Sit this next to the OnePlus 8 Pro and you’ll notice some obvious differences. First, the screen is a nudge smaller – the 6.78″ AMOLED rounded-edge unit on the Pro (3168 x 1440 pixels @ 513 ppi and 19.8:9) has been switched for a 6.55″ AMOLED flat screen (2400 x 1080 @ 402 ppi and 20:9) but it still has that 120Hz refresh and it still has Corning Gorilla Glass. It still looks lovely too and I actually prefer the flat screen on this after coming a bit unstuck while trying to copy and paste on the curvy OnePlus 8 Pro screen edges. This screen size also suited me better for one-handed usage.
As is usual with OnePlus phones, a clear case is provided so that you can keep the phone in tip-top condition. More on this in our next story.
That screen, I should mention, has an ultra-low JNCD. This stands for “Just Noticeable Colour Difference” and, at less than 0.55, means that your videos and photos will have brilliant colour accuracy.
Next is the CPU, and on the £799 OnePlus 8 Pro you’re getting a SnapDragon 865 CPU. However, on the OnePlus 8T you get the very same processor again and – just to add to the fun – you can have an 8GB / 128GB storage 8T (£549) or a 12GB / 256GB storage 8T (£649). That’s similar to the OnePlus 8 Pro, but on the 8 Pro you’re going to be paying £899 for the 12GB / 256GB storage model.
The higher 12GB / 256GB model is only available in Aqua Marine Green and the 8GB / 128GB model only in Lunar Silver. Here’s the silver one, for reference…
The OnePlus 8T has UFS3.1 performance storage too. This really is necessary when you’ve got a 5G phone chucking big blobs of data all over the shop.
I do like the clear interface on the OnePlus handsets. Reminds me a little of Windows Phone from back in the day.
Weighing in at 188g, it’s lighter than the Pro and just a nudge heavier than the Nord, which dances quite close to the OnePlus 8T in a lot of ways.
Running on Android 11 with the OxygenOS, there’s lots of OnePlus cleverness in the software, including a separate algorithm to tell how smoothly the screen brightens and darkens on the screen slider. There’s a massive 8,192 different levels of screen brightness – so you can get it just as you want it.
The new 65W charger (on the right) compared to the existing Warp Charger (left).
Not only that, but OnePlus have ramped up their utterly-mental charging tech. Here on the OnePlus 8T you get Warp Charge 65 and the in-box charger (plus new cable) will see your battery go from flat to full in just 39 minutes.
The new Warp Charge 65 – on the right in the photos – with USB-C output
Oh wait, when I say “battery”, I should clarify – there’s actually two 2,250mAh batteries in here, creating 4,500mAh of total power. No more overnight charging – the twin-battery charging tech (pushing more than 30W into each cell) will sort your battery concerns in minutes. You can just plug it in for 15 minutes and get an entire day’s worth of power. Boom. Believe me, I’ve used this and it’s bonkers-fast.
There’s a lot of safety kit involved too – the 65W charger (10V/6.5A) itself has 12 individual thermal monitors and the USB-C to USB-C cable can charge laptops and other compatible devices too.
Charging, gaming or watching your favourite film – having a hot phone isn’t a problem. OnePlus have added a large vapour chamber with graphite and thermally conductive silicone grease to dissipate the heat. This is far, far larger than the chamber on the 8 Pro.
Head to the back of the OnePlus 8T and you’d be forgiven in thinking that there’s 6 lenses. There isn’t, but let’s have a look at the 4 that are actually cameras. First – notice how everything is in the corner now – a definite departure from the design of the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro but something we did see on the Nord. The main lens is a Sony IMX586 48 megapixel lens which will be doing most of your shots. Images we snapped on this came out very well indeed.
Next is an ultra-wide 16 megaxpixel lens – again from Sony (IMX481) – performed well and has a big 123-degree view. Here’s a look at the same shot taken on the wide-angle lens, the “normal” lens and zoomed in by 2x. More on the cameras shortly…
Wide-angle
The “normal” lens
2X Zoom
Also I should point out the dedicated monochrome lens. It’s a 2 megapixel unit and means that there’s no need to software trickery. First, select it from the filters, then take your photo..
Here is an image taken with the standard on-board graphical trick…
..whilst this one was taken with the dedicated monochrome lens…
It might only seem like a slight difference, but it does give more classical monochrome appearance – as if you’d taken the shot on a really old camera.
