OnePlus 5 Review

Research Center:
OnePlus 5

OnePlus sells one phone, which means to be successful, that device needs to be very good — talk about pressure. The OnePlus 3T has always been easy to recommend. It does everything pretty well, and costs less than many big-name rivals. Now it’s time for the sequel, but just because the OnePlus 3T is good, doesn’t mean the pressure is off. If anything, there’s more this time around.

The OnePlus 5 refines what made the OnePlus 3T so desirable even further. It does more, has more power, and looks even smarter. But what we really like is how it’s so incredibly accessible — the software is simple, and the features easy to understand. You just settle into using the OnePlus 5 like sinking down into your favorite chair. This accessibility is really important; OnePlus has a somewhat geeky image, like it’s only suitable for tech-enthusiasts. The OnePlus 5 proves this isn’t true at all.

Apple is a master at making phones like this, and the iPhone’s influence runs through the OnePlus 5 very clearly. It sometimes steps over the line from homage to imitation. Impressively, the OnePlus 5 manages to rise above this, to achieve a level of brilliance that separates it from other high-end smartphones. Here’s how.

An iPhone clone

From the back, the OnePlus 5 really, really looks like an iPhone. The midnight black color scheme, carried over from the limited edition OnePlus 3T, is extremely close in shade to the matte black iPhone. The OnePlus logo shines in glossy black in the top center, and in the top left is a dual-lens camera flanked by a flash unit. Body-colored antenna bands curve around both ends of the OnePlus 5, just like they do on the iPhone.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

In the past, companies like Huawei have been accused of copying the iPhone’s design, and while it still does to a certain extent, it has found its own style more recently. OnePlus says the OnePlus 5 is the result of its most expensive design process yet, and more than 100 prototypes were made before deciding on this one. It’s surprising then, to see it came up with an unashamed and unsubtle iPhone clone. The fact it’s reminiscent of the iPhone doesn’t make it ugly — it actually looks very attractive.

The edges of the rear curve towards the front display, which makes it feel natural in the hand — but it doesn’t allow a firm grip. It doesn’t help that our midnight black variant is quite slippery, too.

The right side features a power button, and on the left is the volume rocker, along with OnePlus’ excellent Alert Slider. It quickly switches between alert notification profiles, and It’s very helpful, allowing you to silence your phone without actually looking at the screen. The slider is textured so you don’t even need to take the phone out of your pocket.

It does more, has more power, and looks even smarter.

The OnePlus 5 is also really thin and light. The metal body weighs 153 grams and is 7.25mm thick, which is thinner than the 8mm Samsung Galaxy S8, and a tad lighter. On the front, a 2.5D curved piece of Gorilla Glass 5 covers the 5.5-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel AMOLED screen. A fingerprint sensor hides inside the home button. It’s not a physical button, but it offers a pleasing vibration when pressed. The Recents and back button flank the home button — there’s no distinctive icon, but they light up when pressed.

There’s no denying the OnePlus 5 looks like an iPhone; but no, it shouldn’t put you off. It still looks great, the build quality is excellent, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it’s super thin.

Accessible software, fantastic performance

When we commented on the OnePlus 5’s accessibility, we were referring to how pleasant the phone is to use. This is due to the Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system and OnePlus’s own Oxygen 4.5.0 user interface, along with the Snapdragon 835 processor and 8GB of RAM. The OnePlus 5 is a fiery combination of raw ability and careful software tweaks, producing a devastatingly fast yet friendly-to-use smartphone.

An example of this is the camera app. On the LG G6, the Square Camera app — which makes good use of the phone’s wide screen — is a widget, and not built into the main camera app. If it gets deleted, or hidden, you have to know to look for it in the widget menu. The OnePlus 5’s Portrait mode is accessed with a swipe to the left in the main camera app. Swipe to the right for video. That’s it. Simple, and obvious.

A devastatingly fast yet friendly to use smartphone

The Oxygen user interface is very subtle, and unlike others, doesn’t obfuscate primary Android features. In fact, it’s quite similar to the software experience on the Google Pixel. The app drawer is accessed with an upward swipe, the notification shade is standard, and the icons are minimalist and not over-styled. OnePlus’ Shelf feature is one of the few alterations. It’s hidden to the left of the home screen, and shows handy, glanceable pieces of information, but it can be deactivated if you prefer. Other features include an auto night mode that uses the ambient light sensor to adjust the color temperature of the screen, a blue-light filtering reading mode, a do-not-disturb game mode, and a tap-to-wake option for the screen.

Oxygen OS is fluid, the animations are slick, and we never experienced any slowdown at all. The OnePlus 5 is a joy to use, and it’s not just raw power that makes this possible. OnePlus has implemented a special algorithm that preloads frequently used apps, and shifts resources away from apps that are rarely used. It has also worked to optimize the screen for touch sensitivity, making it very responsive indeed. Put all this together, and the end result is sublime. We tested it against a Google Pixel, opening apps at the same time, and the OnePlus 5 was a hair faster. To be fair, the Pixel does have an older processor.

As a note, Google Assistant did not work for us in the U.K., but it worked on our OnePlus 5 in the U.S.

We’ve played a series of games on the OnePlus 5, from Happy Hop and Parking Master 3D, to Dodonpachi Unlimited and Reckless Racing 3, without any overheating issues or any slowdown. Streaming video is also faultless, and doesn’t suck much power — a 22-minute show streamed from Crunchyroll only used 4 percent battery life.

Qualcomm’s newest, and fastest processor — the Snapdragon 835 — definitely helps the OnePlus 5 achieve all this. Here are some benchmark scores we received:

• AnTuTu: 181,599
• 3DMark Slingshot Extreme: 3,549

By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S8, which has the same processor and a little less RAM, received a score of 155,253 on AnTuTu, and 2,052 on 3DMark. There’s a word for what happened here, and it’s “trounced.”

On the subject of the 8GB of RAM, is it really needed? OnePlus justifies such a giant number by saying it allows more apps to run in the background, and it helps futureproof the phone.

“With 8GB of RAM, the OnePlus 5 allows all users to easily run the most powerful applications and eliminates all doubt in its ability to do so in the future,” the company told Digital Trends.

There’s more speed, power, and ability inside the OnePlus 5 than most people need.

Camera

The OnePlus 5’s camera mimics the dual-camera setup on the iPhone. There are two Sony lenses on the back, a primary with 16 megapixels and a telephoto with 20 megapixels. These provide a 2x hybrid zoom system, and a bokeh-style Portrait mode — which is exactly what Apple calls it, and it even says “depth effect” when the feature is active, just like in iOS — for the desirable blurred background effect.

The excellent news is the main camera’s aperture is now rated at f/1.7, letting in 26 percent more light than the lens on the OnePlus 3T, plus auto-focus has been tweaked for a 40 percent speed increase. This joins improved HDR, and new features like a histogram, and a level-like reference line to ensure the horizon is straight. Annoyingly, this is only available in the camera’s Pro Mode. There’s also 4K video recording, but only electronic image stabilization rather than optical stabilization.

