OnePlus, the Chinese phone manufacturer, is preparing to release its newest smartphone, the highly-anticipated OnePlus 7.
As the launch event on May 14th draws nearer, however, the company released an advertisement that seems to have done more harm than good.
The new ad seems to brag that the OnePlus hasn't gone through any expensive water-proof testing, so the company can pass those savings on to you!
The only test they need is a bucket full of water...
Waterproof ratings for phones cost you money. We just bought a bucket. #OnePlus7Series https://t.co/Q0eAKsfMEw https://t.co/4f0RmNpI2t— OnePlus (@OnePlus)1556902909.0
Unfortunately, it's not too hard to notice the small disclaimer in the ad as the phone is dropped into water.
The below image from the last video, Oneplus water resistance. In between the video the small subtitle says "Produc… https://t.co/O4iXLQzF4u— Tech Smarty (@Tech Smarty)1556948213.0
Tech smarty summed up the disclaimer pretty well:
"Products not ip certified. Water resistant under optimal test conditions. Oneplus makes no guarantee regarding water resistance. It is not covered under product warranty."
@SmartyTech Gotta always read the fine print.. https://t.co/MLtrMKWQyu— #BlackPantherPoe🖤✊🏽 (@#BlackPantherPoe🖤✊🏽)1556974544.0
OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro won't have an IP rating for water and dust resistance because it's expensive https://t.co/E0O36jthV8— GSMArena.com (@GSMArena.com)1556935954.0
Twitter users don't like being tricked...especially when the trick is so easy to see through.
@oneplus Please don't fool us by teasing waterproof #OnePlus7Pro— VINAYAK SAWANT (@VINAYAK SAWANT)1556903107.0
OnePlus probably would have been better off not posting the ad in the first place!
The best thing OnePlus could do here is make the OP 7 as water resistant as possible, not pay for the IP testing, a… https://t.co/uCH5xq5LJB— Andrew Martonik (@Andrew Martonik)1556918232.0
So OnePlus can’t actually claim it’s water resistant, tells people it cheaped out on a feature in a year it once ag… https://t.co/4ahteqJytm— Andrew Martonik (@Andrew Martonik)1556918342.0
A lot of potential buyers were pretty turned off by the new ad.
Also it’s clearly a pretty small thing in the grand scheme, but trying to sell a $700+ phone in 2019 without an IP… https://t.co/y9nQ57TkiT— Andrew Martonik (@Andrew Martonik)1556926120.0
No, no. No. Why would you do this? No. https://t.co/aTGBpy7tog— Abhishek Baxiابھیشیک अभिषेक (@Abhishek Baxiابھیشیک अभिषेक)1556911551.0
This seems very foolish. OnePlus publishes a video of them throwing their new phone in a bucket of water, with the… https://t.co/Z6a8nXMQyd— David Ruddock (@David Ruddock)1556904663.0
While its true that no major smart phones have water damage covered in their warranties, making a big point out of how waterproof your phone probably isn't the best move if your phone is just like the rest.
no major smartphones are warrantied against water damage, but that's not really the point here - the point is the m… https://t.co/4JRwfCFAiB— David Ruddock (@David Ruddock)1556906746.0
@verge It also doesn’t show how the phone faired after the plunge. Anyone can drop it in water. It’s the next ste… https://t.co/ErUXT94HIa— Maureen Moroz (@Maureen Moroz)1557146933.0
@oneplus Put your account up for review because your current agency is doing you NO favors with this ill-advised campaign.— Travis Goodwin (@Travis Goodwin)1556991701.0
Everyone seemed to agree the ad was harming OnePlus's brand more than helping it.
@SmartyTech W.... why even.... forget it https://t.co/uHUHUhlemB— oops 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ (@oops 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️)1556978572.0
@SmartyTech “Our phone survived a bucket but we won’t cover your phone if it is and doesn’t work. Which we don’t an… https://t.co/oy8NMibelo— Lesley Carhart (@Lesley Carhart)1556971692.0
@SmartyTech Deceptive advertising— Michelle Marie 🔥🐲 (@Michelle Marie 🔥🐲)1556985660.0
Advertisers won't hesitate to fool you if they think they can.
@SmartyTech always read the small print, even if its soggy.— We All Need A Helping Hand (@We All Need A Helping Hand)1556953774.0
And always remember: don't throw your phone into a bucket of water, no matter what they did in a commercial.
@SmartyTech Also don't dunk in water or use near water. #backfired— A-Rab (@A-Rab)1556950415.0