16 Dec
Blog

OnePlus Buds Z2 Review: Too Much Bass, Not Enough Grace

OnePlus Buds Z2 open case.

OnePlus Buds Z2 in the test: Too much bass, too little grace

RRP $ 99.00

"Active noise cancellation is a welcome addition to the lightweight OnePlus Buds Z2, but the heavy bass of the 11mm drivers can be overwhelming and they don't really stand out enough to beat the competition."

benefits

  • Light and comfortable to wear

  • Simple, reliable touch controls

  • Choice of noise cancellation modes

  • IP55 and IPX4 water and dust resistance

disadvantage

  • Bass-heavy sound profile

  • No wireless charging

  • No alternative sound modes

True wireless earbuds, almost regardless of the price, have to attract attention today due to the large selection. OnePlus is no stranger to its smartphones, which usually come up with good design, desirable features, and a tempting price.

But what about the OnePlus Buds Z2? They follow the OnePlus Buds Z for $ 49, but the price has now doubled as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a pair of updated drivers have been added. Is that enough to separate them from everyone else – and separate you with $ 99 to get them?

draft

The housing of the OnePlus Buds Z2 is made of glossy plastic – my test model is black, but there is also a white model – with the brand name in simple letters on the lid, which is held securely closed by a magnet. Open it up and the top feels pretty cheap and thin, with a scratchy, matte plastic lining that keeps the Buds Z2 in place. It's a simple and nondescript case.

OnePlus Buds Z2 closed case.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OnePlus has also chosen a simple design for the Buds Z2. A short, tube-like shaft protrudes from the inoperative speaker cabinet, with visual interest only provided by a sunburst-style CD-like endplate. That's it. They are certainly not ugly, but neither are they inspiring. OnePlus definitely relies on subtlety here, but the case and design of the Bud Z2 border on boring.

The box contains three sets of earplugs in the sizes small, medium and large. I liked the medium best and, according to the MyMelody app, makes for a good end to my ears. There is also a short USB Type-C cable in the case for charging the battery. A button on the back of the case puts the Buds Z2 into pairing mode, and there is a single LED on the front to indicate status.

OnePlus Buds Z2 open case.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Although I'm not particularly impressed by the look of the OnePlus Buds Z2, I can't fault the comfort and durability. The Buds Z2 are very light at 4.5 grams each and do not cause ear fatigue. I wore them for four hours straight and had no problems. Each bud has an IP55 water resistance rating, so you can even clean it with a single flush. It's just a shame that they look rather generic.

sound

Inside every ordinary-looking Buds Z2 earbud, you'll find an 11mm driver and three microphones, plus a tiny 40mAh battery. The driver is the same as in the OnePlus Buds Pro, plus there is Dolby Atmos and AAC and SBC codec support. The design may be subtle, but there's no doubt that OnePlus tuned the Buds Z2 for bass because it can be, damn it, overwhelming.

OnePlus Buds Z2 earbuds.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The scientist at Twice has a strong bass line undoubtedly, but the finesse of the song has been removed with the OnePlus Buds Z2. It booms and booms all the time, but due to the tight soundstage and amplified highs, it doesn't seem to overwhelm the vocals, instead wrapping the song's sweet and addicting melody in a thick bass blanket. Listen to the Apple AirPods Pro, and the nice balance and controls make it sound like a different song.

This bombastic approach can also be heard in Ive & # 39; s Eleven, where the harsh treatment of the vocals and the heavy bass boom of the Buds Z2 don't encourage you to turn up the volume. There's also noticeable distortion as you approach even the three-quarter mark on the iPhone 13 Pro. That said, there's a ton of volume on offer if you want it. Two of my regular test tracks – Tokyo Towers Mix from What Time is Love by The KLF and Inner Peace by CloZee – both have deep bass throughout and are not particularly pleasant to listen to. Unfortunately, there's no equalizer in the app or some way to tweak the sound profile to fix this overzealous approach.

Compared to other headphones that I use plugged into my TV, the OnePlus Buds Z2 were very loud and still pretty harsh, with some laughter being especially deafening during comedy shows. However, on the spoken word, performance was good, helped by a focus on treble and vocals. I've used the OnePlus Buds Z2 for video calls and while the audio quality was okay for me, listeners described it as average.

Dolby Atmos support is offered. but only if you are using a current OnePlus phone. On the OnePlus 9 Pro, I used the Disney + and Tidal apps to try it out, but the results were mixed, not least because it's quite difficult to tell if you're listening to Dolby Atmos content. Seeing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings didn't really sound any different, while the Atmos mixes on Tidal's Atmos playlists were better, with some interesting spatial effects, but overall, it was never as effective as listening to Atmos tracks over Apple Music and the AirPods Pro.

OnePlus Buds Z2 in the ear.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The OnePlus Buds Z2 is all about bass and treble and it lacks a fine balance, which means that the mids tend to be lost and some details are hidden. This harshness didn't suit my tastes or my choice of music, but I can see bass and volume junkies enjoying the sound more – just be aware that listening to music with the OnePlus Buds Z2 isn't anything relaxing. These are loud and very proud of the bass they can deliver.

Controls and noise cancellation

The OnePlus Buds Z2's touch controls are responsive and the sensor is easy to find with your finger, which makes them better than many other earbuds. All you have to do is tap the flat endplate to pause or play the music, or touch and hold to change the noise canceling setting. There's no messing around with holding the stem or trying to find the touch sensor, everything is built in sensibly and the sensor seems big enough that you don't have to tap over and over to find the right spot.

There are two settings for noise cancellation, a standard and a maximum mode and a transparency mode. You long press the earbud to switch between them. By default, this goes from transparency to maximum noise cancellation, but you can customize this in the app. In the end I set it to the standard ANC mode instead of the maximum due to the excessive hiss created by the maximum setting.

These are loud and very proud of the bass they can deliver.

While the +/- 25db standard mode creates some pressure in your ears, I prefer that initial discomfort to the louder background noise created by the +/- 40db max mode. I didn't notice much of a difference between them in terms of isolation either, although I suspect that has something to do with the environment. The default mode was fine for home and general outdoor use, but I wasn't on an airplane or in an overly noisy environment to fully try the maximum setting.

App and connectivity

The OnePlus Buds Z2 connect via Bluetooth 5.2 and support Android Fast Pair, which worked fine on my OnePlus 9 Pro and Google Pixel 6 Pro, although I had to manually establish a connection on the iPhone 13 Pro. I also connected it to my Sony TV. I was able to move around my one-story apartment without losing connectivity, and the range was similar to other wireless headphones I use.

MyMelody app with OnePlus Buds Z2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I found the connection time to be very fast and extremely reliable. During the test, I kept switching between devices and headphones, and the Buds Z2 had no problems with this at all. If you tap and hold an earbud for a few seconds, the Buds Z2 will also quickly switch between previously connected and available devices. Take the headphones out of your ears and the content will pause automatically, and this worked even while streaming an app from my phone to my TV.

If you have a OnePlus phone, the Buds Z2 doesn't need to install an app as all functions and firmware updates are handled by the phone. For other Android phones and the iPhone, you should download the My Melody app, but the OnePlus Buds Z2 will work perfectly without using the accompanying app if you prefer.

For my music choices, the OnePlus Buds Z2's bass response is ridiculously exaggerated.

My Melody allows you to customize the touch controls, update the firmware, change the noise canceling mode, perform a seat test, and check the battery level for the case and headphones. It was reliable on my iPhone 13 Pro, although I don't use it very often other than applying a firmware update.

battery

In a listening session in which the OnePlus Buds Z2 switched between my iPhone 13 Pro, my Sony TV and my Mac Mini, the low battery warning came after four hours. You should get near the estimated five hours of OnePlus usage with ANC active, but don't expect to exceed this. OnePlus estimates 27 hours of total ANC usage, or 38 hours without it. It takes 90 minutes to fully charge the case and a 10 minute charge adds five hours to its useful life via the included cable and standard adapter. The OnePlus Buds Z2 do not have wireless charging.

Price and availability

The OnePlus Buds Z2 cost US $ 99 in the US and will be available from the OnePlus and Amazon online stores from December 18. However, if you join OnePlus' "Red Cable Club", you will be able to buy them from December 17th. Joining the club is free and comes with certain benefits, including free shipping. The white version will initially be available, the black version will be available in early 2022. In the UK, the OnePlus Buds Z2 will cost £ 99 and are now available in the OnePlus online shop.

Our opinion

The original OnePlus Buds Z were $ 49, but the addition of ANC and Buds Pro drivers means the Buds Z2 has doubled in price, and at $ 99, they have serious competition. We found that you don't have to spend more than $ 100 these days to get a pair of true feature-packed wireless headphones, and while the OnePlus Buds Z2s tick most of the boxes, the sound is going to split opinions.

For my music choices, the bass reproduction of the OnePlus Buds Z2 is ridiculously exaggerated and robs most of the songs of any subtleties. I understand, however, that a lot of people seriously want loud and bassy headphones, and while the Buds Z2 definitely are, the mega bass darkens details and overwhelms the midrange, which isn't ideal no matter how much you want.

On the positive side, the touch controls are good, the noise cancellation is effective in standard mode, and the waterproof rating is IP55. It's a shame the battery life doesn't go beyond four to five hours with ANC, and the design isn't a bit more inspired. The OnePlus Buds Z2 are inconspicuous unless you crave thundering bass.

Is there a better alternative?

Unfortunately for OnePlus, and luckily for you, there are so many alternatives to choose from that you can get exactly what you want, for the same price or less. I used the OnePlus Buds Z2 along with the $ 99 Nothing Ear 1, and I prefer the latter's natural sound profile and overall design, and I really appreciate the addition of wireless charging.

If the Nothing Ear 1 isn't for you, here are eight alternative options, all under $ 100. There is so much to choose from that you can pretty much find a pair to suit your exact needs. This diversity poses a problem for the OnePlus Buds Z2, which are difficult to stand out from the crowd.

How long will they last?

The IP55-rated earphones and the IPX4-rated housing offer the OnePlus Buds Z2 sufficient protection against water and dust, making them suitable for use in the gym or in the rain. The plastic construction should be resistant to damage. The HeyMelody app enables firmware updates if OnePlus releases them in the future. Battery life can degrade over time, but there's no reason why it doesn't last two or three years before it becomes noticeable.

Should you buy it?

No, there are better sounding and equally, if not more, feature rich options for the same or less money.

Editor's recommendations



22 Jul
Blog

OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Just Call It the OnePlus 9 Lite

OnePlus Nord 2 from behind, held in the hand.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Just Call It OnePlus 9 Lite

“The OnePlus Nord 2 offers everything we like about OnePlus phones, from fast charging and a great screen to a practical alert slider at an affordable price. It also looks stunning in the Blue Haze color. "

advantages

  • Compact design with nice color

  • Very attractive screen

  • Reliable software with guaranteed updates

The OnePlus Nord 2 is a particularly important new smartphone as it was the first time that OnePlus released a phone without a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip inside. The Nord 2 uses a modified version of MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 1200 chip and is arguably the company's best-known partnership to date, at least outside of Asia. While OnePlus is obviously looking for success, MediaTek will also be looking closely.

Plus, it's a big moment for the Nord series. The original Nord managed to bring OnePlus back to its value-based roots, but lacked identity. OnePlus gave the Nord 2 identity, but oddly enough, by doing so it accidentally created another OnePlus 9 phone, which makes me question what the Nord range is about.

So there is a lot to drive on the Nord 2 so how is it? I spent four days on the phone, enough time for a detailed pre-evaluation but not quite enough for a final, in-depth review. I will be returning to this review after a long time with the Nord 2 and so the score given at this point may change depending on how the phone continues to work.

design

Let's come to the color of our test model. It's called Blue Haze and it's absolutely stunning. OnePlus usually gets its colors right, but this may be for the best. The aquamarine hue has a glossy finish but does not attract fingerprints, and the Gorilla Glass 5 panel is very effective in hiding stains. It stays clean and sharp.

The OnePlus Nord 2 held in the hand, seen from the rear.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera module uses the same hue, but reflects the light differently because it is not made of glass, and gives the back of the Nord 2 a lot of character. The glass even manages to hide the ugly legal text that has to be stamped on the back. I think the Nord 2 looks amazing and I like how it blends in with the design of the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro so that it feels like part of the family.

Another important family feature is the Alert Slider on the side of the Nord 2, which allows you to quickly switch between Silent, Vibrate and Ring modes. It's quick and convenient, and it's a feature that sets OnePlus apart from other brands. The presence of the slider and pretty design make it look and work like a real OnePlus phone, which I think wasn't the case with the OnePlus Nord CE.

The screen of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The construction – a fiberglass frame with a “metallized” surface – and the size are essentially the same as the first OnePlus Nord, with a width of 73 mm and a thickness of 8.2 mm, which makes the phone easy to use and one-handed is to use. It feels solid and solid, and the modest weight of 189 grams ensures that it fits in your pocket without disturbing.

