Buzz
With countless Android flagships to pick from, the Nexus 6P and OnePlus 2 stand out as two carrier-free devices that give you total control over your experience. But, which one should you choose? Let’s compare them based on long-term use.
The Competitors
The Nexus 6P and OnePlus 2 are designed for users who are done relying on carriers for updates, seeking unlocked, yet fully supported, Android phones to use anywhere. Both devices promise premium features without compromises. Let’s dive into the details of each one:
The Nexus 6P: Google’s flagship Nexus device, named Gizmodo’s Android phone for everyone. Manufactured by Huawei, this all-metal, 5.7-inch device ships with pure Android Marshmallow. It’s sleek and thin, yet still large enough to offer a bright, spacious screen that’s easy to use with one hand. Powered by a Snapdragon 810 eight-core processor, it features a 12.3 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front camera, and dual front-facing stereo speakers that are impressively loud. It also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and charges quickly via USB-C, thanks to its 3450 mAh battery.
The OnePlus 2: The follow-up to the OnePlus One, praised by Gizmodo for its power and affordability. Running OnePlus’ custom OxygenOS, which enhances Android with useful tweaks while keeping it bloat-free, the OnePlus 2 offers a 5.5-inch display with a metal frame and a “sandstone” backplate (which is customizable). Under the hood, it packs a Snapdragon 810 processor, dual-SIM support (one slot for extra storage), a 13 MP rear camera, and a 5 MP front camera. The OnePlus 2 also has a fingerprint sensor that doubles as the home button, and charges its 3300 mAh battery via USB-C.
This is a brief overview of each device, covering the specs as much as we will here. Our friends at Gizmodo have detailed reviews, packed with more photos and even some GIFs, linked above. We’re not looking to repeat their work, but instead, we’ll focus on our hands-on experience with each phone over time, highlighting the key features that will matter most in the long run.
Pricing
No matter which phone you choose, you’re getting a lot of value for your money. The Nexus 6P comes in three versions: a 32GB model for $499, a 64GB model for $549, and a 128GB model for $649. Available in black, aluminum, and “frost” (white), all versions include 3GB of RAM. I tested the 64GB version in black. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 2 is offered in two models: a 16GB version for $329 with 3GB of RAM, and a 64GB version for $389 with 4GB of RAM. I also tested the 64GB version of this one.
The price difference is quite noticeable. The 64GB models of both phones are $160 apart. Staying true to its roots, the OnePlus 2 is priced aggressively to beat out other flagships, positioning itself as a powerful device without the hefty price tag.
There are other factors that explain the price gap, of course. The OnePlus 2 is smaller, with a smaller screen, and it doesn’t offer the same premium, all-metal, ultra-slim design that the Nexus 6P does. Both phones share similar internal components, but OnePlus made the choice to skip NFC on the OnePlus 2. Although it does have a fingerprint sensor, it won’t be used for Android Pay or any of the other NFC features available on most other Android devices.
Design, Feel, and Usability
Both phones have a premium build, with the Nexus 6P perhaps feeling a bit more polished than the OnePlus 2, though that’s subjective. Neither phone feels cheap, and both can withstand a few knocks without any issues. They are both on the larger side, so if you're not fond of big phones, it might be a good idea to hold them in your hands before making a decision. For me, even though I’ve been using the first-generation Moto X for years, the Nexus 6P is the first device that made me realize a larger phone doesn’t have to be cumbersome.
The Nexus 6P is impressively slim, with a large, vibrant screen, and the fact that it maintains its thin profile while being made of all-metal is what makes it so easy to use with one hand. That’s a big deal for me—though I have large hands, my fingers are short, so one-handed operation is a must. The 6P has changed my view on bigger phones, making me a fan of their practicality.
Aside from its stunning all-metal frame and sleek design, the rear fingerprint sensor on the 6P is placed perfectly in a spot your fingers naturally reach when you pull it out of your pocket or pick it up from a desk (so make sure your index finger is registered!). This makes unlocking the phone as simple as picking it up. The chamfered power and volume buttons on the right side are a nice touch, adding to the phone’s premium feel. The only downside is that the Nexus 6P might be too thin (especially when trying to take a one-handed photo), but hey, that’s a good problem to have, right?
Compared to the Nexus 6P, the OnePlus 2 is smaller, but it’s noticeably heavier and thicker than its competitors. It even weighs more than the original OnePlus One. While this isn’t an issue for most tasks, unlocking the phone one-handed can be tricky. I have to shift my grip awkwardly to reach the fingerprint sensor (as noted in Gizmodo’s hands-on review), so be sure to hold it securely. The added weight may hinder one-handed use, but for two-handed tasks like taking photos, it feels solid and comfortable to hold.
Aside from its weight, the OnePlus 2 has a sleek, minimalist design. The power and volume buttons are easy to reach along the sides, though I do find them slightly high on the case (especially with my small fingers). One of the standout features is the notification slider on the left side, which allows you to quickly silence all notifications (by sliding all the way up) or set it to priority-only mode (by sliding to the middle)—no need to take the phone out of your pocket. It quickly became one of my favorite features, far easier than repeatedly pressing the volume button to switch to do-not-disturb mode during meetings.
