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OnePlus 5T Smartphone Review

It is back! Only a few months after its predecessor was released, OnePlus has now presented its newest smartphone. The OnePlus 5T comes in the modern 2:1 format and has improved cameras. But are there enough changes for it to be a convincing update?
Update: OxygenOS 5.1 (Android 8.1) released.
OnePlus 5T

A new smartphone every six months. This is the rhythm OnePlus has chosen for itself. Of course, we must add that the manufacturer follows the rare strategy of only having one single model available at any given time, and focusing its efforts on that. The OnePlus 5T is now the seventh smartphone from OnePlus, and is a development of the OnePlus 5. (The number four was left out, as this number is considered unlucky in China. Instead, OnePlus produced the slightly cheaper OnePlus X.)

We were already very happy with the OnePlus 5, although it was not as good an offer as its predecessor and the camera could not really keep up with those of its high-end competitors. Then there were the strange design decisions OnePlus made: The screen was built in upside-down and the microphone channels were mixed up when filming. So, today's test unit has the opportunity to repair several small issues and has not increased in price: The version with 64 GB of storage and 6 GB RAM, is available for $500, while the other version (our test unit) with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM costs $560. This is still a good price for a smartphone that can boast high-end components.

The price of OnePlus smartphones is usually very stable as they are almost exclusively sold via the manufacturer's website. Flagship phones from Samsung and other manufacturers often drop in price quite quickly. The Sony Xperia XZ1, for example, is already available for less than $500 - and the Samsung Galaxy S8+ is coming close to this price range as well. The Asus Zenfone 4, on the other hand, was priced at $400 at launch, but offers less top-class features. The LG V30 also features the trendy 2:1 format, but its price remains high, as has the Google Pixel 2 XL.

Update 5/3/2018: OnePlus has released a new firmware for the OnePlus 5T. Details can be found in the software section of this review.

OnePlus 5T (5 Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998) 8 x 2.5 GHz, Kryo 280
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
Display
6.01 inch 2:1, 2160 x 1080 pixel 402 PPI, capacitive screen, AMOLED, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5, glossy: yes
Storage
128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash, 128 GB 
, 111 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Hall sensor, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, proximity, RGB, sensor hub, USB Type C
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM (850/​900/​1800/​1900), UMTS (850/​900/​1700/​1900/​2100), LTE (B1/​B2/​B3/​B4/​B5/​B7/​B8/​B12/​B17/​B18/​B19/​B20/​B25/​B26/​B28/​B29/​B30/​B34/​B38/​B39/​B40/​B41/​B66), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.3 x 156.1 x 75 ( = 0.29 x 6.15 x 2.95 in)
Battery
12.5 Wh, 3300 mAh Lithium-Ion, Dash Charge (5V 4A)
Operating System
Android 7.1 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 16 MPix dual-camera: Sony IMX 298, 1.12μm, f/1.7, focal: 27.22 mm, dual-LED flash, || 20 MPix IMX 376K, 1.0 μm, focal: 27.22 mm, video: 4K@30fps
Secondary Camera: 16 MPix Sensor IMX 371, pixel size: 1.0 μm, aperture: f/2.0, 1080p@30fps
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker on bottom edge, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, Power Supply, case, SIM tool, 24 Months Warranty, bandwidth (downlad/upload): 600Mbps/150Mbps (LTE); SAR values: 1.41 W/kg (body), 0.51 W/kg (head), fanless
Weight
162 g ( = 5.71 oz / 0.36 pounds), Power Supply: 106 g ( = 3.74 oz / 0.23 pounds)
Price
559 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Unusual: The OnePlus 5T has only grown minimally compared to its predecessor. The change from 16:9 to 2:1 screens normally means that the smartphone becomes longer, but less wide. This is not the case with the OnePlus 5T - it is actually a little wider and thicker than before. However, the differences are within one millimeter, so are hardly noticeable. Still, the OnePlus 5T is not as slim as the Samsung Galaxy S8+, for example, which is easy to use even for users with small hands. 

This means that the OnePlus 5T is also missing this unusual, modern design - it looks quite similar to the OnePlus 5. The narrow bezels on the left and right of the screen remain, so the display does not appear as borderless as on the Samsung Galaxy S8+ or the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, where the edges of the screen are rounded.

Until now, the OnePlus 5T was only available in Midnight Black, but the manufacturer is known for occasionally offering special editions of its smartphones, for example, the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition. The fingerprint sensor has moved to the back, which enables significantly narrower bezels on the top and bottom compared to the OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 3T. But, this also means that the navigation keys below the screen are missing. The phone feels comfortable due to its rounded edges, but weighs quite a bit more than its predecessor at 162 grams (~ 5.7 oz). 

The metal case is very stable, cannot be warped, makes no noise and does not give way under pressure. In any case, there would be no waves on the screen as it is an AMOLED.

Unusual: The OnePlus 5T has only grown minimally compared to its predecessor. The change from 16:9 to 2:1 screens normally means that the smartphone becomes longer, but less wide. This is not the case with the OnePlus 5T - it is actually a little wider and also thicker than before. But the differences are within one millimeter, so are hardly noticeable. Still, the OnePlus 5T is not as slim as the Samsung Galaxy S8+, for example, which is easy to use even for users with small hands.

