Skip to main content

OnePlus will bring back NFC when it’s used more, may ditch invite system in a few years

oneplus co founder explains the companys never settle motto lack of nfc invite system oneplus2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Consumers have panned OnePlus with a laundry list of grievances, spanning the lack of NFC in the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X, that notorious invite system, and its seemingly dubious “Never Settle” motto. In a wide-ranging interview with VentureBeat, co-founder Carl Pei offers his response to these and other issues clouding the company’s reputation.

“’Never Settle’ never meant ‘include everything,’” Pei said in his interview with VentureBeat at Dublin Web Summit last week. “You could do everything, and nothing will be done well. An analogy I like to use is a chef who has access to a lot of ingredients, but a good dish is not a sum of all the ingredients. There has to be a curation. Always make the best choices for the user — not necessarily every user — but try to make the best choices for the majority of users.”

Recommended Videos

Of course, after the OnePlus 2 was announced, “Never Settle” and the phone’s “2016 Flagship Killer” tagline were widely slammed because of the lack of NFC, which is a common feature in smartphones. So why didn’t OnePlus include NFC in the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus X at a time when Android Pay is introducing itself to the world?

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Pei concedes that NFC was a big issue when the OnePlus 2 was announced, but says “in reality after people calmed down and thought about it, they really don’t use a lot of NFC When it becomes the mainstream, we’ll bring it back.” He added that “people get affected by the vocal minority.”

NFC costs a few extra dollars and doesn’t take up much space, but Pei said the same thing can be said of many other components “and they all add up.”

For those wondering about removable batteries, Pei said he doesn’t think the company will ever look at them. “It requires a lot more space in the phone because you have to protect the battery — you need to house the battery in something that doesn’t let it get punctured. Then, you have to build the connector that connects the battery to the phone, which means more circuitry.”

Regarding the company’s invite system, which has become something of a punch line whenever a new OnePlus device is announced, Pei said it helps OnePlus manage its inventory better, in a user-friendly way.

“Maybe in a few years,” Pei said in response to a question about whether the company would ever do away with the invite system altogether.

Jason Hahn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jason Hahn is a part-time freelance writer based in New Jersey. He earned his master's degree in journalism at Northwestern…
New leaks just made the OnePlus Watch 3 a lot more exciting
Someone wearing the OnePlus Watch 2 with a digital watch face.

We've been anticipating the OnePlus Watch 3 for a little while now, and thanks to a couple of new leaks, OnePlus' upcoming smartwatch just got a lot more exciting.

OnePlus is expected to launch two new smartwatches soon — including a regular OnePlus Watch 3 and a OnePlus Watch 3 Pro. Another recent report has highlighted the possible software features of these devices. Android Authority has uncovered details about the OnePlus Watch 3 and OnePlus Watch 3 Pro in the latest version of the OnHealth app.

Read more
The OnePlus 13 is officially coming to the U.S. in January 2025
The blue OnePlus 13 in a pool of water.

It’s official: The highly anticipated OnePlus 13 will launch internationally next month. The phone was announced weeks ago and launched first in China before its global debut.

According to OnePlus in India, the new phone will be available in three color options: Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, and Arctic Dawn. Notably, the Midnight Ocean colorway is the first OnePlus handset to feature microfiber vegan leather. The OnePlus U.S. site has also been updated to confirm that the OnePlus 13 is "coming soon."

Read more
The OnePlus 13 may have already killed the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The white OnePlus 13.

Did OnePlus, in October 2024, just announce one of the best smartphones of 2025? It very well may have, because OnePlus has officially launched the OnePlus 13.

Well, sort of. The OnePlus 13 is now available in China, though it'll be a while before it comes to the U.S. and other parts of the world. Although it'll likely be December or January before you and I get our hands on the OnePlus 13, the wait should be worth it. The OnePlus 13 already looks like one of next year's best phones — and it may have simultaneously caused the premature death of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The OnePlus 13 looks fantastic

Read more