OnePlus 8T review
OnePlus 8T it is an atypical smartphone. Or rather, the strategy behind it is different from what the Chinese company has done to date. In fact, in recent years we have seen the same script: new top of the range in spring and a slightly enhanced version in autumn.
This year, however, OnePlus wanted to upset everything. We had the new flagships in April but also OnePlus Nord in the summer, which went to position itself in the mid-range of the market, and now the new 8T, which however was not accompanied by the Pro variant.
The reasons? Well, actually we can only speculate about them. OnePlus 8 Pro is still an excellent top of the range but felt the lack of a high-end device that however remained under 600 euros, embracing that slice of the public that yes, wants the most from the smartphone but is not willing to invest 900 euros . Hence, we assume, the idea of updating the OnePlus 8 only.
But how is this new smartphone? We tell you about it in this review.
The return of the flat screen
OnePlus 8T brings with it two big news in terms of design, one on the front and one on the back.
First of all, the curved display of the spring models that leaves room for disappears a 6,55 ″ flat screen. Better? Worse? Actually it is very subjective. Curved displays have greater ergonomics on their side, while flat ones prevent accidental touches. As we said, there are fans of both solutions, therefore it is impossible not to appreciate the choice of OnePlus, which returns to have a device with this type of screen in its roster.
In general we liked the display very much: we have indeed an AMOLED with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels which supports i 120 Hz to ensure greater fluidity in the game and in everyday life. The screen then covers al 100% P3 and sRGB color spaces for a really interesting rendering of the different shades while the brightness is perfect in all conditions.
To this we add the oleophobic treatment of glass, really well done so as to avoid annoying fingerprints.
The second novelty, as anticipated, we find it by turning OnePlus 8T. The Gorilla Glass back cover houses a camera module definitely different from those seen on OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro or on the more recent OnePlus Nord. We are not talking about the 4 sensors that compose it but precisely the aesthetics of the photographic sector, which at a glance reminded us a little of that of Huawei P40.
The module is in fact rheptangular and slightly raised, not very stable on a flat surface. Not bad though: with a cover (including the one in the package) you solve the problem.
Read the OnePlus 8 review
For the rest we have no big news in terms of design: the hole on the display remains on the left, the profile is always in metal, we have the volume rocker on the left while on the right the power button and the switch to activate the silent. The charging connector, located on the lower profile, is of course USB-C 3.1, flanked by a speaker and the slot for the two nanoSIMs.
Finally, we point out the absence of IP certification and the presence of the fingerprint reader under the display which is fast and accurate.
Overall OnePlus 8T is pleasant to use in everyday life: it is not too bulky, the weight - 188 grams - is average and, despite the presence of glass, it is never slippery. The build quality is then at the top, as per OnePlus tradition.
OnePlus 8T review: perfect for any occasion
Under the shell the new smartphone has everything you need to satisfy even the most demanding users: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 8 or 12 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of internal memory. In everyday life it never slows down, shows no signs of disturbance with the heaviest games and has all the space necessary to host dozens and dozens of apps, photos and videos.
On the connectivity front, nothing is missing: there is 5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC for payments. Also promoted the audio that uses two speakers to reach a very high volume with an overall satisfactory yield.
The autonomy then really surprised us: its 4.500 mAh allowed us to cover 36 hours of activity without difficulty and without sparing him demanding tasks. The recharge is then really fast: in about 40 minutes you will have your smartphone back at 100%. Too bad only for the lack of wireless charging but on the other hand to contain the price something had to be sacrificed.
The first smartphone with Android 11
OnePlus 8T has a record: is the first smartphone marketed with Android 11, apart of course the Google Pixel. Accompanying the new operating system is there Oxygen OS which continues to improve day by day.
Among the most interesting features we have the new Insight mode of the Always-On Display. By opting for this feature we will in fact have a line on the screen that represents the use we make of the smartphone. A great way to understand and perhaps review your relationship with this object.
Then we have the new Zen Mode 2.0, an improved dark mode and a new font that, to tell the truth, has not completely convinced us.
