OnePlus One, the critically acclaimed smartphone from a Chinese startup has launched in India this week. Apart from the beastly specifications, robust build quality and rock bottom price tag, one of the major selling point for the handset was its software suite i.e. Cyanogenmod, which is known for its extensive customization options and rich feature set devoid of any bloatware. However, Cyanogen’s unanticipated exclusive tie up with Micromax has created a problem for prospective OnePlus One customers. While it is yet to be seen how OnePlus will come up with a viable software alternative to Cyanogenmod, we present you a list of worthy OnePlus One alternatives you can buy.

LG Nexus 5 – Rs. 25,000

The last year’s Nexus device comes with a Snapdragon chipset based processor and a 5 inch 1080p display which is just perfect. It’s already updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop following the Nexus tradition. Here are the complete specifications:

• LTE Support
• 4.95″ 1080p Display with Gorilla Glass 3
• 2 GB RAM
• Snapdragon 800 based 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor
• Adreno 330 GPU
• 8 MP Primary Camera with OIS, 1080p Video Recording
• 1.3 MP Front Camera
• 2300 mAh Battery unit
• Wireless charging
• Android 5.0 Lollipop

LG G2 – Rs. 28,000

While it didn’t get a considerable market share, the LG G2 is a great offering from LG. It comes with a powerful chipset, optically stabilized camera and a large battery. Also, the device essentially has no bezels making its footprint smaller and the device easy to hold. Here are the specifications:

• LTE Support
• 5.2″ 1080p Display with Gorilla Glass 2
• 2 GB RAM
• Snapdragon 800 based 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor
• Adreno 330 GPU
• 13 MP Primary Camera with OIS, 1080p Video Recording
• 2.1 MP Front Camera
• 3000 mAh Battery unit

Xiaomi Mi 4 – (Projected to be below Rs. 24,000)

While the Mi 4 isn’t availble in India as of now, It is about to launch in the country this month. The smartphone offers a sleek profile much like OnePlus One and very powerful specifications with a low price tag which make it one of the best alternatives to the OnePlus if you can wait for a month or so. Here’s the specifications breakdown:

• LTE Support
• 5.0″ 1080p Display
• 3 GB RAM
• Snapdragon 801 based 2.5 GHz Quad-Core Processor
• Adreno 330 GPU
• 13 MP Primary Camera with , 2160p Video Recording
• 8 MP Front Camera
• Quick Charging Technology
• 3100 mAh Battery unit

Galaxy S4 – Rs. 25,000

Samsung’s last year’s Galaxy flagship comes with a lot of software features and a great hardware along with powerful internals. Here’s the complete specifications breakdown:

• 5.0″ 1080p Display with Gorilla Glass 2
• 2 GB RAM
• Exynos 5 based 1.6 GHz Octa-Core (4+4) Processor
• PowerVR SGX544MP3 GPU
• 13 MP Primary Camera, 1080p Video Recording
• 2 MP Front Camera
• Gesture Support, Smart Stay, Smart Scroll
• 2600 mAh Battery unit

Expert Analysis

While OnePlus One may not support Cyanogenmod in India, there are plenty of worthy alternatives in the similar price range. Nexus 5 gets you a smooth and responsive software experience devoid of any bloatware and fastest updates. The Samsung Galaxy S4 & LG G2 come with great camera and hardware features. User interface may not appeal to some but there are plenty of Launcher apps available in Play Store (Nova Launcher is our favorite by the way). Xiaomi Mi 4 provides the most powerful specifications among all the alternatives and will launch at a competitive price in India which makes it one of the best bet for your money.

Are there any other alternatives you’d like to see in the list of OnePlus One alternatives? Let us know and post it in the comments section.