Let’s talk about Portrait mode first. Swipe left on the viewfinder screen to access it, and point the lens at a suitable subject — an object close up, with something to blur out in the background — and wait. That’s right, you wait. The OnePlus 5 likes to think about what you’re asking it to do. Unlike the iPhone 7 Plus, where you have to adjust the distance between the camera and the subject until Depth Effect activates, hold the OnePlus 5 steady for a few seconds and its deep focus mode will activate itself. Move the phone around and it may not do so, and you will end up with a compromised shot.

The time delay isn’t a massive problem, but may cause you to miss some shots. If time is of the essence, it’ll be best to forgo Portrait mode, and shoot normally — advice that isn’t unique to the OnePlus 5. When you have captured a Portrait picture, the results are mostly excellent. The depth of field is highly accurate, with the OnePlus 5 picking out edges with greater accuracy than the iPhone in some situations. This is mainly due to it often taking a wider view, and not separating one small object like Apple’s software. Outside of Portrait mode, the OnePlus 5’s camera is relatively standard, meaning you get a panorama mode, slow motion video, a pro mode, and a couple of scenes.

Comparing shots with the iPhone 7 Plus reveals a massive difference between the way it handles color and contrast. The iPhone is adept at taking natural images, replicating what you see in the real world. The OnePlus 5 takes pictures like it’s on LSD. Colors and contrast are amplified to the max. It’s akin to Samsung’s philosophy of providing stunning, hyper-real pictures we want to share, regardless of whether that’s actually how the scene looked.

The OnePlus 5’s camera is going to divide opinion; but if you regularly use an HDR filter to augment your pictures, you’ll love it. But the overly saturated look means some colors and situations look weirdly “off.” A forest scene we photographed looked decidedly strange, for instance, as no trees produce such a bizarre shade of green.

Battery and connectivity

The OnePlus 5 has a 3,300mAh battery inside, and it’s coupled with the company’s proprietary Dash Charge fast charging system. This is one of the best fast charging solutions available, and OnePlus promotes it as offering, “a day’s power in half an hour.” In reality, this means it charges the battery to about 60 percent capacity in 30 minutes, then on to a full charge in under 90 minutes.

This is one of the best proprietary fast chargers available, and OnePlus promotes it as offering, “a day’s power in half an hour.”

In our tests, the OnePlus 5 dropped to 50 percent by 10 p.m. with average use, so provided you’re not a really heavy user, the statement of getting a day’s use from 30 minutes charge should be accurate. The power of knowing how long it takes the fast charge system to top-up the battery shouldn’t be underestimated. Most of us will be able to plug the phone in after waking up in the morning, and categorically know it’ll have at least 60 percent charge ready for when we leave the house for work. It’s an extremely useful feature, and one that delivers on its promise.

Bluetooth 5.0 is onboard, providing more range for compatible connected gadgets, and more speed. The phone has a dual-SIM tray, but without space for a MicroSD card, so you’ll have to make do with the onboard storage. This is either 64GB or 128GB, and we recommend selecting the latter, especially as it’s the model to come with 8GB of RAM (the 64GB model comes with 6GB RAM). The OnePlus 5 has 34 GSM bands for global connectivity, so it should provide the fastest connection wherever you are

Price, warranty, and availability

OnePlus sells its phones unlocked without a contract through its own website. This is an excellent way to buy a device, as it gives you freedom to choose your network, when you can upgrade, or the option to sell the phone privately in the future. In the U.K., the O2 network will also offer the phone for sale with a variety of contracts.

OnePlus 5 Compared To

Huawei Nova 2 Plus

ZTE Blade V8 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

LeEco Le S3

ZTE Axon 7

LeEco Le Pro3

HTC Bolt

Lenovo Moto Z

Alcatel Idol 4S

Meizu M3 Note

Moto G4 Plus

Oppo F1 Plus

Lenovo ZUK Z1

LG G4

OnePlus One

The 64GB version comes in slate grey and with 6GB of RAM for $480, while the midnight black version has 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for $540. The difference between the two colors is extremely subtle, and unless the light is just right, few will quickly tell them apart.

OnePlus has a one-year warranty on its devices in the United States, and broken phones will be repaired or replaced free of charge — that includes shipping and handling costs. It doesn’t cover daily wear and tear, or water damage. OnePlus also offers an extended warranty plan though Assurant Solutions called On-Guard for a year, 18 months, or two years. Because claims are dealt with in the U.S, it should be quicker. You’ll have to pay between $20 and $110 extra for the privilege.

Our Take

The definition of flagship phone is changing. The most expensive phones have cutting-edge designs, virtual assistants, and complex, long feature lists that those who buy them only rarely use. Phones like the Galaxy S8, the LG G6, and Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus have become hyper phones. Expensive, luxurious, and generally a bit over-the-top.

The OnePlus 5 isn’t like them. It boils down the essence of the flagship phone to become leaner, meaner, and fiercer. It gives us the best processor, the most amount of RAM, a very capable (but divisive) camera, no-nonsense software, and a slick design for just $480. It could leave $200 in your pocket if you choose it over one of the aforementioned flagship smartphones. Who doesn’t want to save money without compromising?

While we’re singing the OnePlus 5’s praises, there are some other points to consider. Spec-fiends may prefer a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution screen, music and video fans may want a MicroSD card slot, and others may simply not want a phone that looks like the iPhone. There’s also no waterproofing, which is becoming a standard feature in all high-end smartphones. They’re all valid points, but the benefits do outweigh the negatives here.

Is there a better alternative?

The OnePlus 5 stands apart at this price, and for this specification. Its main challenger comes from Honor, the sister brand to Huawei, with the Honor 8 and Honor 8 Pro. The Honor 8 Pro has a larger screen with a higher resolution, and Huawei’s high performance Kirin 960 processor inside, with a dual-lens camera on the back of the device. It costs 480 British pounds, but isn’t available in the United States.

In the U.S., the aging, smaller Honor 8 costs less and has a dual-lens camera, but the processor is older than the Honor 8 Pro’s Kirin 960, and the display isn’t the best around. If you’re also considering an iPhone, then budget restraints mean you’re limited to the iPhone SE. It’s a fine device, but doesn’t come close to matching the OnePlus 5.

Ignore the OnePlus 5’s low price, and we’d recommend the Google Pixel, which benefits from a superb camera, regular software updates, and a similarly excellent software and usability experience. But you’ll have to dig deep for one, as it costs $650.

How long will it last?

Short of breaking the phone, or submerging it in water, the OnePlus 5’s lifespan will likely be two years at the minimum before you’d need to consider changing to a newer phone. It won’t stop working, of course, and will continue to be an excellent everyday device beyond this.

