OnePlus 8T Smartphone Review – Faster charging for less money
The OnePlus 8 Pro won't be getting a successor for the moment. Instead, OnePlus has provided a somewhat slimmed down version - the OnePlus 8T. This still offers a wide range of improvements, including faster charging with two separate batteries, Android 11 with a new software design from OnePlus and a flat display.
In addition, the OnePlus 8T actually costs around $100 less than its predecessor did initially. It's quite an exciting upgrade, so let's take a closer look.
Comparison Devices
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87.8 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2020 | OnePlus 8T SD 865, Adreno 650 | 188 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 | |
| 88.4 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2020 | OnePlus 8 SD 865, Adreno 650 | 180 g | 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 | |
| 86.5 % v7 (old) | 09 / 2019 | Apple iPhone 11 A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU | 194 g | 64 GB SSD | 6.10" | 1792x828 | |
| 88.1 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2020 | Samsung Galaxy Note20 Exynos 990, Mali-G77 MP11 | 192 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2400x1080 | |
| 87.4 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2020 | Huawei P40 Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16 | 175 g | 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.10" | 2340x1080 | |
| 87.8 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2020 | Xiaomi Mi 10 SD 865, Adreno 650 | 208 g | 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.67" | 2340x1080 |
Case – Still no IP certification
A curved 2.5D glass screen is bound to polarize opinions. Some users love it, others hate it. The OnePlus 8T should calm things down - the manufacturer has equipped it with a flat display that is supposed to be even thinner than on previous smartphones thanks to special chip-on-panel technology. Overall, the OnePlus 8T still is about a couple of tenths of millimeters thicker than its predecessor, which can probably be put down to to the two batteries.
The OnePlus 8T is not a small smartphone, so users with small hands might be better off with a Huawei P40. The OnePlus 8T matches its high-end competitors when it comes to feel and used materials. The workmanship is very precise, although stability could be a bit better: the case gives way minimally in some areas and creaks noticeably during our attempts to warp it.
The available colors are green (similar to that of the predecessor) and gray. The latter, however, is only available with a smaller storage capacity.
The OnePlus 8T does not have an IP certification against water and dust, but the manufacturer has told us that all smartphones pass the same tests, so users shouldn't have to worry if the phone has contact with a bit of water by mistake. However, the warranty doesn't cover such issues.
Connectivity – Two storage sizes for the OnePlus 8T
The following configurations in terms of storage and color are available:
- 8 GB of RAM / 128-GB storage device (lunar silver or aquamarine green) $700
- 12 GB of RAM / 256-GB storage device (aquamarine green only) $750
The two versions are around $100 cheaper than the predecessor was at its launch. This is good news, of course, particularly if you consider that the OnePlus 8T has quite a lot to offer outside of its storage device: Modern Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD support, fast Wi-Fi and the new 5G as well as NFC for mobile payment and other applications.
Storage cannot be expanded via microSD, but you can use two SIM cards simultaneously (no eSIM).
Streaming content can be watched in HD thanks to the phone's Widevine L1 certification.
Software – Android 11 and new design
The OnePlus 8T is one of the first smartphones that is delivered with Android 11 ex-works. OnePlus has also reworked its own user interface OxygenOS 11, which is now supposed to facilitate using the device with one hand. This means that the controls are mainly positioned on the bottom half of the screen. This isn't a revolutionary idea - it is actually strongly reminiscent of Samsung's OneUI. But that doesn't really matter - the feature works.
OnePlus has only recently announced that they would act on users' criticism and remove Facebook bloatware from their devices. We can confirm that the Facebook app is not preinstalled on the OnePlus 8T. Netflix is still there, however, and cannot be uninstalled. Apart from that the system is fairly minimal and doesn't include a lot of unnecessary software.
The security patches are up to date and several updates with system improvements were made available during testing.
Communication and GPS – 5G, obviously
OnePlus has been integrating 5G into all its smartphones for about a year. So naturally, the OnePlus 8T also features a 5G modem - the Snapdragon X55 from Qualcomm. This supports both mmWave and sub-6, the faster and more far-reaching 5G modes.
