OnePlus 5: Release date, hardware specs and everything else you need to know

After weeks, even months, of speculation and leaks, the OnePlus 5 is finally officially. It is no doubt the company’s most powerful phone so far and continues the trend of offering a flagship phone experience in a device that costs considerably less than its competitors. 

• OnePlus 5 review: The flagship-killer’s coming of age

From its look and feel, to its internal specifications, cameras, software and hardware, this is everything you need to know about the latest flagship killer. 

OnePlus 5: Design

• 7.25 mm thin
• All metal body
• Ceramic fingerprint sensor
• Midnight Black or Slate Grey colours

Like the OnePlus 3 and 3T, the OnePlus 5 is hewn from a single block of aluminium which is bead blasted and finished in the popular Midnight Black colour, or the new Slate Grey. 

While it’s similar, there’s a clear difference in shape between this and any previous OnePlus. The corners are more rounded, and the antenna bands bend inwards to follow the corners, similar to the iPhone 7. 

At just 7.25mm, the OnePlus 5 is the thinnest phone made so far by the ambitious tech company. The line around the edges – which OnePlus be-musingly gave an actual name to (Horizon Line) – has moved further up, to improve the ergonomics, making it more comfortable in hand.

It weighs just 153 grams and comes with the standard set of ports and buttons in a familiar layout. That means the textured alert slider on the left, above the volume switch, and the power button on the right.

The front plays home to the pill-shaped home button which – as usual – sits between two capacitive buttons and acts as the fingerprint sensor. Above the 5.5-inch screen you’ll find the classic OnePlus selection of earpiece, front camera and notification LED. The back is devoid of anything except the new dual camera system, which protrudes slightly in its elongated housing and is joined by a round dual-LED flash.

Prior to launch, rumours did speculate that the OnePlus 5 would feature a ceramic finish. This is only partly true, and was likely leakers getting their wires crossed. In fact, it’s the fingerprint sensor that’s ceramic. The rest of the front is glass.

OnePlus 5: Display

• 5.5-inch AMOLED panel
• 1080 x 1920 full HD
• Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Like last year, the OnePlus flagship has a 5.5-inch full HD (1080 x 1920) display. That means a pixel density of 401ppi, and being AMOLED, contrast levels are very high, for nice, inky blacks.

The screen is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which curves slightly at the edges. For the nerds, the panel supports both sRGB and DCI-P3 colours.

Of all the specifications, it’s the display resolution which will lead many to question the phone’s “flagship killer” status. With a bump in price, and a resolution that still doesn’t match the highest rated phones on the market, it’s perhaps the only set of numbers on the spec list that don’t reach as high as tech-enthused consumers will like.

OnePlus 5: Hardware

• Snapdragon 835 processor
• 6GB or 8 GB RAM
• 64 or 64GB storage
• 3,300mAh battery

As is customary for a OnePlus flagship, the company equipped the phone with the latest Qualcomm processor. In this case, that’s a 2.4GHz Snapdragon 835.

The OnePlus 5 features a 3,300mAh non-removable battery, which isn’t quite as capacious as the OnePlus 3T’s 3,400mAh cell. However, because of the newer, more efficient processor and type of RAM being used (LPDDR4X), it should last longer than its predecessor’s. OnePlus claims up to 20 per cent longer.

OnePlus 5: Dash Charge

• 30 min charge provides day’s battery
• Fast even when phone in use

For the past year, OnePlus has earned plaudits for its fast charging technology. Dash Charge returns in the OnePlus 5 and will still provide enough juice in 30 minutes to keep you going for a full day.

Dash charge is unique in that it keeps voltage down, with more current being pushed through a cable to the phone. The cable also dissipates the heat, so the phone can charge quickly even when it’s being used for high intensity tasks like GPS navigation, gaming or video watching.

OnePlus 5: Camera

• Dual 16MP/20MP rear camera
• Telephoto lens for 2x optical zoom
• Potrait mode
• New Pro Mode

As rumours suggested, the OnePlus 5 has been equipped with a brand new dual camera system on the back. It has one 16-megapixel Sony sensor with f/1.7 aperture and a 20-megapixel Sony sensor with f/2.6 aperture and a telephoto lens. The main 16-megapixel sensor is equipped with electronic image stabilisation, while the telephoto camera combines with it to offer 2x optical zoom and background blur.

That means, in this instance, OnePlus appears to have gone done the same route as the iPhone 7 Plus, rather than opting for an LG G6-like secondary wide angle lens, or one colour/one monochrome system like Huawei uses.

The camera app has a portrait mode that adds a depth effect and lots of background blur while keeping the subject in focus. It also has a new, much more detailed “Pro” mode. You can change ISO, white balance, shutter speed, focus and exposure as is common. What’s new is that now you get a histogram in the top right corner of the interface, and a reference line to make sure you’re holding the camera straight.

Similar to previous phones, Smart Capture helps to improve the clarity of photos and works in the background as you shoot. In low light conditions, it works to reduce the noise and uses auto HDR to keep things clear, even when there’s heavy back-lighting.

Pro mode will also let you store up to two settings profiles for quick adjustments and easy access. As previously, you can shoot in RAW format too.

The rear camera system can shoot up to 4K resolution video at 30 frames per second or slow motion 720p video at 120 frames per second. There’s also a new noise-cancelling microphone which will make audio captured during video recording even clearer.