There's no water resistance rating, but I vouch for the Nord 2's durability. It's quite slippery, and the first day the phone slipped out of my pocket and crashed on the cobblestones. It survived with only the slightest mark in the upper right corner of the chassis. The glass back and the screen are fine. I may have been lucky so a case is advisable if you're prone to dropping slippery phones.

The OnePlus Nord 2 and the OnePlus 9 Pro.OnePlus 9 Pro (left) and OnePlus Nord 2 (right) Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I found the first Nord a little faceless, but OnePlus changed that for the Nord 2 and effectively turned it into a OnePlus 9 Lite. That's not a bad thing, and really, it's the name that would go better with the Nord 2. Leaving the Nord name on cheaper models like the Nord CE that lacks vital OnePlus elements could be a better strategy.

Aside from the confusing branding, the Nord 2 is well proportioned, well made and – if you can get one in Blue Haze – an absolute beauty too.

Screen and software

It's a 6.43 inch, 20: 9 aspect ratio, liquid AMOLED screen on the Nord 2, complete with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a resolution of 2400 x 1080. It doesn't seem to have HDR10 + certification like the Nord, however it has two artificial intelligence (AI) modes called AI Color Boost and AI Resolution Boost. However, these only work with certain apps. Both cooperate with YouTube, but otherwise AI Color Boost only works with MX Player Pro and VLC, while AI Resolution Boost works with Snapchat and Instagram.

The Nord 2's screen is beautiful and its resemblance to the 9 Pro makes the phone very desirable.

The screen is brighter and more vibrant than the Nord CE's screen, and there is surprisingly little to split between it and the OnePlus 9 Pro when watching video. The AI ​​Color Boost increases the saturation and thus goes beyond the 9 Pro. Turn it off, and it's not quite as noticeable. The AI ​​Resolution Boost is less noticeable since so much YouTube content is already available over 1080p.

When I'm not watching video, the Nord 2's screen isn't as bright as I'd like it to be, but it is still legible outdoors in sunlight. Other than that, the Nord 2's screen is beautiful and its resemblance to the 9 Pro makes the phone very desirable. The sound comes from stereo speakers that are amazingly loud but not very sophisticated. I had no desire and actually no need to take it over about 40% volume.

OnePlus' Oxygen OS user interface version 11.3 is installed and based on Android 11. It is largely the same as the OnePlus 9 Pro, but there are some strange differences in the settings. For example, on the OnePlus 9 Pro you can change the environment display, icons and font in the customization menu, while on the Nord 2 you can do this in the customization menu. Performance is great so far, with smooth scrolling through apps and menus.

My test phone received a software update since I started using it, and I'm still in the process of evaluating the software and its day-to-day reliability.

camera

The Nord CE's camera was inconsistent and the first Nord's camera suffered from poor performance. The Nord 2's camera improves the specification with both a 50 megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an 8 MP wide-angle camera with electronic image stabilization (EIS). A 2-megapixel monochrome camera completes the rear setup, along with a 32-megapixel selfie camera, also with EIS.

The camera module of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

So far I have only taken about 100 photos with the Nord 2, so we have yet to get deeper insights. However, at this point it is obvious that the Nord 2 is an improvement over the Nord and Nord CE, but since OnePlus always takes a while to really improve the performance of its cameras, there are still a few issues but updates are likely to arrive to speak to you.

The focus, color management and dynamic range of the Nord 2 are usually very good. Shooting outdoors on sunny days can result in a slight oversaturation, while edge enhancement and processing can be harsh and noticeable. There are differences in exposure between the main and wide-angle cameras, but it's not drastic. OnePlus annoyingly adds quick access in the camera app to 2x and 5x zoom, but these are digital zoom modes and the quality really suffers. It is worth mentioning the selfie camera which has a nice natural tone with lots of detail.

So far, the Nord's camera has taken some great shots that are very easy to share without editing, but it has also disappointed with its aggressive processing. The camera performance has not yet been included in the evaluation. It's also worth noting that unlike the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, the camera was not edited by Hasselblad.

The focus, color management and dynamic range of the Nord 2 are usually very good.

Performance and battery life

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 that OnePlus uses for the Nord 2 is the first to emerge from MediaTek's Dimensity Open Resource Architecture (adorably known as DORA) initiative, which allows the phone maker to tweak the chip to do better with the hardware to work. You have the choice between 6 GB, 8 GB or 12 GB RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB storage space. My test phone is the 12GB / 256GB version.

The alarm slider of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

During the time I've been using the Nord 2, a software update has improved the phone's performance and reliability, which was a bit shaky at first. Nothing bad – notification support was a hit-or-miss and some apps were slow – but the issues seem to be resolved now. I've played Asphalt 9: Legends and haven't noticed any slowdowns or issues affecting gameplay. However, it gets a little warm after about an hour.

I have not yet put the Dimensity 1200 through its paces, but it has not yet made itself known for everyday use. This may sound like a disadvantage, but it isn't. Good processors just do their job and we shouldn't even notice them. You can quickly find out if a phone has a badly configured chip. For the Dimensity 1200 it currently looks positive.

However, it gets a little warm after about an hour.

Battery life so far suggests two days of moderate use is possible, but if you're playing a game, watching videos, and making video calls, it will likely drop to 30% by the end of the first day. The super-fast Warp Charge 65T charger from OnePlus brings the 4,500 mAh cell from flat to 100% in less than half an hour. This is the same system used on the OnePlus 9 Pro and an evolution of the Warp Charge 30T used on the Nord CE.

The alarm slider of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I haven't tested the 5G connection yet, but it's good to see that both slots in the dual SIM tray support it. The under-screen fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, but not as lightning-fast as the sensor on the OnePlus 9 Pro. There's Face Unlock too, and it's very quick to respond.

Price and availability

The OnePlus Nord 2 will hit the UK, Europe and India on July 29th. There are currently no indications of a US launch. It will cost £ 399 and will be sold through OnePlus' own online store, Amazon, John Lewis retail stores, and the Three and O2 networks.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord 2 is either at the top of the Nord range or at the end of the OnePlus 9 range, which isn't a bad position. It takes a lot of what I like about the OnePlus 9 models – nice design, great screen, good performance and software, very fast charging and the alert slider – then it charges less for it.

It's a great start. I have to use the camera even more, assess the battery life, try the MediaTek powered 5G connection, and use the phone longer before I can make a final judgment, but for now the Nord 2 has impressed. However, I can't help but think that OnePlus would sell more if it were called the OnePlus 9 Lite.

Is there a better alternative?

For a smartphone priced at $ 500 or £ 400, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. It has a few advantages over the Nord 2 with water resistance, two day battery life, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It's similarly powerful and has a great screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

Alternatively, the Apple iPhone SE (2020) and Google Pixel 4a both cost roughly the same price and offer something different. The iPhone SE is much smaller but still offers a great iOS experience, while the Pixel 4a has an excellent camera.

How long it will take?

OnePlus promises two years of version updates for the Nord 2 plus four years of security updates. For comparison: Samsung also offers four years of security updates plus three years of Android version updates for the Galaxy A52 5G. The phone is not waterproof and is made of glass but has proven to be quite durable in my anecdotal experience. It has 5G so you can connect to the newest and fastest network and quickly charge the battery. It should easily survive the version updates that are guaranteed for two years.

Should you buy it?

At the moment, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G can't quite beat the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, but that may change if I've been using the phone for a longer period of time. The number of points received by the phone at the moment is not final and is subject to change. Look out for a review update very soon.

Editor's recommendations



29 Jun
Blog

OnePlus Nord CE 5G Review: A Cheap Phone Made to Last

OnePlus Nord CE

“The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a lightweight, affordable phone with a two-day battery that is future-proof and long-lasting with 5G and a range of software updates, provided you're not too demanding. But just a little more money brings you something better. "

  • Two days of battery life

  • Reliable, fast software

  • Light

  • Screen lacks liveliness

  • Processor struggles with intensive tasks

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a phone that is designed to last for a few years and is good value for money with no high starting price. It's no surprise that the Nord CE 5G has such a strong bang-to-buck ratio on paper as OnePlus has focused on delivering quality hardware for years. But is a value-oriented data sheet enough? Now that I've spent almost two weeks with the Nord CE 5G, it's clear why you don't have to spend more, but it's also clear why you should.

design

My Nord CE test model is in the color Blue Void and it's nice. It's obviously closely related to the Ultramarine Blue on the OnePlus 8 Pro, but with fewer shades of green and prefers to turn subtly into purple around the edges instead. It catches the light well and the back of the glass – not Gorilla Glass, but from another unnamed manufacturer – is handy and feels cool.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The chassis is made of plastic. It weighs 170 grams and is 7.9 mm thick, and that's thinner and lighter than the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, Realme 8 5G, and the first OnePlus Nord. The rounded case and flat screen make it comfortable to hold, but the plastic volume and power buttons feel cheap.

It's unfortunate that the Nord CE 5G doesn't have that wonderful OnePlus alarm slider that has been standard on most other OnePlus phones from the start and is an integral part of the brand's identity. This is despite the company's insistence that the Nord CE is just as much a OnePlus phone as these more expensive devices. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the phone which can be enough for some compensation.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I could complain about the lack of imagination in the design – it's basically the same as the first Nord, and how many more times will we see this shape camera module on a phone? – but it seems a bit silly to do so. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G has a pretty, completely undemanding design that is more noble than the price suggests and is a real eye-catcher in this special color. It's one of the cheapest 5G phones you can buy, but you would never know if you just looked at it from the back.

screen

Here's the first time you want to spend more on a phone, and a small downgrade from last year's Nord. The Nord CE 5G has a 6.43-inch fluid AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and Full HD resolution, which is a decent spec on paper but misses HDR10 +. In reality, it can't compete with the screen on phones that cost little more, like the Galaxy A52 5G.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It lacks warmth and vibrancy when it comes to watching video, even after you've dug into settings and made sure Vivid is set to display mode. Watching Carfection's Shelby Mustang GT500 review reveals the screen's coldness as the crazy green paint job didn't show up like it did on higher-end screens.

At maximum brightness, the screen is visible in all lighting conditions, but it loses a bit of clarity at extreme angles. It comes standard with a screen protector that is covered in fingerprints and it really doesn't make the front of the phone look very attractive. I wiped this phone a lot more than most of the others.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Hard comments? Possibly, but OnePlus is good at screens, and while the 90Hz response rate is much to be welcomed, the Nord CE 5G's performance can't compete with that of the Galaxy A52 5G, and even the Google Pixel 4a adds some of the life to it, that is missing the screen of the Nord CE. However, it is very similar to the Realme 8 5G, which suggests that we should expect it from a phone at this price point.

camera

On the back of the OnePlus Nord CE there are three cameras, a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera and a third 2-megapixel monochrome camera, which can be used separately. The main camera's photos are bright and colorful, but sometimes a little too saturated, and it struggles in difficult lighting conditions. The wide-angle camera becomes even more saturated and struggles in the shadows, where it loses details.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera app will show a 2x zoom option, but this is not an optical mode and if you use it the final picture will lose detail. The monochrome camera takes pure black and white photos, but with a low number of megapixels, although I've still enjoyed using it in the past. The video mode can record at up to 4K at 30 frames per second, there is a night mode for still images and a pro mode.

It can't compete with the Google Pixel 4a in terms of photo quality, but that's not really surprising, and the Galaxy A52 5G's camera gives photos a warmer, slightly more attractive look. That being said, and apart from the inconsistency between the main and wide-angle cameras, the Nord CE's camera takes photos that you'll be happy to share, but they may need to be edited beforehand. OnePlus includes an editor in its Gallery app, but the filters are mostly terrible and the customizations aren't as extensive as in Snapseed or Google Photos.

Where the Nord CE stumbles is when you try to do something too technical. It's stupid trying to focus in portrait mode, and it often refuses to focus on something that seems too close to it. Provided you aren't expecting too much, the Nord CE 5G's camera is fine, but if you experiment and really enjoy playing with the camera, it won't often impress.

Performance and software

My Test Nord CE has 8 GB of RAM, more than enough for most smartphones, and is paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor. The 750G released in 2020 is a confusing little thing. It's a step up from the Snapdragon 765G in the First North with newer Kryo 570 cores, but its Adreno 619 GPU is a step backwards compared to the Adreno 620 in the 765G. It's made in an 8nm process instead of a 7nm process, but uses the same X52 modem and supports both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G connections.

The Snapdragon 750G is newer than the still-current 765G, and although the G in the name indicates that the processor is geared towards gaming, the Nord CE 5G is happiest when playing casual games like Asphalt 9: Legends, which is rather fast and more exciting than anything more intense.

