OnePlus is back with a brand new flagship, the OnePlus 3T, which is faster and more capable than the existing OnePlus 3. While the new device may not be better than the current gen. model in all aspects, it still packs just enough upgrades to justify its release.
So, what’s changed on the OnePlus 3T?
The new flagship comes with a faster chipset, larger battery as well as a more capable front facing camera ideal for selfies. Rest of the phone seems to be exactly the same as the OnePlus 3 including the size (152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35) and the weight (158g)
Inside, the OnePlus 3T comes with the new Snapdragon 821 chipset clocked at 2.35GHz. Qualcomm reveals that this new chip is 10% faster than the Snapdragon 820 processor that powers the old OnePlus 3. Yes, I just used the word old because with the 3T in town, the OnePlus 3 is now a generation behind. Not fair for users who just bought the device, but that’s just how the tech industry works.
Unlike the earlier rumors, there isn’t 8GB of RAM inside. So, you are still stuck with 6GB of RAM but now you have up to 128GB storage. So, there is a 64GB variant as well as a 128GB variant with UFS 2.0 standard. The phone retains the fingerprint sensor on the front which unlocks the phone in just 0.2 seconds. OnePlus CEO had said that future OnePlus smartphones will continue to use AMOLED displays. So, the OnePlus 3T also comes with the company’s Optic AMOLED panel with 1080p resolution. There are dual SIM card slots on board and USB Type-C along with a regular 3.5mm headphone jack.
While the rear camera seems to be the same 16MP sensor as found on the OnePlus 3 (with OIS, EIS, and 4K video support), what’s significantly upgraded is the front camera sensor on the new device. OnePlus has fitted the 3T with a 16MP sensor on the front, making sure that the phone is now capable of taking clear selfies even in low light. For selfie fanatics, this is definitely a welcome move. But to be honest, I hoped the rear camera sensor was upgraded to something more powerful (apart from adding EIS) as well to justify the new release.
Another upgrade is in the battery department, with the phone now featuring a larger 3400mAh battery (13 percent better battery life as compared to the OP3) with Dash Charge (5V, 4A). As for the software, the phone will be stuck on Android Marshmallow OS with OxygenOS on top. However, the company seems to have confirmed Android 7 Nougat on both the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus 3 by the end of the year.
There are two color options, Gunmetal and Soft Gold.
So, that was the OnePlus 3T. As you can see, there aren’t many upgrades on the new device, at least not significant enough for OnePlus 3 users to be disappointed. The upgrade in the processor department with SD821 won’t make the phone significantly faster and neither will a 400mAh battery increase. The 16MP front camera could be a reason for the upgrade, but that’s going to be an individual choice, especially because the OnePlus 3T asks for a slightly premium price tag as compared to the OnePlus 3.
The OnePlus 3T will go on sale on November 22 in the US for $439 (64GB model) and $479 ($128GB model). In Europe, the phone will start selling from November 28.
So, what’s your take on the new OnePlus 3T? Will you be ready to shell out $40 more for the above-mentioned upgrades?