The front camera is also a 16-megapixel Sony sensor with EIS, but with an f/2.0 aperture. To light up your face in dark scenes, the phone will use the display as a flash, and auto HDR can help your photos look dynamic and vibrant, even in challenging lighting conditions.

OnePlus 5: Software

• OxygenOS based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat

OnePlus 5 ships running the company’s OxygenOS system based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. It retains OnePlus’ features, like the Shelf that lives on the left of the main home screen, and keeps all the customisation options regularly found in OxygenOS.

Like the Pixel’s pure Android software, you drag the app drawer up from the bottom and can long-press compatible app icons and to bring up the quick options.

OnePlus 5: Price

• £449 or £499

OnePlus 5 prices start at £449. That entry level price will get you the Slate Grey version with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. For £50 more, you get the Midnight Black model which is equipped with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. 

OnePlus 5: Release Date

• General sale on 27 June
• O2 exclusive carrier
• Early bird offer on 20 June

As usual for OnePlus, the release isn’t entirely straightforward. Those watching the live stream on 20 June will be able to get a unique code, and order it on that day. There will also be pop-up events around the world during the launch week where hopeful customers can buy.

Regular online purchasing will be available globally, direct from OnePlus from 27 June. In the UK, O2 will once again be the exclusive carrier for those who want to buy it from a regular high street phone shop.

OnePlus 5: Conclusion

On the whole, the OnePlus 5 seems to be a promising phone despite the price increase. Its internal specifications and performance should push it close to the best phones available, and its price is still far lower than the likes of the Galaxy S8, Pixel and iPhone 7 Plus. It’s still disappointing not to have a Quad HD display, but that’s seemingly the only thing letting down the otherwise great-looking phone.

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: What’s the difference?

OnePlus has announced its 2017 flagship, the OnePlus 5, which will be available from 27 June.

There have been several rumours surrounding the new handset over the last few months, but with everything now official, how does it compete against its rivals?

Here is how the OnePlus 5 stands up against the mighty Samsung Galaxy S8.

• OnePlus 5: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Design

• Aluminium body for OnePlus 5
• Galaxy S8 is waterproof and smaller
• Both have USB Type-C and headphone jack

The OnePlus 5 features an anodised aluminium body, rounded corners and chamfered hard edge. It measures 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25mm, weighs 153g and it offers a dual camera on the rear in a horizontal array.

There is USB Type-C at the bottom with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor sits within a capacitive button beneath the display on the front of the device. No IP waterproofing rating is offered on the OnePlus 5.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 features a metal and glass sandwich design, a curved display and a fingerprint sensor positioned at the rear next to the single camera lens. USB Type-C is on board, as is a 3.5mm headphone jack and there is a dedicated button on one side of the device for launching personal assistant, Bixby.

The Galaxy S8 measures 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm, weighs 155g, comes in five colours and it is also IP68 waterproof.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 review

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Display

• Galaxy S8 has larger, sharper display
• Galaxy S8 has Mobile HDR
• Both AMOLED panels

The OnePlus 5 has a 5.5-inch flat AMOLED display with a Full HD resolution that puts its pixel density at 401ppi, which is the same as its predecessor, the OnePlus 3T. 

OnePlus has not mentioned anything about support for Mobile HDR and its aspect ratio is the standard 16:9, which is found on most smartphones, except the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9, offering a Quad HD+ resolution (2960 x 1440) for a pixel density of 570ppi. The S8 therefore offers a larger and sharper display than the OnePlus 5.

The Galaxy S8 also offers Mobile HDR, meaning it is compatible with HDR content when it becomes available through Amazon Video and Netflix.

• Mobile HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Mobile HDR Premium explained

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Camera

• Dual-rear camera on OnePlus 5
• Galaxy S8 has iris scanner on front
• Higher resolution for front and rear of OnePlus 5

The OnePlus 5 features dual cameras on the rear, consisting of one 16-megapixel main sensor with a f/1.7 aperture and one 20-megapixel telephoto lens with a f/2.6 aperture. It is capable of 4K video recording and there is a Portrait Mode that allows for bokeh images, as well as Pro Mode for manual control over settings such as shutter speed and ISO.

The front camera of the OnePlus 5 has a 16-megapixel resolution and it is capable of up to 1080p video recording.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 12-megapixel Dual Pixel rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture, OIS and autofocus. The front snapper has an 8-megapixel sensor, also with an f/1.7 aperture and autofocus. Results from both are excellent.

There is also an iris scanner on the front of the Galaxy S8, a technology that has not been introduced on the OnePlus 5.

• OnePlus 5 review

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Hardware

• More RAM and storage on OnePlus 5
• Larger battery capacity within OnePlus 5
• Galaxy S8 offers microSD 

The OnePlus 5 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and it is available in two models, one of which has 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, while the other has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Neither offer microSD for storage expansion.

The battery capacity on board the OnePlus 5 is 3300mAh and it features the company’s fast charging technology, Dash Charge. As we mentioned previously, it is charged via USB Type-C.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 features either the Exynos 8895 chip, or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, depending on the region. Both models come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, with microSD for further expansion. 

There is a 3000mAh battery capacity under the hood and Samsung offers 32-bit audio support. It too is charged via USB Type-C.

• OnePlus 5 vs LG G6: What’s the difference?

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Software

• Different software experiences, though Android at heart
• Both Android Nougat at core

The OnePlus 5 launches on OxygenOS, which is a modified version of Android Nougat 7.1.1, while the Galaxy S8 runs on Android Nougat with Samsung’s TouchWiz software over the top.

