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OnePlus 3T review

8.9/10 AVG.
RATING
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OnePlus 3T
OnePlus 3T
OnePlus 3T
OnePlus 3T
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8.9/10
Informr score
The OnePlus 3T currently has an Informr score of 8.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 50 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Solid build quality
  • Crisp, colorful screen
  • Great performance
  • Price
  • Fast, detailed rear camera
  • All-day battery life
  • Dual SIM support

What's bad

  • No microSD support
  • Inconsistent front-facing camera
  • Proprietary fast charging

The OnePlus 3T has big shoes to fill. With its predecessor topping phone lists on review sites across the Internet, this latest release is more of a subtle improvement than a brand new phone. How are reviewers taking to the new entry in the OnePlus line up?

Reviews are rolling out and we’ve scoured them all to bring you this summary!

Let’s get started!

Reviews were quick to point out that the 3T uses the exact same design as the 3--short of a slightly larger camera bump on the rear. However, that isn’t a bad thing. The 3T’s aluminum unibody chassis features minimal embellishment and reviewers all agreed it feels great in the hand. PC Advisor UK declared that OnePlus “made a 5.5in screen phone slim, svelte and usable with one hand (just).” Digital Trends called the phone “a real beauty.”

One design feature that stood out to reviewers was the Alert Slider. This physical button sits on the side of the device and allows you to change notification volumes and settings without touching the screen. Most reviewers raved about it.

Heading around front, you’ll find a 5.5-inch 1080p Optic AMOLED screen and a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. Reviewers loved the display calibration feature, with many noting that it quickly wrangled the stock color settings from overblown and garrish to pleasing and accurate. While the resolution falls behind other flagships, Alphr describes the screen as “as sharp as you need it to be.”

Powering the phone, you’ll find a 2.35GHz quad-core Snapdragon 821 processor. Paired with 6GB of RAM, reviews used words like “silky” and “buttery” to describe performance. PC Advisor UK applauded the phone, saying, “In a full week of use we experienced absolutely no lag, slow app changes or overheating. It is truly like using a desktop at some times.”

You’ll find models with either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. There’s no microSD storage with the maker opting for dual SIM support instead. Media lovers or gamers might opt for the larger option.

The phone ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. However, OnePlus plans to have Android 7.0 Nougat available by the end of 2016. Their Oxygen OS skin was popular with reviewers for its subtlety and convenient improvements to the stock Android experience. Recombu noted, “Android fans will be right at home with the interface, while some of the shortcut tools and gesture support is genuinely useful.”

Reviews for the phone’s cameras are generally positive. GSM Arena called the 16MP rear-facing camera a “solid snapper by any means,” further noting, “It performs consistently and reliably under all conditions. It seldom requires more than a single attempt to capture the desired shot.”

While the 16MP front-facing lens sounds impressive on paper, reviews were scattered. Many felt that the photos shot lacked light balance and the increased resolution only led to more noise. However, they also noted that it was great for video chat or live streaming.

The phone’s 3400mAh battery netted most reviewers a full day of usage with room to spare. The included Dash Charge cable and wall adapter promise a 60% charge in only 30 minutes. Reviewers confirmed that the system works great and the phone stays cool during charging. However, should you need a replacement charger or cable, you’re left waiting for one to ship from OnePlus or settling for slower charge speeds using a third-party option.

Overall, reviews indicate that the 3T is a worthy successor to the OnePlus throne. Alphr summed up opinions well, saying, “It's not quite the outright bargain the OnePlus 3 was, but the OnePlus 3T’s speed, screen quality, decent camera and practical design mean it's set to take over as our favourite smartphone just as soon as the OnePlus 3 is no longer available.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.35 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.35 GHz
5.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.5"
16+ MP, f/2
Camera
Camera
16+ MP, f/2
3400 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

On the surface, the OnePlus 3T might seem like a minor upgrade over the OnePlus 3; the key areas being the battery capacity, higher resolution front camera and the faster CPU. However, after using it for the better part of a week, it's clear that the improvements extend to the brighter and more colo...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
What Hi-Fi
What Hi-Fi

Flagship killer might be too ambitious a label for the OnePlus 3T, but even as the priciest OnePlus to date, it remains value for money. There’s still plenty to admire, and it’s definitely one to consider if you’re happy to negotiate its occasional shortcomings.

- What Hi-Fi team, What Hi-Fi
Gadget Review
Gadget Review

OnePlus had a winner with its super refined third iteration flagship smartphone, and while the existence of the incremental 3T may be in question, it builds on a successful formula that gives interested consumers an even tougher bargain to turn down. You simply won’t find another $400 smartpho...

- Josh Noriega, Gadget Review
Recombu
Recombu

The OnePlus 3T may be meeting some tough competition from the latest series of flagship phones, but this great-value handset can more than hold its own in 2017. That Nougat update adds the best Android features found in the latest phones, while the gorgeous display, dependable and simple-to-use came...

- Chris Barraclough, Recombu
VR-Zone
VR-Zone

The OnePlus 3T is a spectacular smartphone and at its price point, it’s hard to find anything else in the market that can beat its power and user-friendliness. I absolutely loved its battery life and fast-charging capabilities. Its unparalleled speed is just so lovely, especially when coupled...

- Zayne Seah, VR-Zone


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the OnePlus 3T user manual here.


OnePlus backs up the 3T with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your 3T has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact OnePlus support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find OnePlus's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Screen Size
5.5"

The OnePlus 3T's screen size is 5.5 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.35 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad core 2.35 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
16+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 16+ MP, f/2 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 16+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64/128 GB

Internal memory is 64/128 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
3400mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3400 mAh battery. OnePlus's performance ratings are 1855 minutes, 523 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

OnePlus 3T Specs

Overview
Release Date November 22, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad core 2.35 GHz
Internal Storage 64/128 GB
RAM 6 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.784 W/kg
Body: 0.581 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX HD
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels, f/2
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Brightness control, Effects, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Panorama, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, ASF, DivX, XviD, AVI, MKV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 401 pixels
Size 5.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3400 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 803 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 523 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1855 minutes
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Gunmetal, Soft Gold, Midnight Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.3 x 7.5 x 0.7 cm (6 x 3 x 0.3 in)
Weight 158 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
OnePlus 3T Reviews
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