The lack of water resistance is one of the phone’s biggest downsides. Even the iPhone has managed it, and it’s a shame the OnePlus 5 didn’t follow along. We do like the new carbon fiber silicone case that’s available, which adds plenty of impact protection, and makes the phone more comfortable and less slippery to hold. It’s a worthwhile addition.

OnePlus does update the software on its phones, but not in such a timely fashion as Google does with the Pixel series. It has recently stopped offering software updates for the OnePlus 2, a phone released in mid-2015, so 2019 may end up being the end of support for the OnePlus 5. Our review phone had the May 1 Android security update installed.

Should you buy it?

Yes, yes, and yes again. The OnePlus 5 is almost fuss and frustration free, doesn’t overwhelm with pointless features, and saves you money over the competition. What more do we want?

OnePlus 5 vs. OnePlus 3T: An upgrade that won’t break the bank

It’s been a little more than half a year since OnePlus, the smartphone company backed by Chinese tech giant BBK Electronics, launched its last flagship — the OnePlus 3T. The 3T was an incremental upgrade over the OnePlus 3, but the newly-announced OnePlus 5 is a different beast altogether.

No matter how you slice it, the OnePlus 5 is an impressive specimen of a smartphone. It’s packed to the brim with competitive hardware, including a 5.5-inch 1,080-pixel resolution screen, a whopping 8GB of RAM, and a battery that lasts “all day” on a charge. Just like the OnePlus 3T before it, the price is still the spotlight — no other phone offers flagship-level specs for under $500.

But just how much of an improvement is the OnePlus 5 over its predecessor? We compared the two to find out.

Specs

OnePlus 5

OnePlus 3T

Size
154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25 mm (6.07 x 2.92 x 0.28 in)
152.7 × 74.7 × 7.4 mm (6.01 × 2.94 × 0.29 inches)
Weight
5.39 ounces (153 grams)
5.57 ounces (158 grams)
Screen
5.5-inch AMOLED
5.5-inch AMOLED
Resolution
1,920 x 1,080 pixels
1,920 x 1,080 pixels
OS
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Storage
64GB or 128GB
64GB or 128GB
SD Card Slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM
 6GB or 8GB
6GB
Connectivity
GSM / HSPA / LTE
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Camera
 Front 8MP, Rear Dual 16MP and 20MP
Front 8MP, Rear 16MP
Video
4K
4K
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor
Water Resistant
No
No
Battery
3,300mAh
3,400mAh
Charger
USB Type-C
USB Type-C
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
No
No
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Black, gray
Gunmetal, gold, black
Availability
Unlocked, OnePlus
Unlocked, OnePlus
DT Review
4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Under the hood, the differences between the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 3T may not seem too different, but the former packs a more powerful punch. The OnePlus 5 uses Qualcomm’s newest processor, the Snapdragon 835, which is more powerful and more battery efficient than the Snapdragon 821 processor powering the OnePlus 3T.

The OnePlus 5 comes in two configurations: 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage, or 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The OnePlus 3T offers 6GB of RAM, and you likely won’t ever fully take advantage of the whopping 8GB on the OnePlus 5. More RAM means more apps can be held in active memory, and won’t have to be reloaded when you switch between them. The 6GB RAM in the 3T is already remarkable, but the OnePlus 5 takes it a step further. The OnePlus 5’s Wi-Fi chip is up to twice as fast as the OnePlus 3T, and its Bluetooth version 5 boasts quadruple the range and twice the speed of the 3T’s Bluetooth 4.2 radio.

The OnePlus 3T has a slight advantage when it comes to battery (3,400mAh compared to the OnePlus 5’s 3,300 mAh). But the Snapdragon 835 is a more battery efficient processor, so you may hardly see a difference overall. The OnePlus 5 is a solid step up from the OnePlus 3T in terms of raw hardware.

Winner: OnePlus 5

Design, display, and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The OnePlus 5 doesn’t look very much like its predecessor — in fact, it looks more like an iPhone than the 3T. It retains the OnePlus 3T’s oval-shaped front fingerprint sensor, volume rocker, Alert Slider, and power button positioning, but ditches the angular design for smooth, curved edges on all four sides. On the rear, a camera hump accommodates the OnePlus 5’s dual rear shooters, and antenna lines bisect the top and bottom edges. Design is subjective, but we think the OnePlus 5 looks far more attractive than the 3T.

The AMOLED screen is the same as the OnePlus 3T — it’s 5.5 inches in size, and offers a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution. In terms of durability, the OnePlus 5 isn’t any more water- or dust-resistant than the OnePlus 3T. Unlike most flagship smartphones, neither are certified for exposure to the elements — if both take an accidental dip in a pool, their chances of survival aren’t great.

We’re fans of the OnePlus 5’s design refinements. For that reason, we’re crowning it the winner this round.

Winner: OnePlus 5

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

On paper, there isn’t a drastic difference between the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 3T in the battery department. The OnePlus 5 packs a smaller battery than last year’s model — 3,300mAh versus the OnePlus 3T’s 3,400mAh. But there’s more to battery life than capacity.

The OnePlus 5’s processor, the Snapdragon 835, consumes up to 40 percent less power than the Snapdragon 821. Those savings will depend on the apps you’re using, but the OnePlus 5 should last just as long, if not slightly longer, on a single charge than the OnePlus 3T. In terms of charging speed, the OnePlus 5 supports the same proprietary fast-charging technology: Dash Charge. OnePlus says you should be able to recover about 60 percent of the battery in half an hour, or the full battery in 90 minutes. Both phones have a USB Type-C port for charging.

It’s a close call between the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 3T when it comes to battery life, but the OnePlus 5’s power-efficient processor is enough to put it slightly ahead.

Winner: OnePlus 5

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

One of the OnePlus 5’s most notable improvements is the addition of a second rear camera. The dual rear camera module, which combines a 16-megapixel (with a f/1.7 aperture) with a 20-megapixel telephoto lens (with a f/2.6 aperture), helps create the same depth effect that won the iPhone 7 Plus camera so much praise. Last year’s OnePlus 3T, on the other hand, makes do with a single 16-megapixel sensor (with a f/2.0 aperture). Because of the f/1.7 aperture, OnePlus 5 should perform better in low-light scenarios as well.

When it comes to video, both shoot in the same resolutions: 4K at 30fps, 1,080p at 60fps, 720p at 30 fps, and slo-mo 720p at 120fps.

On the front, the OnePlus 5 shares the same selfie cam as the OnePlus 3T — a 16-megapixel camera with a f/2.0 aperture. We were impressed by the OnePlus 3T camera’s shots, but the added portrait mode offers the OnePlus 5’s camera more versatility.