The software experience of these two devices will therefore be quite different, though both have Android at the heart so there will be familiar features, they will just be packaged in a slightly different way.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 tips and tricks

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Price

• OnePlus 5 cheaper by around £200

The OnePlus 5 will cost £449 for 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, or £499 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 on the other hand costs £689, making it quite a bit more expensive.

OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Conclusion

The OnePlus 5 offers more RAM, a larger battery capacity and a dual-rear camera setup compared to the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Samsung’s device however, offers a curved and larger display, waterproofing, iris scanning and an excellent camera experience. It is £200 more expensive though.

Both devices are excellent based on our experience with them so your decision will likely come down to your budget and which design you prefer.

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: What’s the difference?

OnePlus revealed its new flagship, the OnePlus 5, on 20 June. The next “flagship killer” has some stiff competition on its hands this year though, perhaps more so than ever, with Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ already out there, as well as LG’s G6 and Sony’s Xperia XZ Premium.

We’ve put the OnePlus 5 up against Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in this feature to see how they differ and what similarities they might offer.

• OnePlus 5: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Design

• Both aluminium, premium designs
• Subtle antenna lines on both 
• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are waterproof 

The Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus both come with a slim aluminium build, offering lovely rounded edges, subtle antenna lines on the rear and no 3.5mm headphone jack. The Lightning port sits at the bottom for charging, flanked by speakers either side, while a circular home button with the built-in Touch ID fingerprint sensor is present on the front beneath the display. 

The iPhone 7 measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm and weighs 138g, while the iPhone 7 Plus is larger and heavier at 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm and 188g. The smaller handset has a singular camera lens, while the larger has a horizontal dual-rear camera setup. Both devices are IP67 water resistant and come in six colour options, comprising rose gold, gold, silver, black, jet black and red.

The OnePlus 5 features an aluminium build too, again with subtle antenna lines though rather than rounded edges like the iPhone, it has a chamfered hard edge. The fingerprint sensor is positioned beneath the display within a capacitive button and the OnePlus 5 comes with a horizontal dual-rear camera like the iPhone 7 Plus.

The OnePlus 5 measures 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25mm and weighs 153g, putting it in the middle of the two iPhones in terms of size and weight, though both are ever so slightly slimmer. It comes in two colour options of Midnight Black and Slate Grey. OnePlus hasn’t added any form of IP-rated water resistance but USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack are both on board the OnePlus 5.

• OnePlus 5 review

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Display

• OnePlus 5 same size and resolution as iPhone 7 Plus
• No Mobile HDR on board either
• OnePlus AMOLED, Apple opts for LED-backlit

The Apple iPhone 7 comes with a 4.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD display with a 1334 x 750 resolution resulting in a pixel density of 326ppi, while the iPhone 7 Plus has a 5.5-inch LED back-lit display with a Full HD resolution for a pixel density of 401ppi.

Neither Apple model has Mobile HDR on board, though remember these two handsets are due an update in September. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus both offer excellent displays with good vibrancy, viewing angles and colour representation, despite not offering the highest resolutions.

The OnePlus 5 comes with a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, like the OnePlus 3T. The company also sticks to a Full HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 401ppi, making it the same as the iPhone 7 Plus but sharper than the standard iPhone 7. Colours should also be a little more vibrant and punchy, even if not as realistic as the iPhone thanks to the AMOLED panel.

Like the iPhones, no Mobile HDR compatibility has been mentioned for the OnePlus 5, with the new “flagship killer” offering a very similar display to the OnePlus 3T. It does have 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass though, like the iPhones, meaning the display blends more seamlessly into the edges of the device. 

• Mobile HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Mobile HDR Premium explained

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Camera

• Dual-rear camera on iPhone 7 Plus and OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 5 has higher resolution cameras
• 4K video recording present on all three devices

The Apple iPhone 7 has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7-megapixel front camera, while the iPhone 7 Plus has a dual-rear camera featuring two 12-megapixel sensors, one wide angle and one telephoto, and the same 7-megapixel front camera.

Both devices feature a Quad-LED True Tone flash, optical image stabilisation, auto-HDR, exposure control and 4K video recording on the rear, while the front snapper is capable of 1080p video recording and it comes with a Retina Flash. Despite not offering the highest number of megapixels on the market, both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus offer excellent results in the camera department.

The OnePlus 5 features a dual-rear camera, which is horizontally aligned like the iPhone 7 Plus. Also like the iPhone 7 Plus, there is one main sensor and one telephoto sensor, though OnePlus offers higher resolutions at 16-megapixels and 20-megapixels respectively. The front camera is also 16-megapixels. 

The new OnePlus handset has a dual LED flash, up to 4K video recording capabilities from its rear snapper and up to 1080p from its front, as well as auto-HDR and manual control for the rear.

• OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: What’s the difference?

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Hardware

• Powerful hardware on all three devices
• More RAM on OnePlus 5 
• Higher storage capacity available for iPhone over OnePlus

The Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus both feature Apple’s A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture and embedded M10 motion coprocessor. Apple doesn’t disclose RAM information, though it is thought the smaller device has 2GB of RAM and the larger has 3GB.

Both Apple devices are available in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options, none of which offer microSD. The iPhone 7 has a battery life of up to 14 hours 3G talk time, while the iPhone 7 Plus has up to 21 hours 3G talk time. Like the RAM, Apple doesn’t disclose mAh battery capacities, making them a little harder to compare spec-for-spec.

