OnePlus 7

OnePlus helped to pioneer the now-competitive mid-tier market offering near-flagship designs and performance at a fraction of the price. With the OnePlus 7, they’re releasing two phones simultaneously for the first time. As the more budget-oriented option, the phone comes with a few compromises. But OnePlus usually makes smart choices there. Is this latest release an exception to that trend?

Design

Most reviewers liked the metal and glass design of the OnePlus 7. However, they were also quick to note that it is essentially the same as the older OnePlus 6T.

As with most glass-backed phones, you must deal with smudges and a slippery grip. Reviews also note the phone is prone to scuffs and scratches so use the included case if you’re worried about appearances.

Still, reviewers enjoyed the upscale design even if the phone is not a trendsetter.

Gizbot notes, “On the whole, the design is good attractive and on par with the similarly priced smartphones except for a few misses such as IP certification. But I would like to have a 3.5mm headphone jack on the device.”

Display

Around front, you’ll find a 6.4-inch, 1080-by-2340 pixel AMOLED display with an in-display fingerprint sensor and teardrop camera housing at the top of the display.

With support for sRGB and DCI-P3 color palettes, a full range of customization options, and a screen that’s nearly bezel-free, reviews indicate the phone is great for media consumption, playing games, and even reading the occasional blog post or email.

The biggest debates surrounded the teardrop at the top of the screen. As with other 2018 and 2019 releases, it a feature you’ll either love or hate. The teardrop became a non-issue for most reviewers within a few days.

One of the big features of the screen is its embedded fingerprint scanner. While reviewers noted it was slightly slower than the non-embedded options on other models, they had no problem with accuracy or recognition. Most reviewers still recommended it over face unlocking even with the delays.

Techradar summed up opinions well, saying, “Considering the OnePlus 7 price, it’s hard to knock the screen.”

Performance

The OnePlus 7 uses the same 2.84Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor you’ll find in many of 2019’s hottest releases. Paired with 6 or 8GB of RAM depending on the variant, reviewers found zero issues with performance.

Whether you’re looking to play the latest games or bounce between multiple apps, the phone will have no trouble keeping up with power users.

Fone Arena declared, “In our experience, we experienced zero lag, zero hitches, it’s just pure speed and raw power.”

Software

The phone ships with the latest version of Android — 9.0 Pie — alongside OnePlus’ customized OxygenOS skin. Reviewers loved the subtle touches and useful features added by OnePlus. Many felt it was a great example of how to build upon Android without adding a ton of bloat or slowing down the phone.

Stuff praised the software, saying, “Without sounding gratuitous, Oxygen OS is easily one of the best versions of Android around, and it’s showcased beautifully on the OnePlus 7.”

Storage

With 128 to 256GB of internal storage, you’ll enjoy plenty of room for your favorite apps, games, and media. Better still, reviews noted the storage is quick, allowing for snappy load times and quick transfer of files.

The only downside is the lack of microSD expansion support. However, with the generous allotments, this shouldn’t be an issue for most users.

Cameras

If you’re looking for a capable camera phone, the 48MP dual rear camera with a secondary 5MP depth sensor and a 16MP front-facing selfie shooter on the OnePlus 7 pleased reviewers. Many noted excellent detail and contrast — especially in the 48MP mode.

While it’s not as strong as more expensive phones for night and low-light photography, reviewers still captured interesting, detailed shots with practice.

Pocket-Lint found the camera great for the price, saying, “It might not be the most feature-rich these days, nor offer some of the insane night modes of Huawei and Google, but it won’t leave you disappointed for everyday captures.”

Battery Life

Even if you love to play games or browse social media endlessly, the 3700mAh battery in the OnePlus 7 should get you through a day with easy. USB Type-C and OnePlus’ proprietary fast charging are good for just over half a charge in only 30 minutes should you find your charge low in the middle of the day.

Pocket-Lint tested the phone and said, “There’s a comfortable full day’s worth of juice in the phone even with fairly heavy usage, but we wouldn’t go as far as saying you’ll get two days from it.”

Audio

The OnePlus 7 is the first model in their lineup to include stereo speakers. Alongside Dolby Atmos audio and Bluetooth 5.0, reviewers had zero issues with audio quality — whether they were talking on the phone, streaming music, or watching movies.

But there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack. So you’ll need a USB Type-C adapter to enjoy your favorite cans.

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The Takeaway

Reviewers found the phone lived up the OnePlus name. It offers an excellent balance of design, performance, features, and price for the average buyer. The only exception is OnePlus 6 or 6T owners. There’s not a lot of difference here to justify upgrading.

9to5 Google sums up opinions well, saying, “This is a high-quality smartphone that tweaks an already winning formula.”