Genshin Impact is playable with minimal slowing down, but the phone gets warm, verging on hot, after playing for a while, especially if you spend a lot of time fighting. While I have never received an overheating warning, after long sessions with Genshin Impact, I have received a “Your phone's operating temperature has returned to normal” on a few occasions. What lets the Nord CE down more when playing is the sound, which is delivered through a single speaker and can be uncomfortably tinny.

The phone wins in general software, however, with OnePlus's excellent OxygenOS 11 running smoothly and bug free during my time with the phone. I like the always-on screen, which can be customized in a number of ways, and the battery scheduling feature for overnight use. I didn't have any issues with app compatibility or updates, and the settings menu is easy to navigate. It's one of the Nord CE 5G's greatest strengths.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G always on the screen

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

oneplus nord ce 5g review apps

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

oneplus nord ce 5g review browser

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OnePlus Nord CE 5G settings

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

While the Snapdragon 750G sounds like it should be a little powerhouse, it's not always as snappy as I'd like it to be. For example, it can stall while multitasking. It's not a deal breaker, but you will definitely notice an improvement in speed and responsiveness when using a more powerful phone. The Nord CE is fine for general use, and it has enough power for casual gaming too.

Battery and security

The OnePlus Nord CE is a great phone for casual use, and the battery reflects that. Use it carefully – around two hours of screen time – and barely 30% is consumed before the end of the day. On some quiet days, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G still had power at the end of the second day when connected to either Wi-Fi or 4G LTE. Play games for an hour, play a video, and mix it up with general usage, and the battery should still last a full day with some spare.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OnePlus' proprietary Warp Charge 30T Plus charge reliably brings the 4,500 mAh battery to 70% in just over 30 minutes, but it takes at least a full hour to reach capacity. Battery life and fast charging are two of the best things about the Nord CE 5G. The Galaxy A52 5G is the Nord CE's archenemy, and while Samsung's phone outperforms the Nord in some places, the Nord's fingerprint sensor is superior. It works really well, even though it's placed quite low on the screen, and there's a quick face-unlock system there as an alternative.

Price and availability

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G has only been announced for the UK, and it is unknown if it will ever officially come to the US. In the UK, it starts at £ 299, around $ 420 for the 8GB / 128GB version and £ 369 / $ 525 for the 12GB / 256GB model. It is now available for pre-order through the OnePlus online store and is sold through Amazon, John Lewis retail stores and the Three Network. It will be released on June 21st.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G proves that an affordable phone can be powerful, good-looking, and come with great software. If this covers all of your needs then great, you will be happy with it. However, this is where it is worth understanding whether you should spend a little more to get a superior product that will last even longer, and while there is nothing wrong with the Nord CE 5G, making sure your new phone lasts is crucial.

It's Samsung's fault that the Galaxy A52 5G made such a strong offer. It has an IP67 water resistance rating for increased durability, a better screen, a good camera, two days of battery life, and looks just as pretty (maybe even a little more modern). Add an equally robust software commitment and microSD card slot, and it's worth the extra over the 8GB Nord CE 5G as it will almost certainly last longer.

At no point did I feel the need to rip my SIM card out of the Nord CE 5G, so its frustrations never climbed high, and the brilliance of OxygenOS makes up for some of them anyway. However, there is no escaping the fact that while the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a solidly reliable phone that is reasonably future-proof with 5G and two years of software updates, if longevity is one of your goals and it really should be at all costs, a balanced one Longer-lasting phones are available for little more money.

Is there a better alternative?

The price of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is very competitive. We recommend going for the £ 299 8GB / 128GB version as it represents the best value. In the UK, the Realme 8 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5G are challenging the Nord CE on price, but there's little to technically separate them.

We recommend the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G because it has a generous, well thought-out range of functions, is probably more stylish and durable and has a larger, more beautiful screen for little more money. It costs $ 499 in the US and £ 399 in the UK. Getting a 5G phone under $ 500 in the US is a challenge, but also consider the Google Pixel 4a 5G if the camera is a priority.

How long it will take?

The Nord CE doesn't have a waterproof rating or a particularly tough case, so you'll need to put it in a bag if you want to protect it. OnePlus offers a selection of very colorful cases that are perfect for the job. There is good news on the software side, with the company promising two years of updates and three years of security updates. Provided your usage doesn't change there is no reason not to hold up for three years.

Should you buy it?

No. As good as it is, we recommend buying the Galaxy A52 5G for its added features and increased durability.

Editor's recommendations



25 Mar
Blog

OnePlus 9 Pro Review: The Dependable Smartphone

oneplus 9 pro rating camera hand

“The OnePlus 9 Pro is as usual for OnePlus, with enormous performance, a breathtaking screen, excellent software and ultra-fast battery charging. Just don't expect the Hasselblad partnership to change the camera yet. "

  • All the power you could want

  • A breathtaking screen

  • Very fast wired and wireless charging

  • Reliable, smooth and fast software

  • Hasselblad involvement isn't that noticeable

  • At $ 969, it faces serious flagship competition

The OnePlus 8 Pro was introduced in April 2020 and is only now being replaced by the OnePlus 9 Pro. A year in the OnePlus world is an absolute age, as the company typically released an updated "T" model six months after a model was used. However, this is not the case with the 8 Pro. All that extra time should mean the OnePlus 9 Pro is very special, right?

It's the first OnePlus phone to come out in collaboration with the super-expensive camera brand Hasselblad, who put their know-how into the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera, and that certainly sounds special. Otherwise, the OnePlus 9 Pro seems to be as reliable as we expect from OnePlus. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but can it also be exciting to be reliable? Let's dwell on that in more detail.

If you're interested in the OnePlus 9, which is cheaper but technically not as powerful as the 9 Pro, read our in-depth review.

design

The OnePlus 9 Pro is less sharp-edged, significantly shinier and more than a little heavier. It looks very different from the OnePlus 8 Pro. The beautiful matte finish of the 8 Pro has been replaced with a high gloss mirror finish that can be seen below in the Morning Mist color, which is silver for you and me. It's more comfortable to grip because the sides are thicker and less tapered (8.7mm), but it feels much stronger in the hand. It weighs 197 grams, with a slight incline towards the camera module, which makes it feel slightly top-heavy.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The built-in fingerprint sensor is at the bottom of the screen compared to most other smartphones. It's in the same position as the Oppo Find X3 Pro, a comparison we'll come back to later in this review when we talk about the screen. On the side is OnePlus's signature and the always welcome alarm slider for muting notifications.

The camera module is located at the top left on the back. It shines with Hasselblad's branding and contains four cameras, a sensor, a flash and a microphone. It doesn't look as individual as the OnePlus 8 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S21 +, but it's pretty flush with the body. It's all neat and undeniably functional, but there's not a lot of character to it. This is an issue with the way the OnePlus 9 Pro looks in general – it's not unattractive, but it doesn't have a lot of identity either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Maybe this doesn't matter to you, and build quality is more important. You have no concerns here, as the aluminum housing is wedged between two gorilla glass panes and everything is beautifully finished. The glass body has just enough grip but slips around on some surfaces.

I don't mind the style and design of the OnePlus 9 Pro, but it's a bit general. If the only aspect that really tells me it's a OnePlus phone is the alarm controller, you know the rest is too memorable.

screen

OnePlus never really got to the heart of its designs, but it has rarely gone wrong when it comes to the screen. The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen has a resolution of 3,216 x 1,220 pixels for a density of 525 pixels per inch and a variable refresh rate between 1 Hz and 120 Hz. The sides have a less pronounced curvature compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro and clearer bezels (but only straight) to avoid unwanted screen activations. I've still found the screen to be very sensitive to side touches and I often accidentally open the camera app or try to change the wallpaper by simply holding the phone in my hand.

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It's a beautiful screen with rich colors and a natural hue that's warm rather than cold, as well as pinpoint contrast. By default, the resolution is set to FHD +. However, it pays to run out of battery and use QHD + when watching compatible videos. It's just lovely. This K Choreo version of Iz * One & # 39; s Fiesta is full of colors and details on the OnePlus 9 Pro's screen.

How about the 8 Pro, which is not a problem even in the visual department? It's not better or worse, but it's different. The screen of the 8 Pro is a little more vivid, while the screen of the 9 Pro is a little more natural, which adds some softness, which results in the 8 Pro sometimes looking more detailed due to sharper and more defined edges. The 9 Pro's screen is not a step forward from the 8 Pro. When you place it next to the Oppo Find X3 Pro, it looks the same. The positioning of the built-in fingerprint sensor and pinhole camera, as well as specs like 10-bit color depth and HDR10 +, suggest that they're probably the same panel anyway.

camera

In our year of waiting for the OnePlus 9 Pro, the company has been working on the camera, which, while good in the past, has failed to outperform, or sometimes even outperform, the competition. To change that, OnePlus is partnering with Hasselblad, a Scandinavian supplier of mega-expensive cameras, and a company with a very rich photographic history. It's a three-year partnership that begins with the support of the software and will in the future pass to the couple working on the hardware together.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

What does this mean for the OnePlus 9 Pro? The camera has a software-based function called Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad on board, which promises to make the colors "more perceptible", according to the blurb. Hasselblad has also worked in Pro mode, so just like a Hasselblad camera, you get an orange shutter button and a specially recorded Hasselblad-style shutter sound.

The biggest problem for me is understanding what Hasselblad did on camera.

Unchallenged? I'm not blaming you, but this is just the beginning of the partnership and it will be some time before a significant change is made to the OnePlus camera. Hence, we should keep expectations in check. However, the Hasselblad branding is spread all over the camera module and a lot of noise has already been made about the shortcut so it's better to do something. I've taken 100+ photos with the OnePlus 9 Pro to date and the performance will split opinions.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Here are the camera specs. The main camera uses a custom Sony IMX789 sensor with 48 megapixels, an aperture of f / 1.8 and optical and electronic image stabilization. There is also a wide-angle camera with 50 MP f / 2.2 and an 8MP f / 2.4 telephoto camera with 3.3x optical zoom. There's also a 2-megapixel monochrome camera that can be used individually, as well as a dual-LED flash and a 16-megapixel selfie camera.

First off, it's important to say that the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera takes better photos than the OnePlus 8 Pro's, but it's not an instant winner and not everyone will appreciate the changes. The biggest problem for me is understanding what Hasselblad did on camera. The natural color calibration is always active, so that for me, as someone without any experience with a Hasselblad camera, any inherent “Hasselbladness” in the photos is completely lost.

To really see what the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera looks like, I spent more time than usual comparing the photos with those of other cameras. This shows how difficult it is to spot something that makes the OnePlus 9 Pro's photos special. The photos undoubtedly look "natural", usually with a nice tone and balance and sometimes better exposure than other cameras that take the same picture. However, this pursuit of naturalness can make photos look washed out and lack atmosphere.

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Trying to determine Hasselblad's appearance is made even more difficult by the massive differences between the main and ultrawide cameras. While the main camera takes on a cool tone, the ultrawide is a lot warmer, which means I have no idea what look Hasselblad is looking for. In the end, it's very difficult to figure out where the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera differs from others because of Hasselblad's involvement, and that's not a good selling point.

I like the photos taken with the OnePlus 9 Pro, but if I didn't know that Hasselblad is working with OnePlus on the phone, I wouldn't look any deeper at all, simply because it's just a good camera and nothing more. It's certainly better than previous OnePlus cameras, but the efforts of the two teams working together have yet to be realized.

Software and performance

OxygenOS version 11 with Android 11 is installed and excellent. It is essentially the same software as the OnePlus 8T. So don't expect new features to come with the new phone. Not that that matters, because OxygenOS is always a joy. Whether it's the new always-on screen, the effective dark mode, the sleek menus, the beautiful fonts and overall design, the clear notifications, or the deeper storage and power management tools, the software is some of the best you can get on an Android device can use smartphone.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor has the performance you could want – there were absolutely no performance issues for me – and there is a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of storage. It's great for playing. Genshin Impact plays very well, with only a slight drop in frame rate during busy battle scenes, although the phone feels warm to the touch with prolonged gaming. I used the 12GB / 256GB model but can't imagine I would notice a speed difference if I were to use the 8GB model. However, there is no expandable storage space. So you need to consider whether you will need additional built-in storage in the future before buying this phone.