This means that the OnePlus 5T is also missing this unusual, modern design - it basically looks quite similar to the OnePlus 5. The narrow bezels on the left and right of the screen remain, so the display does not appear as borderless as on the Samsung Galaxy S8+ or the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, where the edges of the screen are rounded.

Until now, the OnePlus 5T was only available in Midnight Black, but the manufacturer is known for occasionally offering special editions of its smartphones, like for example the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition. The fingerprint sensor has moved to the back, which enables significantly narrower bezels on the top and bottom compared to the OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 3T. But this also means that the navigation keys below the screen are missing. The phone feels comfortable due to its rounded edges, but weighs quite a bit more than its predecessor at 162 grams (~ 5.7 oz). 

The metal case is very stable, cannot be warped, makes no noise and does not give way under pressure. In any case, there would be no waves on the screen as it is an AMOLED.

OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T

Size Comparison

159.5 mm / 6.28 inch 73.4 mm / 2.89 inch 8.1 mm / 0.3189 inch 172 g0.3792 lbs157.9 mm / 6.22 inch 76.7 mm / 3.02 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 175 g0.3858 lbs156.1 mm / 6.15 inch 75 mm / 2.95 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 162 g0.3571 lbs155.4 mm / 6.12 inch 75.2 mm / 2.96 inch 7.5 mm / 0.2953 inch 165 g0.3638 lbs154.2 mm / 6.07 inch 74.1 mm / 2.92 inch 7.25 mm / 0.2854 inch 153 g0.3373 lbs151.7 mm / 5.97 inch 75.4 mm / 2.97 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 158 g0.3483 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 73.4 mm / 2.89 inch 7.4 mm / 0.2913 inch 156 g0.3439 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The version we are testing has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of fast UFS 2.1 storage, 111 GB of which can actually be used. The OnePlus 5T supports Dual-SIM, but does not have a microSD slot for storage expansion.

Like its predecessor, our test unit has a modern USB-C port, but this only reaches USB 2.0 speeds. The port still supports USB-OTG and NFC. The phone has a wide range of sensors, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 - although this will only reach its full potential when Android 8 is installed.

top: no ports
top: no ports
bottom: 3.5-mm jack, microphone, USB-C port, speakers
bottom: 3.5-mm jack, microphone, USB-C port, speakers
right: SIM slot, standby button
right: SIM slot, standby button
left: volume rocker, switch for notifications
left: volume rocker, switch for notifications

Software

Right after turning on the device, you will be offered a software update, which installs Oxygen OS 4.7.6. This means that the OnePlus 5T still runs on Android 7.1.1, but the update to Android 8 is already in beta phase. The security patches in our test unit are dated December 1, 2017, which is very recent.

Oxygen OS offers a slim and strong operating system based on Vanilla Android, but it features some small changes: The interface can be set to a dark theme, there is a different gallery app and expanded setting options. You can, for example, activate a blue light filter, configure what is shown in the status bar or even change the system font. 

If you swipe to the right on the start screen, you will see the so-called "shelf", which enables fast access to contacts and apps. This function can also be turned off.

Update 2/1/2018: OnePlus has started rolling out the Oxygen OS 5.0.2 update (1,688 MB) based on Android 8.0 Oreo. This latest firmware also includes updates for the launcher (2.2) and the Gallery (2.0), Weather (1.9) and File Manager (1.7.6) apps. In addition, quick settings have been revamped and a security patch for the CPU (CVE-2017-13218) has been implemented. Security patches have been brought up to date (12/1/2017).

Update 5/3/2018: OnePlus has released OxygenOS 5.1.1 (764 MB) based on Android 8.1 Oreo. In addition, a bug concerning ringtones has been fixed, gesture recognition has been optimized, and the gaming mode has been enhanced.

Software OnePlus 5T
Software OnePlus 5T
Software OnePlus 5T
Software OnePlus 5T

Communication and GPS

Communication via the integrated Wi-Fi module, which also supports the very fast 802.11-ac network, is a little faster than on the OnePlus 5. But, it cannot keep up with the really fast LG V30. We measured full reception near the router and still had 3/4 reception at a distance of 10 meters (~33 ft) with three walls between the smartphone and the router. Pages load just as fast as near the router.

The OnePlus 5T even supports one LTE frequency more than its predecessor, which was already considered a real "World Phone" that should enable good reception all around the world. The maximum LTE speed is still at 600 MBit/s (download) and the phone does not support Gigabit-LTE (the Samsung Galaxy S8+ does, although it is not yet available in many countries). The OnePlus 5T's reception in the German Vodafone network in the city was always good - even indoors.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
LG V30
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
703 MBit/s +8%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
Mali-G71 MP20, Exynos 8895, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
656 MBit/s +1%
OnePlus 5T
Adreno 540, SD 835, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
650 MBit/s
OnePlus 5
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
539 MBit/s -17%
Sony Xperia XZ1
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
500 MBit/s -23%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
Adreno 508, SD 630, 64 GB eMMC Flash
329 MBit/s -49%
Google Pixel 2 XL
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
279 MBit/s -57%
iperf3 receive AX12
LG V30
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
657 MBit/s +70%
Sony Xperia XZ1
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
489 MBit/s +27%
OnePlus 5T
Adreno 540, SD 835, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
386 MBit/s
OnePlus 5
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
371 MBit/s -4%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
Mali-G71 MP20, Exynos 8895, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
368 MBit/s -5%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
Adreno 508, SD 630, 64 GB eMMC Flash
334 MBit/s -13%
Google Pixel 2 XL
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
239 MBit/s -38%
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors

The OnePlus 5T cannot locate us indoors, even near the windows. But outdoors, the smartphone quickly locates us within 6 meters (~19.6 ft).