Winner: OnePlus 5

Software

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 5 run OxygenOS, a customized version of Google’s Android 7.1.1 operating system. It’s almost the same user experience as the Google Pixel, except it goes a step further by adding nifty options that help users customize the phone more to your liking. There’s a Reading Mode, which uses gray-scale mapping to filter out blue light and adjust the display’s sharpness and brightness, and an Auto Night Mode, which takes advantage of the ambient light sensor to adjust the color temperature according to the environment. Other highlights include off-screen programmable gestures, tweakable vibrations, a gaming “do not disturb” mode, and password-protected folders for sensitive documents.

There’s no clear advantage, here. The newest version of OxygenOS — the version that ships on the OnePlus 5 — is already available in beta for the OnePlus 3T. Assuming nothing changes between now and the time the OnePlus 5 launches, we’re expecting the same experience.

Winner: Tie

Price and availability

The OnePlus 5 is $480 for the gray version, which has 64GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. It will work just fine on AT&T, T-Mobile, and other GSM networks in the U.S., but not on Verizon or Sprint. If you want the black version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, then you’ll have to pay $540. You’ll have to buy directly from OnePlus and pay the full amount.

The OnePlus 3T, which works on the same carriers as the OnePlus 5, is a good deal cheaper. It’s $440 for the 64GB variant and $479 for the 128GB model, but it’s no longer listed on OnePlus’ official site. If you want one, you’ll have to look at other sellers.

OnePlus 5
OnePlus 3T
AT&T
$480
$440
Sprint
N/A
N/A
T-Mobile
$480
$440
Verizon
N/A
N/A

Winner: OnePlus 3T

Overall winner: OnePlus 5

OnePlus has done it again — the OnePlus 5 is just a great a value for your money as the OnePlus 3T. It packs a superior processor, a massive amount of RAM, dual cameras, and a bevy of other hardware improvements that put the comparably-priced competition to shame. It might not boast the water resistance and screen resolution as other flagships, but in terms of sheer bang-for-your-buck value, the OnePlus 5 is a worthy successor to the OnePlus 3T — and an improvement in every way.

Got a OnePlus 3T? There’s no reason to upgrade other than lusting for the latest and greatest.

The One Card Any Serious Phone Nerd Should Carry

‘Always be prepared’ isn’t just for the Boy Scouts anymore.

Relying on your phone to do everything you need it to takes some forethought. If you’re downloading a lot of apps, creating documents, or storing data on your phone, you’ve probably invested in multiple microSD cards to expand your storage. If you travel frequently, for work or pleasure, you may have multiple SIM cards to use in different parts of the world. All these small components are hard to keep track of and losing any of them can seriously hinder your ability to get stuff done. How do you make sure that doesn’t happen?

SIMCases Slim SIM Card holder case

The SIMCases Slim SIM Card holder case is the ultimate accessory for any serious phone nerd. This credit card-sized accessory will help you keep track of those small cards and tools you carry around to utilize your phone everywhere you go.

With room for up to four Nano SIM cards, you’ll never need to worry about not having to lose the SIM card you need when you travel. Do you switch between various devices a lot? That’s no problem! The SIMCases Slim SIM Card holder case also comes with one micro SIM adapter and two standard size SIM adapters, so you’ll be able to put your nano SIM cards into any device you come across. Plus, it also comes with a SIM card removal tool, so you can stop looking around for the nearest paperclip every time you need to swap SIM cards.

The SIMCases Slim SIM Card holder is extremely useful for people who carry around extra storage for their phones. The case itself can hold up to two microSD cards at one time and even comes with a USB reader, allowing you to plug your microSD cards into a computer whenever you want to transfer files.

For only $10, you’ll never have to worry about losing those small, pesky cards and tools again. You can slip the SIMCases Slim SIM Card holder into your wallet and carry everything you need with you at all times.

See at Amazon

Enhance your Gear VR experience with the official touch controller for just $28

The Thrifter team is back again, this time with a deal on Samsung’s latest Gear VR controller!

Alongside the announcement of a brand new Gear VR headset, Samsung also announced a new touch controller to help take your VR experience to the next level. The controller debuted with a $40 price tag, and has hovered around that price since, until just recently. Amazon currently has the controller down to just $27.98, a savings of $12 on it. This is the lowest we’ve seen it for and a price you definitely won’t want to pass up.

Some of its features include:

• Motion controller for more realistic interaction
• Ability to recognize hand motion, evolving interactions and gameplay in VR
• An ergonomic design with a trigger for natural, intuitive control
• Unlocks even more amazing experiences in VR
• The Gear VR controller works with Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ as well as previous VR-enabled handsets, including Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 and previous generation Gear VR headsets.

If you don’t already have one, be sure to grab one now before the price jumps back up.

See at Amazon

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Don’t be this idiot who knifed a store demo Galaxy S8 to test its durability

Modern smartphones are pretty tough. The Galaxy S8 remarkably so. But don’t test it using equipment that isn’t yours.

There’s a cottage industry of people destroying phones on camera for entertainment. From Will it blend? to drop and scratch tests, the world loves to see how far we can push the glass and metal that comprise the protective layer of our pocket computers.

But when you decide to destroy a phone, make sure it’s yours.

Targatheory
06-20-2017 04:39 AM

“

Just to share regarding the S8+’s screen.

Visited a local Target store where they had the S8 and S8+ on demo/display. I carry my house key (regular trapezoid/triangle type house key in the USA) on a Cold Steel Micro Recon mini keychain knife.

I ABUSED THE SCREEN AS MUCH AS I COULD.

I was absolutely flabbergasted by the amount of muscle force and strength and pressure I applied to this…

Reply

Respect the property of others, even if it is owned by a big corporation.

Don’t be this idiot.

Continue the discussion (politely) in the forums!

Title image: JerryRigEverything YouTube channel

The OnePlus 5 is official: Dual cameras, Snapdragon 835, 3300mAh battery

The speculation ends now: the OnePlus 5 is official.

Almost exactly one year removed from the OnePlus 3, and just seven months from the 3T, OnePlus has skipped “4” to release the OnePlus 5. First, the basics that OnePlus fans want: we’re looking at a Snapdragon 835 processor running the show, with a 3300 mAh battery inside — then you get a choice of 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The display remains at 5.5-inches and 1080p resolution, in a familiar 16:9 aspect ratio with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor and optional capacitive keys below the display.

In terms of physical design, the OnePlus 5 understandably has very similar dimensions to the now-discontinued OnePlus 3T. It has been smoothed, rounded and refined in its styling to be thinner and sleeker both to the eye and in the hand. The hardware hasn’t added waterproofing, however.

OnePlus has made predictable improvements, and thrown in a whole new camera setup.

The big selling point OnePlus is pushing this year is in the camera experience, where the 16MP main camera (24mm focal length) is now accompanied by a 20MP camera with a longer lens (roughly 40mm). You can shoot directly with that longer lens, or use both cameras together for artificially blurred “Portrait Mode” shots. The main camera has a faster f/1.7 lens now, but has lost OIS in the process.

