OnePlus 2 review roundup: how does the new flagship hold up?

Techradar

“Come on, Apple and Samsung - this is how it should be done” writes Lily Prasuethsut for TechRadar. “OnePlus has done something utterly remarkable here: created a fingerprint sensor to rival Samsung and Apple, a screen to take on Sony, a laser autofocus that steps up to LG and a build quality that elevates it above most of its other rivals, yet does it for half the price.”

High praise indeed. TechRadar is seemingly sold on what the OnePlus Two offers at the price point.

The OnePlus 2 from all sides. / © OnePlus

Engadget

Engadget wrote an in-depth feature on the OnePlus 2, and made some telling comments about the display: “If you place the One and 2 side by side, you should notice the improvement. But by itself, the OnePlus 2's display didn't strike us as particularly noteworthy at first glance. It's certainly brighter than most smartphones in its class (about 600 nits of brightness, we're told), but brightness alone won't necessarily make it stand out.”

The OnePlus 2 comes with a choice of rear covers. / © OnePlus

The display may be a sore point for some users, given that it sticks to the Full-HD resolution of its predecessor. Engadget was keen to highlight what it's improved with its camera, though. 

“Camera-wise, don't be fooled by the same 13-megapixel and f/2.0 specs," writes Richard Lai, "because the real upgrade lies within the pixel density: a generous 1.3um instead of the common but smaller 1.12um for this resolution, meaning it's more capable in dark environments and therefore [takes] fewer blurry shots.”

The Verge

In some early impressions from The Verge, Nathan Ingraham wrote: "While most of these specs are pretty standard fare for a high-end smartphone, the price remains anything but: the 16 GB model will retail for $329, while the 64 GB version will go for $389. That’s more than last year’s model, but after spending some time with the phone, I feel like the price increase is justified for what you get."

The Verge’s feature was generally positive. Ingraham said that OnePlus’ software implementation was "graceful and minimalist," and that the fingerprint scanner did indeed "work as advertised".

The OnePlus 2 camera comes with a 13 MP sensor. / © OnePlus

Gizmodo

Finally Sean Hollister, writing for Gizmodo, says the OnePlus 2 is “so good, it makes me want to leave Verizon,” adding “the moment you touch this phone, you won’t believe it costs just $330. Why? Because in terms of materials and build quality, it’s only a stone’s throw away from the best you can buy”

We’ll have our hands-on OnePlus 2 review up tomorrow, once we’ve had a chance to fully test the device. The initial response has been generally positive, but what’s your opinion? Let us know in the comments below

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Moto X Style review: right look, great price [hands-on]

Good

• ✓Excellent build quality
• ✓Front camera with above-average performance thanks to thermal flash performance
• ✓MicroSD card support up to 128 GB

 

Bad

• ✕The 5.7-inch display may be too large for some users

Motorola Moto X Style release date and price

As stated above, the launch event of the third generation Moto X Style took place today (28/07) in São Paulo, where Motorola also introduced the Moto G 2015 and the Moto X Play. According to company executives, the new Moto X Style will come to the domestic and international markets in September this year. The phone will cost US$399, making the Style, which will be called the Moto X Pure Edition in the US, about US$200-$300 cheaper than current flagships from Samsung and Apple.

Motorola Moto X Style design and build quality

The Moto X Style has a 5.7-inch display, so it is significantly larger than the Moto X 2014. The back of the device remains curved, but now we have a metal detail built from the manufacturer logo to the rear camera.  When I saw the first rumors about this design detail, I immediately thought that it would get in the way, particularly when it is placed onto a table. However, that didn't happen - Motorola found a way to adapt this metallic detail without interfering with the user experience.

Note that the Moto X 2014, for example, has a dual camera flash with an LED holder placed around the camera sensor, forming a ring around it. Motorola said that it would optimize image quality and chose to remove that LED and re-use it just below the camera.

The "Style" in the device name is directly connected to the machine's construction standards. / © ANDRODIPIT

The backing comes in different materials such as leather Saffiano and genuine wood. The first has a texture reminiscent of denim and, I must say, is quite comfortable in the hand. Although I also use the Xperia Z2 and Samsung Galaxy S6, which both made of glass, the Moto X Style offers much more security in the hands because of the choice of material - it doesn't slip easily.

