So I currently have an iPhone 5 and I'm getting sick of the walled garden thing. I want to switch to Android and I want a phone that has enough power not to feel laggy, doesn't cost more than about 460 bucks, will have some resale value (I plan on selling the phone and moving to Project Ara once that comes out in 50 thousand years) and preferably has an HD screen. I want the closest to stock android I can get and preferably an unlocked bootloader. I don't do much gaming on my phone because I'm a total graphics whore (Moto X Dev Edition then?) but I don't want something dinky and slow because occasionally I'll play things like SwiftStitch or Continuum while I'm waiting in lines. What should I go with, or should I just wait out the year or two until Project Ara comes out and stick with my current phone?
Get the OnePlus One if you can. The hardware itself is superior to the Nexus 5. Not to mention that it also runs Cyanogen Mod 11S, a highly customizable and lightweight Android ROM.
I just ordered myself one last week, with an invite I received from someone from this very website, and it should get here any day now. I'll be sure to inform you on my personal experience with it, once I've had it for a few days.
Thats the thing I'm concerned about, right now the OnePlus One seems only marginally easier to get ahold of than a Corsair K95 RGB with blue switches, is there any date when they will let us actually buy the phone like normal people?
I can't speak to the OnePlus One, but I can tell you this: I have a Nexus 5 and it is basically spectacular. I love it, it's sleek, ridiculously fast, and gets updates as soon as google finishes them. For me, the updates are the biggest advantage over the OnePlus One, Cyanagen mod is cool, and I'm glad i can install it on my Nexus 5 if I want, but I want it to be a choice. Stock android is great, really fast, and the way to get updates, and for me, having only cyanogen mod with no option for true stock android is just a huge con, plus the slower updates.
the Nexus 6/X is coming out 'soon' (most rumors point to mid/late-October) I'd wait for the price drop if you want a nexus 5, or a little longer and get the 6/X.
I had to make the same decission two months ago. Reason #1 for the switch to the oneplus one was the 64gb memory space and the enormess screenspace (i dont need a tablet anymore). 3gb of ram are rediculus, never ever touched 2gb usage.
Only Question is, what size you like 5'' or 5.5''
nexus 5 is perfect, oneplus one is big and mighty and the original flip case doesnt cost 1231298318923$
Oppo Find7. It's the same phone as 1+1, and so far it's gotten better Custom ROM support.
I haven't used the OnePlus One but I do own a Nexus 5 and I love it. it's fast, the screen looks amazing and I think it's just the right size for my hands. The only thing I don't like about it is the battery life. I wish it was better. I came from a Samsung Galaxy S2 with an extended battery and that was great but the phone started feeling a bit sluggish so I switched to the Nexus 5. If you do get a Nexus 5, get a wireless charging pad, it's an amazing feature and the phone charges pretty fast even with wireless charging. But if I was you I'd wait until the next Nexus phone comes out.
The Nexus 5 because of Multi ROM you can dual boot other ROMs of Android and Linux easily. Only Nexus devices have it.
Also if you wand Android L you need a Nexus 5
I have a Nexus 5 and the thing is wicked fast, can dual boot roms, and stock android runs like a dream if you throw it on ART. The only thing I can complain about is the lack of a SD card, but I really am not bothered too much since I don't listen to music off my phone anyway. You can probably pick one up for less than $300 it it can throw down with some of the $400 plus phones.
Although if you have the opportunity to get your hands on a Oneplus One, take it, it is a fantastic phone for the price.