The most fascinating thing about the OnePlus 2

I've been thinking a lot about the OnePlus 2 lately. 

And you know what? More than anything, I've been thinking about how strange it is that this phone is such a big deal.

I should qualify that: It's a big deal in the relatively little pond of Android enthusiasts in which most of us swim. The vast majority of "normal" people have never heard of it -- and that's an important fact to keep in mind as we dive deeper into this conversation.

First, a quick primer: OnePlus, if you happen to be among those who aren't familiar with it, is a small China-based startup that made a lot of noise with its inaugural OnePlus One phone release last year. The device offered a then-crazy-seeming kind of value: respectable and almost flagship-like specs for a mere $299, unlocked and off-contract. At the time, that sort of pricing was unheard of, especially here in America. Combined with its also-unusual use of the enthusiast-approved Cyanogen OS version of Android, the OnePlus One grabbed plenty of attention from those who closely follow the platform.

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