The LTE reception works well and we had at least 3/4 reception indoors in urban surroundings. There are smartphones that provide even better reception while others only reach half the strength. The OnePlus 8T's performance is average in terms of reception. Its maximum download rate of 2 GBit/s is very fast. Uploads could be faster but are sufficient for most requirements at 200 MBit/s. The 4G frequency coverage is very good once again, which means that you should be able to use the OnePlus 8T even when travelling in other countries.
Wi-Fi 6 is also integrated, of course. The speeds we measured in our standardized test with the reference router Netgear Nighthawk AX12 were fine, although they can't keep up with the speeds of the Huawei P40 and many other comparison devices are a little faster as well. Reception is very good. The smartphone still displayed full reception at a distance of 10 meters to the router and passing through 3 walls. We did not notice the browser slow down while loading pages either.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| Apple iPhone 11 | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| Apple iPhone 11 | |
Enough satellites are recognized almost immediately outdoors to provide positioning within 3 meters. The smartphone can work with GPS, Galileo, GLONASS or BeiDou.
Our practical test - a bike ride with the Garmin Edge 520 as our comparison device - showed very good results for the OnePlus 8T. While it did loose connection shortly once or twice, the device even recognized which side of the street we were on. We can really recommend the smartphone for navigating.
Telephony & Voice Quality – Sensitive microphone
The OnePlus 8T uses Android's standard phone app. This now offers a larger search bar that is always visible at the top of the screen. VoLTE and VoWiFi both work well.
The voice quality is decent. The inner earpiece can be turned up quite loud, but tends to drone a little at high volume. It is easy to understand the person on the other end when the volume is turned down, although voice quality still isn't perfect. The microphone is very sensitive which is why people with a loud voice will have to speak quietly in order to avoid droning on the other end. This also means that the microphone picks up quiet voices well. The quality is similar on speakerphone.
Cameras – One more lens for the OnePlus 8T
The cameras have been given an addition: There are now a total of 4 camera lenses on the back of the device. A standard and a wide-angle lens with the same specifications as on the OnePlus 8OnePlus 8 in Review: Great smartphone even in the non-pro version, a macro lens with a higher resolution plus a monochrome 2-MP lens that collects additional image data. This lens cannot be used to shoot photos on its own. While you can set the camera app to monochrome, the photos are still taken with the main lens.
You can zoom in several times between the wide-angle and the main lens; any further zooming is done with the main camera's digital zoom.
The image quality of the camera is good, although it lacks sharpness of detail if you compare it to the caliber the OnePlus 8T would like to be compared to. The camera also does a good job in bad lighting and with high contrasts. But again, the iPhone 11 Pro Max offers a lot more sharpness of detail. Images taken with the wide-angle lens turn out well, although details appear somewhat washed out when you look closely.
Overall, the main camera does a good job and is actually really decent for its price range. Compared to even more expensive smartphones, you will have to make do with a little less sharpness.
Videos can be recorded in 4K resolution and at 60 fps. However, this is only possible when using the main camera as the wide-angle camera only supports 4K, not 60 fps. You can zoom between the two lenses, even while recording. The image quality is good and the phone even balances out brightness differences in fine steps. Other functions such as a special night mode or portrait mode with blurry background can be activated at 1080p.
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.
Hauptobjektiv BlumeHauptobjektiv UmgebungHauptobjektiv Low LightUltraweitwinkel
Our lab tests confirm that the sensor is of good quality, although sharpness still isn't perfect, for example with text on red background. The image quality is a lot lower at 1 Lux brightness, but the motive remains recognizable.
Accessories and Warranty – A good selection of accessories
The OnePlus 8T comes with a large AC adapter, a USB-C cable, a SIM tool and a silicone bumper. OnePlus traditionally offers a wide range of accessories for its smartphones and the same goes for the OnePlus 8T. You can find cases, screen protectors and headsets available for purchase from their online shop.
OnePlus offers 24 months warranty for its smartphones.
Input Devices & Handling – smooth thanks to 120 Hz
The 120-Hz display is very smooth and easy to handle. Even small icons can be pressed precisely on the touchscreen. there are many ways in which you can personalize control - from gestures on the screen to double-tapping the physical buttons. For example, pressing the standby button twice activates the camera while holding it will launch the Google voice assistant. Some gestures, such as drawing letters on the screen, can be configured freely and be used to open a certain app, for example.
The physical alert slider lets you turn the phone to silent and back quickly and easily. All buttons are made of metal and appear to be of good quality.
