Journalism of Courage
OnePlus has finally unveiled its first-ever concept phone, the OnePlus Concept One, at CES 2020. It uses electrochromic glass technology, which allows it to change transparency and giving it an 'invisible camera'. The company claims that the device marks a breakthrough exploration in smartphone CMF (colour, material, finish) design, which will define how the company's upcoming device will look like. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
For this concept smartphone, the company has collaborated with McLaren. The device has been designed to provide a "burdenless" user experience. The new invisible camera will provide a new form of camera design that differs from the current camera layouts. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
The rear camera lenses are hidden by the dynamic electrochromic glass and only become visible when the camera is in use. OnePlus has been able to do so by implementing what it calls, Electronic CMF. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
The company states that it has continuously experimented with CMF to create devices that are more comfortable to hold. To do so, it tried it on Bamboo, wood, Kevlar, Alcantara, matte-frosted glass and ceramic. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
The glass used in the OnePlus Concept One is made up of organic particles to create changes in transparency. This helps reveal the camera lenses, by instantly shifting from opaque black to entirely clear. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
OnePlus states that using CMF they are able to provide users with a clean, unbroken surface when not in use. The CMF glass also doubles as a polarizing filter, providing users sharper and more finely detailed shots. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
Under the McLaren partnership, OnePlus has already launched two limited edition devices, the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition and the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition. The new OnePlus Concept One has taken inspiration from the McLaren's 720S Spider luxury sports car, integrating both glass and leather. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
The electrochromic glass used in the OnePlus Concept One has already been used in cars and planes. However, those glasses are thick. OnePlus, on the other hand, has made the glass exceptionally thin and light, without it being fragile. The glass panels on the OnePlus Concept One are just 0.1mm each, for a combined total of only 0.35mm. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
The company claims that the glass has been rigorously tested and calibrated for speed. It only takes 0.7 seconds for the glass to transition from solid black to fully clear. (Express Photo: Nandagopal Rajan) (Source: Photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
