All current OnePlus smartphones compared: OnePlus 7 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 vs. OnePlus 6T
At OnePlus' launch event for this year on May 14, the direct successor to the OnePlus 6T was announced, the OnePlus 7. Furthermore, OnePlus prospective buyers are spoiled for choice this year with the OnePlus 7 Pro. Is an upgrade from the 2018 generation to the current 7 series worth it? For whom is which model from OnePlus' current product range the right one? Our comparison between the OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 6T should bring clarity to this. The detailed technical data for the three smartphones can be found in the corresponding individual reviews for each OnePlus phone – the latter can be found here: OnePlus 7 Pro - OnePlus 7 - OnePlus 6T. We'll only go over the more important differences between the OnePlus models in this article, and we'll identify the influence that these differences have on everyday usage. The focus here will be on ergonomics, cameras and system performance as well as speakers. The following table summarizes the main differences between the three OnePlus smartphones in a compact way.
OnePlus 6T | OnePlus 7 | OnePlus 7 Pro | |
---|---|---|---|
Size | 157.5 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm | 157.7 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm | 162.6 x 76 x 8.8 mm |
Weight | 185 grams | 182 grams | 210 grams |
Display | 6.41-inch with notch | 6.41-inch with notch | 6.67-inch without notch |
Full HD+ | Full HD+ | QHD+ 3120 x 1440 pixels | |
Optic AMOLED | Optic AMOLED | Fluid AMOLED | |
60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 to 90 Hz | |
flat | flat | curved on the sides | |
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 630 | Qualcomm Adreno 640 | Qualcomm Adreno 640 |
Storage | 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 128, 256 GB UFS 3.0 | 128, 256 GB UFS 3.0 |
Front-facing camera | 16 MP Sony IMX 371, f/2.0 | 16 MP, F/2.0 Sony IMX471 | Pop-Up camera 16 MP, F/2.0 Sony IMX471 |
Rear-facing cameras | 16 MP Sony IMX 519, f/1.7 | 48 MP, OIS, F/1.6 Sony IMX586 | 48 MP, OIS, F/1.6 Sony IMX586 |
20 MP, Sony IMX 376K, f/1.7 | 5 MP depth camera F/2.4 | Telephoto 3x zoom, 8 MP, F/2.4, 78 mm focal length | |
- | - | ultra-wide angle 16 MP, F/2.2 117 degree radius | |
Battery | 3,700 mAh | 3,700 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
Speakers | mono speaker | stereo speakers | stereo speakers |
Most recent software for camera test | 9.0.14 | 9.5.5 | 9.5.7 |
Case and ergonomics - There are differences between the OnePlus 7 and 6T
At first glance the body of the OnePlus 7 looks unchanged compared to its predecessor. But appearances are deceiving; the Chinese manufacturer managed to make noticeable improvements in terms of ergonomics in the body of the OnePlus 7. The transition from the glass back side to the metal frame is clearly more "round" and less angular. The back is bent a little bit stronger so that the OnePlus 7 feels thinner and more ergonomic in the hand. The OnePlus 7 model is minimally lighter than the OnePlus 6T, but differences in terms of weight or size are not apparent.
The changes are evident in regard to the rear-facing cameras. While the OnePlus 6T can be used without issues when it's lying on the table, the OnePlus 7 wobbles when the display is touched due to its protruding camera module.
The OnePlus 7 Pro is not only larger and primarily heavier than its model counterparts lacking the "Pro" suffix on paper, a noticeable difference between the Pro model and the OnePlus 7 can be perceived in the hand too. Users who favor smartphones with a rather compact build should be aware of the OnePlus 7 Pro's dimensions. At 8.8 mm it's also minimally thicker than the OnePlus 7 and 6T. But the design with its rounded display edges conceals the size and case thickness quite well. However, one-handed use is barely possible. In the same way, the usage of the side buttons is also hindered due to the dimensions.
