Devices start-up OnePlus announced its latest flagship, OnePlus 3, in an effort it says “further solidifies OnePlus’ mission to build a better smartphone experience”.

It is also the vendor’s first to go on general sale at the outset, without the need for an invitation to purchase.

Continuing the theme of OnePlus’ earlier devices, OnePlus 3 offers a high-end specification with a mid-tier price tag. But the company has focused on the user experience, with Pete Lau, founder and CEO, arguing that “we know the best smartphone is the one that works exactly how you want it to”.

The smartphone features ‘Dash Charge’ technology, which is described as a “faster, cooler and safer way to charge a smartphone”. It can replenish more than 60 per cent of the 3000mAh battery in 30 minutes, with five custom safety measures to protect the phone, adaptor and cable.

OnePlus 3 has a 16MP rear camera and 8MP front camera, with the latter including a ‘Smile Capture’ feature. Dual stabilisation technologies – Optical Image Stabilisation and Electronic Image Stabilisation – reduce blur, and there is also RAW image support.

In design terms, it has an all metal unibody, and at 7.3mm thick is described as “one of the thinnest flagships yet”. It has a 5.5-inch full-HD screen, eschewing the 2K displays used in some rival flagships.

Under the hood, the specifications are also impressive. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 6GB of RAM, “a new standard in smartphone memory”. It is powered by OnePlus’ Oxygen OS, built on top of Android Marshmallow.

It also has an improved fingerprint sensor. NFC is also reinstated, following its omission from OnePlus 2.

The device is available in two colours – graphite and gold. Pricing is £309/$399.

OnePlus X bites the dust
According to Engadget, OnePlus chief Lau said that the company will not follow-up on its mid-tier OnePlus X device, instead focusing on a single, premium smartphone.

This, the report said, will enable the vendor to strengthen its focus on its core products, as well as taking it out of the competitive mass-market segment. While the company does not give sales figures, OnePlus 2 did not achieve quite the same buzz as the original OnePlus One.

“We hope that once our fans have played with the OnePlus 3, they will feel the same way they did with the OnePlus One,” he said.