Greetings friends,
I have taken a very radical approach to thinking about product design today. I have decided to set my Apple biases aside (have done for close to a week or so now) and write an objective piece on how OnePlus has taken product design to a whole new level riding on the shoulders of many others. Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Product Packaging:
Apple is known for its immaculate attention to detail for their products, including their packaging. Regardless of which product you choose amongst their line-up, they are the gold standard when it comes to packaging tech and quality. What Apple takes pride in with their packaging is the fact that it is minimal and avoids wastage in material and hence saves space while shipping. This plays a significant role in saving the planet by shipping more phones in fewer flights.
Well Bravo! But it is time to move on as other companies have started reducing their carbon footprints as well.
The OnePlus One comes in a slick new book-like case that is not only awesome to unbox but truly functional too. Argument could be that they haven’t put everything in one box. The charger block comes in a separate box.
The packaging is not only brilliant but so is the thought behind each and every item inside the box. The charging/USB cable for instance is flat and does not entangle like the ones you get with other devices. It even comes with a recoil band that helps keep it from wearing over time. The SIM tray removal pin comes inside a rubber cover of it’s own that can be clubbed on a keychain. Although why we’d log that around all the time puzzles me. However nice touch. They also have included a NanoSIM to MicroSIM adaptor for switchers from the iOS devices. “Smart or Cocky? You decide!”
Reference images – below.
Now for the more important bit which Apple seems to have ignored right from the beginning – ‘device comfort’ in the hand. I bet you’ve not thought of this before. Over the years, the iPhone has come a long way in product design and it has almost set the standards with their product and packaging design. However, they now seem to have taken a break in developing breakthrough designs. The iPhone looks and feels incredibly sexy in your hand and even better in photos. But does it really serve the purpose of being a good phone while using it? Of course it is a very subjective topic but do you fell comfortable holding it WITHOUT A CASE? If your answer is Yes then you are a minority with sweaty palms.
To me it is far from a comfortable design to hold. Jonathan Ive is brilliant, no doubt but he’s designing great looking phones. Someone needs to remind him that the phones are going to be held and used, not only clicked pictures of. Right from the first iPhone the devices have had extremely smooth surfaces and have inevitably been slippery.
Now cut to the OnePlus One. This device has two variants – 16Gb white and 64Gb sandstone. The sandstone model feels like soft sandpaper and apparently the white model had the feel of baby skin. Besides these OnePlus also has a few other backs that can be bought to customize the look and feel of the device.
The gallery above shows us the difference in material design. The iPhone as always stellar in material design yet not the best fit for a human hand, read Slippery. Especially humans with smaller hands. The OnePlus One is not the most comfortable for smaller hands either but thanks to the slightly sharp edges and the soft sandpaper material (on the 64Gb Sandstone model) it feels extremely reassuring when taken out from a trouser pocket. Whereas the iPhones are dangerously slippery when picked out from one’s pocket. The Apple device accessories industry is thriving thanks to this fact.
However these are my personal opinions and do not stand true for ever user.
Conclusion:
Although a lot can be said about the design language Apple undertakes with its products and the quality of build being far superior to anyone (maybe HTC comes close with its One recently). It is a case of what feels premium does not necessarily be the best for the customer. My vote is for the OnePlus One for the sheer brilliance in choice of material for the back of the device which is what brings out the perception of quality in the consumers mind and also is a highly functional design element. Despite not using premium material like aluminium all around the device they have pulled off design magic with it.
However I would strongly suggest you try out both devices (yeah good luck finding a OnePlus One!) and then come to a conclusion yourself.
Note: I am and for the foreseeable future will remain an Apple Fanboy.
The Gadget Obsessed! 