Microsoft patent could let you write on both sides of the Surface Pro

A Microsoft patent application for a new type of display was discovered and it looks like something that might one day change the way consumers interact with touchscreen Surface devices. Originally documented with the U.S. Patent Office on May 1, 2017, the now public patent showcases a “reflective multilayer structure to present information on the external surface” on a given sample device.

Though the reflective display patent does not specifically refer to any Microsoft products by name, its subsequent diagrams show would be considerations for a future device. In the patent abstract, a peculiar looking image of a Surface-like 2-in-1 comes complete with the words “metallic writing surface” illuminated on the rear.

As the patent puts it, that is just a way of rethinking the otherwise dead unused space on a computing device.

“Consumer demand for smaller and more powerful personal electronics devices drivers innovation to adapt existing device components for new and or multiple purposes. Many laptop computers and accessory keyboards include a surface area that does not serve a functional electronic utility.”

One proposed implementation of the reflective panel involves making a surface metallic so that it creates “uniformity in color and tone” between the display and other parts of the device. Touch also seems to be supported, with another implementation supporting the use of technologies so that a user can “draw on the reflective external surface with a finger or stylus and the underlying may selectively illuminate pixels at corresponding locations.”

A final proposed version of the reflective panel involves using it as a primary OLED, LCD or LED display while the device is closed.

“Although the reflective display is visible when the laptop is in the open position, the user, may in some implementations elect to fold the laptop into a closed position with the reflective display facing up to more directly view or interact with information,” Microsoft said in the patent.

Patents might not always hold up to be true, but this one seems to be impressive. It would not be the first time that Microsoft would be considering a new type of display. Previous patents for a single flexible display have also surfaced, suggesting it could be for the company’s upcoming Andromeda device.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Patent filing shows Microsoft’s evolving efforts on foldable Andromeda device
• Microsoft Surface Pro 6: Everything you need to know
• Everything we know about Microsoft’s ‘Andromeda’ Surface Phone device
• Yoga Book C930 vs. Surface Go
• Microsoft patent filing hints at wireless charging for future Surface PCs

Oculus VR could upgrade the Rift with a new display in 2019

Oculus might be focusing more on making its virtual reality hardware more accessible than pushing technological boundaries, but a new report suggests it does plan to upgrade its Rift PC VR headset in 2019. The modest refresh, said to be known as the Rift S, would introduce a higher-resolution screen, and add inside-out tracking, effectively making it a PC-tethered version of its Oculus Quest headset.

While the likes of Pimax and HTC have released new high-end VR hardware like the Vive Pro in 2018, Oculus has focused more on developing its lower-end solutions. It released the Oculus Go in early 2018 and more recently the Oculus Quest, both of which are wireless VR headsets with onboard tracking and processing, requiring no additional hardware to operate. Their visuals aren’t as impressive as PC-tethered solutions like the Rift though, despite their updated hardware.

Oculus has long been expected to begin work on a second-generation Rift headset in the aftermath of the Quest’s release, but recent reports suggest that may no longer be the case. Amid rumors of the Rift 2 being shelved for now at least, the Rift S has emerged as a potential future design, TechCrunch reports.

Supposedly the Rift S would ditch the external tracking cameras of the Rift, opting instead to use the same headset-mounted tracking sensors of the Oculus Quest. That could present some problems with controller occlusion, although the setup process would be notably easier.

The sources at Oculus also suggested that the Rift S would feature an upgraded display, most likely the same one used in the Oculus Quest, which features 1,600 x 1,440 pixels per eye, for a total resolution in excess of even the Vive Pro.

Publicly, Oculus is keeping quiet about its future hardware releases, responding to a request for comment with: “While we don’t comment on rumors/speculation about our future products, as we shared last week, PC VR remains a part of our strategy and is a category we will continue to invest in. In addition to hardware, we have a robust software road map and are funding content well into 2020.”

Although Oculus appears to have had creative differences with its former CEO, it is targeting of better accessibility with VR is more in line with the thoughts of one of its other co-founders, the maligned Palmer Luckey. He recently wrote about how VR needs to offer a near-perfect experience before consumers will adopt it en masse.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Oculus Quest vs. Oculus Rift
• Oculus Rift review
• Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift 2: Everything you need to know
• Oculus Rift vs. HTC Vive
• Facebook’s reported Rift 2 cancellation caused a rift with Oculus executive

Which color OnePlus 6T should you buy?

