What's good
- Screen design
- Lightweight
- Fast charging
- Long battery life
- Inexpensive
What's bad
- No wireless charging
- Picky touchscreen
In typical OnePlus style, the OnePlus 8 claims to be another premium phone for 2020 that doesn’t disappoint but comes in at a fraction of the price of competing top-end phones. But does the phone strike the ideal balance of affordability and enjoyability?
Design
Taller than its competing phones, reviews noted the OnePlus 8 feels good to hold in one hand. It’s designed to be among the thinnest of phones and ultra lightweight. But some reviews stated that the extra color options were somewhat marred by having to constantly clean off fingerprints.
Display
The 6.55-inch AMOLED screen with attractive waterfall edges placed high in reviews for its brightness and accuracy for colors. However, many reviewers also said the phone was far more prone to accidental touches or apps opening while retrieving the phone from a pocket or purse due to the curved display.
Performance
The OnePlus 8 has been characterized as ‘zippy’ for its fast refresh rates. This makes it ideal for mobile gaming. While the numbers technically fall short of it’s Pro sibling, reviewers who tested the phones side by side said there wasn’t a noticeable difference between the two.
TechRadar writes, “I assumed the OnePlus 8 Pro's 120Hz would look even better. But when I navigated both of them side-by-side, the 8 Pro didn't feel miles ahead of the OnePlus 8. So, if you're leaning towards the OnePlus 8 between the two, don't worry about 'missing out' on a superior display.”
Software & Storage
OnePlus 8 runs Android 10. The storage was one of the more praised elements of the phone for reviewers at 128/256GB of space available.
Cameras
The cameras were the least impressive part of an otherwise solid top-tier phone. Reviewers were disappointed to find the cameras did not offer an enhanced zoom function, and using digital zoom made photos so fuzzy they weren’t usable. Its 2MP macro camera also left a lot to be desired. Reviewers mentioned that unless you were a pro at these sorts of shots that it left a lot of noise in the photos.
Battery Life
Battery life impressed reviewers, lasting a day or more with hard use. The Warp Charge 30T charger excited reviewers as well, claiming to fully charge the phone in an hour.
Audio
Reviewers did not mention anything bad or exceptional about the phone's audio. However, the phone does not come with a headphone jack. So you’ll need an adapter or wireless headphones for private listening.
Specs at a Glance
- Glass and aluminum chassis
- 6.55-inch AMOLED Display
- 2.84 Ghz octa-core Snapdragon 865 Processor
- 8/12GB RAM
- Android 10
- 128/256GB of Storage
- 48MP camera/ 2MP macro lens
- 4300 mAh Battery
Bottom Line
Reviewers had very little negative to say about the OnePlus 8. It’s a top-end phone for an affordable price with a good display and battery life. There are even a few color options that are not available on other phones for some unique visual flair. Reviews were solid and so was the performance.
TechRadar writes, “The OnePlus 8 sets the bar high for affordable flagships in 2020. While its design refinements borrow elements from other flagships, it's an undeniably sleek phone.”
Tom’s Guide states, “The OnePlus 8 delivers solid performance, long battery life, and 5G at an attractive price”
Business Insider says, “[The phone offers] maximum power and almost everything you want for a lower price tag.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Hitech Century, Hitech CenturyThe ASUS Zenfone 8 is a dark horse in the flagship smartphone race for 2021, with flagship-grade specifications in a highly compact, one-handed form factor. This compact smartphone has a slew of top-shelf features – a 3.5mm audio jack, stereo speakers, a 120Hz AMOLED display and a top of the line Sn...
- Nathan Spendelow, Will Georgiadis, Expert ReviewsFixing the problems of last year’s phone, while simultaneously improving almost every aspect, the OnePlus 8 instead demonstrates that a twice-yearly phone launch doesn’t need to add new features to be worthy of admiration. Excelling in all areas, a simple case of refinement is perhaps the best strat...
- Lynn La, CnetAs the cheaper OnePlus phone, the OnePlus 8 doesn't have as many features. But it succeeds at keeping the ones that matter.
- Philip Michaels, Tom's GuideThe big question in any OnePlus 8 review comes down to the camera. If you want an Android phone that produces the best possible shots, you'll want to pay up for Samsung's new Galaxy S20 models. But if you don't really make use of optical zooms and don't mind photos that don't measure up to what the...
- Vivek, GizbotThe OnePlus 8 has its compromises such as no IP rating, no wireless charging, and not dedicated telephoto lens. Other than these, the OnePlus 8 is as good as any flagship smartphone of 2020 with no compromise on performance, design, or build quality.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the OnePlus 8 user manual here.
OnePlus backs up the 8 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your 8 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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Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- OnePlus 8 Manual (PDF)
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