Our practical test - a bike ride with the OnePlus 5T and the professional navigation system Garmin Edge 500 - shows that the OnePlus 5T does very well and follows our path exactly. We were surprised to see that the usually very reliable Garmin Edge had some difficulties and was very vague in some areas. The OnePlus 5T had no problems: It almost always located us exactly on the paths.

GPS Garmin Edge 500 - overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - path
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - path
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - loop
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - loop
GPS OnePlus 5T - overview
GPS OnePlus 5T - overview
GPS OnePlus 5T - path
GPS OnePlus 5T - path
GPS OnePlus 5T - loop
GPS OnePlus 5T - loop

Telephone and Call Quality

OnePlus made some small changes to Android's standard telephone app, and added some functions - like noise cancellation or automatically adding your home country's area code to numbers when you are roaming. Another nice extra: When you set the system theme to "dark", the telephone app also has a dark background and light text. The app itself works just like in most other android smartphones: There is a list for speed dialing, a list with recent calls and then contacts. You can switch between these lists via the tabs and the number pad opens when you tap a button at the bottom of the app. 

The call quality is good both via the earpiece and via the speaker, which can get quite loud. Voices sound clear and we only noticed slight distortions at a very high volume. The microphone transmits our voice well, both when talking loudly and very quietly.

Cameras

picture with front camera
picture with front camera

Unlike other manufacturers, OnePlus seems to be experimenting with the perfect concept for the dual camera. While the OnePlus 5 was equipped with one wide-angle and one telephoto lens, the two lenses on our current test unit both have the same focal length. The resolution has not changed: One of the lenses has 16, the other 20 megapixels - the lens with 16 megapixels is the same model as in the OnePlus 5. There is no optical zoom, but the aperture of the 20-megapixel lens has increased, so pictures taken with bad lighting should turn out better. While the previous camera was developed with DxOMark, this has not been mentioned for this version and the OnePlus 5T has not (yet) been listed on the DxOMark website.

The images taken with the main camera look good, the quality has improved significantly compared to the OnePlus 5: The images are sharper and lighter, but seem to have a slight blue cast. The camera of the iPhone X cannot offer better details, while that of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro displays more details, for example, of the floor or wall in the second image. The notebookcheck rabbit in the first picture also looks quite a bit sharper in the photo taken with Huawei's flagship phone. In low light, the OnePlus 5T does a good job, but the Huawei Mate 10 Pro still performs a little better with very little image noise and a sharper image. 

So, while the main camera of the OnePlus 5T has better image quality that can keep up with several high-end smartphones, other manufacturers offer the best performance in this area. We were particularly bothered by the missing optical image stabilizer, which many flagship phones are equipped with nowadays. Portrait mode creates a good bokeh effect.

The main camera records videos at a maximum of 4K and 30 fps. It can even reach 60 fps at 1080p. Sharpness and image quality are very good and lighting adapts quickly and reliably. Videos can also be made in slow motion at a maximum of 120 fps; time-lapse videos can be recorded in 1080p.

The front camera still has a resolution of 16 megapixels and variable focus. It has nice colors, and brightness and details are good.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

We took a look at the image quality of the main camera in our lab under controlled lighting conditions and with the usual test images. This showed good sharpness when displaying the reference card, although the edges are not quite clear and there were some blotches on large areas of color. Text is displayed sharply on colored background. Color display is good, only whites and light gray scales are not displayed completely correctly.

photo of reference card
photo of reference card
detail of reference card
detail of reference card
ColorChecker: The target color is in the bottom half of each box.
ColorChecker: The target color is in the bottom half of each box.

Accessories and Warranty

Apart from the rather large DashCharger and the chic USB cable in the manufacturer's colors red and white, OnePlus has included a SIM tool and even a silicone bumper for the case. As usual, you can find a wide range of accessories on the manufacturer's website, which is also available at a discount in bundles. Cases in various designs and materials can be purchased for between $20 and $30, an additional charger costs $33 and the OnePlus Bullets are available for $20.

OnePlus offers a one-year warranty on its devices. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices & Handling

The keyboard is Google's GBoard, but other keyboards can easily be downloaded from the Google Play Store. GBoard is Android's standard keyboard and offers many functions.

The touchscreen is very sensitive and responds quickly and reliably even in the corners. The new screen format has pushed the fingerprint sensor to the back, but it still works reliably, and very quickly wakes up the phone out of standby. On the right side of the device is a standby button, on the left the volume rocker. The layout is not perfect as you often have to change your hold to reach the volume buttons properly. Above the volume rocker is a notifications switch. OnePlus is famous for this button and it enables you to quickly set the phone to "do not disturb" or "silent" mode. The various modes can be configured individually.