Best answer: Right now, the OnePlus 6T is available in just two color options: Midnight Black and Mirror Black. Both colors feature glass at the back, but the Midnight Black option has a matte finish that gives it a more metallic look.

OnePlus: OnePlus 6T ($549)

Go with Midnight Black if you prefer a matte finish

With the OnePlus 6T, you have the option of choosing between a glossy or matte finish in black. The Mirror Black is the default color option, and it comes with a glossy finish that’s prone to smudges. The Midnight Black, meanwhile, has a matte finish that makes it easier to hold, and it doesn’t smudge as much.

The Mirror Black option is available with the 6GB/128GB and 8GB/128GB storage options, and the Midnight Black variant is limited to the 8GB/128Gb and 8GB/256GB models. So if you want to get the Midnight Black finish, you’ll be shelling out a minimum of $579 for the 8GB/128GB model. OnePlus launched a Silk White variant with the OnePlus 6, but as of now there’s no information to suggest that particular color option will debut on the 6T.

OnePlus is also known to launch limited-edition color options, like the gorgeous Amber Red variant of the OnePlus 6, and customers in markets like India get exclusive Disney-themed collbaborations, like the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Edition. We don’t know when these variants will be made available, but it’s possible we’ll hear more updates on this front before the end of the year.

Our pick

OnePlus 6T

$549 at OnePlus

Two options to choose from… for now

If you’re eyeing the OnePlus 6T, your color options range between choosing a glossy or matte finish. The default Mirror Black has a glossy back that attracts smudges, and the Midnight Black has a more metallic finish that feels better in-hand.

Sonos delays Google Assistant support until 2019

Private beta testing will begin this year.

For well over a year, we’ve been waiting and waiting for the Google Assistant to finally arrive on the Sonos One. Sonos previously said that the integration would be ready before the end of this year, but according to a new blog post on the company’s website, that’s no longer the case.

Now, Google Assistant for the Sonos One and Beam is being pushed back to “a date in 2019.” Sonos notes that it needs “a bit more time to get the experience right”, but if you don’t want to wait that long, you can apply to help Sonos beta test the Assistant starting later this year.

Sonos is looking for applicants that will stream a minimum of 14 hours of audio per week, use 10 Google Assistant commands each day, and respond to surveys they’re sent within 72 hours. The screening process will take a few weeks, and once this is done, Sonos will start by rolling out the beta to “a few hundred homes”, followed by “a few thousand” over the next few months.

Another update will be shared in early 2019, but it’s currently unclear if that means Google Assistant will be ready by early 2019 or if that’s when we’ll learn more about its eventual release.

Sign up for the Google Assistant Sonos beta here

Target’s Black Friday sneak peek includes some great tech deals

Target’s Black Friday ad sneak peek is here, and it brings the heat on some popular holiday gift ideas. The retailer is kicking off November with a bang by hosting an “Early Access” sale that is good for November 1 only, with deals on items like smartwatches, Lillebaby carriers, TVs, Keurigs, and more. There will be hundreds of doorbuster deals available on Black Friday, and thousands of deals that last longer than that.

Deals worth considering

Google Home Hub

This is the newest hardware from Google, and it’s the company’s first “Home” device that comes with a display. It normally sells for $149, but it looks like Black Friday is bringing a $50 discount, dropping it to $99. This is probably the best price we’ll see on it for a while, but availability may be limited on these.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

Amazon’s new Echo Dot brings up to 70% improvements in terms of sound quality and clarity, and it’s already going to be more than 50% off. It normally sells for $50, but will drop down to just $24, which is $1 lower than we saw on the second-gen last year during Black Friday. If you’ve wanted to upgrade your current Dots to the new one, the holidays are proving to be the time to do it.

PlayStation 4 1TB Spider-Man Bundle

Marvel’s Spider-Man has received rave reviews from nearly any and everyone who has played it, and is sure to be a popular title this holiday shopping season. Target is bundling it with a 1TB PlayStation for just $200, which is $100 less than Best Buy sells just the gaming console for. It’s a doorbuster item, though, so if you’re interested in one you’ll want to be there early.

