A security breach last year and headline-grabbing but poorly executed features keep potential smartphone switchers sceptical of what OnePlus has to offer. There are two ways, however, for OnePlus to - at least - begin to reverse that scepticism: improved security and more considered features.
Regain confidence around security
In October last year security researcher Chris Moore found that OnePlus phones running Oxygen OS were sending personally identifiable data to a server. Information like phone unlocks, app usage and details of Wi-fi networks were collected - all of which is pretty standard. The problem was that the phone’s IMEI number, phone number and mobile network it connects to was being transmitted too, which makes it easy to tie that data to the user.Then, in November last year, OnePlus was caught up in a data breach that saw up to 40,000 credit card details stolen via OnePlus’ website.
This is where the Chinese company needs to make vast improvements. All smartphones collect data (although I’m not sure collecting personally identifiable data in that way is particularly common) and data breaches happen.
But OnePlus still massively dropped the ball in a way Apple wouldn't. So, in a time when Facebook is being raked over the coals for shady data collection and with GDPR is around the corner - OnePlus needs to make a clear, direct effort to allay fears about the data it collects and how it’s handled.
Making opting out of data collection clear and easy is the first step (which OnePlus partially did after Moore's findings were published), and then dedicating a significant part of the launch and marketing materials to taking data and security seriously (and actually doing so, of course) is also a must.
More considered features
The introduction of facial recognition technology in the OnePlus 5T was a nice way to grab some ‘challenger’ headlines against Apple’s iPhone X, but the two biometric readers are not competitors.Face ID on the iPhone X uses Apple’s depth mapping technology to capture a 3D image of the user alongside infrared and other sensors to ensure accuracy. OnePlus, however, captures a 2D image using the phone's front facing camera.
The difference in the quality of the biometric security is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that you can use Face ID to authenticate purchases on the iPhone X, but you can’t on the OnePlus 5T - because it isn’t as secure. Indeed, OnePlus describes it as a “convenience” feature.
Easy of access and convenience is fine, but to tout the speed of the Face Unlock feature - tacitly comparing it to Apple’s version - is a bit disingenuous when it isn’t as accomplished. I understand the technical difficulties of introducing Face ID - and the headstart Apple has on the tech - but companies like OnePlus that market themselves as flagship killers for half the price should have flagship features too - not cheap alternatives.