In the settings, you will find many gestures that can be used on the OnePlus 5T: For example, the fingerprint sensor can be used to open the notification slider, you can tap the screen twice to get it out of standby mode or simply turn it over to turn off the ringtone. There are many more gestures that can be configured individually, for example, you can draw letters on the screen that trigger functions defined by you. 

OnePlus has also picked up on the current trend of face recognition and has made a little change: In order to activate face recognition, you first have to wake the smartphone via the standby button, which then activates the camera and immediately unlocks the phone once a face is recognized. This is a clever, intuitive solution that saves energy and reduces security worries over a camera that is constantly active and recognizes your own face. However, face recognition is only based on software, unlike Apple's Face ID that uses an infrared camera or 3D recognition, which means that you need good lighting and the feature can be tricked quite easily by holding an image of the user's face in front of the camera.

keyboard landscape
keyboard landscape
keyboard portrait
keyboard portrait

Display

subpixel
subpixel

The 6.01-inch AMOLED screen in the trendy 2:1 format has a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels, which corresponds to a slightly wider Full-HD screen. Other screens in high-end smartphones have even higher resolutions, for example, the Google Pixel 2 XL or the Samsung Galaxy S8+. But still, the display is sharp and you cannot see individual pixels even at close inspection. The average brightness of 423.1 cd/m² is sufficient; LCD screens have very different results. Samsung has added a function to its Galaxy flagship phones, which enables the brightness sensor to increase the brightness for a short duration if necessary, but usually, the screen of the Galaxy S8+ is a little darker than that of the OnePlus 5T. As expected, brightness distribution is even and large areas of color appear consistent.

402
cd/m²
420
cd/m²
434
cd/m²
407
cd/m²
425
cd/m²
434
cd/m²
416
cd/m²
431
cd/m²
439
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 439 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 423.1 cd/m² Minimum: 2.13 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 425 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.32
OnePlus 5T
AMOLED, 2160x1080, 6.01
Sony Xperia XZ1
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.20
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Google Pixel 2 XL
P-OLED, 2880x1440, 6.00
LG V30
OLED, 2880x1440, 6.00
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
Super AMOLED, 2960x1440, 6.20
OnePlus 5
AMOLED, 1920x1080, 5.50
Screen
-23%
-47%
-16%
-61%
20%
6%
Brightness middle
425
620
46%
656
54%
415
-2%
432
2%
560
32%
426
0%
Brightness
423
610
44%
634
50%
420
-1%
428
1%
562
33%
431
2%
Brightness Distribution
92
93
1%
93
1%
87
-5%
87
-5%
93
1%
93
1%
Black Level *
0.79
0.4
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.1
4.2
-100%
5.3
-152%
2.7
-29%
4.18
-99%
1.7
19%
1.6
24%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.4
5.8
-71%
7.8
-129%
4.3
-26%
8.53
-151%
3.4
-0%
4.1
-21%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.5
3.9
-56%
5.2
-108%
3.3
-32%
5.3
-112%
1.6
36%
1.7
32%
Gamma
2.32 95%
2.02 109%
2.22 99%
2.36 93%
2.33 94%
2.13 103%
2.25 98%
CCT
6455 101%
7086 92%
7905 82%
6787 96%
7487 87%
6435 101%
6329 103%
Contrast
785
1640
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
81.57
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99.87

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 242.7 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 242.7 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 242.7 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Due to the AMOLED screen, we do not need to worry about the black value and contrast: Both are perfect and colors appear strong and vivid. Sensitive users might be bothered by the PWM flickering at only 243 Hz.

You can choose between various color spaces in the settings menu: The standard setting, sRGB, AdobeRGB, DCI P3 and a personalized setting for the white balance. We have tested the three available color spaces with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software in our lab tests. Color accuracy is very good in general and compared to other smartphones - the best coverage is in sRGB mode. AdobeRGB shows a noticeable blue cast, but color space coverage is very good for all color spaces, although the CalMAN results are more like guidelines.

CalMAN color accuracy - DCI P3
CalMAN color accuracy - DCI P3
CalMAN color space - DCI P3
CalMAN color space - DCI P3
CalMAN gray scales - DCI P3
CalMAN gray scales - DCI P3
CalMAN saturation - DCI P3
CalMAN saturation - DCI P3
CalMAN color accuracy - sRGB
CalMAN color accuracy - sRGB
CalMAN color space - sRGB
CalMAN color space - sRGB
CalMAN gray scales - sRGB
CalMAN gray scales - sRGB
CalMAN saturation - sRGB
CalMAN saturation - sRGB
CalMAN color accuracy - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN color accuracy - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN color space - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN color space - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN gray scales - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN gray scales - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN saturation - AdobeRGB (standard)
CalMAN saturation - AdobeRGB (standard)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
4.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2.8 ms rise
↘ 2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 12 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
4.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2 ms rise
↘ 2.8 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 11 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The OnePlus 5T can be used outdoors, although reflections on the screen can occasionally make it difficult to read the screen in very bright surroundings. The brightness sensor reacts quite quickly, but is occasionally a little dark. By the way, the dark lines on the image come from the PWM flickering mentioned above, which the smartphone uses to lower the brightness. With a naked eye, they are only perceivable as a slight flickering by sensitive users.