Other deals to keep an eye on

• Xbox Live Membership – $10 off
• Nerf Dart Zone Blaster – $20 off
• Razor Folding Scooters – $12 off
• Select Men’s & Women’s Apparel – Starting at $8

Target Exclusive Benefits

Target is offering free shipping on all holiday orders beginning November 1. As an added benefit, any REDcard holder will score an additional 5% discount on each purchase they make, which can lead to some really insane deal prices.

Deals worth ignoring

As with every major shopping event, there are some “deals” here worth passing on. Unless you are dead set on buying a new TV that day, or just need an extra for a guest room, it’s safe to skip most TV deals you see. The Google Home at $79 is a deal we see throughout the year, as are the $40 PS4 and Xbox One controllers. Select video games will be down to as low as $25 each, but the titles are probably on the older side, so unless you know someone who really wants that exact game, these may be worth passing on. Also, be sure to pass on Ring’s Video Doorbell at the $50 “discount”, because it’s normally only $100, and you should aim to find it for less than that.

Store Information

Target will open its doors at 5PM on Thursday until 1AM on Friday, then will will re-open again at 7AM on Friday. You’ll be able to order many of these deals online for in-store pickup as well, though some of them will be available in retail locations.

Get prepared

Are you ready to conquer Black Friday and Cyber Monday yet? If not, don’t worry. We will help you out every step of the way. Be sure to sign up for our Black Friday newsletter, and keep your eye here for more ads and leaks as they are made available.

The best wireless charging pads for the Galaxy S9

If you’ve upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy S9 in 2018, you’ll want to try out the wireless charging functionality. There’s a large number of options out there for wireless charging, but not all are made equal. For those who love keeping things “on brand”, we’d recommend the Samsung convertible charging pad, but there are some great third-party accessories available, too, including the stylish IOttie iON Mini, and the budget-friendly option from Anker.

If you want a reliable wireless charging pad that won’t let you down, check out these great products!

Top Pick

iOttie iON Wireless Qi Charging Pad Mini

From iOttie comes this stylish charger that’s Qi-compatible with a charging zone capable of 10W output. Available in Ash Gray or Ruby Red fabric, this is a wireless charger that will look great on your office desk or end table.

$29 at Amazon

Best from Samsung

Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad

Samsung’s wireless charging pad combines the best wireless charging technologies packed into a really sleek design. Launched alongside the Galaxy S8, it features a premium leather-like appearance and ingenious design which allows you to easily convert this pad into an angled charging stand.

$50 at Amazon

Old school cool

Samsung Wireless Charging Pad

Samsung’s old style of the wireless charging pad is still a reliable option for the Galaxy S9. These charging pads look like mini-UFOs and are Fast Charge-compatible. It also ships with a Samsung 2A wall charger — always great — and comes with a standard one-year warranty.

$24 at Amazon

Budget Pick

Anker Qi-Certified Wireless Charger

Our most budget-conscious pick on the list spares no quality or features. Anker, a well-known brand, offers a 7.5W Qi wireless charger that is extremely thin and low-profile with a larger charging coil that dissipates the heat over a wide surface area.

$13 at Amazon

More power

Anker 10W Qi-Certified Wireless Charger

If speedy charging is what you’re after, you’ll want to spend a bit more on this Anker charging pad. You’ll need a Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger to get the top speeds, but beyond that this has a some good features including the LED indicators around the edges that will turn off when charging is complete.

$22 at Amazon

Best for the office

Spigen Qi Wireless Charging Stand

Spigen’s charging stand is angled, making this a great option for your office desk so you can easily see your display while your phone is charging. This stand features three charging coils that allow you to charge your Galaxy S9 in vertical or horizontal orientations, but you’ll need to supply your own wall adapter.

$25 at Amazon

The point of the Samsung Galaxy S9’s glass back is to enable wireless charging, so you should make good use of that feature! Which charger you go with will ultimately depend on your budget and design preference, but I personally use the iOttie iON Mini — and be sure to put a thin case on it before you accidentally drop your phone one too many times!