The fingerprint sensor has been placed below the display. It's in a good position and responds quickly and precisely. However, it is only active when the lock screen is active, which usually turns on when you pick up the phone. You can also set the screen to be active all the time, so you can always see the time and unlock the smartphone immediately. Face recognition works well, too.
Display – Extremely precise
The AMOLED display in the OnePlus 8T offers an expanded FullHD resolution which is fully sufficient to guarantee a sharp display. The maximum brightness is very good and we measured even higher luminosity in our APL50 test with only half of the screen lit up. It's not surprising that the display is HDR certified. Although the panel is a little darker than that of the OnePlus 8 according to our measurements, it still is very good.
The best aspect of the new display is that it now includes a 120-Hz refresh rate - a feature that was previously limited to the Pro model. While the difference between 90 Hz and 120 Hz will hardly be noticeable, scrolling still is very smooth and the phone in general is extremely reactive due to the screen checking for inputs 240 times per second.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 743 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.89 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 1.4 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
97.2% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.199
| OnePlus 8T AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | OnePlus 8 AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | Apple iPhone 11 IPS, 1792x828, 6.1" | Samsung Galaxy Note20 Super AMOLED Plus, 2400x1080, 6.7" | Huawei P40 AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.1" | Xiaomi Mi 10 Super AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.7" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -6% | -5% | -76% | -89% | -11% | |
| Brightness middle | 743 | 778 5% | 679 -9% | 610 -18% | 583 -22% | 786 6% |
| Brightness | 734 | 783 7% | 671 -9% | 621 -15% | 593 -19% | 791 8% |
| Brightness Distribution | 91 | 95 4% | 93 2% | 95 4% | 94 3% | 96 5% |
| Black Level * | 0.68 | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 0.89 | 0.9 -1% | 0.8 10% | 2.4 -170% | 3.03 -240% | 1.1 -24% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 1.69 | 2.2 -30% | 2.4 -42% | 4.3 -154% | 5.33 -215% | 2.2 -30% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.4 | 1.7 -21% | 1.1 21% | 2.8 -100% | 2 -43% | 1.8 -29% |
| Gamma | 2.199 100% | 2.25 98% | 2.24 98% | 2.09 105% | 2.301 96% | 2.26 97% |
| CCT | 6423 101% | 6481 100% | 6610 98% | 6368 102% | 6621 98% | 6315 103% |
| Contrast | 999 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 458.7 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 458.7 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 458.7 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
The black value is basically perfect thanks to the OLED display, which makes the contrast ratio infinitely high. This ensures for bright colors and deep blacks on the screen. Color accuracy in "natural" mode is very good.
The display does display the PWM flickering that typical for an OLED panel as soon as you turn the brightness down from maximum. However, the frequency is slightly higher than on other OLED displays. Sensitive users might still want to try out the display before purchase.
Past software versions let users turn on the experimental DC Dimming function in the OnePlus Lab. Many users had less problems with the display when using this function - at least that's what you can read on several internet forums. Both the OnePlus Lab and DC Dimming are no longer available in the current software version. We checked with OnePlus to find out whether this will be available in future and will update this article as soon as we hear back from them.
The response rates from black to white are short while the grayscales are a little slower than on other OLED displays. A mixed bag for hardcore gamers.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 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. » 15 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 20 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 11 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 9 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 29 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
The display is hard to read outdoors in direct sunlight. As soon as you take the phone into a shady spot, it becomes a lot easier to see what's going on on the screen.
Colors and brightness remain unchanged if you look at the display from a wide angle.
Performance – One of the fastest SoCs around
The fact that the OnePlus 8T is equipped with a Snapdragon 865 is great news considering its price. This is one of the fastest SoCs available at the moment, after all. Of course the 865 Plus would have been an even faster option. But as the differences aren't exactly earth shattering and the 8T can easily keep up with the other flagship phones on the market, this isn't really an issue.
Only the iPhone offers a significantly better graphics performance. Other than that, the performance of the OnePlus 8T can keep up with any high-end phone.