More: Complete OnePlus 5 specs

On the software side, OnePlus is keeping OxygenOS clean, fast and customizable. There are a handful of new features like a fresh launcher, automatic Night Mode and a new Reading Mode, but for the most part things remain unchanged from the OnePlus 3T — and that’s just fine, as OnePlus has always had one of the fastest and cleanest takes on Android.

Right, so now the important part: where, when and for how much. The OnePlus 3 will be on sale in 33+ countries starting June 27, including the U.S., Canada, UK, India, China and most of Europe. U.S. pricing is set at $479 for the 6GB RAM / 64GB storage model, and $539 for 8GB / 128GB. Here’s how the pricing breaks down (for both models) in a handful of popular markets:

• U.S.: $479 / $539
• Canada: $649 / $719
• UK: £449 / £499
• Europe: €499 / €559
• Denmark: kr3,799 / kr4,299
• Sweden: kr4,995 / kr5,495
• Hong Kong: HK$3,688 / HK$4,188
• India: ₹TBD / ₹TBD

For the early birds, OnePlus has also opened up an “early drop” website for the dedicated followers to get in an early order ahead of the global launch.

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos
• OnePlus 5 specs
• OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

Press release:

Say Hello to the OnePlus 5 – Dual Camera. Clearer Photos.

World’s Highest Resolution Dual Camera, Up to 8 GB RAM and Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 Processor Deliver Professional-level Photography and Smooth Performance in Sleek Flagship Smartphone

NEW YORK – June 20, 2017 – OnePlus today introduced the OnePlus 5, the latest in its lineup of premium flagship smartphones. With this new device, OnePlus is further demonstrating its mission to share the best technology with the world.

The OnePlus 5 features the highest resolution dual-camera system on a smartphone today for clearer photos than ever before. Dash Charge, OnePlus’ industry-leading charging technology, gives users a day’s power in half an hour. The Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 platform, coupled with up to 8 GB of RAM, provides a smooth user experience at a lower power consumption rate. The OnePlus 5 also supports 34 GSM network bands, keeping users connected around the world.

“The OnePlus 5 showcases our obsessive attention to detail and our focus on delivering the best user experience possible,” said OnePlus Founder and CEO Pete Lau. “We have applied this approach to all aspects of the OnePlus 5. For example, the dual camera provides some of the clearest photos on the smartphone market today and gives users more control to take stunning photos in all conditions.”

Attention to Design Detail

At 7.25 mm, the OnePlus 5, available in Midnight Black and Slate Gray colors, is the thinnest OnePlus flagship ever. The aluminum unibody features a continuous hard line around the edge of the phone. The Horizon Line, a key element of OnePlus design, casts one half of the phone in light and the other in shadow, offering an elegant, streamlined appearance. The minimalistic design is further reinforced by a new crescent-shaped antenna that blends seamlessly into the top and bottom edges of the phone. Rounded corners and edges makes the OnePlus 5 feel more comfortable in the hand.

Dual Camera. Clearer Photos.

The OnePlus 5 features the highest resolution dual-camera system on a smartphone today. A tailor-made 16 MP sensor is supported by a 20 MP sensor with a telephoto lens to accurately determine the distance between the sensor and objects in the environment. A large f/1.7 aperture allows for faster snaps and helps compensate for stuttering to improve image stabilization.

In Portrait Mode, the two sensors work together to create a focal separation between faces and backgrounds, while a custom software algorithm makes your subject clear and well-lit. This results in a professional depth-of-field (bokeh) effect that keeps faces sharp in front of a blurred backdrop. Smart Capture combines optical zoom with multi-frame technology to let you zoom in with greater clarity, while Fast AF uses the dual-camera system to more accurately calculate depth to speed up auto-focus by up to 40 percent.

The all-new Pro Mode gives smartphone users powerful DSLR features such as ISO, white balance, shutter-speed, focus and exposure modification, as well as an on-screen histogram and RAW image file support for complete control of post-shot editing.

A Day’s Power in Half an Hour

First introduced with the OnePlus 3, Dash Charge is the fastest charging solution on the global market. A quick half-hour charge gives the OnePlus 5 enough power for the day. By carrying more current and shifting the power management from the handset to the adapter to keep the phone cooler during charging, Dash Charge can continue to fast charge the OnePlus 5 even when using GPS or playing graphically intensive games. The 3,300 mAh battery also lasts up to 20 percent longer than the OnePlus 3T.

Smooth Experience

Through a combination of powerful hardware and intelligent software, the OnePlus 5 provides a truly seamless smartphone experience.

The OnePlus 5 takes advantage of the top-of-the-line Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 platform that provides powerful performance while drawing up to 40 percent less power. With up to 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, the OnePlus 5 can run a large number of apps in the background without a single second of lag. The combination of UFS 2.1 and a new two-lane ROM results in 26 percent faster storage performance in everything from installations to loading apps and games.

OnePlus’ custom operating system, OxygenOS, is designed to refine stock Android’s core functionalities with features and optimizations that add value to the user experience. New updates to the OnePlus 5 include Reading Mode, which utilizes an ambient sensor and gray-scale mapping to make reading as comfortable as reading an actual book. Gaming Do Not Disturb Mode allows users to play their favorite games without being disrupted by notifications or accidental hardware button presses. With App Priority, the OnePlus 5 loads your most-used apps more quickly to further improve performance.

Use a 3D Printer to make yourself a stock for PlayStation’s Aim controller!

You can’t buy a stock for your aim controller yet, but you can make one!

The PlayStation Aim controller brings a whole new level of immersion to shooting games on PlayStation VR, but some users have found the accessory less than comfortable when blowing away arachnids on Farpoint.

That’s why the internet is here, delivering a way for you create a stock to modify your Aim controller, and make it a bit more suitable for longer play sessions.

Read more at VRHeads

OnePlus 5 review: Keep doing what you do best

OnePlus once again manages to straddle the line between quality and price, carving out a unique niche and executing perfectly.

Since the launch of the original OnePlus One, the company has been aggressively refining its strategy. With each subsequent release the goals got a bit less ambitious, the marketing became less ostentatious, and the phones consistently improved. At the same time, the idea of getting more phone for less money, without all of the extra cruft of a big company behind it, remained constant. The mid-2016 launch of the OnePlus 3 — and subsequent bump to the OnePlus 3T — best exemplified the company’s maturity.

Despite rumors indicating that OnePlus would shift its strategy and go all-out with a more expensive, top-end phone in 2017, it has stuck with what has worked. The OnePlus 5 is a high-end phone that doesn’t have a typical flagship price, but gives you the core experience you expect out of one and all of the specs to back it up. It is once again a perfect example of OnePlus executing on the model that it built its name on, refreshed and improved upon for 2017.

See at OnePlus.net

About this review

I (Andrew Martonik) am writing this review after 12 days using a Midnight Black OnePlus 5 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, operating on the AT&T network in the greater Seattle, WA area. The phone was updated once at the beginning of the review period to version 23_170603 on the May 1, 2017 security patch. The phone was provided to Android Central for review by OnePlus.