The OnePlus 5 comes with Qualcomm’s latest 835 chip. There are two models available, one with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, while the other has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. OnePlus is another company that doesn’t offer microSD support so whatever the capacity option  you choose, that’s all you get.

The battery capacity is 3300mAh. The OnePlus 3T lasted through a normal day and then some on its 3400mAh battery so despite a slight reduction for the OnePlus 5, it is likely to last a little longer than the iPhone 7, though probably around the same as the iPhone 7 Plus. Quick top ups through Dash Charge are also offered on the OnePlus 5.

• OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: What’s the difference?

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Software

• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus run on iOS
• OnePlus 5 runs on OxygenOS, a customised version of Android Nougat

The Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus run on iOS 10 and they will see an update to iOS 11 when it launches later this year. The OnePlus 5 meanwhile, runs on the OxygenOS, which is a customised version of Android Nougat. 

Which software platform you’ll prefer will be based on your personal opinion and what you want to do with your device. If you have other Apple products, you’ll find seamless integration using iOS but if you want to be able to customise your device in terms of software, the OnePlus 5 and Android will provide more flexibility than Apple.

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Price

• OnePlus 5 £150 cheaper than iPhone 7
• OnePlus 5 £270 cheaper than the iPhone 7 Plus 

The Apple iPhone 7 starts from £599, while the iPhone 7 Plus starts from £719. For the 128GB model, you’re looking at £699 or £819.

The OnePlus 5 starts at £449 for the 64GB model and increases to £499 for the 128GB model. It is therefore between £150 to £200 cheaper than the same storage capacity in terms of the iPhone 7, or between £270 to £320 cheaper than the iPhone 7 Plus.

OnePlus 5 vs Apple iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus: Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are excellent devices, offering premium waterproof designs, great cameras and good performance.

The OnePlus 5 offers higher resolution cameras though, not that more megapixels necessarily means better, along with more RAM, a likely larger battery capacity and it is around £200 than the smaller iPhone and £300 cheaper than the larger model.

Despite a few similarities in design, the OnePlus 5 and the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are very different devices, especially in terms of software. The choice between them is therefore likely to come down to your budget and which software experience you favour.

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: What’s the difference?

OnePlus’ next flagship killer has been stealing headlines over the last few weeks with several confirmations from the company itself prior to the launch. Now all the details are official though with the OnePlus 5 arriving seven months after the OnePlus 3T.

The question is, how much has changed in half a year, or a year if you’re a OnePlus 3 owner? Here is how the OnePlus 5 compares to the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus 3. Should you upgrade?

• OnePlus 5 review
• OnePlus 3T review

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Design

• OnePlus 5 slimmer and lighter
• Subtler antenna lines on OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 5 has more premium-looking design

The OnePlus 5 sports an anodised aluminium build with rounded corners and chamfered hard edges and it comes in Midnight Black and Slate Grey colour options. The premium-looking device features a horizontally-aligned dual camera on the rear, a new feature for OnePlus, while a fingerprint sensor is positioned on the front within a capacitive button, like the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3. 

The antenna lines on the OnePlus 5 are subtler than on the OnePlus 3 and 3T, now sitting at the top and bottom edges of the rear of the device out of the way, while USB Type-C is present at the bottom along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The OnePlus 5 measures 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25mm and hits the scales at 153g.

The OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 feature the same design, which is a little squarer and less refined than the new model. They both measure 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm and weigh 158g, making the OnePlus 5 a little lighter and slimmer, but slightly taller.

Both the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 have an anodised aluminium build, available in three colours and they both have a square single lens rear camera positioned in the middle of the device, along with USB Type-C and a headphone jack at the bottom. None of the three models being compared here offer any official IP rating for waterproofing.

• OnePlus 5: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Display

• All 5.5-inch AMOLED displays 
• All Full HD resolutions, 401ppi
• OnePlus 5 has 2.5D glass 

The OnePlus 5 features a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, like the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3. Despite rumours of a display size decrease to 5.3-inches, this turned out not to be the case for the new device.

There were also reports of a bump in resolution, but alas, the OnePlus 5 sticks to its guns with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 401ppi, which again is the same as the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3.

The new device does offer 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection however, while the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 feature standard Corning Gorilla Glass 4. This means the display on the OnePlus 5 will curve into the edges of the device for a more seamless design finish, but colour and clarity of the display itself should be identical across the three devices being compared here.

All have a 16:9 aspect ratio and there is no word on the addition of Mobile HDR for the OnePlus 5, as there has been on other flagships.

• Mobile HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Mobile HDR Premium explained

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Camera

• Dual-rear camera for OnePlus 5
• Bokeh images and 8x optical zoom on OnePlus 5
• All three have 16MP f/2.0 front camera

The OnePlus 5 has a dual-rear camera, consisting of a 16-megapixel main sensor with a f/1.7 aperture and a 20-megapixel telephoto sensor with an f/2.6 aperture. According to the company, the new camera will capture 34 per cent more light than the OnePlus 3T and it will offer 40 per cent faster focusing. 

There is a Portrait Mode for bokeh images, up to 8x zoom using a combination of optical and digital, 4K video recording and a dual-LED flash is also on board. The front camera features a 16-megapixel sensor with an aperture of f/2.0 and it is capable of 1080p video recording.

The OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 by comparison offer a 16-megapixel single rear sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and OIS, as well as 4K video recording. The front camera is also 16-megapixels with a f/2.0 aperture.

