Design, display and performance

The OnePlus 2 and Moto X Style (known as the Moto X Pure Edition in the US) were launched within 24 hours of each other, and both offer up a surprising level of specs for eye catching price tags.

In fact, the combination of features versus cost means the likes of Samsung, HTC, Apple and LG should be looking over their shoulders as these are legitimate rivals to the devices at top end of the mobile market.

Design

Both handsets have been given a design boost over their predecessors - the OnePlus One and Moto X (2014) - giving them a more premium look and feel.

The OnePlus 2 sports a rounded metal frame with a removable plastic rear - although if you're willing to pay a bit more you can swap the plastic for a real wood finish or even Kevlar.

It's gained a physical home key on the front which houses a new fingerprint scanner, and it's flanked by touch sensitive back and multi-tasking keys.

On the base there's something new too - a USB-C port, allowing you to plug in the corresponding USB-C cable either way round. That's great when you're trying to plug in your phone in the middle of the night.

The Moto X Style is similar in its basic makeup, with a metal frame joined by a removable plastic rear. As with OnePlus 2 as well as opting for a plastic rear (in a multitude of colours) you can also pick a real wood panel or a leather coated back plate.

Up front you'll find speakers above and below the display, while the power and volume rocker keys reside on the right hand side.

There's no fingerprint scanner here, and the USB port on the base is the standard type we're used to on smartphones. The Moto X Style is also water repellent, which is certainly a handy feature but won't save your phone if you drop it to any considerable depth.

Display

There's a marked difference in the displays on the two smartphones here. The OnePlus 2 boasts the same size and resolution screen as its predecessor with a 5.5-inch, full HD offering.

That gives you a 401ppi pixel density, and while that's by no means shabby we're a little disappointed not to see a QHD resolution in play here.

There's no such disappointment over on the Moto X Style which slaps the QHD resolution over a 5.7-inch display resulting in 520ppi.

It does mean the Moto X Style is taller and wider than the OnePlus 2 (and well as thicker and heavier), so it's up to you if you want to trade portability for clarity.

Power and performance

There's no shortage of power inside either handset, but the OnePlus 2 comes out on top on paper.

It has the newer Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor (like the HTC One M9 and Sony Xperia Z3+) and either 3GB or 4GB of RAM depending on whether you plump for 16GB or 64GB of internal storage.

Meanwhile inside the Moto X Style you'll find a Snapdragon 808 chip (which is also in the LG G4) and 3GB of RAM.

The OnePlus 2 may have the newer processor, but there have been reports about the 810 chip running hot and giving some performance issues. It will be interesting to see if the same gremlins show up in our full review.

OS, camera, battery, price and verdict

OS and interface

There's good news on the operating system front as both handsets come with Android 5.1 Lollipop, meaning they're both up to date with Google's OS.

On screen however there are differences. Motorola has kept the stock Android interface on the Moto X Style, adding just a few of its own features in a subtle manner including lock screen smarts and a handful of applications.

OnePlus has gone further and created its own Android overlay - dubbed Oxygen UI - to coat the OnePlus 2 in. It still bears more than a passing resemblance to Lollipop, but OnePlus has added in extra features and settings which it believes enhances the user experience.

Camera

What's going on in the camera department then? Have corners been cut to help drive the price down? Not really.

The Moto X Style rocks up with an impressive 21MP rear snapper which Motorola is extremely proud of, dubbing it the best mobile snapper in its class - although it didn't go as far as to define what that "class" is.

You should be able to take some cracking shots with it, and it's a welcome upgrade over the camera which adorned the 2014 Moto X. There's a treat for selfie fans too as the front facing 5MP camera comes with its own LED flash, allowing you to light you and your friends up like a Christmas tree every time you want to post a gloating photo on Twitter.

The OnePlus 2 is a little more conservative with its camera offering, sticking with a 13MP snapper on the rear and 5MP on the front.

OnePlus has added Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) to the rear camera, which should reduce camera shake and improve image brightness, but it's not wholly different from its predecessor.

Battery

The Moto X Style packs in a non-removable 3000mAh battery and Motorola has dubbed it the world's fastest charging smartphone thanks to TurboPower.

That's because it can give you 10 hours use from a 15 minute charge - perfect if you're about to dash out the door and are running low. We'll have to wait and see how the battery holds up day-to-day, but the fast charging feature may be required due to the larger, power-hungry display.

The OnePlus 2 manages to squeeze in an even bigger non-removable battery into a smaller form factor as it boasts a 3300mAh power pack. There's no fast charging option, but with a lower resolution display the hope is it will be kinder on battery.

Of course the heating issues surrounding the Snapdragon 810 processor may cause issues, but you'll have to wait for our full review to find out.

Price and availability

The price tags are the big talking points around these two handsets. The OnePlus 2 arrives in 16GB and 64GB variants priced at $329, £239 (around AU$450) and $389, £289 (around AU$452) respectively.

You'll be able to get your hands on the OnePlus 2 first as its release date is set for August - but you'll need an invite to actually buy one. You can get an invite from someone else who has purchased the handset, or by keeping an eye on the OnePlus social media accounts for invite giveaways.

It means that even though the Moto X Style (X Pure Edition in the US) isn't out until September you may actually find it easier to get hold of.

The SIM-free price tag is set at $399, £359 (around AU$540), making it a little more expensive thanthe OnePlus 2, but still comfortably less than the core flagship opposition.

Quick verdict

If you're looking for a flagship smartphone at half the cost then the OnePlus 2 delivers with a cracking combination of features and price.

Its camera isn't as good as the Moto X Style, and Motorola's latest offering also benefits from a water repellent body. Then again the OnePlus 2 has a fingerprint scanner.

In short, both handsets are stuffed full of tech, which should see them easily rub shoulders with the big boys of the mobile market.

Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG and Apple you have been warned - the flagship killers are coming for you.

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