Discount
OnePlus 8T Smartphone 6.55 "120 Hz FHD + Display Fluido, 8...
- Fastest charging with 65W Warp Charge, so you'll be ready for a full day in just 15 ...
- Ultra Smooth 6.55 "120Hz DisplayOnePlus 8T works perfectly with a smooth 120Hz display that makes gaming and ...
- Shoot like a pro with the 8T's Quad Camera system and 16MP front camera Rear sensor ...
OnePlus 8T review: the camera
The latest OnePlus smartphone comes with a 16 MP front camera, with Sony IMX471 sensor, and 4 rear lenses divided as follows:
- the main 48 megapixel one, a Sony IMX586 with both optical and electronic stabilization;
- a 16 megapixel wide-angle lens (Sony IMX481);
- a 5 megapixel macro lens;
- a 2 megapixel monochrome sensor.
The OnePlus 8T's four-camera system is complex and feature-rich, among which a macro sensor and one for the bianconero. The latter could certainly catch the attention of many before realizing that it is a sensor of only 2MP. Don't worry, because this fourth camera will never work alone but with the help of the main 48MP one. What may be perplexing is that the results do not seem to have the boost that one might expect from a camera dedicated only to that purpose. Some engraving is missing and surely we could get more interested results by shooting with the main camera and then using an editing app.
Another sore point is the second special room, the one for the macro photography. In this case the resolution is really low and although you can get very close to the subjects it is difficult to use it for images made with this mode. Better to shoot from a few centimeters behind and take advantage of the capabilities of the main sensor. Perhaps a camera with a telephoto lens would have been more interesting than a macro one.
The 16MP sensor with wide-angle lens give very broad visions thanks to the 123-degree angle of view. There is however, unfortunately linked to image quality, that it deteriorates a lot at the edges of the frame. If in the center the quality is still good enough, as we move towards the sides of the image we notice a constant deterioration that leads to unclear and defined images.
But let's come to the beauty of this OnePlus 8T in the photo field. The main sensor (Sony IMX586) keeps the photographic level of this smartphone high. Good performance during the day, with natural colors and good dynamic range that comes out even in the most difficult conditions. In the backlight that we show you, for example, the rendering is balanced both in the shadows and in the highlights, with details throughout the frame. The images obtained are always bright and with vivid colors.
The images obtained with the are also clear and pleasant frontal room. The skin colors are quite natural and we also have a good deal of detail. The detachment between the focus area and the background is too evident, we would have preferred a more gradual transition.
Finally, there is also a smart night mode, which is activated automatically when the smartphone understands that there is too little light in the scene. We will have results with some more detail, but too warm and yellowish than what you get without the night mode. If not strictly necessary then the suggestion is to try to shoot while remaining as still as possible by deactivating the night shooting mode.
OnePlus 8T: the technical sheet
Dimensions:: 160,7 x 74,1 x 8,4 mm
Weight: 188 g
Display: 6,55″ Fluid AMOLED – 2400×1080 pixel
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
RAM: 8 / 12 GB
Memory: 128 / 256 GB
Network: 5G – Dual SIM
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C, GPS, NFC
Battery: 4.500 mAh
Rear camera: 48 + 16 + 5 + 2 MP
Front Camera: 16 MP
Videos: 4K @ 60fps
Operating system: Android 11
OnePlus 8T review: buy it or not?
OnePlus 8T is the OnePlus smartphone that was missing. It comes on the market with an attractive price - 599 € for version 8/128 and 699 € for the 12/256 GB one - and offers powerful hardware, up-to-date and increasingly complete software and a beautiful 120 Hz display. The photographic sector could give us some more satisfactions but on the other hand we have an autonomy that satisfies even the most users demanding. In short, if you want a smartphone that accompanies you in the long term, the 8T could really be for you.
OnePlus 8T
Pro 
- Great display
- Top-of-the-range performance
- Autonomy above average
- Android 11 on board
Cons 
- Camera can be improved