I've noticed that the WiFi range is shorter than some other devices, but the call quality is very good. And even though the built-in fingerprint sensor is set pretty deep on the screen, it's lightning fast. Particularly noteworthy is the feel, which is even more subtle and tactile than the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Battery and charging

It's a 4,500 mAh cell that takes care of all visual, playful and camera functions of the OnePlus 9T. I found it to be good for a day but not much longer as there is a charge every night, almost regardless of the day's activities. Ninety minutes of Genshin Impact drained 25% of the battery, leaving hardcore gamers to charge even more frequently.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The OnePlus 9 Pro uses the proprietary Warp Charge 65T fast charging system, so you have a charger and USB Type-C cable in the box that must be used to get the fastest speeds. OnePlus says it will go from zero to 100% in 28 minutes. So can it? Almost yes. In my tests, it took 31 minutes. I won't argue for more than three minutes. It's still faster than most of the competition. Helpfully, like Warp Charge 65, the Warp Charge 65T block pumps 45 watts into other devices that can absorb this charging power.

wireless charger oneplus 9 pro review

oneplus 9 pro review page for wireless charger

OnePlus' wireless charging system Warp Charge 50 has received a speed boost. However, you have to buy the OnePlus wireless charging dock for £ 70/70 to benefit from it. It promises to deliver a full charge in just 43 minutes, and in my tests it easily manages it. In contrast to the previous version, the USB Type-C cable is not integrated into the charger. However, you need to use OnePlus’s own charging block and cable to get full speed. The cable, not the block, is included, but if it's about a meter long, any added versatility is lost if it's not attached to the charger.

Price and availability

The OnePlus 9 Pro is $ 969 for the 8GB / 128GB model or $ 1,069 for the 12GB / 256GB model. It's available for Pre-order on March 26th and should be released on April 2nd. In the UK, the OnePlus 9 Pro costs £ 829 for the 8GB / 128GB model and £ 929 for the 12GB / 256GB version. The phone is available for pre-order in the UK on March 23rd.

Our opinion

There is both everything I want and everything I unfortunately expected from a OnePlus phone in the OnePlus 9 Pro. Right now there is the best mobile processor, excellent screen, super smooth and reliable software and fast battery charging. That's all I want and what OnePlus can do in my sleep. A camera that almost, but not quite, lives up to expectations, an acceptable but uninspiring design, and a price that is a little higher than I really wish for are aspects that I have come across in the past year or years OnePlus expected so. It works as usual.

When you buy one you will be very satisfied, but you may feel like something really special is missing.

I like the reliability of OnePlus phones. Daily use is completely problem-free. With the combination of OxygenOS and a wide variety of features, today you have a hard time finding a better user experience for smartphones. However, the extent of Hasselblad's involvement in the camera is too difficult to pinpoint right now, so there's not quite that special thing that makes me tingle with excitement while taking pictures, but there is potential for the future.

OnePlus fans will be happy with the OnePlus 9 Pro, and while the camera is definitely an improvement over the OnePlus 8 Pro, everything else is just a small generation step. So it's not really worth upgrading from 8 Pro unless you're really disappointed with its camera. It's harder to sell for those who aren't a dedicated OnePlus fan, as some aggressive pricing from Apple and Samsung this year means better smartphones are available for less. If you buy one you will be very satisfied as it follows OnePlus' proven, reliable phone formula, but you may feel like something really special is missing.

Is there a better alternative?

The OnePlus 9 Pro faces serious competition in the US. At the time of writing, the Samsung Galaxy S21 was Ultra costs $ 1,000 from Amazonand it's a better buy because of its great camera, beautiful screen, and overall performance. The Apple iPhone 12 Pro remains a fantastic buy if not set on an Android device at $ 1,000It's just as affordable as the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

In the UK, the phone is a better value as it is cheaper than both of the above and even cheaper than the 950 pound Galaxy S21 + 5G. It's significantly cheaper than the 1,100-pound Oppo Find X3 Pro, but even the 8GB / 128GB version can't keep up with the Xiaomi Mi 11 5G's value at 750 pounds.

How long it will take?

Thanks to the powerful processor, great screen, 5G connectivity, and fast charging of the OnePlus 9 Pro, you can use it for at least two years before you even consider upgrading. Three years is perfectly feasible if you are not a hardcore gamer. The phone has an IP68 rating but is made of glass so you may want to put it in a pocket.

According to OnePlus, the OnePlus 9 will receive new Android updates for two years plus another year of security updates, making it one of the better companies at handling critical software updates.

Should you buy it?

Yes, it's an excellent smartphone, but despite the promise of the Hasselblad partnership, it still lacks something special, especially since the price is higher than some of the best smartphones you can buy today.

Editor's recommendations




24 Mar
Blog

OnePlus 9 Review: Ultimate Performance And a Middling Camera

oneplus 9 review 5

"It's disappointing with a bland design and a camera that just can't compete with other devices in the same price range."

  • Excellent performance

  • Smooth software

  • Stunning display

  • Boring design

  • Camera still needs work

  • Rising prices

A lot has changed in the smartphone industry over the past year. While OnePlus was once the go-to place for those who wanted a flagship experience a few hundred dollars less than the competition, others got it. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, for example, took the best things about the Galaxy S20 but sold them for just $ 700. Then came the Samsung Galaxy S21, which starts at $ 800, $ 200 less than its predecessor. Google's Pixel 5 is only $ 700, the iPhone 12 a palatable $ 800.

In other words, the price alone makes the OnePlus 9 not a flagship killer. The price is on the lower end of the flagship range and as such it has to compete on its merits.

I'm not trying to imply that it's not competing. With features like the latest and greatest processor, a beautiful screen, and a great software experience, the OnePlus 9 brings a lot to the table. Not to mention that there is also a OnePlus 9 Pro that we tested separately. He takes the OnePlus 9 and expands its features to 11. But let's get into that the OnePlus 9.

If you are interested in the OnePlus 9 Pro, which is more expensive but also technically a bit more powerful, read our in-depth review.

Design and display

The OnePlus 8T represented a number of changes for the company, but the OnePlus 9 is a lot more iterative. It's not the same as the 8T – but you'll be forgiven for thinking it. It has the flat screen of the OnePlus 8T and a rectangular camera module on the top left on the back. Both differ from the OnePlus 8 a year ago.

It's not a bad look, but it's a boring look. It looks like a Samsung Galaxy S20 – which is fine, but not that exciting in a world where Samsung has made a number of design improvements to the Galaxy S21 that help make it both unique and incredibly elegant looks like.

The OnePlus 9 has a glass back, but it feels a little cheap to me, and I thought it was plastic at first, although maybe that's because of its light weight. It is also easy to fingerprint and, as such, quickly loses its glossy appearance. To be honest, I prefer the look and feel of the Galaxy S21's plastic, which can be seen as frosted glass at a glance.

However, there are aspects of the OnePlus 9 design that I love. The most important among these is the physical ringtone switch. Yes, it's a small feature, but I wish more Android phone manufacturers would adopt it. I wish it had been swapped for the left-mounted volume rocker, as you'll likely use the power button more than the ringtone button, but that's a minor complaint and you will get used to the layout easily.

However, there are aspects of the OnePlus 9 design that I love. The most important among these is the physical ringtone switch.

Another thing I love about the OnePlus 9 is the display. It's a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and it looks great. Thanks to the high refresh rate and modern processor, the phone looks and feels incredibly responsive. So much so that you don't really notice that the display has a resolution of 1,080p rather than the 1,440p of the OnePlus 9 Pro. You can tell a little difference between the phones when placed next to each other. However, the OnePlus 9 proves that a high refresh rate is more important than high resolution for good reason. Samsung has found that out too.

The display also gets nice and bright and is easily visible outdoors. According to OnePlus, the display brightness is 1,100 nits, which is slightly less than the 1,300 nits of the OnePlus 9 Pro. Still, it's very bright and I never really wished it would get lighter.

Unfortunately, the device doesn't have the 1 Hz to 120 Hz variable refresh rate that is available on the OnePlus 9 Pro, but it does go from 60 Hz to 120 Hz, which is still great and helps reduce battery consumption a bit.

There is a fingerprint sensor under the display that works great. The sensor is fast and accurate and makes it easy to access your phone. The display is a bit low, which makes it a bit awkward to bend your thumb to reach – but you will get used to the placement.

Power, battery and charging

OnePlus phones were never really about their looks. It was about features for the price – and that includes the technical data under the hood. As you'd expect from a flagship phone in 2021, the OnePlus 9 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor that is paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage, depending on the model. I'm reviewing the model with 12GB of RAM

Thanks to the combination of high-end processor, high refresh rate and relatively light software, the OnePlus 9 works like a dream. In mobile gaming, it loaded quickly and rarely skipped a frame. During the heavy multitasking, the device responded quickly and quickly. If you are looking for a high performer, the OnePlus 9 is for you.

The battery life of the OnePlus 9 is okay. It has a 4,500 mAh battery that can keep you working a full day, and possibly a few hours until the next day if you miss a charge overnight. It's not a sucker, but it's not a multi-day phone.

However, it doesn't have to be a multi-day phone. OnePlus' Warp Charge technology is getting better and better and can now charge the OnePlus 9 from 0 to 100% in around 30 minutes. In other words, if you toss it on the charger during a morning shower, it should get most of its battery life back. This is pretty amazing and removes the fear of other phones battery life. Of course, the OnePlus Warp charger must be used, but you get one that came with the phone. Additional stones will be Reset $ 65 each.

For the first time, the base model of a OnePlus phone also supports wireless charging, which was previously limited to the “Pro” models. The OnePlus 9 supports up to 50 watts of wireless charging. However, to take full advantage of this, you'll need to purchase OnePlus' new Warp Charge 50 wireless charger for a whopping $ 70. Fortunately, you can still use standard Qi chargers even though they charge more slowly.

Camera quality

If you look at the back of the OnePlus 9, you'll see the name of another brand: Hasselblad. The two decided on the color matching of the OnePlus 9 camera. There is a difference between the color matching on the OnePlus 9 and the previous generation OnePlus 8, but the OnePlus 9 also has new hardware that makes it a little difficult to tell the differences.

The OnePlus 9 has a triple camera system with a 48-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome camera that is used for depth and level of detail. It's really unfortunate that there isn't a telephoto camera here, especially when you consider that the Galaxy S21 manages to fit one into its setup (although it is referred to as a "telephoto") for a similar price.

Ultimately, pictures taken with the OnePlus 9 aren't bad. They are not quite as colorful as those of a Galaxy S21, for example, and they also do not have as many details. Additionally, the camera isn't as consistent – sometimes it takes better photos than sometimes, despite being in a very similar situation. Still, they're not bad.

Unfortunately, at $ 730, not bad is still not good enough. In a world with the Galaxy S21, Pixel 5 and iPhone 12, the OnePlus 9 is still inadequate. But it seems like it will make things better – a software update during this verification process improved the camera quality quite a bit. Hopefully this trend will continue, although you should never buy a phone in the hopes that it will improve in the future.

The front-facing camera is 16 megapixels and is pretty good again – but by no means revolutionary. Photos taken with it appear to have decent contrast. They're not necessarily that detailed, but they do the job for an average selfie.

Unfortunately, at $ 730, not bad is still not good enough.

There are some things that I really appreciate about the OnePlus 9's camera. OnePlus has worked hard to take better photos in low light, and while the phone doesn't compete with any other device, it is leaps and bounds better than the OnePlus 8. Plus, the OnePlus 9 lets you take macro photos with the ultrawide camera like the Galaxy S21. This is a handy feature, and it means OnePlus can avoid shipping the inferior macro camera that other companies (including OnePlus previously) were fond of.

Software experience

If there's one thing that OnePlus has pinned down it's software. The phone comes with OnePlus OxygenOS 11 which is based on Android 11.

OxygenOS has moved further and further away from standard Android in general, but still offers a stripped-down experience that is smooth and easy to navigate. I like most of the improvements OnePlus has made to the software, such as the more consistent look and feel of the Settings app and the Quick Settings menu. Dark mode now looks and works great in both the core software and the OnePlus apps.

OxygenOS finally offers a solid always-on display. This feature was introduced on OxygenOS 11 and was available on OnePlus 8T. It provides an overview of information such as battery life, time and weather. It's similar to everyone else's permanent display, but it's still convenient that it is there in the first place.

OxygenOS also comes with a number of additional features. In particular, you get the App Locker, with which you need authentication to access certain apps. You also get parallel apps that allow you to install two instances of an app to log into two different accounts. This is great for apps that don't already let you sign in to multiple accounts. On OnePlus phones, you can still access the OnePlus shelf, which has quick information like the weather, deep links to some apps, the number of steps you took, and a lot more. For first-time OnePlus users, it may take a while to get used to using Shelf. However, if you do, it can be quite useful.

Our opinion

The OnePlus 9 is a strange version. It's a good phone. With top-notch performance, a fantastic display, and a great software experience, there is definitely a niche for it. But it's disappointing with a bland design and a camera that just can't compete with other devices in the same price range.

It really is a shame, especially given the software experience. You'll have a hard time finding another phone at a price that's as fast and as clean in terms of software as the OnePlus 9. This is in stark contrast to the Galaxy S21, which is fast but is cumbersome and more expensive bloated software.