The short version

OnePlus 5 Video review

Our written review gets into all of the gritty details of the OnePlus 5, but if you want the concise version be sure to watch our full video review above. After you’re done, read on and get all of the information you need in the complete review!

Simple as it gets

OnePlus 5 Hardware

With the exception of the OnePlus X (RIP), none of the OnePlus phones have offered particularly striking or substantial hardware designs. Part of the value proposition of OnePlus phones, particularly in the 3 and 3T, was that you’re giving up a bit on the design side in order to get a great spec sheet and fantastic overall experience — not unlike a Nexus or Pixel, you might say.

The story is the same again on the OnePlus 5, though I have to give it a bit more credit in design than its direct predecessor. Yes the OnePlus 5 looks very similar to the Oppo R11, but that’s basically irrelevant here — solid design is solid design, even if we’ve seen it before from an affiliated company.

I think the best word to describe the design progression of the OnePlus 5 is “sleek.” Even though it’s roughly the same dimensions as the OnePlus 3, it’s smoother, more rounded and more friendly than that phone. The sharper edges, big bevels and squared-off look of the OnePlus 3 felt a bit more generic and not as welcoming, whereas the OnePlus 5’s rounded features are subdued and classy — particularly in the Midnight Black finish, which is exclusive to the 8GB RAM / 128GB storage model. It all makes the phone a bit slippery to hold, though, with even less texture to the metal than the OnePlus 3 — this is a phone that will benefit from a thin OnePlus case if you’re at all inclined to fumble your phone in your hand.

Simple, well-crafted materials with little excess flair.

Subtle design changes aside, this is the same basic hardware formula as before. We’re looking at an anodized, barely-textured aluminum frame with 2.5D curved glass on the front flowing into the edges. It’s a “standard” phone layout in that it’s still a 5.5-inch 16:9 display with typical bezels and a fingerprint sensor underneath. All of the buttons are in the same spots — including the fantastic Alert Slider high on the left side — and all of the ports line up (literally, in an actual straight line) at the bottom.

OnePlus continues to ship phones with a distinct lack of extra flair — the entire back of the phone is blank and featureless save for a small shiny OnePlus logo and three cutouts for the cameras, microphone and flash. The antennas have been beautifully sculpted into the back of the phone and curved along the top and bottom to be less noticeable.

It isn’t striking, and won’t win any design awards, but the OnePlus 5 is a handsome phone that’s built extremely well. The seams, finishes and execution of the design are on the same level as any other $650+ phone out there today, which is important if you’re trying to convince people to buy this phone as a competitor to those in the next price bracket up.

A great little example of that improved quality is the vibration motor, which no longer rattles or gives a shallow feel but instead gives a full-phone force feedback as you’d expect from a top phone today. The one higher-end feature that’s missing that you can’t see is waterproofing; again despite rumors, OnePlus held off on an IP rating this year.

Display and speaker

For me, the one area I’m disappointed to see remain constant on the OnePlus 5 is its display. This is the same 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED panel as the OnePlus 3T, with improvements coming by way of new tuning (including a DCI-P3 calibration option) and Gorilla Glass 5 on top of it. The display remains solid, but unspectacular — colors are accurate, images are crisp enough and viewing angles are good. It gets bright, but not amazingly so like other leading displays out there — thankfully because it’s AMOLED it has limited reflectivity in direct sunlight.

Seeing little improvement in the display a year on from the OnePlus 3 is disappointing.

I’m obviously not disappointed in the display itself, but at $479 (and up to $539) the OnePlus 5 is right on the line of where we would expect a QHD display — or, at the very least, a noticeable improvement in brightness or contrast while staying at 1080p. With so much staying the same or being predictable upgrades from the OnePlus 3, it’s a reasonable expectation to see an upgrade in display quality here. We didn’t get it.

The single down-firing speaker on the phone is super strong, and hits an acceptable volume for anything I’d need it for when it reaches about two-thirds volume. Things get a bit distorted at those high levels considering it’s a single speaker, but as far as a single driver goes it passes the test of being more than competent. But don’t go using the speaker all that often, okay? There’s a headphone jack, too.

Android, with a little extra

OnePlus 5 Software and experience

OnePlus sees no value in adding tons of extra or duplicative features to Android, and I love its approach. The core experience of using OxygenOS on a OnePlus phone is just Android — 7.1.1 Nougat, in this case. Everything works here like it does on a Google Pixel: the home screen, notifications, settings, and core features remain unchanged. The launcher itself has even taken a step closer to the Pixel’s, with a semi-transparent dock that slides up to reveal an app drawer. The “Shelf” area to the left of the main home screen remains, though, as a place where you can basically see a scrolling list of widgets and information — I would prefer the Google Now feed here, but I can also just install the Google Now Launcher (at least for now).

So instead of changing the basic interface paradigm of Android, OnePlus continues to add value by giving you customization options and just a handful of neat features. Offering simple things like themes, a customizable status bar, new gestures and a couple tweaks throughout the interface all enhance the experience without taking away from Google’s vision of Android in any way. Most importantly, you can ignore them entirely and just use the phone as it comes out of the box, too.

The experience you get here isn’t far removed from a OnePlus 3 or 3T running Nougat, but there are a handful of new features that are worth highlighting:

• Gaming Do Not Disturb Mode: Block notifications and lock the navigation buttons while playing certain games (or any other app) to keep you in the zone.
• Customizable screen-off gestures: The typical OxygenOS gestures you can perform on your phone before the screen turns on — drawing an O, V, S, M or W — can now be customized to perform various actions or just open an app.
• Reading Mode: Automatically changes the screen temperature and calibration for reading, adjusted to the current environment. Can be toggled on and off, or on a per-app basis automatically.
• Auto Night Mode: The same Night Mode you know that reduces the blue light you see on the screen, now automatically toggled from sunset to sunrise based on your current location.
• Customizable vibration feedback: Choose your vibration pattern and intensity for calls, notifications and interface interaction.

Aside from what Google ships on its own Pixel and Nexus devices, the OxygenOS has to be my favorite “customization” of Android. Subtle tweaks like this continue to be useful, thoughtful and genuinely enjoyable — and unlike many other phones they don’t come with a whole heap of other crap on the phone that I don’t want.

Performance

As we’ve come to expect from OnePlus, performance on the OnePlus 5 is fantastic. Leading up to the phone’s launch OnePlus talked a lot about speed, fluidity and consistency … but I never had any issue on these points with the OnePlus 3T to begin with. The one place where there’s a truly noticeable improvement is in touch response, which was a point of emphasis for OnePlus. However it ended up being accomplished, that super-tough-to-explain “feel” of high-quality touch response is definitely here. It’s noticeable in scrolling and typing in particular, and I’m glad OnePlus stepped up its game here.