Pick up Razer’s new Panthera Evo fighting arcade stick for $200

Razer’s known as a premiere hardware and accessory manufacturer, and the company looks to keep the ball rolling with its next-generation arcade stick meant for the fighting game community. The Razer Panthera Evo, designed for PlayStation 4, takes the best qualities of its previous iteration, the Panthera, and builds upon it with several notable improvements.

The Razer Panthera Evo boasts that its mechanical switches are rated for up to 30 million taps, “far exceeding previous industry standards.” Like the Panthera, the Panthera Evo is fully mod-capable and allows players to switch out the artwork for even further customization options. Razer had this arcade stick tested by some of the industry’s top eSports professionals to ensure that it reached the highest quality possible with feedback from the community.

“This next-generation arcade stick focuses on precision, consistency and best-in-class performance that resonates with professional fighting game athletes and enthusiasts alike,” said Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan.

Product Features:

• Pushbuttons with Razer Mechanical Switches
• Improved artwork, aesthetic and functional customization options
• 3.5 mm analog headset compatible for PS4
• 8-button Vewlix style layout & Sanwa lever
• 9.8 ft. / 3 m hard wired cable and cable management storage

You can pick up the Razer Panthera Evo arcade stick for $200 right now on Razer’s website. It will become available at other retailers worldwide in November.

See at Razer

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Project Fi will be renamed as ‘Google Fi’ and get a new logo

Google’s own carrier offering definitely has appealing features.

If you’re an Android enthusiast, you likely know about Project Fi. But that doesn’t mean you necessarily know everything about it. And for everyone out there who doesn’t have one of the handful of phones that work with the carrier are unlikely to have looked into Project Fi deeply. So we’re here to give you the high-level view at the carrier option that comes directly from Google. Namely, just what the heck it is, how it works compared to other carriers and maybe a few reasons why you’d want to try it.

See at Project Fi

The latest Project Fi news

November 1, 2018 — Project Fi will be renamed as ‘Google Fi’ and get a new logo

Google first debuted Project Fi in 2015 as an experimental new cell service that only worked with the Nexus 6. Since then, it’s gained new features, more streamlined pricing, and support for a heap of new phones. If you thought that the “Project” moniker was getting a little long in the tooth, the folks at Google appear to have been thinking the same thing, too.

One Redditor that recently purchased the new Pixel 3 found a pamphlet for Project Fi in the box that refers to the service as “Googe Fi” and has a new logo that more closely matches logos for Google Search, Home, Assistant, etc.

It’s unclear when an official announcement will be made, but we’ll let you know as soon as that happens.

What do you think of Project Fi’s new name?

September 19, 2018 — Project Fi credits can now be shared in family plans

Google frequently gives out Fi credits with various promotions, and while these are great, they’ve previously been locked to the user that received them. In other words, if you got Fi credits are part of a family plan, those credits couldn’t be used towards your group’s entire bill.

As of today, that’s now changing!

According to a Googler on the Project Fi subreddit and the Project Fi support page, any credits you receive can be shared with other members of your family plan. To turn this on or off, go to the Project Fi website, click on Billing, and then choose Fi Credit under the Payment Settings section.

September 5, 2018 — Get $300 off the LG G7 and V35, $250 Fi credit when purchasing a Pixel 2 XL

If you’ve been waiting for a great deal to get you to switch to Project Fi or upgrade your current phone, Google’s got a couple new offers to hopefully push you over the edge.

First up, you can now instantly take $300 off any LG phone on Project Fi. The G7 and V35 are the only two LG handsets currently available, and this brings them down to just $449 and $599, respectively.

If you’d prefer to get the Pixel 2 XL, you can score $250 in Fi credits when ordering the phone. You’ll still pay $849 upfront for the phone, but that $250 goes towards your monthly bill.

These deals are available for a limited time, so if you want either one, make sure you act sooner rather than later!

See at Project Fi

August 15, 2018 — Project Fi is getting rid of text forwarding

Project Fi is chock-full of helpful features, one of which is text forwarding — the ability to have all of your text messages that are sent to your Fi number also go to other numbers you set up.

Unfortunately, text forwarding is going away after September 12 😞.

