OnePlus 2 review

OnePlus 3

With the OnePlus One and OnePlus X no longer officially available the only easy alternative from the same brand is the OnePlus 3.

At $399/£329 (around AU$450) the OnePlus 3 is substantially more expensive, though still a bargain by flagship standards, and it's competing with 2016's flagships, rather than the crop of 2015 phones that the OnePlus 2 belongs to.

That extra money gets you an improved 16MP camera, a faster Snapdragon 820 processor, a massive 6GB of RAM, fast charging, NFC and a more stylish full-metal body, though it has a smaller 3000mAh battery.

If you have the money to spare, the OnePlus 3 is a clear improvement in almost every way, but being so much pricier means it's not really a direct competitor.

• Read our OnePlus 3 review

iPhone 6 Plus

With a OnePlus 2-equaling full HD 5.5-inch display, the iPhone 6 Plus is a clear competitor in every area apart from price.

Apple's first phablet is comfortably double the price of the OnePlus 2, despite having been superseded by the even pricier iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 7 Plus, but its super premium design and slick iOS interface ooze class and performance.

While the OnePlus Two offers you a whole raft of customizations, the iPhone 6 Plus is pretty much the opposite: it's Apple's way or the highway here. For some that's perfect, but those looking for smartphone freedom will find it too closed off.

The iPhone 6 Plus is no longer available direct from Apple, but it's still easy to find in other stores.

• Read our iPhone 6 Plus review

LG G4

At launch the LG G4 was a lot more expensive than the OnePlus 2, but it's dropped in price significantly and can now be found from roughly $300/£300/AU$370, putting it in a similar price bracket.

The LG G4 has the same size 5.5-inch screen, but it's a lot sharper at 1440 x 2560. Its 16MP camera also impresses, though it has a slightly less powerful Snapdragon 808 processor and 3GB of RAM.

Neither phone has an especially impressive build, but the G4, which is available in leather or polycarbonate, is arguably the more ugly of the two. Ultimately, the LG G4 is a phone you pick for the screen, while the OnePlus 2 gets the nod if you care more about sheer power.

• Read our LG G4 review

Moto X Style

Another rival to the OnePlus 2 comes in the form of the Moto X Style (X Pure Edition in the US), as the now Lenovo-owned Motorola looks to hit the market with its own cut-price flagship.

The X Style is marginally more expensive than the OnePlus 2 but cheaper than most 2015 flagships, making it a tempting proposition.

Boasting a 5.7-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM and 21MP rear camera, plus features the OnePlus 2 is missing in a microSD slot and NFC, there's a lot going for the Moto X Style. It's since been superseded by the Moto Z, but that phone is a lot more expensive.

Full review: Moto X Style