All three devices have a Pro Mode for adjusting settings such as ISO, shutter-speed, focus and exposure but there are a few new features within the Pro Mode for the OnePlus 5. All three devices also offer Auto-HDR and RAW image support.

• OnePlus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: What’s the difference?

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Hardware

• OnePlus 5 offers performance improvements
• 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration available for OnePlus 5 
• Battery capacity increase for OnePlus 5 over OnePlus 3 but not OnePlus 3T

The OnePlus 5 arrives with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset and it is available with either 64GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, or 128GB of storage with 8GB of RAM.

There is a 3300mAh non-removable battery capacity on board and Dash Charge is also present for quick charging via USB Type-C.

The OnePlus 3T features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage, while the OnePlus 3 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The OnePlus 3T has a larger battery than the OnePlus 5 with a 3400mAh capacity, though the processor upgrade of the new device will no doubt mean it offers battery improvements over its predecessor despite being a little smaller. The OnePlus 3 has a 3000mAh battery and both the 3T and the 3 have Dash Charge too.

• OnePlus 5 vs LG G6: What’s the difference?

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Software 

• All run on OxygenOS
• OnePlus 5 has several new features

The OnePlus 5 launches on OxygenOS, a modified version of Android based on Nougat 7.1.1. The OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 also run on OxygenOS, meaning the software experience should be pretty similar between these three devices but there are some new features on the OnePlus 5.

A few of the new features include reading mode, expanded screenshots, translucent app drawer, auto night mode, three new off-screen gestures, customisable vibration, Secure Box and a Gaming Do Not Disturb Mode. 

It is not yet clear if the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 will receive all the new features with an update, but overall the main user experience across these devices will be familiar.

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Price

• OnePlus 5 is £10 more expensive than same storage model of OnePlus 3T
• New model still under £500 for 128GB storage and 8GB RAM

The OnePlus 5 is available from 27 June. The 64GB model will cost £449, while the 128GB model will cost £499.

The OnePlus 3T cost £399 for the 64GB model or £439 for the 128GB model, while the OnePlus 3 cost £329 at launch.

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Conclusion

As with any flagship successor, the OnePlus 5 offers several improvements over the OnePlus 3T and especially the OnePlus 3, including camera, design and performance.

The new model delivers a more premium design, big camera advancements and some great hardware upgrades, including the option of an 8GB RAM model. It costs a little more than both the older models did when they first arrived, and the top-specced model is double the price of the OnePlus 2 when it launched, but you’re still looking at a very powerful device for under £500.

Sadly, there are no display improvements on the new model, but those upgrading from a OnePlus 3 or 3T should notice a difference in performance with the OnePlus 5, as well as connectivity.

Ask Alexa to play your favorite SiriusXM station

Alexa just got another new skill. Starting today, SiriusXM subscribers will be able to play any of the radio’s available channels through their Alexa devices, depending on the package they’re subscribed to. Howard Stern announced the news this morning on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show.

Other recent Alexa upgrades have included extending the AI assistant’s voice control to all video streaming services, adding the ability to set reminders as well as iCloud calendar support. Google’s Home has also been getting new features to boost its utility, though SiriusXM is not yet one of them.

Amazon’s and Google’s focus on making their smart speakers helpful with a number of services is different from their recently announced competitor, Apple’s HomePod. Apple is going another route, focusing on its speaker quality over its AI assistant.

Using the new SiriusXM feature is simple. For example, all of you Parrotheads out there, to listen to your favorite channel, all you have to do is say “Alexa, play Radio Margaritaville on SiriusXM.” And then you can sit back in your Hawaiian shirts and drink a margarita, or eat a cheeseburger, or whatever it is you do. I don’t know, I don’t listen to the stuff.

Source: SiriusXM

Apple tries to clamp down on leaks with mixed success

For the longest time, Apple product leaks tended to come from the supply chain: a factory worker would send parts or a design file to accessory makers eager to get a head start on their next iPhone cases. You might want to rethink that assumption. In a leaked secrecy briefing (ironic, we know) obtained by The Outline, Apple’s David Rice revealed that leaks from the company’s campuses were more common in 2016 than those from suppliers. This is more a reflection of Apple’s success clamping down on third-party leaks than loose lips in Cupertino, although it does indicate that the tech giant will turn its attention inward.

Rice doesn’t divulge too many of Apple’s methods for countering supply chain leaks, but he notes that Apple will buy back parts to make sure they don’t reach the news: in 2013, it snapped up 19,000 iPhone 5c shells before the announcement. It also screens 221 million transits (that is, people leaving or entering factories) per year, so it’s less likely that someone will walk out with an iPhone enclosure. The reduction in leaks is no mean feat given those daunting figures, especially since workers are sometimes offered juicy incentives (up to a year’s worth of salary) to smuggle parts.

The presentation also underscores the drastic efforts Apple takes to lock things down at home. They’re not completely draconian, but they’re bound to raise questions. Many of Apple’s anti-leak investigators, including Rice himself, come from agencies like the NSA, FBI and Secret Service — does it really need to treat an iPad leak like a matter of national security? The company will also pursue in-house leakers for years, and is adamant that employees avoid discussing products with family or in the more public parts of Apple’s offices. It’ll sometimes place overseers on product teams to actively prevent leaks.