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work performance score (sort by value) | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (10990 - 19989, n=22) | |
| Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (9202 - 15299, n=23) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Apple iPhone 11 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (43 - 83, n=24) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 166, n=175, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Apple iPhone 11 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (67 - 103, n=24) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (8.3 - 365, n=175, last 2 years) | |
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| OnePlus 8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | |
| Huawei P40 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (527301 - 631025, n=24) | |
The OnePlus 8T's browser performance is very fast as well. Pages load quickly and images are largely already visible as you scroll down the page.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 11 (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=169, last 2 years) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (45.2 - 77, n=20) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Samsung Browser 12.1) | |
| Huawei P40 (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
| OnePlus 8 (Chrome 83) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (Xiaomi Browser V11.4.23) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 11 (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (74.2 - 145.1, n=21) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (Xiaomi Browser V11.4.23) | |
| Huawei P40 (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Samsung Browser 12.1) | |
| OnePlus 8 (Chrome 83) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Apple iPhone 11 (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=152, last 2 years) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chome 86) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Samsung Browser 12.1) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (30.6 - 74.5, n=19) | |
| Huawei P40 (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (Xiaomi Browser V11.4.23) | |
| OnePlus 8 (Chrome 83) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Apple iPhone 11 (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=80, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (Xiaomi Browser V11.4.23) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (97 - 127, n=23) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Samsung Browser 12.1) | |
| OnePlus 8 (Chrome 83) | |
| Huawei P40 (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 11 (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=210, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (14606 - 31224, n=23) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (Xiaomi Browser V11.4.23) | |
| Huawei P40 (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Samsung Browser 12.1) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| OnePlus 8 (Chrome 83) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| OnePlus 8 (Chrome 83) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Samsung Browser 12.1) | |
| Huawei P40 (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (Xiaomi Browser V11.4.23) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (1623 - 2911, n=24) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=167, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
* ... smaller is better
The very fast UFS 3.1 storage is very satisfactory despite our benchmarks not indicating significant speed improvements compared to UFS 3.0.
| OnePlus 8T | OnePlus 8 | Samsung Galaxy Note20 | Huawei P40 | Xiaomi Mi 10 | Average 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 34% | 40% | 8% | 29% | 46% | 96% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1659 | 1707 3% | 1683 1% | 1592 -4% | 1498 -10% | 1602 ? -3% | 1887 ? 14% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 728 | 748 3% | 780 7% | 212.9 -71% | 680 -7% | 748 ? 3% | 1474 ? 102% |
| Random Read 4KB | 132.6 | 215 62% | 207.6 57% | 189.4 43% | 207 56% | 243 ? 83% | 279 ? 110% |
| Random Write 4KB | 121.4 | 203.9 68% | 233.8 93% | 197 62% | 215.9 78% | 244 ? 101% | 312 ? 157% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 81.6 ? | 85.9 ? | |||||
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 66.4 ? | 68.8 ? |
Games – 60 fps are doable
Gaming at 60 fps is no longer an illusion with the OnePlus 8T. We would expect no less from the fast SoC. However, more than 60 fps while gaming are only available as part of special cooperations as the phone automatically turns the refresh rate down to save power and, presumably, also to limit heat development. PUBG, for example, can be played with stable 60 fps in low and fairly stable 60 fps in very high settings.
The current RPG hit Genshin Impact can also be played at 60 fps at high details. Drops in the frame rate to 50 fps and small freezes are rare occurrences. We test frame rates with the GameBench software suite.
Controlling the games via position sensor and touchscreen is smooth and reliable.
Emissions – Warm but not slow
Temperature
We measured a maximum of 45°C on the surface of the OnePlus 8T, which is quite high. You will feel this heat development around the top of the device and near the camera when playing demanding games. On their own, these temperature levels are nothing to worry about. They might become uncomfortable when the phone is used in hot surroundings, for example when you're lying on the beach on a hot summer's day.
Performance is not impacted: our GFXBench long-term test does not show any drop in performance.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.8 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
While the stereo speakers of the OnePlus 8T are loud at maximum volume, they also seem a little overwhelmed. The sound is decent in general if you lower the volume a little, although high frequencies still sound slightly distorted. We believe there are plenty of nicer sounding speakers, although the OnePlus does fulfill our expectations of a device in this price range. The integrated Dolby Atmos software lets you choose among various sound profiles, but you can't really hear a difference through these speakers.
Users who want to connect external audio devices can do so via the USB-C port at the bottom of the device or via Bluetooth. Both work well and Bluetooth even supports aptX HD, which ensures good sound quality on headphones or speakers.
