[Review] 5 reasons to choose OnePlus 5T

That OnePlus would announce the OnePlus 5 T version was to be expected. The timing was surprising: less than 6 months after the presentation of the previous smartphone, the Chinese company announces the arrival of OnePlus 5T which will supplant the previous model.

But what changes? And above all is it worth buying it? I try to give you 5 reasons to do it.

1 – Display

The most noticeable change is the display, a 6-inch AMOLED with Full HD + resolution (1080 × 2160 pixels) and an aspect ratio of 18: 9. A choice that allowed the Asian manufacturer to minimize the edges, while increasing width, height and weight. Don't worry though, the change is minimal and the OnePlus 5T therefore remains comfortable to hold and use.

On the other hand, the keys for adjusting the volume and the power button on the right and the three-position switch on the left remain unchanged; the lower part houses the speaker, the USB Type-C connector and the inevitable 3,5mm audio jack.

Change position the fingerprint reader, now placed on the back for obvious reasons of space, while we find the double camera in the exact same position, now slightly more protruding than OnePlus 5.

Overall the new model turns out anyway more modern, in step with the times and capable of competing with the borderless smartphones of the competition.

2 - Power unchanged

Under the body we find an absolutely familiar configuration: the Qualcomm processor Snapdragon 835, the Adreno 540 GPU and two configurations, namely the one with 64 GB of internal memory and 6 GB of RAM or 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage space (the version I tested). Accompanying all this power is the operating system Android 7.1.1 with OxygenOS 4.7.1. I know, we all expected Oreo, but rest assured, the Chinese company promised to update the device to Android 8.0 at the beginning of 2018.

The combination of hardware and software still guarantees respectable performance: OnePlus 5T does not enchant and does not yield in any situation, thus offering a smooth and pleasant user experience. The almost total absence of bloatware will further improve it; installed you will find only the Community application, which opens a forum dedicated to OnePlus devices. The settings, on the other hand, are those typical of the Asian manufacturer's devices, including the settings of the left switch, the customized gestures, the options relating to the keys and those for calibrating the display. Finally, I would like to point out the possibility of choosing the background of the device using the photos taken by the community with other devices of the company, a function that is superfluous but which shows the company's attachment to its avid supporters.

Finally good autonomy, which allows you to get to the end of the day without major problems even putting the smartphone under stress, and the audio performance, which is quite powerful and clear.

3 – Face Unlock

Among the major innovations of this OnePlus 5T there is a function that I have come to appreciate a lot: Face Unlock. The principle is the one behind Apple's Face ID, that is, unlocking the phone by recognizing the flight. Contrary to what happens on the new iPhone X, on OnePlus 5T this security system is based solely on the camera.

The result? Amazing. Face Unlock works great both indoors and outdoors, even in poor light conditions. The unlocking is then practically instant: you just have to look at it to access the home directly and you will barely be able to glimpse the unlock screen. Of course, relying exclusively on the camera, Face Unlock struggles to work in the dark, forcing you to resort to the fingerprint reader.

On balance, the unlock function with face recognition is not original and it is not one of the characteristics on which the company has decided to focus but it still represents a very pleasant and much appreciated addition.

4 - Camera

The camera has also changed compared to the OnePlus 5. We always find a double sensor, but this time next to the main one from 16 megapixels with digital stabilization and f / 1.7 aperture we find one from 20 megapixel, with identical opening to the other.

OnePlus 5T therefore abandons the telephoto lens to try to improve the quality of photographs taken in the dark, the real Achilles heel of the previous model.

Did the expander work? Apparently yes. Images captured in poor lighting conditions are significantly improved; unchanged instead the photos taken in optimal conditions, with natural colors and an excellent level of detail.

5 - Price

The upgrades that characterize OnePlus 5T would justify a price increase but the company has decided not to fall into temptation and to offer the newcomer at the same price as the previous model: the 64 GB version is sold for 499 Euros while the 128 GB version for 559 Euros.

A decision that will have made those who bought OnePlus 5 turn up their noses a few months ago but which certainly allows the Chinese company to give a hard time to the big names in the sector, especially if you are looking for a powerful, responsive and capable device. take great pictures without breaking the bank.