OnePlus One: Is The CyanogenMod-Powered Handset The Best Android Smartphone Today?

OnePlus One: Choosing the best smartphone is not all about specs. Sometimes, it is earned by joining all three major factors which include quality, functionality and affordability. 

And in these three crucial factors, the newly announced OnePlus One has certainly passed them with flying colors. 

So, does that make it the best Android smartphone today right away?

If you stay tuned for the OnePlus One's release a couple of weeks ago, you may have noticed it to be among the best smartphones ever released this year. And why not? It packs a 5.5-inch IPS Gorilla Glass 3 display, a Snapdragon 801 chipset, a quad-core CPU clocked at 2.5GHz, and 3GB of RAM. 

Placed in paper, and those specs already blow the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 out of the water. The only current flagship that can match those specs is the Sony Xperia Z2 that boasts a 3GB RAM as well. 

However, the OnePlus One is not yet done. Its chassis is made out of magnesium alloy, making it look better in build quality. Other features also shout premium, including the 13MP Sony-made camera that reportedly packs 6 sensors, a 5MP camera in front, an option for either 16GB or 64GB of internal memory, and the latest version of CyanogenMod based on Android 4.4 Kitkat.

With that kind of power and screen resolution, it is only worthy that the device gets a 3,000mAh battery - and in that department it still trumps other flagships.

There are also swappable back covers which would be made out of different materials such as Kevlar, bamboo, wood, etc. providing a more personalized look for your OnePlus One. 

To top it all, the OnePlus One only costs $349 for the 64GB model and just $299 for the 16GB version. If you are an Android fan who loves the CyanogenMod ecosystem and you want to get the most out of your hard-earned cash, then you better check out this phone as gets released by the end of the month. 

So, is the OnePlus One the best Android phone around based on the three factors we mentioned earlier? Until we get to see and use the final product, no one can say. But it is very close to achieving that.