Apart from these features, there are other similarities in relation to the previous Moto X, such as the speaker for making calls and the loudspeaker positioned on the front, as well as the device's aluminum housing. But what can only be said is that in the upper-right corner we find an LED flash next to the front-facing camera, which serves to optimize the pictures captured in low light.

The front flash proved very functional in my early tests. / © ANDROIDPIT

At the top of the device is a slot for the SIM card. Just behind the tray is the entrance to a microSD card slot, with support for up to 128 GB. At the bottom is a micro USB port and at the right side are the wake/sleep and volume control buttons. As we have seen with other models from Motorola, the power button is textured so that users do not confuse with it with the volume control. Both buttons are accessible when using the smartphone with one hand.

The materials used on the back of the Moto X Style offers a secure grip. / © ANDRODIPIT

Finally, besides the traditional black and white colors, you can also use Moto Maker to customize it in up to three different frames and back covers. In the time I spent with this device, I can say that the unit's size is good and the design features have been done well, despite the changes on the back or even the addition of a flash on the front. Thus, Motorola continues to offer, in my opinion, one of the best-designed phones on the market today.

Motorola Moto X Style display

Motorola decided to go with a 5.7-inch screen and greatly increase the resolution to QHD. So now we have a display of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels at a density of 515 dpi. The screen is better than the Moto X 2014 and apparently Motorola was able to correct the yellowing that we saw in the last generation. With this, the whites are more pure and the colors on the screen look more realistic.

My first impression with the Moto X screen was good and gave good response to touch inputs.

The Moto X screen offers superior clarity. / © ANDRODIPIT

Motorola Moto X Style special features

The Moto X series has a voice control system which is, according to Motorola, even smarter than previous years. The "Moto" is still in the device settings menu and under the category "voice assistant" where the Moto X is different from others. In this intelligent command center we find the options Assist, Stocks, Voice and more - the same as we had in the 2nd gen. But the software learning mechanism has been optimized and we can now understand more complicated questions and prepare more complete answers.

However, the process will not happen overnight. You'll have to use the service often until the software gets used to the input.

Motorola Moto X Style software

Regarding Moto X 2015 software, all UI features are quite similar to those found in the Nexus line. That is, there are few changes made to stock Android. And that's one of the strengths of this series since it makes the line one of the first to receive Android updates. However, as mentioned above, the way the software interacts and learns from users is what distinguishes Motorola smartphones from those launched by Google in partnership with other manufacturers.

The Moto X Style comes with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. / © ANDRODIPIT

Furthermore, it's quite clear that the integration of software and hardware delivers good performance and operating system fluidity. At this point the Moto X 2015 runs with Android 5.1 and upgrade to the latest version of Android is already guaranteed. However, it was not said when and if this device will receive Android M this year. I was told that the device would receive Android M towards the end of this year or even early 2016, but that will depend on Google.

Motorola Moto X Style performance

The official announcement finally gave proof that the new Moto X is packing a six-core Snapdragon 808 processor and all the worry surrounding the Snapdragon chipset 810 has since disappeared. As a result, Motorola joins LG by opting for performance that is supposedly inferior, in favor of a better user experience. The GPU of the new Moto X is the Adreno 418, which promises the same graphic quality of LG G4, for example. Together with the CPU and GPU, we have 3 GB of RAM and two variants of internal storage: 32 GB and 64 GB. The Moto X Style has microSD card support up to 128 GB.

The dual-function chip has a smart pair mode connection, which means you do not need the SIM card to be switched manually to make calls, for example, as the chip does it automatically.

The device scored 48,833 points in AnTuTu. / © ANDROIDPIT

With the time I spent with this device, I can say that the performance of the Moto X Style processor does not lack in relation to other high-end smartphones announced this year. Incidentally, this generation of the Moto X is the best smartphone ever released by Motorola.

Motorola Moto X Style audio

Finally we have a Moto X with a pair of stereo speakers on the front. With this, the device wins in sound quality, but unfortunately during the launch event I couldn't tell how much better the audio delivered by Moto X Style was when compared to the 2014 model. But it already seems to me a gain in terms of sound quality.

