$399 ‘OnePlus 3 Soft Gold’ - Not The Tacky, Gaudy Kind

It would appear that “OnePlus” has given in to the golden trend and are offering their latest iteration of their flagship smartphone line with the same shimmery gleam. However, instead of going with the popular options such as Apple’s Rose Gold or just Gold, the Chinese company has chosen Soft Gold for “OnePlus 3.” The muted shade was done on purpose since the color has become tacky for some customers.

U.S. customers can now order the Soft Gold version of the “OnePlus 3” for $399, PC Mag reports. “OnePlus” announced that the shiny version of their smartphone will be a limited edition, however, so fans who want the lighter-toned unit will need to move fast.

In any case, the biggest difference between the gold of “OnePlus 3” and that of every other smartphone out there is the intentional reduction of flair by the company. One of the people behind the phone wrote on a forum and described what they were going for.

“We've toned the color down for a light, elegant look," the post read. "We went with a subtle texture reminiscent of holding fine, silky soft sand."

One of the reasons why the company went with the lighter shade instead of the outright showiness that gold of more brilliant colors comes with is the increasingly popular opinion that they are becoming gaudy. In China, gold has always been a favorite of the elite, showing their status through the yellow metal.

However, the Mashable pointed out, the color has also become synonymous with the country’s explosion of wealth. Now, people feel as if they are using the color in order to hide their inadequacies instead of actually reveling in the elegance that it brings.

By going with the muted shade of Soft Gold, “OnePlus 3” retains the elegance that the color is known for without becoming tacky.