Rice is quick to note that Apple isn’t reading emails or eavesdropping on conversations, but there’s still a sense that Apple is watching closely. Some incoming employees will delete social accounts, or take those accounts private, out of a concern that they might accidentally say too much.

Apple does have strong financial incentives to cut back on leaks, as they can hurt sales or reveal its product strategy to competitors. In a call discussing Apple’s spring earnings, Tim Cook blamed an iPhone sales slide on unusually early and frequent leaks for the next model. However, the briefing makes it clear that Apple takes its secrecy more seriously than many other companies, and possibly too seriously. Is it really a matter of life and death that a new iPhone remains under wraps, especially since Apple’s launch schedules are fairly predictable? Apple built its modern reputation on “one more thing” surprises, but it’s not clear that spoilers are as damaging as the company thinks.

Source: The Outline

Instagram adds 24-hour live video replays to Stories

Late last year, Instagram introduced the ability to broadcast live video; simply swipe over to “Live” mode in the Stories camera, tap the button and stream away. But unlike Periscope and Facebook Live, those live videos couldn’t be replayed after you’re done streaming, which means that your audience needed to be tuning in at the right time to catch the broadcast. Thanks to a new Instagram feature, however, you can finally share the replay of your live video once you’re done.

Now, when the live broadcast ends, you’ll see “Share” at the bottom of the screen. When you do, the video will be available for 24 hours, just like all other Story content. Of course, if you’d rather not share that live video in the first place, you can tap an option to discard the video instead.

If you did though, your followers will know you’ve shared a replay if they see a play button in your profile photo. Viewers of live video replays will not only see the video playback, but also all the likes and comments that happened during the broadcast. Tapping right will fast forward the video 15 seconds and tapping left will rewind it by 15 seconds. If there are multiple replays, arrows at the top will let you jump between them. Number of viewers will include those who watched it live as well as in Stories.

Letting viewers watch the replay of live video for 24 hours puts Instagram on par with Periscope, which has done so from the very beginning. However, Periscope has an indefinite storage option, which gives it a slight edge if you prefer flexibility. Still, seeing as Stories are supposed to be ephemeral anyway, a vanishing Instagram replay seems a good fit. Plus, you can always repost the full video in your regular Insta feed if you want it to be more permanent.

Speaking of Stories, Instagram made yet another announcement today: it now has 250 million daily users on Instagram Stories, which is up from the 200 million it announced just last April. This is quite a bit higher than the number of daily users on Snapchat, which is reported to be around 166 million. With Stories and Live Video (which Snapchat lacks, by the way), Instagram seems to be doing quite well, even if it did kinda, sorta, steal a few ideas.

‘Fuze Code Studio’ will help you design games on Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch had a strong showing its first E3 (Metroid Prime 4!, three new Mario games!), for sure, but nothing quite like what Fuze Technologies is showing off. The company has announced Fuze Code Studio, which looks like a simple way to code your own games for the console on the Switch itself. You can use a USB keyboard or Joycons to enter code, audio and graphics will be packed in, you can make 2D and 3D games and Fuze’s language is supposedly simple enough to pick up that you don’t need any previous coding experience.

As Gamastura points out, this is a tweaked version of BASIC. Eager to get your hands dirty? Well, you’ll have to wait until the middle of next year. Until then, you could always give GameMaker: Studio a spin.

FUZE CODE STUDIO coming soon to Nintendo Switch! https://t.co/RnMx7M45FR #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #FUZECODESTUDIO #BedroomCoding

— FUZE (@FUZEcoding) June 19, 2017

Via: Gamasutra

Source: Fuze

OnePlus 5 review: Making the leap from good to great

We’ve been following OnePlus and its journey to build a better flagship phone for years. Along the way, it managed a feat that’s difficult for even the biggest conglomerates: the company kept outdoing itself. I don’t mean to spoil the fun here, but the team has done it again with the OnePlus 5. Really, what’s most striking is just how much this tiny company managed to get right in a phone that costs less than $550 (more on that later). It might not have every single whiz-bang feature that you’ll find in other flagship smartphones, but the thoughtful balance of style, power and price make it a star.

Hardware and design

Chris Velazco/Engadget

Before we go any further, a few notes: We’re reviewing the top of the line OnePlus 5, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (only available in black). This model will set you back $540, but that’s still highly reasonable for the specs you get. Fortunately, there’s also a version with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (only available in gray) — that’ll only set you back $480, and should still give every other flagship a run for its money.

Both versions of the phone are identical otherwise, from the Snapdragon 835 chipsets they share to their sealed, 3,300mAh batteries. (Yes, that’s just a hair smaller than the battery we got in the 3T.) For better or worse, though, OnePlus still prefers giving its phones two nanoSIM slots instead of a spot for a SIM and a microSD card. While this flexibility (and support for loads of GSM and LTE bands) make OnePlus 5 an excellent travel device, you’re better off getting the more expensive mode if you can afford it.

All of those components are wrapped in a sleek, anodized aluminum body that, yeah, kind of looks like an iPhone. Some of the cosmetic touches are similar, like the placement of the fingerprint sensor and the dual-camera. More bothersome is how the classic OnePlus design language has matured to a point where it’s starting to feel a little generic. The original OnePlus One was an unmistakable device — you just can’t say the same about the OnePlus 5.

None of that doesn’t take away from how well built this phone is, though. It’s the thinnest flagship the startup has ever made, and at 153g, it’s a just a bit lighter than the phone it replaces. All the usual OnePlus touches apply, too. High on the OP5’s right side is a handy, textured notification slider that lets you quickly jump between notification levels like Priority (where only some people get through) and Do Not Disturb.

