This year, consumers have seen a number of smartphones that are geared more on the cheaper side of the price scheme. So far, two of these devices managed to stand out and people couldn't help but compare the two budget-friendly phones.
The devices in question are no other than the OnePlus 2 and the ZUK Z1. Both have specs that are almost identical. When they do differ at a few points, the difference is only minimal and almost irrelevant.
Let us try to take a closer look at each of these new rival phones that both belong to the "richer specs, cheaper phone" category.
OnePlus 2
OnePlus 2 is the successor to the well-loved OnePlus One. The company has a unique marketing strategy of selling its handsets only to people who were lucky enough to get an invite. The latest reports say there are currently two million people who are waiting to get their invite to buy the OnePlus 2. The competition is so stiff that one loyal fan even discovered a way to "hack" the company's invite system to improve his number ranking.
The OnePlus 2 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor at 1.8GHz. Other features that make it unique compared to the Z1 include a 4GB RAM, 5MP front camera, 3300mAh battery, 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, and OxygenOS 2.0 for the OS. It also has dimensions of 151.80 by 74.90 by 9.85 mm (5.98 by 2.95 by 0.39 inches).
ZUK Z1
The Z1 is the real newcomer to the smartphone world since it was announced only recently by Lenovo-owned manufacturer ZUK. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core SoC at 2.5GHz. Other features include 3GB of RAM, 4100mAh battery, 8MP front camera, and Android 5.1. It measures 155.70 by 77.30 by 8.9 mm (6.13 by 3.04 by 0.35 inches).
The rest of the specs are identical between the two handsets. Both feature a 5.5-inch touchscreen display of 1080 by 1920 pixels, 64GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera, WiFi, dual SIM (both are Nano-SIM) and GSM. Both also weigh 175 grams (0.39 pound).
The biggest difference perhaps is the fact that the Z1 doesn't require an invite for buyers to get their hands on the device. Compared to the OnePlus 2's retail price of $389 for the 64GB, the Z1 is said to retail at only $285, which is absolutely cheaper than the other for more than $100. It also sports a better 8MP front camera compared to OnePlus 2's 5MP which could make it the smartphone of choice for those who are keen on taking their selfies.
Performance-wise, it's still early to say how one fares against the other. Clearly, OnePlus 2 may have an edge at this point, as some consumers who are waiting for an invite from the company are the same ones who also purchased the original OnePlus and have become loyal fans since then.