At $ 730, the OnePlus 9 It's just not enough to have a full experience that is in line with the price. Hence, I recommend many users look elsewhere for this amount of money.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. Chief among these alternatives is the Samsung Galaxy S21which has similar performance and display quality, looks much better, and has a much better camera. If you want an Android phone in the $ 700- $ 800 range, this is the place to go. On the clean and simple side, but with a smaller display and specs, you can buy the Google Pixel 5 for similar money. Alternatively, you can get the last generation Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which isn't quite as powerful but still has a great display and probably a better camera than the OnePlus 9. It costs only $ 600.

Of course, there's another phone in this price range that's worth considering: The iPhone 12. It offers some of the best performance you can get from a smartphone, and it will probably work just as well in three years as we are used to from OnePlus phones. It offers a clean software experience in iOS and has an excellent camera. The only real downside is the display, which looks nice but doesn't have a high refresh rate like the OnePlus 9 and Galaxy S21. And switching ecosystems can be a deal breaker for some people.

Last but not least is the OnePlus 9 Pro. If you really like the OnePlus style, you can pay $ 970 for a higher resolution display and telephoto camera. You still get the same processing power and software experience. It is up to you to decide for yourself whether these things are worth the extra money.

How long it will take

The OnePlus 9 works just as well as any other flagship of 2021, so it should last at least three years before it really slows down. It's made of glass, so you should probably put it in a case to protect it from drops and bumps.

Should you buy one?

No. The OnePlus 9 is not enough to justify its price. Instead, you should get a Samsung Galaxy S21, S20 FE, iPhone 12, or Pixel 5.

Editor's recommendations




09 Nov
Blog

OnePlus Nord 10 5G Review: Bringing 5G to the Masses

oneplus nord 10 5g rating 4

  • Solid display

  • Simple software

  • Good battery life

  • Headphone jack

  • 128 GB storage

  • Performance can feel sluggish

  • Camera is a weak point

  • Start on Android 10

OnePlus has long been the bastion of value for money in the Android world, but as the prices of its flagship phones rise, more room has been made for lower-cost devices that still have some great features. The original OnePlus Nord is an example of this, with a solid design and good battery life. OnePlus is now expanding the series – with the new OnePlus Nord N10 5G.

The new device is currently only available in Europe and the UK. However, OnePlus announces that it will soon be brought to North America along with the also new OnePlus Nord N100. At £ 329, it's still not a cheap phone, but it's definitely budget conscious. Should you buy it? We tested the OnePlus Nord N10 5G to find out.

Editor's note: Since the Nord N10 5G is first available in Europe, we have received a European model to test. When tested in the United States, the phone had technical limitations related to 5G bands and other network technologies. The North American model should not encounter any of these problems.

Design and display

Midrange phones have gotten a lot better, and many of the best midrange devices now feature a modern design with an edge-to-edge display. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is no exception to this rule. The display has nicely rounded corners, there is a (relatively large) hole cutout on the top left of the display for the front-facing camera, etc. The only thing that breaks the illusion is a big chin at the bottom of the display, but it certainly isn't Deal breaker.

The back of the phone looks a lot like other modern OnePlus devices. At the top left of the back of the phone is a circular camera module that houses the quad lens camera. The only difference, at least in looks, is the back-mounted fingerprint sensor, which generally worked fine.

Of course, the look and feel are a little different. The back of the phone looks nice but is made of plastic and you can feel it. It's common on phones in this price range, but I would still love to see mid-range phones made from higher quality materials.

The phone looks great, but it looks and feels different – you know it's made of plastic.

You get all the usual features around the edges: a USB-C port, a volume rocker, and a power button. There's also a strange hole at the bottom. After reading the instructions, I discovered that it was a "headphone jack". Strange.

The Nord N10 5G offers a 6.49-inch display with a resolution of 1080p and looks great. No, it's not a high-end 1440p display, but at least it's a 90Hz, high refresh rate display. It gets bright enough to be used in direct sunlight, has relatively vivid colors, and is more than good enough for most.

Power and battery

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 processor as well as 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It's not a bad set of specs, and in fact, it's really nice that the base model has 128GB of storage. But there are other phones that feel faster in the price range. A perfect example of this is the Google Pixel 4a, which is roughly the same price and has a Snapdragon 730G – and the high-end Pixel 4a 5G, which is admittedly a bit more expensive, has a Snapdragon 765G. While the standard Pixel 4a does not outperform the OnePlus Nord 10 5G in benchmarks, Google's phones react very quickly in real use and are more up-to-date with the software.

The phone performance limitations are sometimes felt. Sometimes the keyboard takes a second or two to load, and sometimes it can skip a beat while typing to actually show the character on the display. Basic operations are relatively smooth most of the time, but there are times when you are not reminded that you have a budget device.

Benchmark results confirm this. The Nord N10 got 5G 281,214 in AnTuTu and 606 single-core, 1,804 multi-core in GeekBench 5. Playing on the phone is a decent experience. Games take a while to load, but the actual gameplay worked well in our testing with games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9.

The phone's battery has a capacity of 4,300 mAh and could easily be used for a full day. Even so, I recommend turning off the phone's constantly on display. The OnePlus Nord 10 5G has an LCD panel. When the display function is activated, the backlight remains on even if the display is switched off. This can take some serious drain on the battery, and with the feature turned on, I found that the battery was so degraded that I had to charge the phone before the end of a day of moderate use.

All-day battery pack isn't an issue, and Warp Charge 30T fast charging is a differentiator at this price point.

Fortunately, the phone supports OnePlus' Warp Charge 30T and comes with a charger. Since the European model of the device was shipped to me, I have not tested the charger here in the US. However, having tested OnePlus' fast charging in the past, chances are the phone can get a majority of its charge back in around 30 minutes. That is a differentiator at this price point.

The Nord 10 5G, as the name suggests, also supports 5G thanks to the new Snapdragon 690 chipset and the Snapdragon X51 modem from Qualcomm. The result is you get Sub-6 5G connectivity, but not the super-fast mmWave that carriers like Verizon have touted. For most, however, this shouldn't be a big deal – mmWave is barely available, and you really shouldn't buy or avoid a phone that relies on mmWave support.

camera

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G offers a four-lens camera system, but it's not necessarily as versatile as you might think. While you might think that there is a telephoto lens among these four lenses, sadly there isn't. Instead, you get a 64-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. I really wish OnePlus would get rid of the macro lens – it's useless.

The cameras are fine, but not groundbreaking. This is where the Pixel 4a stands out.

Photos are fine, but not groundbreaking. If you want the best photos on a phone in this price range, you'd better go for the Pixel 4a, which has flagship-level image processing.

In general, the phone didn't provide as much detail as I would have liked to see. The colors were also a bit muted and not as vivid as I would normally expect from a 2020 phone. This is especially true for trick shooting situations, for example with a light background and darker foreground. Making sure HDR is enabled will help in these situations, but it won't completely solve the problem.

software

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G comes with the OnePlus OxygenOS 10.5, and it's a little frustrating to see that it doesn't come with the latest OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. This newer software is already widespread and only frustrates the Nord N10 5G when it comes to longer-term software support. That said, the overall experience with any modern OnePlus phone is still good, and customizing OxygenOS Android is still simple and easy to navigate.

You also get some additional features. For example, the phone has OnePlus Zen mode which allows you to restrict your own access to your phone for a limited time. Other functions are the App Locker, with which you can hide apps behind the fingerprint sensor or a PIN code. Basic theme options make it easy to customize the look of the phone, and OnePlus is especially good at keeping duplicate apps and bloat to a minimum.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G is available in Europe and the UK for 329 pounds sterling, which equates to about $ 430 right away – although I would assume the US price will be under $ 400. At some point the device will be released in the USA, but we don't have a date for it yet.

The device comes with the 12-month standard warranty from OnePlus, which practically only covers manufacturer defects.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G is a nice phone. It looks and works fine despite the plastic construction, except for a few cases where performance is a little poor. However, the main selling point for the Nord 10 5G compared to the competition seems to be its 5G support. And if you've read anything we've written over the past few years, you know you shouldn't buy a phone as it supports 5G.

If you are a OnePlus fan who wants a phone in this lower price range, this is a great option as it is the same value for money, solid display, simple software, and good battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're ready to ditch 5G support (and that's really not a huge loss), it's worth getting the Google Pixel 4a instead of the OnePlus Nord 10 5G. The Pixel 4a offers a better camera and an even simpler software experience, even though it's at a slightly higher £ 350.

If you really want 5G support and can afford to spend a little more, the Pixel 4a 5G is the way to go, though it may be a full price range higher at £ 499. If you're feeling really adventurous, consider the iPhone SE, which offers better performance than any phone we've mentioned and a solid camera, although the design is a little dated.

If you live in the UK or the OnePlus Nord is available elsewhere, this should be considered before the N10. It's £ 379 in the UK, and it's a much more tech-savvy phone for just a little more.

How long it will take?

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G should last a solid two years, but should really slow down at this point. However, the phone does not have an official water resistance rating. To bring it to two years you have to be careful with it.

Should you buy one?

No. You should spend a little more money on the Google Pixel 4a instead.

Editor's recommendations




15 Oct
Blog

OnePlus 8T Review: One of the Best Phones You Shouldn’t Buy

oneplus 8t review back

“The OnePlus 8T is a great smartphone – great software, fast, and a decent camera. With the exception of $ 749, the competition is too tough to recommend. "

  • Super fast loading

  • One day after 15 minutes of charging

  • Clean, fast and up-to-date software

  • Attractive photos from the camera

  • No wireless charging

  • No IP water resistance

The inconspicuous OnePlus 8 has been replaced by the OnePlus 8T. Wait, you don't remember OnePlus 8? This is not surprising as the phone was a safe and sensible choice that had absolutely no standout features and made it completely memorable. The OnePlus 8T will make you forget about it too, but this time you will forget about charging as the great new feature removes the worry of having a fully charged phone every morning.

Do you think that's the whole story? This is not the case as the smartphone world surrounding the OnePlus 8 has changed a lot since April, making the life of the 8T considerably more difficult than ever.

design

The OnePlus 8T is all about change. Instead of the unusual central camera module on the back of the OnePlus 8, this time it's an offset module that makes the phone look more like the Galaxy S20. I really like the look of the OnePlus 8T and am impressed with the total lack of fingerprints on the body, which makes it look clean and new.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Like the OnePlus 8, the 8T also has a flat screen on the front with a slight curvature at the edges. The aluminum housing is very well designed and has a pronounced curvature that leads from the flat screen into the cool, matt Gorilla Glass rear. This cleanly prevents the phone from getting tired for long periods of time, as does the relatively low weight of 188 grams and the 8.4 mm thick case. It doesn't dig into the palm of your hand or have any sharp edges.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OnePlus doesn't make too much effort with the design of the 8T. It's clean and simple, sophisticated and attractive. While I appreciate visually unusual designs like the Oppo Reno4 Pro and Vivo X50 Pro, they are a little too eager. The cool, unpretentious look of the OnePlus 8T will appeal to more people and stay fresh longer. The phone is available in two colors: the Lunar Silver shown here and a pretty Aquamarine Green.

Screen and audio

On the OnePlus 8T, you get a 6.55-inch fluid AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, and an aspect ratio of 20: 9. It's hard to want anything else. Watch videos at 60 frames per second on YouTube and it's gorgeous, so smooth and easy on your eyes and with some stunning colors. The psychedelic colors in Iz * One & # 39; s Beware music video are hyper-realistic, and on the other hand, blacks, grays, and midtones look great too, as shown in the Audi RS7 video from Woyshnis Media.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There are two stereo speakers with one big volume but not a lot of bass or finesse. It's better to keep the volume at a reasonable level to avoid too much harshness. Listen to WJSN Chocome's bouncing, high-pitched hmph! and it sounds much better at half volume than at three quarters of the volume. The phone also supports Dolby Atmos.

Oddly enough, even though the screen apparently has a maximum brightness of 1,100 nits, I never felt the phone's screen was that bright. It's not dark at this level, but it was rare for the auto brightness to be less than about 80% and during the day I still had the max to watch videos.

battery

The OnePlus 8T introduces Warp Charge 65T, a proprietary super-fast charging technology that means you no longer have to worry about charging your phone overnight. How? If you charge the battery to around 60% in just 15 minutes. OnePlus says this is enough juice for everyday use, right? Yes, although it depends on your definition of the time of day.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

First, the fast charge time is accurate. It only took 15 minutes for the battery on my OnePlus 8T to go from 3% to 60%. This means that if you frequently forget to charge your phone, or if you prefer to minimize the remaining time connecting and charging the phone, you can easily integrate the OnePlus 8T into your lifestyle. It takes about 40 minutes to fully charge the battery from an empty state.

