What’s special about the OnePlus Concept One?
OnePlus has partnered with McLaren and taken inspiration from the sunroof on their cars to come up with similar technology for smartphones. The material, known as electrochromic glass, can turn from transparent to opaque when electricity is passed through it and that’s exactly what OnePlus is using on the back of the Concept One to hide the rear cameras when they’re not in use. While this may not seem very useful, OnePlus is aiming for a cleaner design on the back and in the process, also using the technology to simulate an ND filter which can be quite useful. Also, OnePlus seems to have used a PVD coating of pure gold on the frame of the Concept One which also makes it more premium.
Why is the OnePlus Concept One still a concept phone?
The OnePlus Concept One uses premium materials like Gold on the frame which is expensive. The electrochromic glass used to hide the cameras are also expensive and is something that is used more regularly on a larger scale. Implementing the same on a smartphone is a complex and expensive process. Also, despite the fact that OnePlus has worked on this smartphone for the past 18 months, they still say that it is not ready for the mainstream market yet and there’s still some tweaking to be done.
Will the OnePlus Concept One will be available to purchase?
No, the OnePlus Concept One will not go on sale and is strictly a concept phone that showcases OnePlus’ advancements in technology. However, we might see a phone from OnePlus in the future which inculcates the same technology.
How does the camera-hiding mechanism work?
The electrochromic glass used on the back based on the principle that when there is a potential difference applied across the glass, the molecules of the glass disperse causing it to change colors, or in this case, change from transparent to opaque. In simple terms, applying a small amount of voltage on the glass will change its appearance.
Will the battery drain faster due to this technology?
While the glass does require voltage to change from transparent to opaque, it is very minimal and should not ideally affect the battery life too much.
Can the darkened glass act as an ND Filter?
Yes, there is an option within the camera app under Pro mode to enable the ND filter while the camera is in use. This can help you prevent your shots from getting overexposed when shooting outdoors especially under direct sunlight.
What are the specifications of the OnePlus Concept One?
While the design on the back has been revamped with McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange leather, the internals of the Concept One are the exact same as the OnePlus 7T Pro from last year. This means there’s a Snapdragon 855+ SoC, a triple camera setup, a pop-up camera, the huge bezel-less 90Hz display, and the 4000mAh battery.
Does it take longer to start using the camera due to the glass?
The shift from opaque to transparent takes place in a fraction of a second which does not cause much of a delay. By the time you launch the camera app, the glass is transparent.
Can the cameras be seen even when not in use and the glass in opaque?
Yes, the cameras can still be seen when light hits it at particular angles. We hope to have answered all the questions you had about the OnePlus Concept One smartphone. In case you have more questions, feel free to tweet to us @techpp and we’ll be glad to answer your questions.