For your videos, an improved stabilisation system reduces the shakes and shudders, with focus tracking and low-light enhancements (something you’ll also notice on the still shots too). It’ll do super-slow-mo at 480fps (720p) or 240fps (1080p).
Above is the Sony IMX471 16 megapixel in-display selfie shooter.
There’s stacks of options in the camera too, including video portrait, nightscape, macro, panorama, smart pet capture, RAW, video nightscape, pro mode, Ultrashot HDR and a “Super Stable” mode which works with the OIS and gyroscope to give super-smooth videos. Nice.
Here’s a slow-mo video example..
…and a “super stable” video example..
There’s one slight issue with “super stable” though, and you can hopefully see this below. First, I grabbed some footage without it turned on and I could touch on the screen to do object-tracking auto-focus, plus I could zoom in and out..
Then, with “super stable” enabled, the zoom is no longer available..
This is all controlled from the simple but fully-featured camera app..
The rear camera arrangement also adds bokeh and a dual LED flash too.
The camera interface is clear, straightforward and has a range of filters and options to choose from. There’s also that Nightscape mode, although in fairness the shots taken without it turned on looked just as good..
Without Nightscape
With Nightscape
Here’s some example shots from the camera, using the macro lens for some of the up-close shots too.
There’s NFC for your contactless payments, dual-band GPS, 5G, dual-band WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 (with aptX support), USB-C charging (and headphones – no 3.5mm audio here), dual-stereo speakers, noise cancellation support and a dual SIM slot.
Some very good specs then, but what doesn’t it have? Well, it’s not water resistant, there’s no microSD expansion (so ensure you get the one with enough storage for you right from the get-go) and there’s no wireless charging. Apart from that though, it’s a lot for your money. A very good phone. As mentioned, OnePlus will be doing the 12GB / 256GB model in Aqua Marine Green and the 8GB / 128GB model in Lunar Silver, so if you can – get the green one and then you can show off. I should, however, also point to the OnePlus Nord as an option though – prices start at £379 if you want the 8GB / 128GB version and £469 for the 12GB / 256GB one. The processor isn’t a Snapdragon 865, but it’s well worth considering if you want something cheaper.
This OnePlus 8T will, in all honesty, replace the OnePlus 8.
The GUI of the phone is clear and crisp – as mentioned before it reminds me of the Windows Phone interface a little from back in the day.
You can of course change the appearance and layout of the home screen, lock screen, background, icons and fonts. This is just the standard “out of the box” experience but you can easily move across from your existing phone with the OnePlus Switch app, which does a rather excellent job of moving all your stuff across. It even maintains your icon / shortcut positions and all the customisations you’ve made to your phone.
Inside there’s a new Dark Mode which adds newly-tweaked colour tones to make everything easier to read. There’s also an Always-on display and you can turn photos into line drawings which, when you unlock, convert to the original photo. They call this “Canvas AOD” and it’s pretty cool, let me tell you. I’ll show you more on this in a separate article.
This unlock screen shows how many times you’ve used your phone
The Always-on display, which we’ll now start calling “AOD” to make it easier on my fingers, also gives you the ability to add clocks, notifications and more to the lock screen.
They’ve even added a new “Insight AOD” which lets you know how many times you’ve unlocked the phone. This will hopefully get you in the habit of using your phone a little less. Plus, with the new version of Zen Mode, you can put your phones and distractions out of sight.
To get a better idea of the user experience, here’s a YouTube video of me using the phone…
Preorder the OnePlus 8T from 4PM today on OnePlus.com or buy directly on October 20th from OnePlus, Amazon and John Lewis. £549 for the 8GB / 128GB (in silver only) and £649 for the 12GB / 256GB (green) version.
Overall
I’ve used the phone as my main handset for a week or two now. The green model I have is cheaper than the OnePlus 8 Pro but has the same CPU, the same memory, the same storage and a smaller screen which I actually found more suitable. Sure, there’s no wireless charging, no microSD and the screen is a little different, but this is – as with all the OnePlus phones – a lot of bang for your buck. A beautiful interface, a fantastic design and an attention to detail which really is lifting this company into the limelight more and more.
Premium Smartphone Features Next-generation Warp Charge 65, Industry-leading 120Hz Fluid Display and OxygenOS 11
New York, October 14, 2020 – Global mobile technology company OnePlus today launched its newest high-end flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 8T. Following the success of the company’s OnePlus 8 series earlier this year, OnePlus is again pushing the limits by introducing a host of next- generation technologies including a newly calibrated 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display and the company’s fastest charging solution ever – Warp Charge 65.