Image quality of the camera modules - The OnePlus 6T can't keep up anymore
We will limit this comparison to the Photo -, Portrait - and Night mode, which are all integrated into the camera app in the OnePlus smartphones. In order to ensure that the photos are comparable, all camera settings are left in their respective factory states so that the resulting resolution for the photos taken is as follows: OnePlus 7 Pro - 12 MP, OnePlus 7 - 12 MP, OnePlus 6T - 16 MP. At the time of conducting the camera comparison, the most recent software version is installed on each smartphone. A 3x zoom was manually selected on all smartphones for the zoom photos.
So as to better identify the differences in image details between the comparison devices, all photo files are available with their respective photos.
Under very good lighting conditions, the photos taken with the OnePlus 7 smartphones look unexpectedly very different. In terms of focus, the OnePlus 7 Pro is a clear step ahead of its sibling model lacking the "Pro" addition in its product description. The bokeh effects in portrait are more successful and the blur transitions are carried out in a better way. However, the horse's colors are saturated too strongly – the OnePlus 7 does a better job here. But precisely in the area of the grass, the photo taken with the Pro model has by far the best sharpness of all photos compared. The flower composition is, with the OnePlus 7, qualitatively also one step below the One Plus 7 Pro. In terms of exposure and sharpness, there is still a need for the software to catch up. The photos taken with the OnePlus 7 look over-sharpened and a bit too cold as well.
But how are things compared to the 6T? With the current software version of the OnePlus 7 the qualitative differences with the camera aren't particularly significant when there is sufficient daylight. From the perspective of contrast and color accuracy, we like the photos taken with the OnePlus 7 a bit better. In return, the 6T has fewer issues with exposure and over-sharpening. If it's assumed that a similar image quality to the OnePlus 7 Pro can be achieved through software updates, a OnePlus 7 should offer visible advantages in terms of image details and image sharpness compared to the 6T in the future then.
The 6T already starts to show visible image noise in twilight, and the blurriness in the photos is visibly increased. The photos with the two Sony IMX586 smartphones, the OnePlus 7 Pro and OnePlus 7, show significantly more details and sharpness in low light. The 4-in-1 pixel binning in the OnePlus 7 smartphones increases the light sensitivity in photos taken under poor lighting conditions, which results in our subjects being better illuminated. On the other hand, photos taken with the 6T look somewhat darker and show considerably less dynamic range. Furthermore, we found the photos with the 6T clearly too cold.
The differences between the Chinese manufacturer's two OnePlus 7 models are fewer, as expected. Compared to the OnePlus 7 Pro, the OnePlus 7 achieves less image noise in the photo taken in twilight and produces better image sharpness with the street composition. But this scenario shifts when activating Night mode. The OnePlus 7 Pro has the best sharpness and mainly better dynamic range in its photos in this case.
In terms of the 3x zoom, image objects are poorly separated from one another with the 6T and structures as well as details are barely reproduced in the photos. The photos taken with the OnePlus 7 Pro are the least noisy and show the best image sharpness. The Pro model is the best one at preserving details. The noise and blur are visibly more pronounced in the photos taken with the 6T compared to the OnePlus 7.
How do the front-facing cameras in the OnePlus smartphones perform in comparison? The OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro don't differ much in terms of sharpness, dynamic range and color fastness. The differences compared to the 6T are a lot more striking since it can't keep up with the good selfie quality of the OnePlus 7 smartphones especially due to its image sharpness and color management. The lack of dynamic range is also very noticeable in the areas showing the sky and clouds.
In low light, images become massively noisy very quickly with the 6T. Images show a strong soft-focus effect in addition. The structures in the beard and details are barely recognizable. The best camera in our selfie comparison is the pop-up camera in the OnePlus 7 Pro. This one shows the least image noise, and the white balance in the photos is the best one too.
