OnePlus 5 Australian Launch: Everything You Need To Know
- 29 August, 2017 10:00
Chinese smartphone player OnePlus has set its sight on the Australian consumers, with this year’s flagship OnePlus 5 due for a soft launch this week. While they’re certainly entering a tough market, there’s definitely every chance that their pledge to ‘never settle’ and combination of high-spec and low-cost devices will still manage to resonate.
[Related: Where to buy OnePlus in Australia]
[Related: Inside Look: OnePlus Sydney Launch Event]
[Related: OnePlus 5: Full, In-depth review]
[Related: 10 Surprisingly Good Photos We Took On The OnePlus 5]
If you’re in the market for a new handset or even just a little curious about what the upstart brand has to offer, here’s what you need to know.
What is the OnePlus 5?
The OnePlus 5 is the sixth flagship smartphone from Chinese vendor OnePlus. It boasts a 5.5-inch AMOLED display and Snapdragon 835 processor.
There are two variants on offer for the handset: one with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of on-board storage, the other with 8GB and 128GB. Additionally, three different colors will be available: Slate Grey (exclusive to the 6GB model), Soft Gold and Midnight Black (exclusive to the 8GB model).
The branding for OnePlus has always been focused on pushing back against the idea that mid-tier has to mean cheap. According to them, there’s no reason you can’t squeeze the prestige, polish and performance of an iPhone or Galaxy smartphone into a better price-point.
'With OnePlus, you'll Never Settle', the company claims.
While that slogan is a little less unique nowadays, it remains a compelling position to take - let alone to make it as central to their branding as OnePlus have.
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What do you mean by ‘Soft Launch’?
While August 29th will be the first time OnePlus is officially selling its products to Australian (outside of online resellers), the company won’t be doing so through retail. At least, not yet.
Their initial foray into the Australian market will be limited to their own online channels and two ‘fan meet-up’ events in Melbourne and Sydney.
According to OnePlus, “Many of our fans in Australia have purchased our products via friends or family traveling abroad, or through parallel imports. However, this doesn't compare to the user experience when dealing directly with OnePlus.”
Credit: OnePlus ”We wanted to change this, but still being a relatively small company, we've decided to enter the Australian through a Soft Launch program to test our product and supply chain.”
How much will it cost?
The OnePlus 5 with 6 GB RAM and 64GB storage will be available in Slate Gray and Soft Gold colors for AUD $599.
The OnePlus 5 with 8 GB RAM and 128GB storage will be available in Midnight Black and Slate Gray colors for AUD $699.
OnePlus say that “that prices set during the Soft Launch are not indicative of future prices of our products in Australia,” which could be taken to mean that early adopters might actually stand to save a little bit of money for a change.
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Can I get any accessories for it?
Yes. OnePlus are throwing in a free OnePlus 5 Sandstone Protective Case with every phone purchase.
However, beyond that, you won’t be able to purchase OnePlus accessories and gear separately during the Soft Launch period. The other accessories on offer have to be bought as add-ons to their phone order, albeit at a discounted price.
Credit: OnePlus This includes the OnePlus Bullet headphones (priced at AUD $14.95), the OnePlus 5 Karbon Bumper Case (priced at AUD $24.95) and the Dash Car Charger (priced at AUD $24.95)
Where can I buy it?
Online through oneplus.net/au from August 29th until local stock runs out.
Does it come with a warranty?
The OnePlus 5 will come with a standard 2 year warranty.
OnePlus say “If you are not satisfied with your OnePlus product for any reason, you may request a return within 15 calendar days of delivery. Once we approve your request and receive the product, we will give you a full refund.”
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Are there any catches?
A few. Fortunately, nothing too insurmountable.
The OnePlus 5 won’t ship with an Australian power cable. Out of the box, it’ll come with a a UK Type G plug charger. You’ll have to source an adapter yourself.
In addition, while the company will be offering after sales services such as repair and replacement for phones bought during the Soft Launch, they say this will take longer than they typically do in other countries.
Credit: OnePlus Should I buy it?
Overseas, the OnePlus 5 has reviewed quite favorably.
The Verge’s Vlad Savov praised the ergonomics, aesthetics and performance of the handset but fell short of greatness when it came to its camera. “For OnePlus to stand out without its disruptive pricing, it needed to deliver something truly unique with its new camera system,” he wrote in his review.
Engadget’s Chris Valazco was similarly impressed, claiming that the device sees OnePlus make “the leap from good to great”. According to him, “anyone looking for a high-powered smartphone should have the OnePlus 5 on her shortlist.”
Expect to have our own review live on the site within the coming weeks.
