OnePlus One Specs: Is The CyanogenMod Smartphone Better Than the HTC One E8?

Ever since this upcoming smartphone was announced, a lot of people have already marvelled at its OnePlus One specs, especially considering its price tag of just below $400. 

But now that it's available in some areas, we can get a comparison whether the OnePlus One stands a chance against the HTC flagship level One E8, which gets a plastic polycarbonate body instead of the aluminum of the original. 

Design

Both the OnePlus One and the One E8 have impressive design. Through the years, HTC has already been made popular by its premium-looking designs, even for midrangers, and the quality really shows for actual flagship-level handsets. On the other hand, OnePlus is pretty new in the industry but it has managed to pique the interest of many with its cool-looking smartphone that packs thin bezels and frame. 

Display

Both devices run on Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, though the OnePlus One's display a bit bigger at 5.5 inches compared to the 5-incher of the HTC flagship. Both devices also use an IPS screen so there isn't much to compare aside from the slightly lower pixel density of the OnePlus One due to a bigger screen. Overall, there are almost no reasons why you would choose either of the phones just by looking at the screen. 

Processor

Both run on Snapdragon 801 and pack a 2GB RAM. The two devices also run on the same version of KitKat, though OnePlus One uses CyanogenMod which has been pretty popular among power users of Android devices. On the storage side, the One E8 gets a 16GB built-in memory with a microSD card slot, while the OnePlus One boasts either a 16GB or 64GB option for storage, but does not offer any options for storage expansion. 

Price and Availability

Both the HTC One E8 and the OnePlus One are aggressively priced, though the latter is certainly the cheaper of the two. While both phones get a 13MP primary camera, HTC has the advantage for its 5MP front cam. Unfortunately, if you are thinking of getting the OnePlus One, you may have to be patient as it is not readily available in most markets. On the other hand, the E8 has been launched in the US, though international availability is not yet clear.