Call forwarding will continue to work (i.e. calls to your Fi number are sent to other numbers), but text forwarding will be no more. Google didn’t provide any reasoning for this move, but in any case, we’ll play our sad violin for any of you that relied on it. And in any case, if you need access to your Fi texts on other devices you can use the Hangouts app, which for now still has Fi integration.

🎻🎻🎻

July 16, 2018 — Get a $300 credit when pre-ordering the G7 or V35

It’s been almost a month since the LG G7 and V35 appeared on Project Fi, and if you’ve been holding off on picking one up for yourself, a new promotion for a $300 Fi credit might finally push you over the edge.

Between now and July 29 (while supplies last), you can get a $300 credit that’s applied towards your monthly Project Fi bill when pre-ordering either the G7 or V35 for $749 and $899, respectively.

If you already pre-ordered either of the phones when Google was running its $100 Fi credit promo, you’ll be receiving an email shortly on how to claim your other $200.

See at Project Fi

June 19, 2018 — LG G7 and V35 now available for pre-order

LG’s first Project Fi phones, the G7 and V35, are now available for pre-order!

The G7 is the more affordable of the two at $749 outright or $31.21/month for 24 months, whereas the V35 will set you back a hefty $899 or $37.46/month for 24 months.

No matter which one you choose, Google’s offering a $100 Fi credit when you pre-order either one. This is a limited time offer and will only be available through July 7, 2018, at 11:59 PM PT.

See at Project Fi

June 5, 2018 — You can now add kids under 13-years-old to your family plan

Leveraging its Family Link suite of digital parental tools, Google now allows you to add kids to your Project Fi family plan that are under 13-years-old.

After making a Google account for your kiddo(s) through Family Link, you’ll be able to add them to your Project Fi plan like any other adult user. They’ll have access to all of the features everyone else on your plan has, but of course, you can limit how much time they spend on their phone through the Family Link app.

Kids also cost the same at $15/month for the Fi Basics (calling and texting) and then $10 per GB of data they use.

You can now add kids under 13 to Project Fi group plans via Family Link

What you need to know about Project Fi

What is Project Fi?

At the highest level, Project Fi is a phone carrier operated by Google. It works by giving you mobile data service on three mobile networks, which your phone will intelligently switch between — it also uses Wi-Fi to make calls and send texts whenever available. Project Fi is a “prepaid” carrier, meaning you pay upfront for your service in the trailing month, which is the opposite of a traditional carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) that bills you after you use the service.

It’s all about simplified billing with no hidden fees or overages.

Project Fi is focused on simplified billing. You pay $20 per month for unlimited talk and texting, and a flat rate of $10 per gigabyte of data used. At the start of each month you simply estimate how much data you’ll use (by the gigabyte) and pay for that amount — at the end of the month you’ll receive either a refund for data you didn’t use, or pay a little extra on the next bill for data overages. You’ll always pay at the same $10 per gigabyte rate either way. Bill Protection applies to international data usage the same as home usage.

The only time that doesn’t apply is when you hit a level called “Bill Protection” — effectively an unlimited plan tier for Fi. Once you’ve used 6GB ($60) of data in a given month, your bill is then capped at that point for the month but you continue to get data service. You can use as much data as you want for the month without paying over $80 total ($20 base + $60 data). The only caveat here is that once you hit 15GB of total data usage, your speeds are slowed to 256kbps — alternatively, at the 15GB point you can choose to start paying $10 per GB again for full-speed data if needed.

The huge benefit here is that you don’t have to pay for an “unlimited” plan every month — it’s simply there if you use beyond 6GB of data in a month. All other months when you use less than 6GB of data your bill will be less than $80.

You can also set up a “Group Plan” on Project Fi for up to six people to share a single account and billing source. With a Group Plan, all of the same features of an individual plan apply, but you save $5 per person per month on the base plan charge. Billing is handled centrally by the account owner, along with data limitations for each user (if needed) — Bill Protection data usage limits are also handled on a per-person basis. Project Fi charges the group owner for everyone’s bill collectively, but can also facilitate payments back to the account admin from each member to pay their share. Individuals can come and go from a Group Plan as they wish, without any contract.

Unlike most other prepaid carriers, Project Fi is available for just a handful of phones: the Google Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 2, Moto X4, Pixel XL, Pixel, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6. You can also use a data-only SIM card with any tablet that supports the T-Mobile network.