This is the type of consistent performance we want to see on every phone.

The OnePlus 5 is fantastically fast and smooth in everything I use a smartphone for, right on par with my experience using a Google Pixel XL for several months now. And based on how smooth my OnePlus 3 and 3T have been over time, I don’t expect this experience to slow down in the future.

Of course I’m using the model with 8GB of RAM, but this really doesn’t factor into the performance at this point. The highest average memory usage I ever reached, according to the phone’s settings, is 4.7GB — comfortably underneath the 5.5GB ceiling (500MB is reserved for the system) of even the standard 6GB RAM model. You may decide that you “need” the 8GB of RAM model to future proof your phone purchase, or you may just get it for free because you need 128GB of storage, but I have to say 8GB of RAM really feels unnecessary on a phone today.

Battery life

You could easily say that a Snapdragon 835 is overkill for a phone that’s still running just a 1080p display, but we have to also remember the benefits of its power efficiency. OnePlus is counting on that efficiency to make up for the 100mAh reduction in battery size from the OnePlus 3T — and in the end 3300mAh is still a very industry-standard battery for a phone of this size, besting the Galaxy S8 and HTC U11 (which have the same processor) but matching the LG G6 and coming up just short of the Google Pixel XL (which have older processors).

Still a full-day battery for almost anyone, but with a tad less wiggle room than the OnePlus 3T.

Battery life has been strong, but not phenomenal, on the OnePlus 5. It’s a little step up from the likes of the Galaxy S8 and HTC U11, getting me to bed with 20-25% battery left in the tank on most days. But I still had a couple of days during my review period where I was able to get down to 15%, enabling Battery Saver, just after dinnertime. Understanding that I’m using a phone with pre-release software I know there’s probably some room for improvement, but interestingly it feels like battery life is perhaps a slight step down from the OnePlus 3T. Although it is a clear step up from the longevity provided by the OnePlus 3’s 3000mAh battery and Snapdragon 820.

That means the OnePlus 5 is still easily a full-day phone for all but the heaviest of users, but it isn’t going to give you any indication it’s ready last any longer than that.

OnePlus is using the exact same 5V/4A proprietary Dash Charge quick charging standard on the OnePlus 5, and that’s just fine because it’s still super fast. It’s backwards compatible to previous Dash Charge chargers you may have, but still has the lingering issue (if you could call it that) of having no compatibility with the more widely used Quick Charge 2.0/3.0/4.0 standard you’ll find just about everywhere.

Double the fun

OnePlus 5 Cameras

Considering the relatively pedestrian hardware and familiar software, it’s understandable that OnePlus is putting marketing weight behind the camera setup on the OnePlus 5. As expected, OnePlus has made the move to dual cameras — and rather than going with a second monochrome sensor like Huawei has done recently or a wide-angle camera like LG, its second camera has a longer lens and higher resolution.

We lost OIS, but gained a whole second camera instead.

The primary camera is a new 16MP sensor behind a faster f/1.7 lens with improved auto focus speed when compared to the OnePlus 3, but has the same 1.12-micron pixel size and has lost OIS in the process. In exchange, you’ve gained a whole second camera sitting next to it: a 20MP sensor with 1-micron pixels and an f/2.6 aperture; its focal length is roughly 1.7-times the main camera. OnePlus is calling the longer lens “telephoto” but I’d argue that its ~40 mm focal length isn’t quite long enough for that designation. (The iPhone 7 Plus, for example, has a focal length of 56 mm.)

The camera samples you see below are a mix of the main camera, secondary camera and Portrait Mode shots that use both cameras together. I’m not breaking them out because switching between the three experiences is very fluid. Just like my time using the LG G6’s dual cameras, I found myself constantly switching between the main and long lenses for different scenes or just to try and get a fresh look.

The main camera is a solid step up from the OnePlus 3 and 3T overall, managing to provide clear, sharp and colorful images even with small pixels and no OIS. In low light it relies on higher ISOs, though, leading to some grain and occasional blur when the shutter speed also has to be slowed down — it’s in these situations that you miss having that physical stabilization. OnePlus still makes the right decision overall to leave some grain in the photos rather than aggressively over-sharpen images artificially, which never looks good.

This is an improvement from the OnePlus 3, but still short of the flagship competition.

The secondary camera is fun to use in good lighting, but that’s it. With an f/2.6 aperture and 1-micron pixels it’s not worth using in even mixed lighting conditions or most indoor shots — there’s just too much noise and blur far too often. When the light is good, it has a similar color profile to the main camera, and the longer focal length and narrower aperture give its photos a distinct look.

Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos

The OnePlus 5’s camera setup is perhaps its most interesting improvement from the OnePlus 3. With two cameras and new shooting modes, there’s a lot to take in. For a more detailed look at our first OnePlus 5 photos — and our analysis of them — be sure to check out our camera review!

Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos — main, telephoto and Portrait Mode

Portrait Mode, which is the OnePlus take on what Huawei, Apple and others have been doing, effectively uses both cameras in unison to get depth information from a scene, calculate a plane at the focal distance you choose and then aggressively artificially blur the “background” behind that plane. The effect is naturally most dramatic in scenes with big, open backgrounds that would normally be in focus in a regular smartphone camera shot, but it can also work to great effect in macro shots with a very specific foreground item that the camera can easily identify.

Portrait Mode is fun and can offer stunning photos, but its processing is far from perfect.

On the downside, there are many situations in which you can see the software’s limitations. A lot of my Portrait Mode shots came out soft overall, as if the camera wasn’t able to figure out where edges of certain features were or couldn’t decide what was near and far. The calculation involved with creating this artificial background blur is difficult, and OnePlus will no doubt improve it over time — even as-is it’s good fun to switch to Portrait Mode and try a shot. I just tend to follow that up with a regular shot from one of the two cameras alone when possible.

Measuring the OnePlus 5 on its main camera alone, it’s a capable shooter that improves from last year but also doesn’t perfectly match up to the top-end flagships out there today that can offer better, more consistent performance in a variety of shooting conditions. The secondary camera gives a small bump to the OnePlus 5’s overall camera experience, enabling new shooting options and a fun-to-play-with Portrait Mode, but it really doesn’t seem like adding this second camera was worth losing OIS (and perhaps larger pixels) and the potential for better photos out of the main camera.

Keep doing what you do best

OnePlus 5 Bottom line

There are several solid improvements in the OnePlus 5 worth mentioning, but the most standout aspect of the phone is its value. Just like the models preceding it, the OnePlus 5 gives you a near-flagship experience for $150-250 less than the competition. It does so by walking the line between putting money into the aspects that matter, while keeping costs low in other areas without making the phone feel cheap or substantially lacking.

OnePlus knows exactly how to deliver a high-end phone that also feels like a great value.