The viewing angles are good in general, but the lack of color at very wide angles is noticeable.

viewing angles
viewing angles
outdoor use – maximum brightness
outdoor use – maximum brightness
outdoor use – brightness sensor
outdoor use – brightness sensor
outdoor use – medium brightness
outdoor use – medium brightness
outdoor use – minimum brightness
outdoor use – minimum brightness

Performance

The results are a little better than those of most devices equipped with the Snapdragon 835. We would like to congratulate the OnePlus 5T for it, but unfortunately, there is a slight bitter aftertaste: OnePlus has been caught manipulating its benchmark results on several occasions - for example by setting the device to allow higher processor temperatures when it recognizes benchmarks or manipulating media's test units. We already mentioned this in our review of the OnePlus 5. According to experts from www.xda-developers.com (who first noticed the manipulations on the OnePlus 5), the manufacturer is supposed to have let go of this habit for the OnePlus 5T. To be sure, we did not run the benchmarks on the device provided by OnePlus, but on one we purchased ourselves. As the results are still very high, we are carefully optimistic that OnePlus might have really managed to get the most out of the processor without having to cheat.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
172124 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
167748 Points -3%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
68282 Points -60%
Google Pixel 2 XL
166151 Points -3%
LG V30
173749 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
165382 Points -4%
OnePlus 5
177156 Points +3%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
177341 Points +3%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
7739 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
7056 Points -9%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
6264 Points -19%
Google Pixel 2 XL
8258 Points +7%
LG V30
6854 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
5830 Points -25%
OnePlus 5
7826 Points +1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
8439 Points +9%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
6595 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
6443 Points -2%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
5085 Points -23%
Google Pixel 2 XL
6994 Points +6%
LG V30
5603 Points -15%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
5195 Points -21%
OnePlus 5
6579 Points 0%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
6932 Points +5%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
3678 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
2909 Points -21%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1513 Points -59%
Google Pixel 2 XL
3351 Points -9%
LG V30
2702 Points -27%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3301 Points -10%
OnePlus 5
3790 Points +3%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3147 Points -14%
System (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
5872 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
5840 Points -1%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
3319 Points -43%
Google Pixel 2 XL
5914 Points +1%
LG V30
4238 Points -28%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
5319 Points -9%
OnePlus 5
5902 Points +1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
5244 Points -11%
Memory (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
3845 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
1752 Points -54%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1380 Points -64%
Google Pixel 2 XL
2927 Points -24%
LG V30
2091 Points -46%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3135 Points -18%
OnePlus 5
4423 Points +15%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
4142 Points +8%
Graphics (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
6100 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
5923 Points -3%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1496 Points -75%
Google Pixel 2 XL
6142 Points +1%
LG V30
5949 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
6126 Points 0%
OnePlus 5
6144 Points +1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3657 Points -40%
Web (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
1329 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
1181 Points -11%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
766 Points -42%
Google Pixel 2 XL
1186 Points -11%
LG V30
1009 Points -24%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
1163 Points -12%
OnePlus 5
1287 Points -3%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1234 Points -7%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
1962 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
1856 Points -5%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
865 Points -56%
Google Pixel 2 XL
1916 Points -2%
LG V30
1900 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
2015 Points +3%
OnePlus 5
1973 Points +1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1898 Points -3%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
6670 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
6493 Points -3%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
4172 Points -37%
Google Pixel 2 XL
6253 Points -6%
LG V30
6078 Points -9%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
6695 Points 0%
OnePlus 5
6799 Points +2%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
6792 Points +2%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
8000 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
7979 Points 0%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
3942 Points -51%
Google Pixel 2 XL
7568 Points -5%
LG V30
8016 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
8295 Points +4%
OnePlus 5
8005 Points 0%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
8572 Points +7%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
42022 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
31618 Points -25%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
16841 Points -60%
Google Pixel 2 XL
39456 Points -6%
LG V30
34139 Points -19%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
29282 Points -30%
OnePlus 5
40229 Points -4%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
30590 Points -27%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
58097 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
47857 Points -18%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
18386 Points -68%
Google Pixel 2 XL
54156 Points -7%
LG V30
55271 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
33077 Points -43%
OnePlus 5
58001 Points 0%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
34008 Points -41%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
21348 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
23046 Points +8%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
13014 Points -39%
Google Pixel 2 XL
20233 Points -5%
LG V30
14601 Points -32%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
20892 Points -2%
OnePlus 5
19411 Points -9%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
22629 Points +6%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
4816 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
4649 Points -3%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1374 Points -71%
Google Pixel 2 XL
4831 Points 0%
LG V30
4738 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3958 Points -18%
OnePlus 5
4219 Points -12%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3239 Points -33%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
5791 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
6057 Points +5%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1289 Points -78%
Google Pixel 2 XL
5856 Points +1%
LG V30
5895 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
4786 Points -17%
OnePlus 5
4765 Points -18%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3353 Points -42%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
3031 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
2564 Points -15%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1785 Points -41%
Google Pixel 2 XL
2995 Points -1%
LG V30
2808 Points -7%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
2465 Points -19%
OnePlus 5
3012 Points -1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2896 Points -4%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
3758 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
3673 Points -2%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
835 Points -78%
Google Pixel 2 XL
3646 Points -3%
LG V30
3635 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3188 Points -15%
OnePlus 5
3566 Points -5%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2850 Points -24%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
4016 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
3961 Points -1%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
726 Points -82%
Google Pixel 2 XL
3872 Points -4%
LG V30
3903 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3479 Points -13%
OnePlus 5
3757 Points -6%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2844 Points -29%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
3068 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
2928 Points -5%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
1751 Points -43%
Google Pixel 2 XL
3028 Points -1%
LG V30
2931 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
2466 Points -20%
OnePlus 5
3026 Points -1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2871 Points -6%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
60 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
60 fps 0%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
29 fps -52%
Google Pixel 2 XL
59 fps -2%
LG V30
60 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
58 fps -3%
OnePlus 5
60 fps 0%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
60 fps 0%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
113 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
111 fps -2%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
30 fps -73%
Google Pixel 2 XL
112 fps -1%
LG V30
113 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
104 fps -8%
OnePlus 5
115 fps +2%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
112 fps -1%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
53 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
52 fps -2%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
14 fps -74%
Google Pixel 2 XL
35 fps -34%
LG V30
35 fps -34%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
38 fps -28%
OnePlus 5
56 fps +6%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
56 fps +6%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
60 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
56 fps -7%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
14 fps -77%
Google Pixel 2 XL
59 fps -2%
LG V30
59 fps -2%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
50 fps -17%
OnePlus 5
61 fps +2%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
54 fps -10%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
37 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
42 fps +14%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
9.5 fps -74%
Google Pixel 2 XL
20 fps -46%
LG V30
19 fps -49%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
23 fps -38%
OnePlus 5
41 fps +11%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
38 fps +3%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
41 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
41 fps 0%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
9.7 fps -76%
Google Pixel 2 XL
41 fps 0%
LG V30
40 fps -2%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
42 fps +2%
OnePlus 5
42 fps +2%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
37 fps -10%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
23 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
25 fps +9%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
5.3 fps -77%
Google Pixel 2 XL
13 fps -43%
LG V30
13 fps -43%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
13 fps -43%
OnePlus 5
25 fps +9%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
22 fps -4%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 5T
25 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
24 fps -4%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
5.3 fps -79%
Google Pixel 2 XL
24 fps -4%
LG V30
24 fps -4%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
25 fps 0%
OnePlus 5
25 fps 0%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
21 fps -16%