How does it work?

Project Fi works with a special SIM card — and a little software on your phone — that can authenticate you on T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular, and switch between them on the fly based on a variety of factors. On the new Pixel 2 and 2 XL, an integrated eSIM lets you use Project Fi without a physical SIM card and quickly switch between Project Fi and another carrier’s SIM.

Using Wi-Fi for calls and texts, you can keep using your phone in places where mobile data isn’t that great. Extra software called a “Wi-Fi assistant” will automatically connect your phone to open Wi-Fi access points when you’re out of the house, reducing your data usage without any intervention on your part.

You get the power of three mobile networks, plus Wi-Fi, in a single SIM

When you use Project Fi, you also get some of the same features that have made Google Voice popular over the years. You can forward phone calls to your Fi number to any phone you want, as well as view voicemail, make calls and send texts with that number from any device using the Hangouts app and website.

Project Fi also works internationally in 120 countries around the world with no additional cost for data use or texting. You can call at a flat rate to any number while on the cellular networks abroad, or pay much lower rates when calling on Wi-Fi. You can also call back home to the U.S. on Wi-Fi for free. Data used internationally just comes out of your standard $10 per gigabyte bucket, but speeds can vary depending on the country you’re in.

What phones are available?

When Project Fi launched in 2015, the only phone that supported it was the Nexus 6. Google’s been expanding this list over the years, and while the list of compatible phones isn’t nearly on the same level as carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon, it’s one that’s growing all the time.

Along with Google’s own Pixel 2 and 2 XL, other phones that work on Project Fi include the Moto G6, LG G7, LG V35, and others.

These phones work on Project Fi

Why do I want it?

Well, this is really a personal question of whether you actually want to try Project Fi. Chances are if you’re reading Android Central you’re at least one step closer to being the target audience for the Google-powered carrier, but there are a few other boxes to check that make it the right choice for you.

Simplicity in the service and billing are paramount to the experience.

The only big issue for most people is the limited phone choices. Google lets you use its latest phones, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, on Project Fi, in addition to a small selection of handsets from Motorola and LG — including the Moto G6, LG G7, and a couple others.

If you’re okay with that limitation, you don’t have many other hurdles to jump over. You can sign up for Project Fi online in minutes, and you can either buy a Pixel phone at the same time or Google will send you a SIM card to put in your existing Pixel or Nexus. Once it arrives, you can start the typical porting process of bringing your current phone number to Fi, or can start fresh with a new number. You can use Project Fi for as long or short as you want, as there aren’t any contracts or commitments involved.

There are lots of cool features that make Project Fi a good choice, like the simplified billing, included international features and improved network coverage through the use of three carriers and Wi-Fi networks. Each one will have a different amount of draw for different people, though.

Project Fi’s pricing isn’t dramatically lower than other carriers out there, and whether it makes a good choice financially for you depends on your data usage and which features you want. We encourage you to do your pricing research before choosing which carrier is the best.

And whether you’re still on the fence or just curious about it, be sure to follow all of our Project Fi coverage here at Android Central!

See at Project Fi

Google Project Fi

• What is Project Fi?
• Get the latest Project Fi news
• Google Pixel 2 review
• Moto X4 review
• Discuss Project Fi in our forums
• Sign up for Project Fi!

The $5 Philips Dusk-to-Dawn LED bulbs have a sensor to detect sunlight

A dusk-to-dawn sensor sounds like a bright idea.

Three Philips Dusk-to-Dawn A19 frosted soft white light bulbs are down to $15.10 total on Amazon. This 3-pack normally sells for around $24 and often goes as high as $27. The drop to $15 is the lowest we have ever seen.

These energy efficient bulbs use less energy than their 60W incandescent equivalent and are Energy Star certified. They will also last 10 times longer with up to 22,000 hours of life. They deliver 2700 Kelvin light, and the Dusk-to-Dawn tech includes a built-in sensor to turn on and off automatically with the sun. The bulbs are covered by a 10-year warranty. Users give them 4.5 stars based on 582 reviews.