Now we have two speakers for true stereo audio in the Moto X. / © ANDRODIPIT

Motorola Moto X Style camera

It is no secret that many users of the first two generations of the Moto X have been satisfied with performance of these devices' software functions - but for many, the camera is a point for criticism. However, Motorola this time seems to have devoted special attention to the Moto X's camera. For starters, the Moto X Style comes with a 21 megapixel rear camera that is more sensitive to specific colors, matching the intensity of light to each of these colors. In addition, the sensor is capable of recording videos in 4K and in slow motion. When recording in 1,080 pixels (Full HD), you can capture up to 120 frames per second, and 240 fps are possible when recording in 720p.

The Moto X Style camera has a 21 MP sensor and, at first glance, does a good job in low-light environments. / © ANDRODIPIT

However, what really draws attention in Moto X Style is the front camera, and not the 5 megapixel sensor. The Moto X Style's front camera has an LED flash that allow users to improve selfies, since they can now do self-portraits in low light. I tested it and, at first, it seemed to improve more details in the pictures, but I'll need to use it at night to know whether this is a feature which delivers on what it promises.

In this image, on the left we have the iPhone 6 and on the right an example of selfie with the Moto X Style. / © ANDROIDPIT

Wait for the final review of Moto X Style to see the device's camera quality and what modes you can use. So far I can only say that we have HDR, panorama and burst mode, along with manual exposure options.

Motorola Moto X Style battery

The Moto X 2015 has a 3,000 mAh battery capacity and has Turbo Charging technology. According to Motorola, you can use the Moto X Style under average load for more than 40 hours. Unfortunately, the battery is one of the topics I can answer only in the full review, as I need more time to provide a full account. However, it is good to see that Motorola has upgraded the capacity in comparison to the Moto X 2014, which was only 2,300 mAh.

Motorola Moto X Style technical specifications

• • TYPE:
  • Phone
  • MODEL:
  • Sorry, not yet available!
  • MANUFACTURER:
  • Motorola
  • DIMENSIONS:
  • 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.06 mm
  • WEIGHT:
  • 179 g
  • BATTERY SIZE:
  • 3000 mAh
  • SCREEN SIZE:
  • 5.7 in
  • DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY:
  • LCD
  • SCREEN:
  • 2560 x 1440 pixels (515 ppi)
  • FRONT CAMERA:
  • 5 megapixels
  • REAR CAMERA:
  • 21 megapixels
  • FLASHLIGHT:
  • Dual-LED
  • ANDROID VERSION:
  • 5.1.1 - Lollipop
  • USER INTERFACE:
  • Stock Android
  • RAM:
  • 3 GB
  • INTERNAL STORAGE:
  • 32 GB
    64 GB
  • REMOVABLE STORAGE:
  • microSD
  • CHIPSET:
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
  • NUMBER OF CORES:
  • 6
  • MAX. CLOCK SPEED:
  • 1.8 GHz
  • CONNECTIVITY:
  • HSPA, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1

Early Verdict

The Moto X Style is a real device upgrade competing directly with the LG G4, the Xperia Z3+, HTC One M9, the iPhone 6 and probably the iPhone 6S, among others. Looking at the mobile market, however, the price of the 3rd generation of the Moto X is its great advantage, which is well below other smartphones out there.

When we look at the technical specifications in this Moto X Style review, we realize that Motorola has optimized the hardware and brought great improvements to the software. Therefore, the Moto X line has evolved in all aspects. In summary, the Moto X Style is a great handset which is even greater when we analyze its cost-to-benefit ratio in comparison to the wider smartphone market.

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Review: Game of Thrones - The many-faced game

 

Spoiler alert!
Game of Thrones has always been a show that elicits extreme reactions from its fans, and as the seasons have progressed, it has only increased in its divisiveness. On the one hand, there is the epic scope of its storytelling, the nuanced insight into deplorable characters and the fascinating way it explores themes of morality, war and power. And on the other hand is the over-the-top violence and nudity, which in recent seasons has combined into gratuitous and unnecessary instances of sexual violence. The show’s fifth season, which recently concluded, amplifies both these aspects.

If there was an overarching theme to this season, it was how difficult it is to retain power once you have it. In their disparate storylines, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) all struggle with the power they have suddenly acquired: Cersei finally rules at King’s Landing, with her young son merely a puppet whose strings she can easily pull, Jon Snow is unexpectedly pushed into a leadership position at the Night’s Watch, where he has to contend with the growing threat of the White Walkers, and Daenerys struggles to maintain some semblance of order in Meereen in the aftermath of her abolition of slavery. All three character arcs go in wildly different directions but all three are hugely satisfying to watch. Both Daenerys and Jon learn, over the course of the season, that having good intentions and idealistic notions doesn’t always translate into mass popularity or effective governance, while Cersei finds out how alliances to maintain power can sometimes backfire horrifically.