While charging is quick, it is also quick to discharge. With a 60% charge, it ran from noon to 11:30 p.m. This was done with about 20 minutes of video, 15 minutes of Asphalt 9 Legends, about 45 minutes of WhatsApp video call, and then general usage. If you classify the power of a day as around 12 hours, you should get this from the OnePlus 8T, provided you handle it carefully. Energy-intensive tasks consume a lot of energy, video and games. An hour of video generally reduces battery life by 12% to 15%, which quickly affects the life of the phone if you start the day on just 60%.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Warp Charge 65T uses a special charging block and a USB Type-C cable to charge the dual-cell battery with 4,500 mAh in the phone. So you need to have it on hand. Cleverly, it charges each of the cells with 30 W, which minimizes wear and tear and keeps the heat at a reasonable level. The OnePlus 8T only gets a little warm during fast charging. The phone does not support wireless charging.

OnePlus' fast charging technology isn't the first of its kind. We've seen it on several Oppo phones and even on the budget Realme 7 Pro, but the OnePlus 8T is the first widely available phone in the US to have this kind of fast charging technology . That makes it special, and absolutely no one said that about the OnePlus 8.

camera

At first glance, the OnePlus 8T's camera is rather mundane. A well-known 48-megapixel IMX586 camera tops the list, followed by a 16-megapixel ultrawide and a 5-megapixel macro camera. It's the fourth lens that's different enough to make me sit up and take notice – it's a special monochrome lens that can be used on its own.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The OnePlus 8T's standalone monochrome camera is mainly used to enhance color photos and also takes true black and white photos without filters to achieve the desired effect. This was something I loved about Huawei's cameras until it was removed, which pissed me off enough to write an obituary on it. Unfortunately, it's not a replacement for Huawei's monochrome camera mode as it is only 2 MP, but I like the atmospheric shots it takes.

Otherwise, the OnePlus 8T continues the improvements we saw with the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro cameras. The main and wide angle cameras take pretty, colorful, and bright photos with good dynamic range, both outside and inside. The variety of cameras makes it versatile and I had fun taking photos especially since I was confident the results would look good.

There's no optical zoom option, although the app has a 2x mode. However, the results are noisy and show no details on closer inspection. Nightscape mode now works in videos as well and continues to be a subtle but effective night mode. It integrates with a video bokeh mode to blur the background when recording videos. This is not so good and doesn't fool anyone into thinking it's a real bokeh effect. The portrait effect in still images from the selfie camera and the rear camera is much better.

Software and more

The OnePlus 8T uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and has 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM. This is the same as the OnePlus 8. It also has 5G connectivity. However, since 5G is not available in my region, this feature could not be tested. Calls made with the OnePlus 8T sound clear, and the speaker works well for hands-free calls too.

OnePlus is one of the first manufacturers to bring out a smartphone with software based on Android 11. There are some great features too. Pressing the power button activates a shortcut screen of controls for your smart home. There's also Google Pay and a screenshot button, as well as Google's new screen recorder feature. OnePlus has improved its dark mode and developed OxygenOS 11 for one-handed use.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This creates more space at the top of the screen and options that move further down the screen so they're easier to find. The most obvious thing to do is to browse the top level of the Settings menu and OnePlus' own weather app. But it's not everywhere, including the OnePlus file manager app, some of the deeper settings screens, or all of the basic Android apps like the Apps Drawer.

OnePlus 8T's Insight is always displayed. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OxygenOS is finally seeing the introduction of an always-on screen. It seems strange that one of the best manufacturer versions of Android didn't have this simple feature, but here we are and, amazingly, it's not quite finished yet. The function that will do it differently, called canvas, will still be included in a software update. This will put an outline of your wallpaper on the lock screen for a comfortably seamless look when you lock and unlock it. You will also see a Snapchat Bitmoji that will always appear on the screen. The update will be available in November.

It is currently very similar to most of the other screens. It displays the time, battery percentage, and notification icons. Besides digital wellbeing, there is another option called Insight that can help you determine how many times you've unlocked the phone and how long you've spent on it. It's an option that is confusingly hidden under the clock style rather than the environment display setting, and it's also confusing to look at. That being said, I'm really excited to see an option in OxygenOS that always appears.

I played Asphalt 9 Legends and Hill Climb Racer with no problems. There's an improved game mode that's visually less intrusive (it pops in from a top corner of the screen and takes up almost no space), with a handy split-screen option for quickly replying to messages. Using the OnePlus 8T with OxygenOS on a daily basis has been glitch free, with bulletproof reliability and a decent speed change. It is also worth pointing out the pleasant haptic feedback.

Price and availability

The OnePlus 8T will be available from October 23rd. Pre-orders will start on October 14th in OnePlus' own online shop. Amazon will also sell the OnePlus 8T from October 23rd. The phone is priced at $ 749 for the 12GB / 256GB model, and the 8GB / 128GB model doesn't appear to be on sale in the US. For reference, the 12GB / 256GB OnePlus 8 model costs $ 800.

In the UK, the Lunar Silver OnePlus 8T will be the 8GB / 128GB phone and will cost £ 549. The 12GB / 256GB model will be available in Aquamarine Green for £ 649.

If you are looking for a OnePlus 8T Pro then don't. The OnePlus 8 Pro remains the company's best smartphone for now, and the OnePlus 8T will only replace the OnePlus 8 released in April.

Our opinion

The super-fast loading of Warp Charge 65T gives the OnePlus 8T the standout feature that the OnePlus 8 lacked, making it a better buying decision than its predecessor. In the time since this phone was sold, however, the mid-range smartphone market has shifted significantly. At $ 749, the OnePlus 8T is too expensive, and now it's a lot harder to justify paying the higher price for a top processor when cheaper phones with a high-mid processor are just as suitable for everyday use.

Is there a better alternative?

If you live in the US, yes. The smartphone world has changed significantly since April, when the OnePlus 8 was not unchallenged, but at the top of the pile. Now we have the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Google Pixel 5, both of which are $ 50 cheaper than the OnePlus 8T and arguably more compelling purchases.

There are also a few outliers to consider, including the LG Velvet, Motorola Edge, and Nokia 8.3. All of them are good smartphones that may not charge very quickly but still have other enticing features that range from design to stunning screens. If you're looking to save some cash, the Google Pixel 4a 5G is $ 499 and comes with great software and software. We also expect a good camera.

Then we come to OnePlus. In the UK, the OnePlus Nord is cheaper and really just as good, and the more expensive OnePlus 8 Pro has additional desirable features – water resistance and wireless charging – that make it a better deal in the long run. However, at £ 549, the OnePlus 8T 8GB / 128GB is cheaper than the 12GB / 256GB version and a worthy alternative to the phones mentioned above. It doesn't look like the cheaper phone will be sold in the US, which is unfortunate.

How long it will take?

The OnePlus 8T does not have an IP rating for water resistance, but should be splash-proof for use in the rain. It's not a sturdy phone as it is made of glass, but you get a transparent silicone case in the box. The latest version of Android is now installed, and OnePlus will be delivering critical updates over the next two years and security updates over the next three years. This, along with some care, should mean that the phone will keep you happy for two years.

Should you buy one?

No, not because it's a bad phone – it's not, it's very good. However, you can pay less for equally powerful smartphones from other well-known manufacturers.

Editor's recommendations




27 Jul
Blog

OnePlus Nord Review: Some Good Old-Fashioned Value

oneplus nord valuation shirt

"The OnePlus Nord has the right features and technologies to make the phone durable at a value-based price."

  • Acceptable price

  • Future-proof with 5G

  • Good battery life

  • Reliable, easy-to-use software

  • Camera needs to be improved

  • Some connectivity errors

OnePlus has always been incredibly valuable, but it got lost last year when prices for its most sought-after devices went up. Today's OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are solid phones, but the price is equivalent to that of the competition.

The latest version of the company, OnePlus Nord, seems to be a return to the company's roots. It is a strong midrange phone that looks attractive and offers some high-end features. That's the value we want to see, but does it make the North a worthy purchase?

design

It's good that there is a large OnePlus logo on the back of the North, as the phone has a design similar to several other smartphones, from the Huawei P30 Pro to the Xiaomi Mi 9.

In other words, the north is not immediately recognizable. It's a proven look, but far from unique. The Gray Onyx version in the attached photos is reserved but attractive, while the Emerald Blue model is a real eye-catcher.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Gorilla Glass covers both the front and back with a plastic frame between the two. However, it doesn't look or feel like plastic, and its use adds to its light weight of 184 grams. You shouldn't worry about the plastic frame feeling cheap, but the phone's metal keys lack the OnePlus 8's positive premium promotion of metal and glass.

OnePlus has a brand notification slider that allows you to quickly change the mode from silent to ringing or vibrating. The edited texture makes it easy to use. All buttons are well positioned, provided you are using the phone with your right hand. The phone's 73mm width and 8.2mm thickness make it easy to grip and hold. It's about the size of a Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The phone doesn't have a "wow, that's a OnePlus Nord" design, but the ergonomics are just right and it looks and feels like phones that cost a lot more. Only when you pick up the Nord and a phone like the Galaxy S20 or OnePlus 8 do the differences become clear – mainly in terms of the additional weight and the feeling that a metal case is carved out of slate.

Screen and audio

Gorilla Glass 5 includes a 6.44-inch fluid AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a screen with an aspect ratio of 20: 9 and HRD10 + support. This is an excellent screen for a phone at this price. It is a flat screen that appeals to as many people as it bothers, but is less likely to slip out of the hand. Some will find it better for games too.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Regarding Carfection's McLaren 600LT Spider test video on YouTube, the north screen has trouble viewing details in some of the darker areas, but has a nice color palette by default for the vivid screen. If you want to deal with the settings, you can activate the sRGB and Display P3 options, although the differences are minimal.

The sound is reproduced through a single speaker facing downwards. It's loud without being distorted, and although the bass is obviously missing, it's well tuned and never gets hard. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, but like other OnePlus phones, the Nord supports both AptX and AptX HD. Assuming you have compatible headphones, you can hear high-definition audio via the Bluetooth connection from Nord.

Bluetooth music played via Spotify with a Bowers & Wilkins PX headphone offers a lot of volume and depth. The entire multimedia experience of the north is excellent considering the price.

camera

The main camera is a Sony IMX586 with 48 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 1.75 as well as optical and electronic image stabilization. Next to it are an ultra-wide camera with 8 megapixels, a depth sensor with 5 megapixels and a macro sensor with 2 megapixels. This is what you'll find in the OnePlus 8. On the front is a selfie camera with two lenses, which consists of a 32-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Although the camera is similar to the OnePlus 8, it's not that good. It often underexposes pictures and cannot use HDR as effectively, which leads to loss of detail in difficult lighting conditions when both the wide-angle and standard lenses are used. The macro lens is of poor quality and rarely focuses well, which makes it largely unusable. Nightscape doesn't do it much better and often leads to noise or creates a monotonous photo.

I had to edit almost all of the photos I took with the North before I pass them on because they just didn't "burst" as I wanted them to. Overcast sky became oppressive and unnatural, and photos on sunny days had no dynamic range. However, I like the new filters by photographer Hannes Becker.

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Selfies in portrait mode have a strong, rather unnatural bokeh effect with only average edge detection. This problem still occurs when using portrait mode on the rear camera.

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oneplus nord review standard "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/nord-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus Nord standard Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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OnePlus has shown significant improvements with the OnePlus 8 Pro camera, but has taken a step back with the Nord camera. It's not terrible at all, but it's not as good as I expected. There are better cameras on other phones, even at this price.

Performance and software

The Snapdragon 765G processor from Qualcomm with 8 GB / 128 GB or 12 GB / 256 GB RAM and storage space is located in OnePlus Nord. I checked the 12 GB version. It also offers 5G support if you live in an area where the service is available. Here are some benchmark test results:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2,985 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 1,900 multi-core / 603 single core

It is the same chip as in the LG Velvet and Motorola Moto Edge. The North beats both in the game-oriented 3DMark test, but is largely similar in Geekbench 5. The performance is good. When switching between apps or from full-screen video to normal state, there is a slight hesitation, but not to the point where the phone feels slow. It is probably software related too and will be fixed in a future update. However, this makes me wonder if the 8GB / 128GB model might feel a little underwhelmed.

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oneplus nord review shadow "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-nord-shade-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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While playing Real Racing 3, Sky Wings, and Dariusburst, no performance issues were found as you would expect from the game-oriented G version of the Snapdragon 765, and the phone didn't get hot even after long sessions. Onboard is the OnePlus Fnatic game mode, which minimizes distractions and optimizes the processor.

OnePlus & # 39; OxygenOS is one of the best Android versions available. It is fast, smooth and not filled with senseless functions or stylistic flourishes. It does the job it was made for and I have had no reliability issues.

I still like Zen mode, which gives you a 20-minute break by muting calls and notifications, and restricting app access. The Google News and Assistant popup window is helpful, there are some nice animated wallpapers, the gesture control works fine and it looks and feels silky smooth. OnePlus says it worked on the fluidity of OxygenOS and it shows.