Legend

 
OnePlus 5T Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Sony Xperia XZ1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Qualcomm Adreno 508, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Google Pixel 2 XL Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
LG V30 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa, ARM Mali-G71 MP20, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
OnePlus 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Huawei Mate 10 Pro HiSilicon Kirin 970, ARM Mali-G72 MP12, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash

The OnePlus 5T displays websites very quickly, often faster than many other high-end smartphones. You can also feel the difference compared to its predecessor, which might also be due to improvements to the Chrome browser - which has had four new versions since the OnePlus 5 was tested. The OnePlus 5T even does a good job at displaying demanding HTML-5 websites, such as the flipper game on letsplay.ouigo.com: The game loads quickly and can be played without jerks.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
OnePlus 5 (Chrome 59)
71.6 Points +8%
OnePlus 5T (Chrome 63)
66.5 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL (Chrome 62)
64.7 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (Samsung Browser 5.2)
62.2 Points -6%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
61.3 Points -8%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
56.6 Points -15%
LG V30 (Chrome 62)
52.9 Points -20%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL (Chrome 62)
28.09 Points -58%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (Samsung Browser 5.2)
14050 Points +12%
OnePlus 5T (Chrome 63)
12509 Points
OnePlus 5 (Chrome 59)
11945 Points -5%
Google Pixel 2 XL (Chrome 62)
11308 Points -10%
LG V30 (Chrome 62)
10506 Points -16%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
10406 Points -17%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
10096 Points -19%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL (Chrome 62)
4398 Points -65%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL (Chrome 62)
9425 ms * -204%
LG V30 (Chrome 62)
3630 ms * -17%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
3591 ms * -16%
Google Pixel 2 XL (Chrome 62)
3434 ms * -11%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
3268 ms * -6%
OnePlus 5T (Chrome 63)
3096 ms *
OnePlus 5 (Chrome 59)
2622 ms * +15%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (Samsung Browser 5.2)
2237 ms * +28%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Google Pixel 2 XL (Chrome 62)
194 Points +7%
OnePlus 5T (Chrome 63)
181 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
170 Points -6%
OnePlus 5 (Chrome 59)
161 Points -11%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
158 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (Samsung Browser 5.2)
154 Points -15%
LG V30 (Chrome 62)
138 Points -24%
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL (Chrome 62)
95 Points -48%

* ... smaller is better

The OnePlus 5T is equipped with fast UFS 2.1 storage, which can make good use of its speed. It usually does not take long to load data. The Huawei P10 Plus is even faster at accessing its storage. Compared to the OnePlus 5, the speed of accessing the storage has stayed the same.   