This season also has one of the most highly-anticipated character interactions in the history of the show — Daenerys finally meets Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) as he travels across the Narrow Sea to see her. The meeting is everything a fan of the show hoped for — her no-nonsense idealism and his sardonic witticisms clash perfectly as both bond over politics and personal issues. The season also boasts its most breath-taking and thrilling battles to date, with all the necessary twists and turns finally bringing to a head the White Walker storyline.

In contrast to these positives was this season’s infuriating treatment of women and the blasé way in which it meted out sexual violence, including to fan favourite Sansa Stark. In a storyline the showrunners changed from the books (written by George RR Martin) specifically for her character, Sansa is married to the sadistic Ramsay Bolton, who rapes her on their wedding night and continues to assault her throughout the season. The storyline caused great controversy amongst the online community and for good reason — it’s not only the violence that has become too much to stomach, it’s the fact that the storyline was doubly redundant. In the past seasons, the show has already established (in gruesome detail) the depths of Ramsay’s depravity, and Sansa has already been in a position where she was subjected to abuse (lest anyone forgets Joffrey), so the storyline served no purpose other than to incite outrage.

The season was also a disappointment in some other storylines which had a great deal of potential but were a huge let-down. The biggest was the Dorne arc in which Jamie goes to Dorne to rescue his daughter-slash-niece. The arc was supposed to highlight the Sand Snakes, a group of female warriors, but it depicted them as unintelligent women bent on revenge. The Stannis storyline was also clumsily executed, with a focus on shocking twists instead of nuanced character development. Both are examples of producers taking great liberties with the source material. With the finale ending at the same place the latest book in the series ends, the next season will plausibly include more improvisation on the  producers’ part.

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Movie review: No Land’s Song

No Land’s Song documents the emotional journey of a group of Iranian women struggling to sing solo in public.

Life in Iran took a drastic turn following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. A number of those changes resulted in women losing significant rights and liberties which they had earned during the Shah’s regime. For example, hijab was made compulsory, women could no longer serve as judges and they lost custody of their children following a divorce while men were allowed to take up to four wives.

Not only did space for women begin to shrink but their voices were also clamped down (quite literally) when the regime banned female singers from singing solo in public — unless the audience comprised of only women. However, 35 years later, composer Sara Najafi and her group of female singer friends decided to reclaim public space for the female voice by organising a concert in Tehran. Their journey is beautifully documented by film-maker and Sara’s brother Ayat Najafi in No Land’s Song, which premiered at the Human Rights Film Festival in New York this month.

The film opens with a vibrant and wide-eyed Sara convincing her female friends and artists to recreate the glory days of iconic Iranian female singers, such as Qamar al-Moluk Vaziri, Delkash and Googoosh who took the stage and blew the audience away with their magical notes. As the idea begins to pick up momentum, Sara also invites French and Tunisian artists to participate in the concert in an attempt to show and share the richness of her culture with people from different parts of the world.

The film follows Sara as she scuttles between securing permission for the concert from the Iranian Ministry of Culture, convincing foreign singers to come and perform despite obvious obstacles, procuring visas, making travel arrangements, organising rehearsals and revisiting old sites and tales that help the viewer understand the rich Persian culture that Sara is trying to revive through this simple act.

While Sara’s love for her culture and music is contagious and gets you rooting for her from the moment she takes the screen, the film is a grave reminder that we still live in a world where women have to go to great lengths for something as simple as wanting to sing alone in public. These points are driven home in a few powerful scenes such as the one where a religious scholar cites the tendency of men to get aroused and be led astray by a female voice as valid grounds for banning women from singing in public. In another scene, an official from the cultural ministry advices Sara to include a few male singers in her line-up to ‘drown’ out the female voices in order to increase the chances of obtaining a permit for the concert.

Even though the film covers several years of struggle by Sara and fellow artists, it does not become monotonous or repetitive at any point. In fact, the concert is used very skillfully to explain the larger struggle against archaic beliefs and power structures that the people of Iran are up against on a daily basis. It also shows the audience that Iran is ready for a change — even if it comes through the simplest of acts such as wanting to hear the sound of your own voice in front of a large audience.

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