Battery, connectivity and security

The 4,415mAh battery lasts approximately two days before needing to be charged, based on approximately three hours of daily screen time when primarily connected to Wi-Fi.

Behind the scenes of the north, an interesting technology works that helps protect the battery life by charging it intelligently and gradually over night. It will charge approximately 80% and then wait until you normally get up to add the final charge. This avoids problems keeping the battery fully charged for an extended period of time, which can reduce long-term capacity.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It comes with Warp Charge 30T, OnePlus' proprietary quick charger. It is wired only in the north and goes from zero to 70% in 30 minutes and then goes back to full in just over an hour. The phone is secured with a built-in fingerprint sensor that works very reliably. The speed was so high that I was happy to use it without having to resort to unlocking it.

I had some Wi-Fi problems with my OnePlus Nord. I noticed that the connection sometimes got stuck and did not switch to cellular. The problem was only solved by switching the WLAN on and off. The range also seems to be shorter than with many other cell phones. I have reported the problem to OnePlus and am sending bug reports when the problem occurs, which fortunately is rarely the case. Calls were fine. I don't have a 5G near me, so I couldn't test performance.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

A few days before the verification embargo expired, OnePlus provided the North with a software update to help resolve Wi-Fi connectivity issues and improve the camera. I will update this review if anything changes.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus Nord costs £ 379, which translates to around $ 480 when you buy the 8GB / 128GB model. The 12GB / 256GB version I've tested here costs £ 469 or about $ 593. The North is not officially available in the United States. It will be available in the OnePlus online store on August 4, in addition to the John Lewis retail stores, Amazon and the Three network.

OnePlus does not intend to sell the US North outside of a promised but very limited beta program, but says it will manufacture a US-focused phone at reasonable prices in the future.

Our opinion

OnePlus has increased the value of the North in an old-fashioned way, increased the life of the phone and focused on the essentials in everyday life instead of eye-catching gadgets. You get reliable software, a great screen, long battery life, fast charging, 5G and software updates for several years.

These are core features that cheap phones often shun in favor of sensational camera specs that can disappoint in the real world, and a fancy design. These aren't good reasons to buy a phone at this price, but the OnePlus Nord offers just the right value.

Is there a better alternative?

The space for smartphones under $ 500 or less than £ 500 is pretty full. The $ 400 Google Pixel 3a hasn't been replaced yet, but it's still a good buy if you find one, or you can buy the cute Apple iPhone SE 2020 for $ 400. It's cute because it's small, but the build and materials are superior to the Nords, and iOS is superbly designed and easy to use. It's also worth checking out the $ 500 Poco F2 Pro or the $ 400 Samsung Galaxy A51.

These phones are highly competitive, so it is difficult to generally recommend them to any buyer. The North is the best choice if you value performance and display quality and are not particularly interested in photography.

You pay a little more for the $ 600 LG Velvet and the $ 500 Moto Edge, but both are good phones with more attractive designs and better cameras. If you can expand the budget a bit, consider the OnePlus 8 for $ 700, which has a more classy design and better camera, or the iPhone 11 for $ 700 with its great software, camera, and performance .

How long it will take?

While the OnePlus 8 Pro has received an IP rating, you should not expect an IP rating in the north. The phone is not waterproof, but can be used in the rain. The body is made of glass and can break if you drop it. It is therefore best to use a suitcase. OnePlus offers a range of sleeves for the North, some with the signature sandpaper surface for extra grip.

OnePlus promises two years of Android updates and three years of security updates. This is an excellent engagement that increases the long-term prospects of the north, especially with 5G on board. Combine this with battery saving technology, and the North lasts for several years, and that's great for such a cheap phone.

Should you buy one?

Yes. The Nord is a budget phone that you can buy without worrying that it will need to be replaced next year.

Editor's recommendations




15 Apr
Blog

OnePlus 8 Review: Reliable, But Not Compelling

oneplus 8 evaluation bag

OnePlus 8 Review: A good phone that needs a killer feature

"The OnePlus 8 does everything you want and is a great daily partner, but it doesn't provide an excellent reason to buy."

  • Nice design

  • Excellent software

  • Long battery life and quick charging

  • Good everyday camera

  • No wireless charging

  • Not IP68 waterproof

  • No outstanding camera function

The $ 600 OnePlus 7T was an easy-to-recommend phone, but will the story repeat itself with the OnePlus 8 Pro? You'll have to spend an additional $ 100 on last year's phone to get one, since it now starts at $ 700. To justify an increase, the OnePlus 8 needs to significantly improve its game, as it has to compete with many other high-performance phones.

My time with OnePlus 8 shows that doing this is difficult because the addition of 5G is not yet widespread to be called a must.

design

The OnePlus 8 looks almost identical to the OnePlus 8 Pro – only a little smaller, a little thinner and a little lighter. This makes a big difference in carrying the phone around and using it with one hand. Unlike the choice of the 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro over the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max, the compromise between screen size isn't that big. The 6.55-inch fluid AMOLED screen of the OnePlus 8 is not a compromise compared to the 6.78-inch OnePlus 8 Pro.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

At 180 grams, the OnePlus 8 is light for a modern smartphone. I like the aspect ratio of 20: 9 in combination with the 8 mm thick body because I can easily stretch my thumb over the screen. The side buttons on the OnePlus 8 are also easier to reach and press than on the 8 Pro. There is a fingerprint sensor under the screen. Even though it's lightning fast, the face unlock usually unlocked the screen before I got there.

I like the feel of the matte gorilla glass finish, which feels cool and doesn't take too many fingerprints, but still captures the light neatly – especially in the stunning green color shown above. Yes, it is green, but in different lighting conditions it turns to a beautiful aquamarine blue, as you can see in our photos below. Due to the curved corners and the low weight, it sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. However, the edges of the body are still very tapered, so fatigue appears when holding the phone.

OnePlus 8 Pro (from left) and OnePlus 8 Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The back of the camera is not overly pronounced, and fewer sensors mean that it also looks less overloaded. The decision to use a punch-hole selfie camera instead of a complicated and heavy motorized selfie camera has a similar result on the front, keeping it neat and functional. The OnePlus 8 is sleek and chic, with no unnecessary bulk, but doesn't ignore the need for a large screen. It is exactly right.

Screen and software

While the OnePlus 8 performs better in design and size than the OnePlus 8 Pro, the story isn't that easy when we look at the technology inside, starting with the screen. The OnePlus 8 has a Fluid AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 90 Hz, but does not use the motion smoothing function. If you put them side by side, there is a subtle difference: The OnePlus 8 Pro looks a little sharper, smoother and more attractive.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

However, it's not that the OnePlus 8 looks bad – far from it. Play a 1080p HDR10 movie and it is still excellent, while the video is entertaining and impressive. This is supported by the two speakers and the support of Dolby Atmos. Worried about the lack of motion smoothing? Do not be so. While it is sometimes effective to artificially reduce blurring when watching videos, the effect is not always desirable. I didn't miss it. The OnePlus 8 also had fewer problems with touch sensitivity.

The lower resolution means a lower pixel density. The PPI rating (402 pixels per inch) of the OnePlus 8 is significantly lower than that of the 513 PPI of the OnePlus 8 Pro, the 525 PPI of the Galaxy S20 Plus and the 458 PPI of the smaller iPhone 11 Pro. It is not as impressive to look at as one of these phones and is therefore not considered to be of high quality or premium. Here the OnePlus 8 Pro really stands out, and here the cost reduction has had an impact on the OnePlus 8. It's good, but not a reason to buy, as is the case with the OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus 8 Pro (from left) and OnePlus 8 Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

I'm pleased to say that the OnePlus 8 software experience, which has its own OxygenOS 10.5 user interface based on Android 10, is identical to the OnePlus 8 Pro. It's excellent, with a nifty design, lots of speed and little annoyance. I'll take a closer look at this in my test of the OnePlus 8 Pro.

camera

The cost reduction continues with the camera. Gone are the new Sony IMX689 sensors as headliners for the OnePlus 8 Pro. It is replaced by the proven IMX586 sensor, which we have seen many times, with an aperture of 1: 1.75, optical and electronic image stabilization and the ability to record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. There is also a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

It makes very pleasant pictures, but it will not amaze with incredible, eye-catching pictures. My gallery ended up with solid, reliably decent photos, but nothing that I was particularly proud of. The IMX586 needs good software optimization to get the most out of it. Here OnePlus is at the top of its game. The colors pop, the dynamic range is strong and the HDR is effective. Portrait mode has good edge detection, but takes a few moments to capture the subject.

Use the OnePlus 8's camera to take regular everyday shots and you will be happy with the results. The 16 megapixel selfie camera is good, but not as good as the competition. The macro camera lacks color and definition, the night mode is not particularly good in very poor lighting conditions and there is no optical zoom function. You don't get a bizarre color filter lens with the OnePlus 8 Pro that inverts the colors of your photos for a really weird look, but that's not a bad thing.

oneplus 8 review mill wide angle "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-mill-wide-angle-640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 8 wide angle Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

oneplus 8 review mill standard "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-mill-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 8 standard Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

oneplus 8 review mill 2x "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-mill-2x-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 8 2x Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Finally, the OnePlus 8's camera is not noticeable. There is no major new innovation, be it a successful software-controlled improvement like Samsung's single take mode or Apple's excellent Deep Fusion technology, or 8K video recording or a periscope zoom like the Huawei P40 Pro.

Power and battery

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor controls the OnePlus 8. It has a 5G modem and either 8 GB or 12 GB RAM. The chip and 5G modem are probably the main reason the price of the phone has gone up, but 5G isn't available in many places, which means you pay more for something you can't use. This will change over time. However, it is currently difficult to recommend most people to buy a 5G phone. I tested the 12 GB version and the benchmark results are as follows:

  • 3DMark: 6,695 (volcano)
  • Geekbench 5: 3,314 multi-core / 910 single-core

The performance corresponds to that of the OnePlus 8 Pro and therefore also surpasses the Galaxy S20 Plus and the Oppo Find X2 Pro. The calls were clear and reliable, although I couldn't test the 5G connection. I played a lot of the 1945 vertical scrolling shooter, which has a high frame rate and uses the 90 Hz screen refresh rate, and I really liked it. DariusBurst has to be played in a smaller window due to the 20: 9 aspect ratio screen, but that doesn't matter as the gameplay is still exciting. Playing on the OnePlus 8 is similar to playing on the Galaxy S20 Plus, with the right weight and comfort in hand for longer gaming sessions.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The battery in the OnePlus 8 has a capacity of 4,300 mAh and is supported by Warp Charge 30T quick charge. In contrast to the OnePlus 8 Pro, wireless charging is not possible. Wired charging from Warp Charge is very fast and results in the battery being fully charged in about 20 minutes and in my tests in just over an hour.

In this time of social distancing, OnePlus 8 spent most of the time connecting to Wi-Fi, making video and voice calls, and using it for games, social networking, and video. It easily took a whole day even under heavy use. However, try this activity, which is connected to a 5G network, and the battery will suffer. One feature that I liked was the new intelligent charging optimization, in which the phone learns your charging routine and optimizes the charging around it.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Like many people, I charge the phone when I go to sleep and then pull it out of the socket in the morning. Even after a few days, the OnePlus 8 brought the battery up to 80% in the first hour and only charged it about an hour before waking up. According to OnePlus, the battery stays charged longer so that you can charge it safely. The optimization can be deactivated if your daily hours are not set.

oneplus 8 review links "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-shortcuts-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: //www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

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The battery and the software already mentioned are two of the most important reasons to buy the OnePlus 8.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus 8 shown here with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage costs $ 800 or $ 700 if you choose the 8 GB / 128 GB version. In the UK, the OnePlus 8 costs £ 600 for the 8GB / 128GB model and £ 700 for the 12GB 256GB version. OnePlus grants a one-year warranty on its phones that covers manufacturing defects. OnePlus 8 is expected to be available on the OnePlus website and carriers in April.

Our opinion

The OnePlus 8 is a good smartphone. It has an attractive screen, a decent camera, great software, and long battery life. I love the design, the matte glass and the green color. Nevertheless, every function that distinguishes it is missing. This didn't matter with the OnePlus 7T, as it only cost $ 600 – which makes the price a standout feature. At $ 700 or $ 800, the OnePlus 8 has no other function that could take its place. The OnePlus 8 has left the value segment and needs to improve its game.

Is there a better alternative?

The price increase means that the OnePlus 8 worth $ 700 / $ 800 is now available with the Samsung Galaxy S20 worth $ 1,000, the Google Pixel 4 worth $ 800 and the iPhone 11 im Worth $ 700 is struggling. though strong in most areas.

