Can you believe it’s been 10 years since OnePlus burst onto the scene? I remember being blown away by the OnePlus One. It seemed too good to be true – flagship specs at a budget price.
Over the years, OnePlus phones have continued to impress from a hardware perspective. Smooth displays, fast processors, quality builds – they know how to nail the fundamentals.
But in 2024, killer hardware just isn’t enough. As AI assistants like ChatGPT have shown, software is where the real excitement and innovation is happening. And that’s where OnePlus seems to be falling behind.
Don’t get me wrong – OxygenOS used to be a real standout. Clean, fast, and filled with thoughtful customizations. But lately, it feels like updates have slowed and distinction from other BBK phones has faded.
Meanwhile, Samsung has seriously stepped up its software game. Not only has it committed to a whopping 7 years of updates for the S24 lineup, but the new Galaxy AI assistant looks incredibly promising. Just watching a few demos, I was stunned by how natural and helpful it seemed.
So, when OnePlus unveils the 12 on January 23rd, I’m sure from a hardware perspective it will impress as usual. But I can’t help wondering if they’ll have an answer for Samsung’s software prowess. Sure, the 12 will likely undercut the S24 on pricing, but Samsung offers so much more on the software side.
In the end, OnePlus built its reputation through innovation and delivering more for less. But after 10 years, it may need some fresh ideas to compete with an old rival that suddenly seems more forward-thinking. If not, the aura of “flagship killer” might not shine as brightly in 2024 as it did in 2014.