OnePlus 5TSony Xperia XZ1Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KLGoogle Pixel 2 XLLG V30Samsung Galaxy S8 PlusOnePlus 5
AndroBench 3-5
-4%
-43%
5%
-25%
-6%
1%
Sequential Read 256KB
699
679
-3%
287.4
-59%
760
9%
669
-4%
788
13%
748
7%
Sequential Write 256KB
203.4
204.4
0%
205.3
1%
195.3
-4%
193.2
-5%
194.2
-5%
201.5
-1%
Random Read 4KB
138.1
156.6
13%
68.6
-50%
170.6
24%
78.2
-43%
127.2
-8%
141
2%
Random Write 4KB
20
14.93
-25%
7.59
-62%
17.84
-11%
10.21
-49%
15.27
-24%
19.3
-3%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
65.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
86.9 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
62.8
71.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
47.71 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
66.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
47.2
57.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)

Games

We noticed that games have very short loading times and allow for fast navigating. This is due to the strong processor. The results of GameBench are very good: Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2 are displayed smoothly at 30 and even 60 fps. Simple games such as Temple Run 2 also run smoothly and load quickly.

As the touchscreen and position sensor are reliable and respond quickly, you should have no difficulties when playing games on the OnePlus 5T.

Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
Asphalt 8: Airborne
 SettingsValue
 high30 fps
 very low30 fps
Dead Trigger 2
 SettingsValue
 high60 fps

Emissions

Temperature

GFXBench battery test
GFXBench battery test

The heat development is rather similar to that of the OnePlus 5, particularly if you take into consideration the different room temperatures during our measurements. Like with the predecessor, the measured temperatures are absolutely fine and limited to small areas.

The back of the OnePlus 5 heated up quite a lot during the GFXBench battery benchmark, and the same goes for the OnePlus 5T. However, the drop in performance is not quite as bad as it was in the OnePlus 5: The performance only dropped by 3% after 30 rounds of the same benchmark sequence.

Max. Load
 36 °C
97 F
35.1 °C
95 F
32.2 °C
90 F
 
 36.1 °C
97 F
36 °C
97 F
32.1 °C
90 F
 
 35.4 °C
96 F
34.8 °C
95 F
31.7 °C
89 F
 
Maximum: 36.1 °C = 97 F
Average: 34.4 °C = 94 F
31.7 °C
89 F
31.6 °C
89 F
33.1 °C
92 F
31.6 °C
89 F
32.1 °C
90 F
33.6 °C
92 F
31.4 °C
89 F
32.7 °C
91 F
33.7 °C
93 F
Maximum: 33.7 °C = 93 F
Average: 32.4 °C = 90 F
Power Supply (max.)  25.7 °C = 78 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.4 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.1 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 33.7 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.7 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
heat map front
heat map front
heat map back
heat map back

Speakers

speaker test "Pink Noise"
speaker test "Pink Noise"

The speaker of the OnePlus 5T is a little quieter than that of its predecessor, but can still become quite loud. It produces noticeably more low mid frequencies than the speaker of the OnePlus 5, while the high frequencies were tuned down a little. This creates a warmer, more balanced sound. The best speaker that we have ever tested in a smartphone is that of the Huawei P10 Plus. It offers an even more balanced sound than the OnePlus 5T, although the OnePlus 5T comes quite close to the ideal, and can be quite a bit louder.

You can use aptX HD via Bluetooth to transmit a relatively clear sound, and the menu even lets you choose the protocol that you would like to use for wireless sound transmission. The 3.5-mm jack also transmits clear, noise-free sound to speakers or headphones. You can adjust the sound to your personal preferences with the help of the included Equalizer.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.240.72532.946.33137.244.44031.748.65039.648.96328.337.68027.329.910026.933.712526.732.91602445.520020.955.325020.956.631519.559.140018.568.450017.564.963017.567.480015.766.2100015.870125016.672.7160015.873.8200015.474.4250015.575.931501679.3400015.87850001671.8630016.371.5800016.371.41000016.272.41250016.464.71600016.446.3SPL28.686.3N1.165.5median 16.4median 68.4Delta2.27.731.629.825.433.525.327.532.925.333.634.931.627.428.427.22727.320.828.12241.121.347.920.852.421.258.719.462.519.565.417.76817.969.717.873.517.376.517.475.416.778.717.278.718.279.917.980.517.673.517.774.317.873.817.975.918.170.818.253.13087.81.374.1median 17.9median 73.51.49.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseOnePlus 5TOnePlus 5
OnePlus 5T audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.9% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 14% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 35% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

OnePlus 5 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 27% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 63% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 48% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (check boxes can be turned on/off!)