Display and handling - The vibration motor in the OnePlus 7 Pro makes the difference
The fingerprint scanner can be found under the display in all three OnePlus smartphones and is of the optical type. The in-display fingerprint scanner in the OnePlus 6T isn't among the fastest sensors on the market, but it unlocks the Chinese manufacturer's 2018 model accurately and relatively reliably. However, the biometric identification through fingerprint works considerably faster in the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro. According to the manufacturer, the sensor is not only faster but also significantly larger. The camera, which is responsible for the recognition of fingerprints, was also improved resulting in an increased reliability. As a matter of fact, the recognition rate is indeed perceived to be better than with the OnePlus 6T.
One of the most underrated everyday-use differences between the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro is the vibration motor used in each one. The latter is of such high quality in the Pro model that only Apple's Tactic Engine or a Google Pixel 3 XL can keep up with it. The precision of the mechanical feedback is so accurate with the OnePlus 7 Pro that a mechanical key-press when typing is simulated powerfully and almost naturally.
Compared to the 6T, the OnePlus 7 provides a slightly improved vibration feedback. Nonetheless, the differences between the vibration motors in both smartphones are only marginal compared to the Pro model.
Things look different when it comes to the displays. Compared to the 6T, the OnePlus 7 offers a noticeably brighter OLED panel. The OnePlus 7 model is able to provide almost 200 cd/m² more in terms of maximum brightness compared to its predecessor, according to our measurements. Precisely, in sunny weather this difference is enormous. The 1080p resolution remains unchanged compared to the 6T. Users looking for more display sharpness will have to resort to the Pro model.
The OnePlus 7 Pro boasts a piercingly sharp display with its fluid AMOLED panel featuring a 1440p resolution. The difference between its 515 PPI and the 402 PPI of the OnePlus 7 can only be noticed when making a direct comparison. When using the Pro model for longer periods, text looks a bit fuzzy in the "normal" 7 model though. In addition, the display in the Pro model can be used at a higher refresh rate, which enables very smooth movements on the screen. When scrolling quickly, the 90 Hz screen places the OnePlus 7 Pro in a league of its own. Everything looks buttery smooth. The very fast OnePlus 7 looks choppier and also less responsive in direct comparison.
OnePlus 6T Optic AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.41 | OnePlus 7 AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.41 | OnePlus 7 Pro AMOLED, 3120x1440, 6.67 | |
---|---|---|---|
Response Times | |||
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 12 ? | 8 ? | 6 ? |
Response Time Black / White * | 6 ? | 6 ? | 6 ? |
PWM Frequency | 240 ? | 200 | 122 |
Screen | |||
Brightness middle | 437 | 603 | 586 |
Brightness | 442 | 605 | 584 |
Brightness Distribution | 95 | 94 | 97 |
Black Level * | |||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.21 | 3.5 | 1.39 |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.27 | 7.7 | 2.7 |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.6 |
Gamma | 2.307 95% | 2.266 97% | 2.243 98% |
CCT | 6353 102% | 6775 96% | 6672 97% |
Total Average (Program / Settings) |
* ... smaller is better
Everyday performance - The OnePlus 7 Pro is the ultimate benchmark
Qualcomm's new chipset generation, which can be found in the OnePlus 7 models, provides a clear performance improvement compared to the Snapdragon 845 in the OnePlus 6T. This can also be observed in our benchmark measurements. Will this plus in performance be noticeable in everyday use too? Yes, although not significantly.
In direct comparison, the system navigation is more responsive with the OnePlus 7 and demanding content is loaded visibly faster in the browser. Application loading times are also noticeably lower in the OnePlus 7 models due to the very fast UFS 3.0 storage. Especially with sequential access, the internal storage is twice as fast compared to the UFS 2.1 storage found in the OnePlus 6T. This plus in reading speed shouldn't be underestimated when loading demanding games.
There are barely any differences in speed between the OnePlus 7 and the Pro model despite the OnePlus 7 Pro having to deal with the clearly higher resolution. Rather, the Pro model looks considerably smoother and more consistent in performance with its 90-Hz display.
