OnePlus Concept One: A Device Inspired by McLaren Design

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Jan 07, 2020, 11:00 ET

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OnePlus, a global mobile technology company, unveiled today its first-ever concept phone, the OnePlus Concept One, at CES 2020. The OnePlus Concept One is the first phone ever to use color-shifting glass technology (electrochromic glass technology), allowing it to change transparency and giving it an "invisible camera". The device marks a breakthrough exploration in smartphone CMF (color, material, finish) design and lays the foundation for future smartphones with radically new designs and capabilities. OnePlus collaborated with its partner McLaren, the racing and technology brand and creator of luxury, high performance sportscars and supercars, on the concept phone's design, drawing inspiration from the brand's unparalleled design ethos and approach.

"This concept phone is a significant experiment into the future form of smartphones. OnePlus started this initiative with the goal of bringing the 'burdenless' user experience to the next level. The invisible camera stands as a new form of camera design, one that spares the user from the compromises of current camera layouts. The rear camera lenses are hidden by the dynamic electrochromic glass and only become visible when the camera is in use. This optimal solution is what OnePlus calls 'Electronic CMF'-- a new approach in industrial design," said Pete Lau, CEO and Founder of OnePlus. "This is just the beginning as we explore additional possibilities in the future."

Introducing the OnePlus Concept One

OnePlus's focus on and pursuit of great design started from day one. Beyond designing the most beautiful phones, OnePlus has also continuously experimented with CMF to create devices that are more comfortable to hold. Bamboo, wood, Kevlar, Alcantara, matte-frosted glass, and ceramic were all first applied to smartphone design by OnePlus, and all in order to achieve a better, more unencumbered experience for the user with the combination of both visual beauty and great feel.

The glass of the OnePlus Concept One uses organic particles to create changes in transparency so that the glass covering the camera lenses can shift in an instant from opaque black to entirely clear. Presenting a clean, unbroken surface when not in use, the "invisible" design is a manifest example of OnePlus's "burdenless" design philosophy. The glass also provides a practical benefit, doubling as a built-in polarizing filter for the camera that allows users to achieve sharper, more finely detailed shots under strong light.

The partnership with McLaren has seen the brands release two limited edition devices, and is rooted in a shared passion for design, craftmanship, and innovation. The OnePlus Concept One draws inspiration from similar technology used in McLaren's 720S Spider luxury sportscar, which features a retractable hard top glazed with an electrochromic glass panel that can rapidly switch between tinted and transparent states. Additionally, the OnePlus Concept One design integrates both glass and leather, using the same luxury trim specially tailored for McLaren's supercars, in the iconic McLaren papaya orange—a tribute to McLaren Racing's history and seen on the current McLaren Racing Formula 1 car.

Jo Lewis, Colour and Materials Design Manager at McLaren Automotive, said of the OnePlus Concept One: "At McLaren we select the best quality leathers produced in the UK; it's a material that exudes luxury and we are keen to offer our expertise in the design of this OnePlus concept device. The soft grained semi-aniline leather gentle to the touch and its natural grain has a beautiful silky feel. Our design philosophy at McLaren embraces the natural features of the leather through its subtle grain variations, giving each car its own unique character—which is echoed in this OnePlus concept device."

Although electrochromic glass has already been put to use in some limited applications in cars and in planes, miniaturizing the technology for use in phones took some extraordinary work on the part of OnePlus's R&D team.

The Most Advanced Electrochromic Glass Ever Made

One of the outstanding challenges was that the glass needed to be made exceptionally thin and light without leaving it fragile. Electrochromic glass is usually composed of two panels of glass with a color-shifting material in between them. For the OnePlus Concept One, OnePlus managed to achieve something far thinner than industry average. Here, the glass panels are just 0.1mm each, for a combined total of only 0.35mm. That's as thin as a glass display protector film.

Fast Color Shifting – Only 0.7s

For the best, most effortless experience possible, the OnePlus Concept One's invisible camera was rigorously tested and calibrated for speed. The OnePlus Concept One takes a mere 0.7s for the glass to transition from solid black to fully clear, faster even than the camera itself takes to fully activate. That is the fastest speed yet achieved in the industry, and it uses almost no power. The OnePlus team spent nearly eight months and tested more than a hundred different options before settling on the best solution for looks, speed, and power consumption.

Great Feel – No Detail Is Too Small

Our hands are amazingly sensitive to even the most subtle differences in texture, and so a light, comfortable feel is a requisite for every product we make, including the OnePlus Concept One. The leather covering across the back of the phone creates a sense of lightness, both visually and tactilely.

And in the unique invisible camera, OnePlus has created an elegant solution to the challenges of camera design in smartphones today. After setting a new benchmark for smartphone displays by creating the industry's first 90Hz QHD+ AMOLED display, the OnePlus Concept One now marks one more step into the future of the smartphone industry, and is proof of OnePlus's commitment and leadership in innovation.

About OnePlus

OnePlus is a global mobile technology company challenging conventional conceptions of technology. Created around the "Never Settle" mantra, OnePlus crafts exquisitely designed devices with premium build quality and high-performance hardware. OnePlus thrives on cultivating strong bonds and growing together with its community of users and fans. For more information, please visit OnePlus.com.

A selection of high resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – cars.mclaren.press

About McLaren Automotive:

McLaren Automotive is a creator of luxury, high-performance sportscars and supercars. Every vehicle is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, England. Launched in 2010, the company is now the largest part of the McLaren Group. The company has defined product families: Sports Series, Super Series, Ultimate Series and Motorsport which are retailed through over 80 retailers in more than 30 markets around the world.

McLaren is a pioneer that continuously pushes the boundaries. In 1981, it introduced lightweight and strong carbon fibre chassis into Formula 1 with the McLaren MP4/1. Then in 1993 it designed and built the McLaren F1 road car - the company has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis since. As part of the Ultimate Series, McLaren was the first to deliver a hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1™.

Announced at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2018, the company's Track25 business plan will see it invest £1.2billion in research and development to deliver 18 new cars or derivatives by the end of 2025.

In 2018, the company launched the 600LT and the first two cars of Track25, the McLaren Speedtail, the next Ultimate Series, and McLaren's first ever Hyper-GT, and 720S Spider. It also opened a new £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre in the Sheffield region in the North of England that will see it produce the next generation of lightweight carbon fibre 'tubs' that are at the heart of all McLaren cars.

2019 saw McLaren launch the 600LT Spider confirmed as the third car of Track25, with a new GT car announced and the previously-confirmed track-only Senna GTR unveiled.

To support the development, engineering and manufacture of its range of innovative sportscars and supercars, McLaren Automotive partners with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise, technology and solutions. These include Richard Mille, Pirelli, Dell Technologies, Ashurst, AkzoNobel and OnePlus.

McLaren Group:
The McLaren Group is a global leader in luxury automotive and technology and comprises three businesses: Automotive, Racing and Applied Technologies.

About McLaren Racing:

New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren founded the McLaren racing team in 1963. Since 1966, when it entered its first Formula 1 race, McLaren has won 20 world championships and over 180 grands prix. It has also won the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Indy 500 – the two biggest races in the world.

Since those early days, the McLaren Group has developed into one of international sport's most successful competitors, become a globally renowned automotive manufacturer, and earned recognition as one of the most illustrious high-technology brands in the world. The McLaren team campaigns the 2019 FIA Formula 1 World Championship with Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. They drive the McLaren MCL34.

SOURCE OnePlus