And so we waited: the most powerful, the most modern, the most advanced. But still, is it worth changing your OnePlus 3(T)? And is it worth overpaying for an unknown new product - maybe buy a proven device at a reduced price?
Finally, OnePlus showed the updated 5 model. It’s worth figuring out what updates we should expect?
Appearance and comfort
The OnePlus 3T is similar to the iPhone 7 - a little. But it reveals its own style: a strict silver body, a bright corporate badge and more comfortable body contours. No soap - a strict business device with all elements arranged under the iPhone.
At first glance, OnePlus 5 is almost indistinguishable from a smartphone from Cupertino. When it comes to rootless Chinese, of course, such similarities are beneficial. But OnePlus is a branch of the most successful smartphone manufacturer in the world!
Moreover, instead of the signature sharp corners of the iPhone 7 or the calm ergonomics of the OnePlus 3, the new product greets us with an unexpected soap-like body in the Samsung style.
In his stash, only smaller dimensions remain in comparison with competitors. And, perhaps, it feels much more comfortable in the hand than the more stylish Samsung S8 and iPhone 7 Plus. Same as OnePlus 3 or OnePlus 3T.
Display
At the presentation, the OPPO/OnePlus developers tactfully kept silent about the screen used in the new creation, stirring up the interest of users. The veil of secrecy was lifted by one of the American portals about smartphones, which disassembled a test sample.
As it turns out, OnePlus 5 uses the same display module as the regular OnePllus 3 (T). No, this doesn’t just mean that it’s a gorgeous AMOLED panel with FullHD resolution and rounded edges according to 2.5D specifications. They even have the same markings (so fans of mobile VR-AR are in the air again)! So the user will not notice the difference. Can a software shell fix the situation? Let's try to wait for real reviews - and answer the question in our review.
Hardware platform
For now - about productivity. The OnePlus 3T currently available in the market is powered by an overclocked Quallcomm Snapdragon 820 labeled 821. The higher frequencies come with some updated instructions and lower power consumption.
The latest OnePlus 5 is equipped with today's flagship Quallcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with significantly increased frequencies - up to 2.45 GHz. In addition, instead of the usual 6 gigabytes of RAM in the 3rd generation of “1+” smartphones, the new product received as much as 8 gigabytes of the fastest memory! Likewise, instead of two versions with 64 and 128 GB of permanent memory, OnePlus 5 received only one - 128 GB of the fastest eMMC 5.1.
If we leave out the support of a host of new instructions and additional functions by the new processor, then the new device is indeed almost 40% more productive. In synthetic tests. But if you remember that the performance reserve of even the regular OnePlus 3 is incredible - the new 5th generation product has a reserve of 3-4 years. To load it fully, you will have to try very hard.
operating system
If you were expecting something fundamentally different from the previous model from OnePlus 5, then you don’t have to read about the operating system.
The team refused to use its own OS developments, and OnePlus 5 opted for the “bare” version of Android 7.1.1 Nougat. On the one hand, this allows us to lower the barrier to entry and offer an operating system that is familiar to most buyers.
On the other hand, such a solution leads to a lack of additional capabilities. Are they necessary? Second question. But when buying a smartphone for such a sum, a buyer spoiled by balanced Xiaomi devices will think twice.
Multimedia capabilities
The main camera of OnePlus 5 is the main difference from OnePlus 3 and 3T. Now a dual design is used with modules from DIFFERENT manufacturers. Like Xiaomi Mi6 - Sonu Exmor 389 and Samsung K7. One of them is wide-angle, the second is narrow-angle.
The difference in formats made it possible to implement a full 2x optical zoom. True, the developers abandoned the optical stabilization system that exists in OnePlus 3.
The front camera uses a 16-megapixel Sony module with an ultra-small pixel size - only 1 micrometer! But wait a minute - the Samsung-made sensor installed in the OnePlus 3E UltraPixel has not exhausted its capabilities - moreover, the developers have not maximized its functionality.
Autonomous operation
The battery capacity of OnePlus 5 is not much different from its predecessors OnePlus 3 and 3T: it again uses a thin 3300 mAh battery. But do not forget that updating the platform from Snapdragon 820 to 821 brought the smartphone almost an hour of battery life in the form of an active screen (or 4 hours of work in mixed mode).
The energy efficiency of the Quallcomm Snapdragon 835 allowed to increase this figure by almost one and a half times compared to the base model. In total, you can wait up to 15 hours of screen operation in airplane mode or 6-7 hours in active mode with 3D games.
Unfortunately, the platform update did not bring a new charging standard. The same, already familiar, proprietary DashCharge fast charging standard is used. Effective, we are convinced of this.
Results: cheap or fashionable?
Price is the main difference between OnePlus smartphones. Anyone wishing to purchase a brand new smartphone will have to spend more than $500. This is slightly higher than the usual launch price of OnePlus smartphones.
Plus, the still-current OnePlus 3T can be purchased for just $390 (with coupon OnePlusK or KOnePlus).
Is it worth overpaying more than $1 for autonomy and a dual camera? The first tests and reviews will show this. In the meantime, we are waiting.
