OnePlus 3T | Release and specifications

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Just 5 months post the release of OnePlus 3, OnePlus is all set to roll the better version, OnePlus 3T, off the floors on December 2.

Key changes include a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 13% larger battery capacity and improved front-facing camera. But, with the pricing now starting at £399, do the changes justify 3T’s increased upfront cost? Fortunately for OnePlus, the answer is largely yes, which is doubly good news as the OnePlus 3 is being discontinued.
From the specifications, it is most definitely going to be the best midprice phone in the market.

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PROS

  • Great build quality
  • Excellent performance
  • Good camera
  • Improved battery life

CONS

  • Not quite as fantastic value as OnePlus 3
  • Have to use proprietary Dash charger otherwise charging is slow

KEY FEATURES

  • 5.5-inch Super AMOLED 1080p display
  • 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
  • 6GB Dual-channel DDR4 RAM
  • 64GB/128GB storage options
  • Android 6.0.1 with OxygenUI
  • 16-megapixel front and rear cameras
  • 3,400mAh battery
  • Manufacturer: OnePlus
  • Review Price: £399.00

DESIGN

There are now two colour options, a new Gunmetal finish or Soft Gold, although if you want the new larger 128GB capacity option you’re limited to only Gunmetal. The Gunmetal option replaces the previous Graphite finish available with the OnePlus 3 and is a little darker in shade.

OnePlus 3TOutside of this, the OnePlus 3T remains 7.4mm thick and is made from a single slab of aluminium alloy that feels lovely in hand. OnePlus made a big deal about how the top of the frame curves differently from the rest of the edges. It’s not something you’re going to notice unless you go looking for it, but it’s still a nice touch.

DISPLAY

The 3T’s 5.5-inch screen is on paper identical to the OnePlus 3’s. It has the same 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and uses the same Optic AMOLED technology. That’s not going to amount to the highest pixels-per-inch density in the world, but with general use it’s not something you’re going to notice.

The Optic AMOLED tech means black levels are superb and the display still looks super sharp, regardless of its comparably low pixels-per-inch count. Viewing angles are also excellent, with limited brightness drop-off when viewed off-centre.

OnePlus 3TCAMERA

OnePlus hasn’t changed the rear-facing camera from the OnePlus 3. It’s the same Sony IMX 298 16-megapixel sensor with 1.12-micron size pixels. This is paired with an F/2.0 aperture lens that supports Phase Detect Autofocus with optical image stabilisation.

What is new, though, is the introduction of electronic image stabilisation when shooting video, which allows for up to 4K at 30fps. This greatly reduces the jittery shakiness that plagued the OnePlus 3’s video.

Other OnePlus 3 camera features like the dynamic de-noise and Auto HDR return. Even with the latter engaged, which only operates under ideal scenarios, there’s no shutter lag and the Camera app responds well. OnePlus says the 6GB of RAM is actually used for the Camera app to help boost its responsiveness.

BATTERY LIFE

OnePlus has upgraded the battery to 3,400mAh over the 3,000mAh in the OnePlus 3. That’s a 13% increase. This would go some way to alleviating some of the complaints about the OnePlus 3, which could sometimes struggle to make it to the end of the day.
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OnePlus has its own quick charging technology, which it calls Dash Charge. This is dependent on using the supplied OnePlus Dash Charge USB wall adaptor and OnePlus USB-C cable. The reason for this is because all of the temperature regulation happens in the adaptor itself, meaning only thermal regulated current reaches the phone, so it shouldn’t overheat or have to throttle its charging. This also means that if you’re using the OnePlus 3T while it charges, the charge rate won’t need to slow down.