OnePlus 8T audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 66.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 66.7% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 66.7% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (117.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
OnePlus 8 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.4% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 35% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 55% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 38% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life – Extremely fast charging
Power Consumption
The OnePlus 8T has very similar power consumption levels to its predecessor, although there are some small differences. For example, the maximum idle consumption of the 8T is significantly lower while the maximum consumption under load is a lot higher.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  1.1 / 1.5 / 1.7 Watt |
| Load |
4.6 / 9.4 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| OnePlus 8T 4500 mAh | OnePlus 8 4300 mAh | Apple iPhone 11 3110 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Note20 4300 mAh | Huawei P40 3800 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 10 4780 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -6% | -15% | 0% | -2% | 18% | -23% | -4% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.1 | 0.9 18% | 0.56 49% | 0.92 16% | 1 9% | 0.53 52% | 1.133 ? -3% | 0.885 ? 20% |
| Idle Average * | 1.5 | 2.3 -53% | 2.99 -99% | 1.5 -0% | 1.9 -27% | 1.46 3% | 2.23 ? -49% | 1.451 ? 3% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.7 | 2.33 -37% | 3.02 -78% | 1.54 9% | 2.4 -41% | 1.52 11% | 2.45 ? -44% | 1.608 ? 5% |
| Load Average * | 4.6 | 3.5 24% | 4.17 9% | 5.49 -19% | 3.5 24% | 3.83 17% | 5.26 ? -14% | 6.55 ? -42% |
| Load Maximum * | 9.4 | 7.68 18% | 5.44 42% | 9.99 -6% | 6.9 27% | 8.89 5% | 9.68 ? -3% | 9.92 ? -6% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The battery has a slightly better capacity compared to its predecessor. To be exact, it actually has two batteries, with half the capacity each. This has the advantage of being able to charge them faster. The phone lasts over 17 hours in our Wi-Fi test, which means it should easily last two days under normal use or even longer if you're careful.
Charging the OnePlus 8T is a real joy despite there being no apparent difference to the OnePlus 8 Pro due to the 30-Watt charging capacity. At first, both devices charge at the same speed, which is very fast in itself with 10 minutes of charging providing you with enough power for many hours of normal use. However, the 8T really speeds up towards the end of the charging cycle and finishes charging 10 minutes before its sister model. No quantum leap but an improvement nonetheless.
The OnePlus 8T cannot be recharged wirelessly. This feature is reserved for Pro models.
| OnePlus 8T 4500 mAh | OnePlus 8 4300 mAh | Apple iPhone 11 3110 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Note20 4300 mAh | Huawei P40 3800 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 10 4780 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -7% | 25% | 14% | 6% | -2% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1539 | 1374 -11% | 2765 80% | 2067 34% | 2063 34% | 1789 16% |
| H.264 | 1103 | 1096 -1% | 1147 4% | 1123 2% | 1052 -5% | 1126 2% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1023 | 1045 2% | 866 -15% | 589 -42% | 806 -21% | 662 -35% |
| Load | 203 | 168 -17% | 267 32% | 326 61% | 236 16% | 226 11% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – More for less
The OnePlus 8T offers small improvements compared to its already very good predecessor. For example, it offers a display with a 120-Hz refresh rate, a macro camera with a higher resolution and an additional lens that provides more data for photos. Nonetheless, the camera's quality can't quite compare to its more expensive high-end competitors as the images lack sharpness of detail.
We were pleased with the high performance without throttling, the precise localization, the very fast charging and the precise calibration of the display. The new software is attractive and provides a lot more settings options while still being easy to use for Android veterans.
The device heats up a little too much for our taste and its stereo speakers only offer average sound quality. The Wi-Fi isn't quite as fast as on other Wi-Fi 6 devices. Users will also have to make do without wireless charging or an IP certification.
The OnePlus 8T omits most high-end gimmicks and focuses on its core proposition: a lot of power and connectivity for an affordable price.
If you are looking for the best smartphone camera around, the OnePlus 8T might not be the right choice for you. While it does produce decent top-range images, others do an even better job. If, on the other hand, you want the best performance and great connectivity for the least amount of money, you're in the right place.
OnePlus 8T
- 08/31/2022 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
Price comparison