Battery Runtime

Power Consumption

Luckily, OnePlus has managed to reduce the average power consumption of the 5T under load, which was rather high in the OnePlus 5. According to our measurements, it now needs less than half of the OnePlus 5's power consumption, which is very low compared to other smartphones as well. This should be good news for the battery runtimes. In total, the OnePlus 5T is an energy-efficient high-end smartphone.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.02 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.58 / 1.44 / 1.53 Watt
Load midlight 3.17 / 8.54 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
OnePlus 5T
3300 mAh
Sony Xperia XZ1
2700 mAh
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
3300 mAh
Google Pixel 2 XL
3520 mAh
LG V30
3300 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3500 mAh
OnePlus 5
3300 mAh
Power Consumption
-46%
-36%
-38%
-2%
4%
-28%
Idle Minimum *
0.58
0.51
12%
0.84
-45%
1.28
-121%
0.72
-24%
0.68
-17%
0.73
-26%
Idle Average *
1.44
2.16
-50%
2.31
-60%
1.87
-30%
1.37
5%
1.13
22%
1.44
-0%
Idle Maximum *
1.53
2.23
-46%
2.33
-52%
1.89
-24%
1.41
8%
1.16
24%
1.5
2%
Load Average *
3.17
7.45
-135%
4.76
-50%
3.73
-18%
3.46
-9%
4.69
-48%
6.91
-118%
Load Maximum *
8.54
9.28
-9%
6.39
25%
8.08
5%
7.83
8%
5.24
39%
8.51
-0%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

If you are sparing, you will keep going for longer. If this were a saying, it would definitely apply to the OnePlus 5T: The battery runtimes have improved drastically since the OnePlus 5 and the phone now lasts 12 hours while surfing via Wi-Fi. This should be enough for the phone to last one and a half working days, even if it is in constant use. Depending on the player, you can watch films for even longer. Only the LG V30 can beat these results; the Samsung Galaxy S8+ has similar runtimes as our test unit.

You can activate the power-saving mode if you want to preserve the battery. DashCharge makes recharging the battery very quick: The smartphone needs just over 1:30 hours to fully recharge. Unfortunately, the device does not support wireless charging.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
29h 14min
WiFi Websurfing
11h 58min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
13h 19min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 17min
OnePlus 5T
3300 mAh
Sony Xperia XZ1
2700 mAh
Asus ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
3300 mAh
Google Pixel 2 XL
3520 mAh
LG V30
3300 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
3500 mAh
OnePlus 5
3300 mAh
Battery Runtime
-21%
-7%
-5%
6%
-2%
-17%
Reader / Idle
1754
1612
-8%
1665
-5%
1706
-3%
1914
9%
1565
-11%
1534
-13%
H.264
799
580
-27%
698
-13%
672
-16%
822
3%
742
-7%
623
-22%
WiFi v1.3
718
601
-16%
562
-22%
581
-19%
774
8%
736
3%
518
-28%
Load
257
172
-33%
286
11%
302
18%
267
4%
275
7%
247
-4%

Pros

+ very stable metal case
+ wide range of LTE bands
+ fast Wi-Fi
+ fast UFS-2.1 memory
+ very high performance
+ color-accurate screen
+ slim, up-to-date software
+ precise GPS
+ clear call quality
+ optional dark software theme
+ very good cameras
+ rather low power consumption
+ long battery runtimes
+ physical switch for notifications
+ good speakers

Cons

- rather heavy
- no microSD slot
- microphone distorts loud sounds
- lack of color at wider viewing angles
- not water or dust resistant
- heats up under extreme load
- minimal loss in performance at very high load

Verdict

Review: OnePlus 5T. Test unit provided by OnePlus.
Review: OnePlus 5T. Test unit provided by OnePlus.

The OnePlus 5T is a great smartphone for smart spenders: A good price, low power consumption and a great price-performance ratio. The OnePlus 5T is currently one of the fastest smartphones available that also offers a very durable battery, good speakers and great cameras. The flagship phones of large manufacturers still offer slightly better cameras, for example, our test unit lacks an optical image stabilizer. The LTE speeds of the OnePlus 5T are also not quite as fast as those of other smartphones, but you will hardly ever notice this. The software does not take up too much space and is well cared for by the manufacturer. The smartphone should have reception anywhere in the world and Wi-Fi speeds are very good. The GPS is precise, the fingerprint sensor exact and face recognition a nice and useful gimmick.

The device has a speedy storage device that offers a generous 128 GB - this, however, cannot be expanded by a microSD card. Comfortable handling, a sharp display with strong colors, and acceptable temperatures complete the OnePlus 5T. Even lovers of the predecessor might want to think about an update: It will give you a slightly better speaker, better cameras and a significantly longer-lasting battery. And of course, a modern design with slim bezels.

The manufacturer has managed to create a great high-end smartphone with hardly any shortcomings and straightens out the predecessor's few deficiencies. Long battery runtimes, high system performance, good cameras and a strong sound all make this smartphone a good buy.

Although the OnePlus 5T is not quite as bezel-free or slim as the Galaxy S8+, the OnePlus 5T is a great development from its predecessor that has up until now managed to stay faux pas free (unlike the OnePlus 5 when it was launched). So we can definitely state: The flagship killer is back!

OnePlus 5T - 01/03/2018 v6(old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
91%
Keyboard
67 / 75 → 90%
Pointing Device
96%
Connectivity
53 / 60 → 88%
Weight
91%
Battery
94%
Display
89%
Games Performance
64 / 63 → 100%
Application Performance
68 / 70 → 98%
Temperature
93%
Noise
100%
Audio
69 / 91 → 76%
Camera
85%
Average
82%
91%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Florian Wimmer, 2018-01- 5 (Update: 2019-03-25)