AnTuTu v7 | |
Total Score | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
CPU | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
GPU | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
UX | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T | |
MEM | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T |
Geekbench 4.4 | |
64 Bit Single-Core Score | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
Compute RenderScript Score | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 | |
64 Bit Multi-Core Score | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 | |
T-Rex Onscreen | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T |
GFXBench 3.0 | |
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T |
GFXBench 3.1 | |
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T |
GFXBench | |
on screen Car Chase Onscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
OnePlus 6T | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 |
AndroBench 3-5 | |
Random Write 4KB | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
Random Read 4KB | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 6T | |
Sequential Read 256KB | |
OnePlus 7 Pro | |
OnePlus 7 | |
OnePlus 6T |
* ... smaller is better
The Qualcomm Adreno 630 is still one of the fastest graphics solutions for smartphones on the market. It's no surprise then that the OnePlus 6T doesn't have any issues running modern games either. In comparison with the OnePlus 7 model, the frame drops are a bit more pronounced with the 6T, but this doesn't play any role in day-to-day gaming with the smartphone.
High frame rates are no hurdle for the OnePlus 7 Pro with its 1440p display either. Despite Arena of Valor actually supporting the highest frame rate, we reached in our measurements a value of "only" 60 fps. In this case the Pro model doesn't currently offer any advantage over the OnePlus 7 yet, but game developers will surely adjust their games to 90 Hz in the future, if this becomes a new standard in the high-end segment.
In regard to performance throttling there is an evident difference between the OnePlus 7 models and the OnePlus 6T, which can become more important during long gaming sessions in the summer. Under full load, the case temperatures in the OnePlus 6T can increase to a level that is just under the critical 50-°C (~122 °F) mark. However, the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro also show strong heat development at the front, which is naturally accompanied by strong heat development in the inside of the OnePlus smartphones and can lead to phones having to throttle performance components in order to prevent overheating. At least with the OnePlus 6T: The GFXBench app's battery test reveals that after 30 runs of the demanding Manhattan 3.1 benchmark, just under 66% of the original performance power is available.
But how does it look with the 2019 generation of the OnePlus smartphones? Even when the Chinese manufacturer only makes mention of liquid cooling with the Pro model, the Snapdragon 855 in the OnePlus 7 fortunately only throttles minimally even under sustained load, as we were able to determine with the GFXBench battery test. There are slight drops in frame rates, but only a few percent of the performance capacity is affected by this. The liquid cooling in the OnePlus 7 Pro, which should allow for even more performance capacity, doesn't aid the flagship smartphone in achieving a higher stability in terms of performance. The Pro model also throttles minimally in our tests and on the same level as a OnePlus 7.
Asphalt 9 Legends
Arena of Valor
Speakers - Stereo speakers in OnePlus 7 (Pro)
There are big differences between the 2018 and 2019 generation of OnePlus smartphones in terms of speakers too. The mono speaker in the OnePlus 6T was finally replaced with stereo speakers, which results in a significantly audible advantage for the OnePlus 7 models. Both the OnePlus 7 and the Pro model make use of the earpiece and the bottom speaker in order to reproduce stereo sound for music playback or video content.
The mono speaker in the OnePlus 6T is not bad, but the OnePlus 7 offers considerably higher maximum volume alongside the stereo effect, more deep mids and an overall more decent sound pattern. The unpleasant rasping sound of the mono speaker in the 6T, which is noticeable while listening to singing at high volumes, is no longer part of the sound experience with the OnePlus 7 model.
The sound pattern of the OnePlus 7 Pro also convinces us through its very present mids and very loud music reproduction of almost 91 dB(A). The sound is a bit dull though so that the high tones sink. The speakers in the OnePlus 7 sound a bit clearer; they are configured with more linear highs and have the better stereo sound. The earpiece in the Pro model sounds considerably thinner than the dedicated bottom speaker.