“With the OnePlus 8T, we’re offering pro-level capabilities for even more users across our flagship smartphone portfolio,” said Pete Lau, Founder and CEO of OnePlus. “Featuring a class-leading 120Hz AMOLED display, our upgraded 65W fast charging technology and fresh, bold software in OxygenOS 11, the OnePlus 8T offers an impressive overall package of powerful hardware and smooth software.”
Warp Charge 65 – A Day’s Power in 15 Minutes
Warp Charge 65 is OnePlus’ most advanced charging solution ever, offering a full day’s power in just 15 minutes. It utilizes twin-battery charging technology to rapidly replenish the large total capacity of 4500 mAh and takes just 39 minutes to complete a full charge under normal usage, making overnight charging a thing of the past.
The OnePlus 8T is equipped with 12 temperature sensors, along with an extra encryption chip in the adapter and cable, to keep charging temperatures at a comfortable level while operating at peak output of 65W. Whether you are getting ready for work in the morning or taking a quick break throughout the day, Warp Charge 65 gets the OnePlus 8T juiced up and ready to go in no time.
120Hz Fluid AMOLED Display
The OnePlus 8T’s 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display is the first flat 120Hz display ever to earn an A+ rating from DisplayMate. Every swipe or scroll across the panel will deliver astonishingly smooth visuals, so users can enjoy the most intense games with remarkable fluidity and browse effortlessly through social media feeds on the immersive display panel.
With a Just Noticeable Color Difference (JNCD) of around 0.3, the OnePlus 8T display has the highest color accuracy in the industry. The FHD+ 2.5D flexible display also features a peak brightness of up to 1,100 nits, delivering clearer visuals even under bright sunlight. In addition, the
OnePlus 8T has 8,192 levels of brightness, making the transitions between various brightness settings feel natural and comfortable.
Superior Power and Performance
The OnePlus 8T is equipped with the flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform with a Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System, which enables staggering multi-gigabit 5G connectivity, professional-quality photography at Gigapixel speeds, desktop-level gaming with ultra-realistic graphics, and intuitive AI experiences. The superior computing power is further complemented by dual-mode NSA + SA 5G and Wi-Fi 6 support for faster, more reliable data speeds.
With up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage, the OnePlus 8T delivers faster and more stable performance. The exceptional hardware enables smoother 4K video capture and playback with reduced battery drain, allowing users to take advantage of 5G network speeds to stream HD videos or play performance-demanding games while on the move.
Advanced Quad-Camera System
The OnePlus 8T features a robust and versatile camera kit designed to efficiently capture any and every moment in crisp detail. The quad-camera system includes a 48MP main camera with optical image stabilization, a 16MP ultra-wide angle lens, and dedicated macro and monochrome lenses, letting users enjoy studio-level photography on the go.
The 123-degree ultra wide lens on the OnePlus 8T provides a new perspective for framing shots so users can confidently capture vast landscapes, expansive architecture and other wide-angle subjects in full view. The lens delivers clear shots in a variety of lighting conditions – even at night or in the dark due to the improved Nightscape mode.
The versatile OnePlus 8T camera kit covers even the most action-packed moments thanks to advanced video stabilization software. The new Video Portrait mode produces vivid clips with a natural bokeh effect based on improved AI, accurately detecting and analyzing human subjects and blurring out the background.
Beautiful Design
The OnePlus 8T is available in two new breathtakingly beautiful colorways: Aquamarine Green and Lunar Silver. The Aquamarine Green version takes advantage of diffuse reflection, a form of light refraction that scatters light in an expansive array of angles and directions, and provides a clean, gleaming surface that leaves significantly fewer fingerprints on the glossy glass back. The new Lunar Silver variant combines the latest iteration of OnePlus’ premium matte-frosted glass with a calming grey tone to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic elegance and unmatched comfort.
OxygenOS 11 – So, So Smooth
Not only is the OnePlus 8T the first OnePlus device to come with the latest version of OnePlus’ operating system, OxygenOS 11, right out of the box – it is also the first global smartphone not manufactured by Google to launch with Android 11. OxygenOS 11 reimagines the OnePlus software experience with an improved layout, bold design and useful features that make one- handed operation easier and more intuitive.
OxygenOS 11 also enjoys a host of newly optimized animations and gestures, as well as numerous customizations to meet your personal preferences such as 11 new Always On Display clock options, improved one-handed gesture controls and Zen Mode 2.0. The clean look and feel empowers users to streamline day-to-day tasks, improve efficiency, and enjoy a more refined, personalized user experience.
