The OnePlus 8T is up for pre-order for $749 and up and it’s set to ship October 13.
That makes the OnePlus 8T more affordable than many of this year’s flagship smartphones, but it has premium specs including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a 120 Hz screen refresh rate, and 65 watt fast charging.
OnePlus did make some compromises: the 6.55 inch, 2400 x 1080 pixel AMOLED display has fewer pixels per inch than you’ll find on some other flagships. And there’s no support for wireless charging. You also don’t get an IP rating for water resistance (unless you buy the phone from T-Mobile, apparently).
But the biggest question about this phone may be why it’s a thing at all, since it’s a pretty modest step up from the OnePlus 8 that launched earlier this year.
Here’s a comparison of the specs for the OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 8, and OnePlus 8 Pro:
| OnePlus 8T | OnePlus 8 | OnePlus 8 Pro | |
| Display | 6.55 inches 2400 x 1080 (402 ppi) 20:09 aspect ratio 120 Hz | 6.55 inches 2400 x 1080 (402 ppi) 20:09 aspect ratio 90 Hz | 6.78 inches 3168 x 1440 (513 ppi) 19.8:9 aspect ratio 120 Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 865 | Snapdragon 865 | Snapdragon 865 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB/128GB UFS 3.1 12GB/256GB UFS 3.1 | 8GB/128GB UFS 3.0 12GB/256GB UFS 3.0 | 8GB/128GB UFS 3.0 12GB/256GB UFS 3.0 |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Sony IMX586 primary 16MP ultra-wide (123 degree) 5MP macro 2MP monochrome | 48MP Sony IMX586 primary 16MP ultra-wide (116 degree) 2MP macro | 48MP Sony IMX689 primary 48MP ultra-wide (120 degrees) 8MP telephoto 5MP color filter |
| Front camera | 16MP Sony IMX471 | 16MP Sony IMX471 | 16MP Sony IMX471 |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh | 4,300 mAh | 4,510 mAh |
| Charging | 65W (wired) | 30W (wired) | 30W (wired and wireless) |
| Wireless | 5G &Â 4G LTE WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 NFC | 5G &Â 4G LTE WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 NFC | 5G &Â 4G LTE WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 NFC |
| Security | In-display fingerprint sensor Software-based face recognition | In-display fingerprint sensor | In-display fingerprint sensor |
| Ports | USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C | USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C | USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C |
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
| Dimensions | 160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4mm | 160.2 x 72.9 x 8mm | 165.3 x 74.3 x 8.5mm |
| Weight | 188 grams | 180 grams | 199 grams |
| List price (starting) | $749 | $699 | $799 |
For $50 more than the OnePlus 8, the new model has a higher screen refresh rate, faster charging, a slightly larger battery, and a few extra camera features. But that’s when you’re comparing the list price.
Right now OnePlus is selling the OnePlus 8 for $100 off, which means that you’d have to spend an extra $150 to get those features.
That said, the OnePlus 8 Pro still may be the best option for anyone who doesn’t absolutely need 65 watt charging, since it’s got the best display and best camera setup of the bunch and it’s the only model with support for wireless charging.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not mad at a company for offering a few different phones at different pricing options. It’s just a little strange how close these particular options are to one another.
You’re forgetting one attractive aspect: it has a flat screen for those of us that hate curved screens.
I’ve had the 7 Pro and have hated it, but I didn’t jump on the 8 because of the curved screen. While I’m not thrilled the less expensive version isn’t available in the US, this is a decent upgrade for those coming from a 7.
Of course, if I had my 6, I’d probably still be using that …