Meanwhile, you’ll find one capacitive key on either side of the fingerprint-sensing home button that act as the Back and Recent buttons. You can swap their order or, if you’re like me and accidentally hit them all the time with your hand-meat, ditch ’em in favor of some on-screen keys instead. It’s this kind of flexibility that keeps OnePlus fans coming back for more.

Display and sound

Chris Velazco/Engadget

This year, we’re working with another 5.5-inch AMOLED panel running at 1080p, with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio and no curves. (It is, however, covered in a slightly curved plate of Gorilla Glass 5 that’s already getting dinged up.) While I would’ve loved to see OnePlus embrace the no-bezel look that its rivals have, it’s pretty clear why it hasn’t: it’d be a financial nightmare. Personally, I’m just fine with the compromise OnePlus made here.

It might not be quite as crisp as the Galaxy S8’s screen but the pixel density on this 5.5-inch, 1080p screen works out to 401 PPI. During my testing, that’s been more than enough for nitpicking details in photos and reading very small text. Brightness was also sufficient — I took the phone for several long walks and had no trouble seeing directions.

The fact that we’re getting a no-nonsense screen doesn’t mean we’re not getting any frills. After user feedback, OnePlus added an sRGB color mode to the 3 via software update — this time the team added support for the DCI-P3 color gamut, a move Apple embraced in its most recent iPhones. These are nice perks for display junkies, but most people will never touch these settings — the punchy default mode is already very pleasant. In fact, my only real complaint is that you’ll see some mild color distortion if you look at the screen from a very oblique angle. That’s less a problem for you than for the person snooping on your texts from the seat next to you.

Meanwhile, the speaker situation hasn’t changed much: There’s still a single grille drilled into the phone’s bottom edge, and it’s a little louder than the 3T at maximum volume. I’ve mostly used the OnePlus to blast music and podcasts for a week, and both came out sounding bright, if a little muddy at high volume. As always, you’ll want to turn to headphones for the best possible audio quality. On the flip side, OnePlus baked three microphones into the phone for improved audio recording, and the difference was clear. I recorded a room full of chattering family members on Father’s Day, and the 5 produced clearer, cleaner sound than the 3T.

Software

Chris Velazco/Engadget

As always, the OnePlus 5 runs a custom version of Android called OxygenOS (version 4.5 now). Think of it as “stock Android plus” — it’s built atop a clean version of Android 7.1.1 Nougat and loaded with a host of helpful tweaks and options to give power users more control. You can, launch apps by drawing symbols on the screen or swipe into a “shelf” to the left of your home screen to quickly check the weather and leave yourself memos. Want to switch to a dark theme or inject some pink highlights into the interface like I did? Done and done.

The settings app is rife with modifications that both expand Android’s usefulness and make it feel more personal, but all of this stuff is hidden under the surface. If you just want a smooth Android experience, you could very easily ignore it all. These broad strokes will be all too familiar to current OnePlus fans, but there are plenty of new touches as well.

There’s a Do Not Disturb mode specifically for gaming, which automatically blocks notifications from rolling in when you’re mid-match. More useful for me was a reading mode that makes the screen go gray scale when you launch certain apps — say, Amazon’s Kindle or the New York Times. It’s certainly easier on the eyes, but I’m never going to give up my e-reader. There’s also a so-called “secure box” for storing sensitive files and apps from prying eyes (a la Samsung) which is always more useful than people are generally willing to admit. Beyond that, most of the changes are pretty subtle — you can customize how the phone vibrates more specifically and night mode can be set to automatically activate with the sunset.

Curiously, my OnePlus 5 was supposed to have Google’s Assistant preloaded — emphasis on “supposed to”. I’ve since been able to confirm that the Assistant works as well as expected on other OnePlus 5s, so hopefully this is just a rare mistake that users will never have to deal with.

Camera

Chris Velazco/Engadget

Dual cameras in smartphones may have seemed like a flash in the pan at first, but it’s clear they’re not going anywhere except in our pockets.Most of the time you’ll be using the 16-megapixel main camera, which stacks up well against devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S8. Photos taken with the OnePlus 5 were generally a little darker and less saturated than their S8 counterparts, but the sensor’s higher resolution kept things crisp and occasionally captured details Samsung’s might have missed.

It’s also very quick to focus thanks to the way Sony has arranged the focus pixels on the sensor — long story short, you’re probably not going to miss the moment unless your reflexes suck. The camera also has an f/1.7 aperture, which made shots taken in dim conditions come out brighter than expected, though grain became an issue when lighting was anything less than optimal. As light grew more scarce, edges softened and textures became more indistinct.

Having another, separate 20-megapixel telephoto camera to switch into is very helpful, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see OnePlus use a higher-resolution sensor for the zoom camera. (The G6, for example, uses a pair of 13-megapixel sensors.) Color saturation and detail seemed slightly better here as well, to the point where I sometimes preferred shooting in 2x mode. Thankfully, switching between the two takes a single tap, while a sideways slide brings the zoom level as high as 8x.

Both of these cameras are used for the depth effect mode, which adds a bunch of bokeh behind your subject. It’s a crowd-pleaser, albeit a finicky one. You have to maintain the right distance from your subject and have enough light for the software to do its thing. The resulting shots are generally very good, and I’ve come to appreciate OnePlus’s approach over the iPhone 7 Plus because it works surprisingly well on things besides faces. Beyond all that is a fairly spartan app for actually shooting these photos, which is just fine by me. There’s no cruft here — the only other truly neat feature is a handy Pro mode, complete with a histogram to help experienced photographers expose their photos correctly.

