OnePlus 3T

The OnePlus 3T has big shoes to fill. With its predecessor topping phone lists on review sites across the Internet, this latest release is more of a subtle improvement than a brand new phone. How are reviewers taking to the new entry in the OnePlus line up?

Reviews are rolling out and we’ve scoured them all to bring you this summary!

Let’s get started!

Reviews were quick to point out that the 3T uses the exact same design as the 3–short of a slightly larger camera bump on the rear. However, that isn’t a bad thing. The 3T’s aluminum unibody chassis features minimal embellishment and reviewers all agreed it feels great in the hand. PC Advisor UK declared that OnePlus “made a 5.5in screen phone slim, svelte and usable with one hand (just).” Digital Trends called the phone “a real beauty.”

One design feature that stood out to reviewers was the Alert Slider. This physical button sits on the side of the device and allows you to change notification volumes and settings without touching the screen. Most reviewers raved about it.

Heading around front, you’ll find a 5.5-inch 1080p Optic AMOLED screen and a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. Reviewers loved the display calibration feature, with many noting that it quickly wrangled the stock color settings from overblown and garrish to pleasing and accurate. While the resolution falls behind other flagships, Alphr describes the screen as “as sharp as you need it to be.”

Powering the phone, you’ll find a 2.35GHz quad-core Snapdragon 821 processor. Paired with 6GB of RAM, reviews used words like “silky” and “buttery” to describe performance. PC Advisor UK applauded the phone, saying, “In a full week of use we experienced absolutely no lag, slow app changes or overheating. It is truly like using a desktop at some times.”

You’ll find models with either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. There’s no microSD storage with the maker opting for dual SIM support instead. Media lovers or gamers might opt for the larger option.

The phone ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. However, OnePlus plans to have Android 7.0 Nougat available by the end of 2016. Their Oxygen OS skin was popular with reviewers for its subtlety and convenient improvements to the stock Android experience. Recombu noted, “Android fans will be right at home with the interface, while some of the shortcut tools and gesture support is genuinely useful.”

Reviews for the phone’s cameras are generally positive. GSM Arena called the 16MP rear-facing camera a “solid snapper by any means,” further noting, “It performs consistently and reliably under all conditions. It seldom requires more than a single attempt to capture the desired shot.”

While the 16MP front-facing lens sounds impressive on paper, reviews were scattered. Many felt that the photos shot lacked light balance and the increased resolution only led to more noise. However, they also noted that it was great for video chat or live streaming.

The phone’s 3400mAh battery netted most reviewers a full day of usage with room to spare. The included Dash Charge cable and wall adapter promise a 60% charge in only 30 minutes. Reviewers confirmed that the system works great and the phone stays cool during charging. However, should you need a replacement charger or cable, you’re left waiting for one to ship from OnePlus or settling for slower charge speeds using a third-party option.

Overall, reviews indicate that the 3T is a worthy successor to the OnePlus throne. Alphr summed up opinions well, saying, “It’s not quite the outright bargain the OnePlus 3 was, but the OnePlus 3T’s speed, screen quality, decent camera and practical design mean it’s set to take over as our favourite smartphone just as soon as the OnePlus 3 is no longer available.”