You’re getting a jam-packed and future-proof spec sheet, an above-average display, solid speaker, good battery life, fast charging and a well-built aluminum body. The software is slick, fast and consistent in ways that few phones can match, and doesn’t include piles of features that get in your way. That combination is only going to set you back $479 — that’s precisely what OnePlus is known for.

So what, then, are you missing out on by not going with the pricier competition? You’re not getting groundbreaking hardware design, nor a top-notch display or waterproofing. The camera experience is good, but a step below the top-end cameras today. Those are just a few trade-offs, and ones that most people would happily take to save $200 on their phone purchase. And that’s before you factor in the ways in which the OnePlus 5 actually beats the flagships from Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola and others.

Once again, OnePlus has delivered a phone that manages to offer a high-end experience, while also feeling like a great value for the money. The OnePlus 5 may have only brought predictable upgrades from its predecessor, but that’s more than enough to make this a great phone and a great buy for so many people.

See at OnePlus.net

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos
• OnePlus 5 specs
• OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

OnePlus 5 vs. OnePlus 3T vs. OnePlus 3: Spec comparison

A year of OnePlus phones at a glance.

In the past 12 months, OnePlus has announced, promoted, launched, released, and discontinued two flagship smartphones. The OnePlus 3 and 3T each lasted just 6 months on store shelves — which speaks not to any lack of quality but to the reality of OnePlus’s fast-moving product refresh cycle.

So here we are with the OnePlus 5, the new hotness from OnePlus that takes the core experience of the 3T and slims it down, while ramping up the specs and adding a new dual-camera setup.

Let’s take a look at how the new phone compares to its two immediate predecessors.

OnePlus 5 versus OnePlus 3T + 3 hardware specifications

Operating System	Android 7.1.1	Android 7.1.1	Android 7.1.1
Display	5.5-inch AMOLED1920x1080 (401 ppi)	5.5-inch AMOLED1920x1080 (401 ppi)	5.5-inch AMOLED1920x1080 (401 ppi)
Glass	Gorilla Glass 5	Gorilla Glass 4	Gorilla Glass 4
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
GPU	Adreno 540	Adreno 530	Adreno 530
RAM	6/8GB LPDDR4X	6GB LPDDR4	6GB LPDDR4
Storage	64/128GBUFS 2.1	64/128GBUFS 2.0	64GBUFS 2.0
Expandable	No	No	No
Battery	3,300mAh	3,400mAh	3,000mAh
Charging	USB-CDash Charge	USB-CDash Charge	USB-CDash Charge
Water resistance	No	No	No
Rear Camera 1	16MP (IMX398), ƒ/1.7, 1.12-micron pixels, EISDual LED flash, 4K 30 fps / 720p 120 fps video	16MP (IMX298), 1.12-micron pixelsƒ/2.0, OIS, EISPDAF, 4K video, 120fps slow-mo	16MP (IMX298), ƒ/2.0, 1.12-micron pixels PDAF, OISRAW, 4K video, 720p slo-mo
Rear Camera 2	20MP (IMX350), ƒ/2.6, 1-micron pixels	N/A	N/A
Front Camera	16MP (IMX371), ƒ/2.0, 1-micron pixels, EIS1080p 30 fps video	16MP (3P8SP), 1-micron pixelsƒ/2.0, fixed focus1080p video	8MP (IMX179), ƒ/2.0, 1.4-micron pixelsFixed focus, 1080p video
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensor	One-touch fingerprint sensor	One-touch fingerprint sensor
SIM	Dual Nano SIM	Dual Nano SIM	Dual Nano SIM
Dimensions	154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25 mm153 g	152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35 mm158 g	152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35 mm 158 g

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos
• OnePlus 5 specs
• OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos — primary, telephoto, and Portrait Mode

Camera performance remains one of the most important features of a modern smartphone.

OnePlus is understandably making a big deal of the camera capabilities of the new OnePlus 5. Moving to a dual-camera setup is a big move that gives the OnePlus 5 new shooting options — but at the same time, it means walking a delicate line of keeping the main camera up to speed with the competition.

Here is my first week’s worth of photos from the OnePlus 5, taken with both cameras, and a little bit of analysis of where I think it stands against the other great cameras available in the Android world today.

Main camera: The meat and potatoes

OnePlus upgraded the primary camera to a newer 16-megapixel sensor and also notably improved the aperture to ƒ/1.7, but stuck with a sensor that’s the same size as the OnePlus 3 and therefore with the same rather small 1.12-micron pixels. And then, there’s a big loss: optical image stabilization (OIS). Even with a much faster lens and improved sensor, it’s tough to get good low-light photography out of a small sensor with small pixels and no OIS.

Overall, the main camera is an improvement from the OnePlus 3. It’s a consistent shooter that, in most situations, can pull out a good photo with some nice colors — and the camera app is smart about engaging HDR to punch it up when necessary. In mixed lighting, not having OIS isn’t typically a problem — you really notice the lack of stabilization in night shots, where a slow shutter speed just isn’t possible, leaving you with a more grainy photo than other cameras.

Secondary camera: New shooting options

The “telephoto” secondary camera isn’t exactly what I’d call telephoto. It’s a roughly 40mm equivalent lens, compared to the main camera’s 24mm. For ease of use, there’s a simple “2X” button in the interface — close enough, I guess. That 20MP sensor also lacks OIS, has an ƒ/2.6 aperture and tiny 1-micron pixels.

Toggling over to the long lens gives you the power to take interesting shots with a new perspective. Whether that’s for a macro-style closeup or a city scene better suited to a longer lens. Photos from the secondary camera are a little grainier than the main camera, but it’s not noticeable unless you start zooming in to inspect pixels.

On the other hand, you can probably guess from the specs that the secondary camera isn’t really usable in low light situations. An ƒ/2.6 aperture is fine during the day, but isn’t capable at night — add in the small pixels that can’t take in much light, and it’s a rough combination. And given that the focal length isn’t that far removed from the main camera, you’ll probably feel fine just using that for low light scenes.

Portrait Mode: Blur those backgrounds

Just like a few other companies, OnePlus uses the pair of cameras here to do a “Portrait Mode.” It’s just a swipe away in the camera app, and it works just like the others do: use the two cameras to sense the depth of a scene, select a point to be in focus, and aggressively blur the “background” behind that point.

Like all other software-based blurring, the results are mixed. If you have a subject with well-defined edges and use tap-to-focus, things are great. If you have a more ambiguous surface — like a person with long hair, or a clear/reflective facade — the algorithm struggles. Since Portrait Mode is just a swipe away and doesn’t take much extra effort to use, it’s a fun feature to have that sometimes gives awesome results. It doesn’t feel like a necessary pillar of the camera experience on the OnePlus 5, though.

Now read the full OnePlus 5 review

The OnePlus 5’s cameras are very important, but there’s more to this smartphone than just the imaging experience. Be sure to read our full review to get all of the information you need about the latest from OnePlus.

OnePlus 5 review