The OnePlus 2 does fall short in one area—the audio quality—especially when compared to the impressive front-facing speakers of the Nexus 6P. The 6P’s speakers outperform almost every other phone on the market. By contrast, the OnePlus 2 features a bottom-facing main stereo speaker, which sounds tinny and subpar. However, it does come with a neat audio tuning tool, complete with an equalizer, detailed audio settings, and several ‘profiles’ for music, video, and games, although the speaker still doesn’t quite do it justice. These controls, however, work brilliantly with headphones or external speakers.
Battery Performance
On paper, both phones have similar battery capacities. But in practice, I found the Nexus 6P to have noticeably better battery life. This is likely due to Android Marshmallow's 'Doze' feature, which significantly boosts battery performance. There were times when I didn’t use the Nexus 6P for over a day, and its battery barely drained at all. Over the first few weeks, I only needed to charge it a couple of times—an improvement from the usual habit of charging every night.
With heavy usage, I could run the Nexus 6P’s battery down in a single day, but only if I was really pushing it—web browsing, taking photos, listening to music, texting, and playing games. If you’re using it as your daily driver, though, you’ll easily get more than a full day of battery life, which is reassuring. Even if you forget to charge it overnight, you won’t have to worry about running out of power on your morning commute. You’ll be good until you get to the office or have a chance to charge the next day.
The OnePlus 2 does a solid job with battery management, though it could be a bit better. It might be due to the fact that it's still running Lollipop, or perhaps because some people believe OxygenOS is a bit heavy on power consumption. Personally, I didn’t notice a huge issue with that. What I did like was the OxygenOS permission editor, which allows you to disable some of the more power-hungry features of apps you have installed (though this could break some of those apps, of course). With light usage, I found myself charging about once a day, but with heavy use, you’ll want to recharge before bed—or possibly even earlier. If you’re into mobile gaming, you probably already know what to expect.
Camera
For me, the quality of a phone’s camera is incredibly important, and while I could give you all the details, it’s really better to just show you a few sample photos. I’ve put together some galleries you can check out to see the difference for yourself.
Nexus 6P
OnePlus 2
These aren’t direct side-by-side comparisons, just examples of what each camera can do. To sum it up, both are excellent. The OnePlus 2 might look a little overexposed in bright light, but it’s still quite good overall. For the Nexus 6P, I focused on low-light and color accuracy. It doesn’t stand out drastically, but it’s definitely better than previous Nexus cameras and far superior to some other options in its price range. I found it to be more forgiving in low-light situations compared to some other cameras I’ve tested, though I was shooting landscapes, not people—so your experience may differ. In any case, both cameras produce high-quality images that you’ll want to keep and share, but getting a perfect shot, particularly in low-light, may require a bit more effort.
It's worth noting that neither of these cameras offers image stabilization, although the OnePlus 2 does have a form of it (though not the most effective). If you're shooting video, particularly in 4K or using HDR mode (which takes a bit longer to process), you'll need to rely on the old ‘sniper-breathing trick’ to ensure stability in your shots. While the Nexus 6P claims to offer video stabilization, it didn't perform particularly well in my tests, although its video quality was still impressive.
I’m not a huge fan of Google’s default photos app on the Nexus 6P (which is why we suggest a different app, even though you’ll lose the built-in camera gestures), though it gets the job done. The OnePlus 2's photos app used to be quite basic, but it has been upgraded to feature ISO controls, white balance adjustments, contrast, brightness, and more. There's even a little animation that pops up on screen when you switch from photo to video mode, reminding you to rotate your phone and shoot in landscape. Nice touch, OnePlus.
For those with shaky hands, you might appreciate the OnePlus 2’s optical image stabilization, or perhaps you’ll prefer its enhanced settings and shooting modes (the ‘clear image’ and ‘beauty’ modes make a return from the original OnePlus). The Nexus 6P’s camera is good as well, especially for 4K video, though it requires a third-party app to fully tweak your settings. Casual users likely won’t spot the difference, but those with more experience will notice the 6P’s struggles in low light and its limited photo app features.
The Verdict
You didn’t think there would be a clear “winner” here, did you? Buying a smartphone involves too many personal preferences for us to simply tell you what to pick. The real question is, “How important is this feature to me in the bigger picture?”
A photography enthusiast might appreciate the OnePlus 2's camera, but prefer the Nexus 6P for its longer battery life, lighter weight, and superior build quality. An audiophile, on the other hand, could lean towards the Nexus 6P for its outstanding speakers, though they might find the price a bit off-putting. Maybe you’re drawn to Android Pay or want the latest version of Marshmallow. Or perhaps you like the OnePlus 2’s dual SIM capability, but you’ve been put off by its past PR scandals, its more recent PR issues, its subpar USB-C cables, or its former invite-only purchasing model (although now, with the OnePlus 2, anyone can buy it without an invite). Ultimately, it comes down to which features matter most to you, the company you choose to support (or avoid), and the small details that make a big difference in your day-to-day usage.
That said, we can confidently say that both of these devices are exceptional and represent two of the most exciting smartphones on the market today. You’ll be satisfied with whichever one you pick, and most people won’t even notice enough of a difference to regret not having the other one in their hands.