You can pay less and get a good phone. Last year's $ 600 iPhone XR is still a good buy, as is the Asus Zenfone 6 $ 500, and if you find one, the Realme X2 Pro is still a surprisingly good value for around $ 450 .

How long it will take?

OnePlus has not given the OnePlus 8 an IP68 degree of protection, so it is splash-proof and that's all. The body is made of glass and can break if it falls. It is best to put it in a case. OnePlus is good at providing software updates and the phone has enough power, which means it has been in use for at least two years. It's great to have 5G on board to keep it going longer.

Should you buy one?

The $ 100 increase over the OnePlus 7T may not sound like much, but the limited appeal of 5G isn't enough to justify the extra. Therefore, we do not recommend buying the OnePlus 8, even though it is a decent modern smartphone. There are better options at higher and lower prices.

Editor's recommendations




14 Apr
Blog

OnePlus 8 Pro Review: Everything You Want

oneplus 8 per evaluation bag

OnePlus 8 Pro Review: Everything you want

"The OnePlus 8 Pro meets all criteria."

  • Amazing battery life

  • Fast wired and wireless charging

  • Breathtaking screen

  • Great photos from the camera

  • Slick software

  • The response to screen touches must be adjusted

  • Odd Color Filter is a misstep

  • Fast wireless charging is proprietary

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the final OnePlus smartphone. It has everything you want, plus bonus features like wireless charging that enthusiasts ask for. However, OnePlus has tackled a strange feature that nobody is asking about. It's a great phone that's just a hair behind the best.

design

At first glance, the OnePlus 8 Pro does not differ significantly from the OnePlus 7T Pro in terms of design. However, there are some minor changes that make the OnePlus 8 Pro a better phone to hold and use. The phone is a few millimeters longer, not quite as wide and a bit thinner. The corners have a slightly different degree of curvature and are 7 grams lighter at a total of 200 grams.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

I prefer the OnePlus 8 Pro at a distance from the OnePlus 7T Pro. It doesn't feel bulky or bulky and is generally more comfortable to use and use. The changes also mean that it doesn't burrow into my palms as much when I've used it for a while, and the reduction in mass allows one-handed, if not preferable, use. This is still a big phone, and the pages taper to a point. If it can be uncomfortable if you hold it from certain angles.

While it is a significant advance over the OnePlus 7T Pro, the 8 Pro ranks the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and the Huawei P40 Pro as competitors and cannot quite take the title of the most ergonomic phone in 2020. The competition feels lighter and quicker in the hand. OnePlus has followed Huawei in using a matte finish on the back, and it's a great move. Fingerprints are not easily displayed, and the curved 3D glass looks fantastic in the glacier green shown above, which shows aquamarine in some lighting conditions as shown in the photos. Nice.

For the first time, OnePlus is using a punch-hole selfie camera on the front. As with most examples, this is something you will not notice after long use of the phone. Tearing out the OnePlus 7T Pro's motorized pop-up selfie camera helped make the entire 8 Pro more compact and easy to use. This also means that the phone can be sealed and has an IP68 waterproof rating, although the company has had an extremely negative stance on this feature in the past.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Perhaps the only disappointing feature of the OnePlus 8 Pro design is the size of the camera hump on the back. It sticks out far more than the 7T Pro, maybe twice as thick as the Galaxy S20 Pro's bump, and has sharp edges that can scratch other objects when rubbed against them in a pocket. This trend continues with the thin and sharp volume rocker, although the slimmed-down slider that changes the notification alert status has a wonderful texture. Despite these nitpicks, the OnePlus 8 Pro is one of the best looking phones you can buy.

screen

The 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED screen has a resolution of 3168 x 1440 pixels for an excellent density of 531 pixels per inch and offers excellent details. It also offers a wonderful refresh rate of 120 Hz for smooth scrolling and reduced eye strain, as well as 240 Hz touch sampling for faster reaction times when playing. Some other software optimizations are definitely required to achieve touch accuracy in the operating system, especially at the very edges. It feels sluggish in some moments and overly sensitive in others.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

OxygenOS provides options to improve color and enable motion smoothing. When color enhancements are enabled, the screen stays natural, but has slightly more vivid colors. It never reaches the saturation level of the Galaxy S20 Plus. I like the crisp white tones on the screen of the OnePlus 8 Pro that outperform those of the S20 Plus and even the Huawei P40 Pro. Outside in bright sunlight, whites still look like freshly washed sheets. Motion smoothing is less successful because it is rather inconsistent, looks great in one minute, and looks artificial in the next. I switched it off at some point – it is activated by default.

With color enhancement turned on and motion smoothed, the screen appears just right for my eyes and I loved watching movies on the OnePlus 8 Pro. The bezels are minimal and although the pinhole camera easily breaks up the all-screen look, it never gets intrusive. The screen is one of the outstanding features of OnePlus 8 Pro.

camera

The OnePlus 8 Pro's camera is a bit strange. At first glance, everything seems normal. The 48-megapixel main camera has the new IMX689 sensor from Sony with optical and electronic image stabilization as well as a 48-megapixel wide-angle and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor. This means 3x zoom, 4K video recording and various modes including night mode and super macro.

Normal, right? Wait, I'm not done yet. The fourth sensor of the OnePlus 8 Pro is a color filter camera that inverts the colors in your images. Why? I really have no idea.

Even OnePlus is not sure. In the press details, the color filter camera is described as a way to stand out from the crowd and express your unique style. You can also do this by standing in the street and howling at the moon, but that doesn't make it a good idea.

OnePlus 8 Pro color filter image Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Photos taken with the color filter remove shades of green, red, and blue, leaving muted shades of brown, black, white, and beige. Do you find that ugly? Most of the time you're right. It's not that the color filter doesn't make interesting pictures because it can do it in some kind of nuclear wasteland. I'm just not sure how often I want to use it. It's hidden in a menu, so it's not even visible and is therefore forgotten – and maybe that's a good thing. It's not always a disaster, and shooting in the sun can lead to some atmospheric shots. Otherwise, my local park looked like a bizarre alien landscape.

When I saw the OnePlus and McLaren concept phone at CES 2020, I hoped the electrochromic camera function would make it to the OnePlus 8, but instead we have the color filter sensor and it's definitely not a worthy replacement. Calling it quirky fun would be a nice description, but more specifically, it would be a gimmick added to obscure the fact that there is nothing really new here outside of the improved main sensor.

Otherwise, I like the photos taken by the OnePlus 8 Pro. The dynamic range is great, the saturation is just at the right level and I was very impressed with the effectiveness of the night mode. It brightens scenes very effectively and also works with the wide-angle camera. I don't understand the inclusion of the color filter and if it is removed from the equation, the camera will be exposed as relatively normal for a flagship Android phone (no pun intended).

Software and battery

The OnePlus 8 Pro's 4,510 mAh battery is a superstar. Granted, I've only used Wi-Fi most of the time at the moment, but that doesn't make performance any less impressive. The moderate use of a whole day from 8 a.m. to midnight consumed only 25% of electricity, which I couldn't quite believe. I didn't charge the phone and it went into "sleep" mode by itself overnight, where it minimized power consumption, so that only 4% of the battery was used during sleep. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the next day it was 53%. After several voice calls and at least one hour of video calls, I ended the day around 5:00 with midnight.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

This is an excellent achievement, and charging is also extremely fast. The supplied Warp Charge 30T charging stone and the cable bring the empty battery to 55% in just 24 minutes. The battery will be fully charged in one hour. A new feature of the OnePlus 8 is the possibility to optimize the charging time overnight, by getting to know your habits and only fully charging the battery shortly before normal waking up. It worked very well for me and should lead to less deterioration of the battery over time.

OnePlus added wireless charging to the OnePlus 8 Pro, a welcome addition that should have come a long time ago. It breaks to 50% in about 30 minutes. Although it supports the Qi standard, for OnePlus wireless fast charging, you'll need to buy the OnePlus wireless charger, which costs $ 80 or $ 70. Granted, it's very nice, but that's a significant surcharge. If you don't buy it, other Qi wireless chargers will work, but will only offer slow charging speed.

oneplus 8 pro review wireless charging "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-pro-wireless-charging-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

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This quick charging is associated with additional costs: The OnePlus charger has a built-in fan that buzzes on itself when the phone is set up. It's acceptable enough if it's on my desk, but I'm not sure if I'm the same if I try to sleep.

The OnePlus 8 uses OxygenOS 10.5, which is based on Android 10, and it is almost identical to OxygenOS 10 on the OnePlus 7T Pro. There are some changes in dark mode as well as support for Google One. A number of dynamic background images have been added that look really great. OxygenOS is one of the best interfaces you can get, and reusing it reminded me why I like it.

It is very fast, is not flooded with senseless apps and is attractively designed. The plug-in screen controlled by Google Assistant is useful and offers news updates, weather information and quick access to your own assistant page with personal updates. I like the sensitive haptic feedback, which feels a lot better in quality than almost any other phone that I test, to the cute little vibration when someone answers a call.

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However, it is not perfect. The lack of a constantly active display is a disappointment, although you can tap the screen to see information. According to OnePlus, a constantly active feature is under development, but it's confusing why it takes so long. I also had some issues with the edge of the screen that was oversensitive. A software update has improved things considerably, but the sensitivity is still not correct. Finding settings isn't smart either, so it's hard to find hidden features like dark mode, which she calls sound.

However, these are only minor annoyances, and like the rest of the phone, the battery life and software experience are some of the best you can find at the moment.

Performance and games

The OnePlus 8 Pro has a Snapdragon 865 chipset and the X55 5G modem as well as 12 GB RAM. Due to social distance measures, I was unable to test the 5G component, but I used 4G and made calls as usual. The calls are clear and it's easier to place the speaker on your ear than the Galaxy S20 Plus. Here are the benchmark results before we start playing games.

  • Geekbench 5: 3,352 multi-core / 890 single-core
  • 3DMark: 6,589 (volcano)

These are higher results than a Galaxy S20 Plus with a Samsung Exynos chip inside and only slightly higher than the Oppo Find X2 Pro with similar performance. The OnePlus 8 Pro has two game modes, a standard mode and a hardcore Fnatic mode (so-called because it was developed with the E-Sports team of the same name), which increases CPU, GPU and RAM and at the same time switches off all unnecessary time.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

When playing Asphalt 9 Legends, DariusBurst SP and Vectronom with Fnatic mode on and off, I didn't notice anything else. The 120 Hz refresh rate made Asphalt 9 Legends look great. The 19.8: 9 aspect ratio of the screen means that you have to play DariusBurst in a smaller window if you want to see everything that is going on. This is a problem for many phones with a similar screen size and shape. The phone stays completely cool during the game.

How about the OnePlus 8?

OnePlus 8 Pro (from left) and OnePlus 8 Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the new flagship for 2020 and will be released along with the OnePlus 8, which is cheaper and smaller from $ 700. The phone has a 6.55-inch fluid AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a three-lens camera without a color filter sensor, a smaller battery, no wireless charging and basic splash resistance. The design is very similar, although it is lighter and slimmer, which makes it easier to use with one hand. Check out our full review

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus 8 Pro costs $ 1,000 for the 12GB / 256GB version or $ 900 for the 8GB / 128GB model in our test. In the UK, the 8 GB / 128 GB OnePlus 8 Pro costs £ 800, while the 12 GB / 256 GB model costs £ 900. OnePlus grants a one-year guarantee on its phones, which only covers the hardware in the event of a defect.

This makes it more expensive than the OnePlus 7T Pro for $ 850.

Our opinion

The OnePlus 8 Pro's best features are the ones that really matter: the screen is stunning, the battery life is amazing, and the software is nifty and attractive. The camera works well and the design is great. It also has wireless charging and IP68 protection. As much as OnePlus wants the color filter to be a differentiating factor that really pushes people to buy it isn't. However, take it away and you still have a state-of-the-art smartphone that doesn't miss a beat.

Is there a better alternative?

We recommend everyone to take a closer look at the $ 1,000 Apple iPhone 11 Pro and the $ 1,200 Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as they both offer the best technology currently available, from screen to camera, and excellent Offer software experiences.

Although Google Pixel 4 is also recommended for $ 800, the battery just can't keep up with the OnePlus 8 Pro. Keep this in mind when you are seduced by the Pixel 4's amazing camera and slick software. We were also impressed with the Oppo Find X2 Pro for $ 1,300, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus for $ 1,100 is still a brilliant all-rounder.

How long it will take?

When you buy a OnePlus 8 Pro with a two-year contract, it lasts at least as long in terms of performance and the technology it contains. The 5G function is also future-proof, and OnePlus is good at keeping its software up to date on time. OnePlus has an IP68 protection rating for the phone, which means that it is waterproof. However, the rest of the phone is made of glass, so it can break if dropped. One case helps avoid expensive glitches.

Should you buy one?

Yes, but it is not quite the mega smartphone we are used to from OnePlus.

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