See on Amazon

OnePlus 6T: Differences between unlocked and T-Mobile versions

Best answer: The OnePlus 6T is effectively the same no matter where you buy it, but the T-Mobile version has a couple of restrictions. It doesn’t have dual SIM functionality, is SIM locked when it’s financed, and only comes in one color, RAM and storage configuration. Unless you want to use T-Mobile’s financing or trade-in offers, you’re best buying a 6T directly from OnePlus.

OnePlus: OnePlus 6T ($549)

The OnePlus 6T is mostly the same no matter where you buy it

Here’s the good thing: the T-Mobile “version” of the OnePlus 6T is effectively identical to the unlocked model when it comes to its hardware. It has all of the same specs, features and capabilities. T-Mobile isn’t changing the software on the OnePlus 6T, and only pre-installs two necessary apps (the main T-Mobile app and a SIM unlocking app), so you don’t have anything to worry about there. It’s fully functional.

On the other side of the equation, the unlocked OnePlus 6T works great on T-Mobile too, including VoLTE calling and Wi-Fi calling.

There are a few T-Mobile optimizations, and restrictions

The first thing you get for buying a OnePlus 6T from T-Mobile is proper optimization for its network. Every OnePlus 6T is certified to work with T-Mobile, and the unlocked models have the same network bands, but T-Mobile has spent extra time to tune and test the phones it sells. How will that affect your real-world use? It’s hard to tell, really — but you can know you’ll never have an issue with a OnePlus 6T purchased from T-Mobile, and the carrier will back up and support the phone it sold being used on its network.

T-Mobile’s additions are minimal, but so are its restrictions.

The trade-off for that optimization is a couple of omissions and restrictions. Like all other T-Mobile phones, the OnePlus 6T is SIM locked so long as it’s being financed by the carrier. You’ll need to finance the phone in order to get its great trade-in savings, so that’s something to keep in mind. T-Mobile makes it easy to request an unlock using an app, but you have to meet the requirements — basically the phone has to be active for 40 days, paid off, not reported stolen and attached to your T-Mobile account in good standing.

For the tinkerers and gotta-have-it-now Android fans, T-Mobile’s OnePlus 6T has extra restrictions. The carrier’s version cannot use the OnePlus Open Beta software builds, so you’ll have to wait for the official software releases to get all of the latest features on your phone. Those releases may come a little slower as well, considering they need to go through the extra level of certification and testing for T-Mobile’s network — though they are assuring customers that their partnership will get those updates out as quickly as possible.

The only other shortcoming is in your configuration options. T-Mobile only has the OnePlus 6T in the “Mirror Black” finish, not the sleeker Midnight Black. It also only comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Pricing is the same, $580, no matter where you get the 8GB/128GB model, but if you want to save the $30 and get the base model, or spend $50 extra for 256GB of storage, you’ll have to buy from OnePlus.

Unless you need to financing or trade-in deal, you should buy unlocked

All of that leads up to this: which one should you buy? Most people should buy the OnePlus 6T unlocked. When you do, you get to choose between both colors and multiple RAM and storage options. You also get a hassle-free unlocked SIM slot, while retaining full T-Mobile compatibility.

If you plan on staying with T-Mobile, you can benefit from its financing and trade-in offerings.

But there are still good reasons to just buy from T-Mobile. The OnePlus 6T costs the same no matter where you get it, but T-Mobile offers 24-month no-interest financing to make it even more affordable. The carrier also has trade-in deals so you can save hundreds of dollars on the up-front cost when you bring in an old phone. No matter how you feel about the restrictions of this model, that may make up your mind right there.

If you plan on staying with T-Mobile for the life of the phone, you won’t care about its restrictions of an initially locked SIM slot and limited version choices. If you want to sell the phone later, you’ll prefer to have an unlocked model to ease that process. And of course if you want to save $30 up front with the base model, or spring the extra $50 for 256GB of storage, you’ll need to buy from OnePlus.

Our pick

OnePlus 6T

$549 at OnePlus

Buy unlocked if you can, but know you know the restrictions ahead of time T-Mobile is a fine choice.

When you buy the OnePlus 6T unlocked, you get to choose different colors, RAM and storage options. You also don’t have to deal with having a locked SIM slot. You just miss out on T-Mobile’s financing and trade-in deals.