OnePlus 6T vs the competition

I hope you’re not tired of smartphone launches yet, because OnePlus has just released another smartphone that’s surely worthy of your attention. Although the OnePlus 6T is a little more expensive and contentious than its predecessors, it still aims to offer the best bang for the buck at the flagship end of the market.

So let’s see how the OnePlus 6 stacks up against the best recent releases. This list includes the LG V40, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Google Pixel 3 XL, and the HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro.

Flagship performance on a budget

As we’ve come to expect from the brand, the OnePlus 6T offers pretty much exactly the same processing chops as the most prolific flagship smartphones. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processing package is also found inside the Google Pixel 3 XL, LG V40, and the U.S. version of the Galaxy Note 9. The Mate 20 Pro’s Kirin 980 eeks out a slight advantage in power efficiency thanks to its cutting-edge 7nm processing node, but day-to-day performance differences aren’t going to be noticeable.

The OnePlus 6T offers a compelling selection of memory options too. 6 or 8GB of RAM is again a match for the very best on the market here. It makes the Google Pixel 3 XL’s choice of 4GB seems rather pitiful by comparison, although 8GB is probably overkilled for mobile applications. Storage wise, 128GB is a great minimum and the 256GB option pushes the handset ahead of everyone except Samsung. However, the lack of a microSD card is a bit disappointing. Those storing large media libraries might prefer a Note 9, Mate 20, or LG V40.

On the display size, the OnePlus 6T’s 6.41-inch AMOLED panel puts the handset firmly into phablet territory. On paper, the display’s FHD+ resolution isn’t as sharp as its competitors. Although we haven’t had any issues with other similarly sized handsets that adopt this resolution, and the common use of FHD+ default software resolutions by LG and Samsung makes this a none issue. The OnePlus 6T has a notch, but it’s rather small and might be a good compromise for those who have been hesitant about the look.

Finally, the 3,700mAh battery paired with 20W Fast Charging is again very competitive. It’s not quite as capable as the Mate 20 Pro’s 40W SuperCharge and colossal 4,200mAh battery, and is also a tad shy of the Galaxy Note 9’s 4,000mAh cell. Even so, the OnePlus 6T will almost certainly last a whole day or more and should offer longer screen-on time than both the Pixel 3 XL and LG V40.

All in all, the OnePlus 6T punches well above its price tag in terms of performance specifications. If a snappy experience is your top priority, the OnePlus 6T is every bit as good as other flagships and will save you up to half their cost.

Not quite all the extras

While the OnePlus 6T excels in the performance department, some customers may still be left wanting when it comes to the extras. But hey, the company has to make those cost saving somewhere.

There’s no wireless charging onboard, which is now included in all of our other premium tier competitors. OnePlus again hasn’t gone through the expense of certifying the phone for an IP water and dust resistant rating either. More controversial is the company’s decision to drop the 3.5mm headphone jack from the handset, leaving consumers reaching for the USB dongle or Bluetooth headphones. At least the OnePlus 6T supports both aptX HD and LDAC high-quality Bluetooth codecs. Those still rocking a pair of quality wired headphones might prefer the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or LG V40 ThinQ.

In the camera department, the OnePlus 6T opts for a dual-rear shooter. The phone doesn’t offer the flexibility of a telephoto or wide angle lenses like the LG V40 and HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro. Instead, the dual camera configuration is mostly designed around providing a portrait bokeh effect. OnePlus has included a dedicated Nightscape mode for low light pictures, although we’ll have to see if it’s as impressive as HUAWEI’s Night Mode and Google’s Night Sight.

Photography has always been a more so-so element of the OnePlus experience, and again we’re probably not looking at a camera package that beats out the very best on the market. While software improvements and the inclusion of EIS and OIS helps the OnePlus 6T compete, it’s simply not going to be as flexible as other dual and triple camera setups that now pervade the premium sphere.

On the plus side, face and fingerprint unlocking capabilities are included. The OnePlus 6T boasts a fancy in-display fingerprint reader just like the Mate 20 Pro, which is much easier to access than the old position on the back.

Better still, the OnePlus 6T ships with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, with its unique Oxygen OS features added on top. The same can’t be said for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or LG V40, which will have to wait a while longer before seeing the latest Android features. Software features are more a matter of preference, but Oxygen OS certainly has its share of dedicated fans.

A new tier of competition

At $549/€549 to $629/€629, the OnePlus 6T continues to offer the brand’s exceptional value proposition. Especially when you consider that the HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro can cost upwards of €1,049 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 starts at $999/€1,050. Of course, you’re not receiving all of the bells and whistles at such a discount. Instead, the OnePlus 6T remains a more functional flagship product that aims to nail the essentials.

However, OnePlus isn’t the only brand operating in this space anymore. 2018 has seen a range of cost-effective rivals enter the market, including the ASUS Zenfone 5Z, HONOR 10, and Xiaomi’s POCOphone. We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to reasonably priced, powerful smartphones.

How do you think the OnePlus 6T compares to the best Android smartphones out there, as well as some of its cheaper rivals?

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• OnePlus 6T vs OnePlus 6: The many differences (and many similarities)