And what of the 16-megapixel front-facing camera? Well, selfies came out very crisp and the new screen flash makes it easier to capture your duck-face in a dimly lit bar. Good enough for me.

While I’d still give the photographic crown to Google’s Pixel, OnePlus should be proud of its work. It’s not perfect, but the dual camera here is well executed and raises the bar for a company that has struggled to get photography right.

Performance and battery life

Chris Velazco/Engadget

There was never any question that phone with specs like this would run well, but the OnePlus 5’s performance took even me by surprise. I spent the past week as I always do — using the phone as my daily work multitasking machine, and then mixing things up with shoot-outs in Afterpulse or agonizing decisions in Telltale Games’ Guardians of the Galaxy. Not once did I see the phone flinch, stutter or even drop a frame — it was almost weird how effortlessly the OnePlus 5 seemed to handle everything I threw at it. Based on my experience and the big, big numbers the phone put up in our suite of synthetic benchmarks, I have no doubt that this more expensive version of the OnePlus 5 will be overkill for most people.

Don’t get me wrong: other flagship phones look and feel better, and pack so many exciting-sounding features that I’m surprised their marketing teams can keep up. Few other phones to date have felt this smooth, and hardly any have been able to offer up this level of performance. This, in short, is wild stuff for $540.

The flip side to all this is that the OnePlus 5 actually has a slightly smaller battery than the model it replaces. OnePlus says that the sealed 3,300mAh battery is capable of lasting around 20 percent longer than last year’s 3T, but I wasn’t able to replicate those claims. That doesn’t mean the battery sucks. In our standard rundown test, where we loop an HD video with Wi-Fi on and screen brightness set to half, the OnePlus 5 stuck around for fifteen hours and three minutes — that’s better than any other flagship phone I’ve tested this year, but roughly an hour short of the bar set by the 3T in 2016.

The OP5 fares better in daily use, though: while the OnePlus 3T generally lasted for just over a day on a single charge, the 5 routinely withstood a day and a half of mixed use. It doesn’t take much to get that up to two days — the battery saver mode is off by default, after all — but the included Dash charger means you can go a long way on a momentary recharge. When I forgot to plug in the phone overnight, a 15-minute top-up was enough to last me most of a day. Just try (hard) not to lose the cable or the charger, because you’ll need both to charge as quickly as possible.

The competition

Chris Velazco/Engadget

On one end of the price spectrum are the flagship contenders, like the Galaxy S8, S8 Plus and LG’s G6. The base level Galaxy S8 costs about $100 more than this particular OnePlus 5, and it’s an absolutely gorgeous device. While you get a drool-worthy screen, you’d have to put up with loads of Samsung-mandated apps that you may not want.

The G6 is similarly laden with LG software you probably don’t want, but its own dual camera setup offers more flexibility and media creation features. At $599, the unlocked G6 is still more expensive than the high-end OnePlus 5, and runs with a pokier chipset to boot. The price comparisons hurt when you look at iPhones, too. An iPhone 7 Plus with its dual camera and 128GB of storage costs $869 unlocked.

If you’re on a budget and looking for a great device in the same ballpark, there’s always the Moto Z2 Play. In our initial testing, it proved to be an excellent, modular mid-range option with a lovely sense of style. That said, it costs $499 unlocked and offers a fraction of the power the OnePlus 5 does.

Wrap-up

Chris Velazco/Engadget

I’ve been using a Galaxy S8 as my daily driver since I started reviewing it, and I thought it was going to stay in my rotation indefinitely. Well, sorry Samsung — I don’t think I’m going to put the OnePlus 5 down any time soon. The company built a phone that’s very, very hard to dislike. It’s blazingly fast, has a surprisingly good camera and excellent battery life. Its version of Android is surprisingly clean, and the price tag means true flagship power won’t destroy your wallet.

Is it perfect? No. But building a phone like this is always an exercise in compromise, and the balance that OnePlus struck between form, functionality and price is incredible. Whether this means OnePlus the company becomes a household name remains to be seen. For now though, it’s clear that anyone looking for a high-powered smartphone should have the OnePlus 5 on their shortlist.

Google’s Project Fi helps you pay your share of the phone bill

It’s not much fun to split up a wireless family plan, especially if you’re not splitting it evenly. How much do your kids owe if they’re only paying some of their bill? What about that roommate who always uses too much data and drives the bill higher? Google wants to fix that. It’s adding a Group Repay feature to Project Fi that lets group plan owners not only determine who owes what, but collect on that share in short order. You set the criteria for what members owe, such as a fixed amount or extra data use. After that, fellow Fi members just have to wait for reminders before they contribute their share.

When it comes time to pay up, you can use Google Wallet to both send and receive funds. If you’re the plan manager, you can set up automatic transfers so that any repayments go directly to your bank account.

The feature is available in the billing section of your Fi account. It probably won’t convince you to switch to Fi by itself, since there are still plenty of other hurdles (needing everyone to use compatible phones, for a start). However, it could be a tipping point if you were already thinking of signing up, whether you’re starting from scratch or joining someone else’s plan. Instead of breaking out the calculator every month, you could let Google do the hard work and spend more time actually using your service.

Source: Google