This is just my very long 0.2cents, not meant to offend any OP fans here.
I think on paper the phone looks good even though it doesn't do anything really groundbreaking (other than the 1 model for global market which I hope we'll see more of), and they often share components (sometimes design too) with Oppo. After all they are all under the same parent company BBK Electronics. So I totally agree with that rant video posted a while back about OnePlus pretending to never settle, pretending to be a small company incapable of incorporating all the latest technology like thin bezels, tall display, best camera tech, Ip68, etc.
But that's just their marketing. It's a bit annoying, but I'm here for the shiny new toys, not how they sell the toys. Those that have been following the mobile industry know all these already. The whole brand was built on "how much can we compromise to reduce the price of the phone while keeping flagship processor". It was never about groundbreaking tech, R&D, or innovation. Most of the innovation are really from Oppo, like VOOC charging, and even the "new" dual camera setup is almost the same as the Oppo R11 Plus.
I honestly don't feel like the price hike from the OnePlus 3T was completely justified even though the processor is the latest, and there is a crazy amount of RAM inside. It's the exact same formula they used for the OnePlus 3/3T, and the camera that they really boast, ended up to be the same old thing with the OP3T's camera. Basically good, but not great, with noticeable compromises here and there.
I do think that from what i've seen in reviews, the phone is good. And i think a lot of us inclusing myself will like the phone for what it is. But the thing is as the price creeps higher, while not breaking much new grounds, is it still as worth it for us to go to the trouble of buying export units from resellers, or trying to ship in it ourselves incurring GT, shipping, etc? Like in singapore, XZP, U11, S8, G6 are all selling at way below RRP from street shops as mentioned above.
Sure buying from Qoo10 with coupon actually brings the price down to a more reasonable price, and pretty much one of the cheapest and best performing SD835 phone around. But on principle, the salty part of me don't want to give them business.
Hear me out.
By buying into the hype, buying into the export units, it's like us telling OP not to bother with the SG market at all. We'll still buy them anyway even if you don't want to work for our business. If i'm OP, there is zero reason for me to enter the market. If people are willing to sacrifice warranty, buying from reseller, why bother? I still earn by selling the phone, and I don't have to do the after sale service.
I'm sure if they want to, they can just piggy back on Oppo's local support network. Sell their phones through Oppo. But i guess they want a clear separation, and keep pretending to be a small startup company.
On the other hand, we have smaller companies like HTC, who is struggling but still trying hard to keep selling and supporting their phones here in Singapore despite the tiny market. Like talking about all these I have to really give a hat tip to HTC, and you know, even BlackBerry which has plans to launch the KEYone here officially.
It's just a bit sad considering I think they did a great job with the OP3/3T, and I still think they have one of the best Android skins around.
/rant