Price and Availability
The OnePlus 8T will be available for preorder on OnePlus.com from 4pm BST on October 14 th , and then from October 20 th will be available through John Lewis, Amazon and from OnePlus directly.
The OnePlus Buds Z are OnePlus’ latest true wireless in-ear headphones, set to deliver an elevated musical experience for users on the go. The earbuds are equipped with advanced 10mm dynamic drivers primed for a richer, booming bass line that works in synergy with bass boost technology for heart-pounding audio. Equipped with a dynamic 3D stereo powered by Dolby Atmos, the OnePlus Buds Z construct a thoroughly immersive soundstage. On a full charge, the OnePlus Buds Z provide an impressive 20 hours of playback time, while a quick 10-minute top-up provides three hours of vibrant audio.
Available in White and a special-edition colorway by Steven Harrington, the OnePlus Buds Z feature a polished seashell pattern and come with three sizes of silicone eartips to ensure a snug, stable and comfortable fit. The OnePlus Buds Z include Bluetooth 5.0, environmental noise reduction for voice pickup and Quick Pair to deliver exceptional sound when taking a conference call, watching a movie or simply enjoying music on the go.
On top of the superior audio quality, the OnePlus Buds Z’s IP55 rating offers sweat and water resistance for sports like jogging and workouts at the gym. The accompanying Quick Switch function offers an easy and intuitive way for users to stay in control of their audio experience using a simple double-tap.
The OnePlus Buds Z will be available to buy from OnePlus on November 4 th for £55.
Sit this next to the OnePlus 8 Pro and you’ll notice some obvious differences. First, the screen is a nudge smaller – the 6.78″ AMOLED rounded-edge unit on the Pro (3168 x 1440 pixels @ 513 ppi and 19.8:9) has been switched for a 6.55″ AMOLED flat screen (2400 x 1080 @ 402 ppi and 20:9) but it still has that 120Hz refresh and it still has Corning Gorilla Glass. It still looks lovely too and I actually prefer the flat screen on this after coming a bit unstuck while trying to copy and paste on the curvy OnePlus 8 Pro screen edges. This screen size also suited me better for one-handed usage. As is usual with OnePlus phones, a clear case is provided so that you can keep the phone in tip-top condition. More on this in our next story. That screen, I should mention, has an ultra-low JNCD. This stands for “Just Noticeable Colour Difference” and, at less than 0.55, means that your videos and photos will have brilliant colour accuracy. Next is the CPU, and on the £799 OnePlus 8 Pro you’re getting a SnapDragon 865 CPU. However, on the OnePlus 8T you get the very same processor again and – just to add to the fun – you can have an 8GB / 128GB storage 8T (£549) or a 12GB / 256GB storage 8T (£649). That’s similar to the OnePlus 8 Pro, but on the 8 Pro you’re going to be paying £899 for the 12GB / 256GB storage model. The higher 12GB / 256GB model is only available in Aqua Marine Green and the 8GB / 128GB model only in Lunar Silver. Here’s the silver one, for reference… The OnePlus 8T has UFS3.1 performance storage too. This really is necessary when you’ve got a 5G phone chucking big blobs of data all over the shop. I do like the clear interface on the OnePlus handsets. Reminds me a little of Windows Phone from back in the day. Weighing in at 188g, it’s lighter than the Pro and just a nudge heavier than the Nord, which dances quite close to the OnePlus 8T in a lot of ways. Running on Android 11 with the OxygenOS, there’s lots of OnePlus cleverness in the software, including a separate algorithm to tell how smoothly the screen brightens and darkens on the screen slider. There’s a massive 8,192 different levels of screen brightness – so you can get it just as you want it. The new 65W charger (on the right) compared to the existing Warp Charger (left). Not only that, but OnePlus have ramped up their utterly-mental charging tech. Here on the OnePlus 8T you get Warp Charge 65 and the in-box charger (plus new cable) will see your battery go from flat to full in just 39 minutes. The new Warp Charge 65 – on the right in the photos – with USB-C output Oh wait,…
OnePlus 8T – Review
OnePlus 8T – Review
2020-10-14
Leigh Geary
OnePlus 8T Review
Design – 95%
User interface – 95%
Camera – 92%
Battery life – 92%
Build quality – 94%
94
94%
Another brilliant piece of tech from OnePlus. A Snapdragon 865, loads of RAM and storage, excellent cameras, a great screen, hugely speedy charging and a beautiful user interface.