OnePlus 3T Review: Offers Updates, Maintains Sleek Design

OnePlus is making a great first impression as it surges into the smartphone market. Just six months after successfully launching the flagship OnePlus 3, the indie phone developer has released  the OnePlus 3T, a faster, longer-lasting phone that keeps the same sleek design that made its predecessor so popular.

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At first glance, not much has changed. The OnePlus 3T maintains the sleek metal unibody housing and 5.5-inch full HD Optic AMOLED display of the OnePlus 3. There’s also the single speaker, USB-c port on the bottom, and the mute slider (which toggles between ring, do not disturb, and silent modes). The only difference design-wise is color, the phone now available in “gunmetal” or “soft gold.” An immediate difference is price, up to $440. Just like it’s predecessor, the OnePlus 3T has a dual nano SIM card slot, but not a microSD reader; a 128gb version of the phone is available from $479 for storage fiends. An Engadget review reported a view new apps for whether and voice recording, as well as a new feature that allows the fingerprint sensor to lock/unlock specific apps. Further enhancements include resized apps on Android’s OxygenOS, making for a more ergonomic and snappy interface.

One major upgrade is the inclusion of a 16-megapixel camera on for both rear and front-facing photography. Selfies and normal photos can now both be sharp and noise-free. The same Engadget review warns to no get tricked by the megapixel count; the two cameras have different sensors, and while the rear camera takes vibrant photos with a myriad of low-light settings and adjustments (there’s also a layer of sapphire glass for extra scratch protection) , the font-facing camera often appears washed out and does not have a flash.

Unlike the Google Pixel, the OnePlus 3T utilizes an 821 Snapdragon processor. While on paper this makes the phone less competitive than it’s rivals, the 3T is still incredibly fast and responsive, and the 6GB of RAM makes multitasking and gaming a breeze. Of course, it’s biggest performance update rests in the 3,400mAh battery. OnePlus not only beefed up the power—while keeping the device slim—but also improved CPU efficiency, making the phone charge faster and use power more conservatively. Coupled with Dash Charge, which can give you a day’s worth (Engadget says two hours) of power in thirty minutes, the 3T is a powerhouse. Dash Charge also works to keep the phone cool while charging, and charging efficiency isn’t limited from using apps or streaming video. Overall, the phone can last up to 16 hours.

The 3T works only on GSM carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, so keep that in mind while shopping around.  If you are in the market for a phone like the Pixel but want to shave a couple of hundred dollars off your budget, the OnePlus 3T is an upgrade that offers both affordability and high-performance.