OnePlus 6T audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 62.9% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 62.9% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 62.9% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (116.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
OnePlus 7 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 70.9% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 70.9% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 70.9% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (118.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 5% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
OnePlus 7 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 87% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 87% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 87% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (123.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 92% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 97% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life - Little differences between the OnePlus smartphones
The energy consumption of the OnePlus 7 is significantly below the Pro model according to our measurements, which should be attributed mainly to the large 90-Hz display with a 1440p resolution. Therefore it's also no surprise that the OnePlus 7 provides better battery runtimes than the ones we identified for the Pro model, despite the latter being equipped with a slightly larger battery. The runtimes of the OnePlus 6T are a bit below the OnePlus 7 model due to its less efficient processor.
There are no changes in regard to the fast-charging technology, however. Both the OnePlus 7 and the 6T are charged with the manufacturer's in-house Warp Charge technology, which provides 20 watts of charging capacity at most. Warp Charge 30, which is charging with up to 30 watts, is limited to the OnePlus 7 Pro. This gives the Pro model a 30-minute advantage compared to the other two OnePlus smartphones. The OnePlus 7 Pro charges from 0 to 100% in just over an hour.
OnePlus 6T 3700 mAh | OnePlus 7 3700 mAh | OnePlus 7 Pro 4000 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | |||
Reader / Idle | 1936 | 1989 | 1745 |
H.264 | 903 | 933 | 802 |
WiFi v1.3 | 865 | 901 | 768 |
Load | 261 | 278 | 236 |
Verdict - The roles of the OnePlus phones are clearly distributed
If you are not bothered by the size and the quite heavy weight as well as the strongly rounded display edges of the OnePlus 7 Pro, the price premium of around 150 Euros (~$170) is a worthy investment for you, in our opinion. The camera quality of the Sony IMX586 is more pleasing at the time of writing this review. On top of this, the Pro model offers the best zoom and the possibility to take wide-angle photos, even when the latter's quality is not on a high-end level as is shown in our flagship smartphone camera comparison. The very pleasing vibration motor, a notch-less look, the noticeably higher smoothness of the system user interface through the higher refresh rate of the OLED display as well as the visibly higher image sharpness of the 1440p panel come together for a different experience when using the Pro model.
However, these advantages come at the cost of battery life. Users who place a lot of value on battery power should resort rather to the "normal" OnePlus 7, because even in 60-Hz mode the runtimes of the Pro version don't come close to those of the smaller 7-series model. The same goes for the speakers. The combination of earpiece and bottom speaker results in a better stereo effect in the OnePlus 7, and we found the sound quality convincing with more present highs.
All roads lead to the OnePlus 7 Pro for performance enthusiasts. For lovers of compact phones, the OnePlus 7 is the best choice.
The OnePlus 6T is without a doubt still a very good smartphone, but the OnePlus 7 offers, partly in a considerable way, more in many areas: Slightly longer battery life, more comfortable ergonomics, a faster fingerprint scanner, a better dual-camera setup – especially with night shots – more performance and significantly faster storage. These last two things help the OnePlus 7 achieve a performance advantage that can be perceived in everyday use compared to the 6T and that goes beyond the pure benchmark figures. On top of that, there are the very good stereo speakers. The OnePlus 7 model is the better choice for those who consume a lot of music or video content on their phones.
But the OnePlus 7 is also the logical choice for gamers. Contrary to the 6T, no performance components need to be throttled in the OnePlus 7 in order to prevent overheating. The 2019 generation of the OnePlus smartphone is not only more reliable in terms of performance here but also more future-proof due to the more modern Qualcomm SoC.
Whether a new purchase is worth it for owners of the OnePlus 6T remains naturally a matter of taste, but the differences between the two OnePlus phones are so clear in certain application scenarios that an upgrade is definitely worthwhile. If you're looking for a compact OnePlus smartphone, you should resort to the OnePlus 7 model. The sum of the differences between both smartphones results in the OnePlus 7 being the better overall package, for which we believe the current price premium of around 100 Euros (~$114) is justified.