him more about this OP5 looks. Becaused we all know it looks like the iPhone 7 Plus. No more excuses homie.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 3:26 AM 2

19. A_A_A

Posts: 226; Member since: Jan 23, 2017

They could have added water resistance to justify price increase somehow.

posted on Jun 27, 2017, 3:28 AM 1

25. blehkwide

Posts: 22; Member since: Feb 24, 2016

The issue people has with this phone is likely since because their motto is NEVER SETTLE, but in this case it’s just using a similar casing to the sister company with OPPO R11 even with the dual camera set up, having it look like any other phones are there also doesn’t sound like a never settle theme. Not having QHD isn’t not too bad since S8 also run 1080p natively. Price is kinda steep now though. Most new phones are the same price. Lg g6 and Huawei p10 cost about the same, and I would assume people will choose LG for the water proofing, wireless charging, wide angle camera, QHD screen.