The OnePlus Photos app is getting a useful new trick, with support now available to integrate Google Photos with the app for backup and showing your library.
Available as a part of OxygenOS 14 (OnePlus’ Android 14 update), the brand’s built-in Photos app now supports integration with Google Photos. This is found through the app’s settings, with a “Backup with Google Photos” option appearing at the top of the screen. Tapping that activates a menu in Google Photos where you’re asked to grant access.
Once connected, you can not only back up photos, but also access your entire Google Photos library from OnePlus’ app.
We were able to get this up and running on a OnePlus Open running OxygenOS 14, though actually activating backup required force closing the OnePlus Photos app after first granting permission through Google Photos.
On a support page, Google explains that this functionality is currently supported on Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme devices running Android 11 or newer. Android Police points out that Xiaomi’s integration goes a bit deeper, allowing full two-way sync including albums, which don’t sync in OnePlus’ implementation. Xiaomi previously shut down its own cloud backup solution in favor of Google Photos back at the end of 2022, but this newer functionality has become available only recently.
With either device, integration can be disabled through the app, or through Google Photos itself. Going to Google Photos > Photo settings > Apps & devices > Google Photos access allows you to remove access.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is the new mid-range killer or that’s at least how OnePlus markets the handset. And it’s probably not too far off from the truth. The Nord CE isn’t a successor to the original Nord but more of a toned-down version of the latter, hence the name CE, which stands for “Core Edition”. The phone keeps some of the core specs the original Nord brought, including the design, which is almost indistinguishable from the first Nord. So instead of replacing it, it’s meant to co-exist with last year’s Nord.
At around the €300 mark, the phone does face fierce competition from left and right, but it also seems to be well-equipped for the job too. It has a bright, 90Hz OLED display, a competent Snapdragon 750G, which is only a small step down from the Snapdragon 765G-powered vanilla OnePlus Nord. The base version also arrives with 128GB internal storage.
One of the key selling points is probably the portability of the Nord CE. With a 6.43-inch display, the phone is on the compact side, with a profile of less than 8mm and a weight of just 170g.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
OnePlus was able to cram up a respectable 4,500 mAh battery inside the phone, which is even a step up from the first Nord, while retaining the 30W fast charging called Warp Charge 30T Plus.
As far as cameras are concerned, the Nord CE has a 64MP main camera and a secondary 8MP ultrawide. The third camera on the back is used only for depth information – there’s no dedicated macro unit. We can’t really complain, though, as macro cameras don’t bring extra value to the camera setups, especially at this price range.
So is the Nord CE 5G a mid-range killer? We try to find out in the following pages, but one thing is for sure, even by just assessing the specs sheet – the device is a well-rounded product with nothing missing from the list of essentials.
Unboxing the OnePlus Nord CE 5G
The phone comes in a fairly standard retail box containing the usual user manuals, a 30W-rated charger, USB-A to USB-C cable and a transparent case.
Our review unit came with a set of bumper cases from OnePlus itself. They are all made of soft-touch silicone and some small, dust-like golden particles stand out. It’s needless to say that they fit perfectly too.
Competition
The OnePlus Nord CE is touted as a “mid-range killer” but it has to fight off quite a few worthy competitors. This price segment is highly competitive, and since OnePlus wants to position itself as a more premium brand, it’s going to be hard. The good news is that the Nord CE 5G is a capable, well-balanced phone that might be up to the task.
Let’s start with the most obvious competitor – the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro. This handset starts at €260, which is €40 shy of the Nord CE’s starting price, but if we equate the storages (the Nord CE starts at 128GB), the difference is merely €20. Either way, the Redmi Note 10 Pro has a superior 120Hz OLED display with HDR10 support, a larger battery (although shorter battery life according to our tests), it packs a microSD card slot and offers a sensibly better camera experience all-around. The Nord CE fights back with more compact dimensions, arguably more practical and better-looking build, cleaner and leaner Android experience, longer battery life, faster charging and more importantly – a more recent and powerful SoC. It all boils down to software preference and also if that extra 30Hz on the Redmi Note 10 Pro really matter to you.
Another similarly priced alternative (€300) from the same camp is the Poco F3. This one also employs a superior 120Hz, HDR10+ compliant OLED display and offers 128GB as base storage. The camera department has been overlooked in favor of the considerably more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, but the overall camera quality doesn’t fall behind the Nord CE’s. In fact, it may be better in certain situations, mostly due to the better ISP in the Snapdragon 870. Battery life is still on the Nord CE 5G’s side, though. It’s a tough choice, that’s for sure, but if future-proofing and performance per dollar are your main priorities, the Poco F3 is the right way to go.
The recently released Galaxy A52 (about €315) is a hit in the mid-range segment. A well-balanced device with good camera performance across the board and an excellent Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The microSD card slot is included, and the storage variants start at 128GB too. Nevertheless, as most of the other competitors, the Galaxy A52 (not to be confused with the 5G variant) loses the battery endurance and raw performance (Snapdragon 750G vs. Snapdragon 720G) races against the Nord CE 5G. The polished and more recognizable OneUI running on the Galaxy A52 is a sensible consideration.
Now it’s time for some in-house competition. The Realme 8 Pro is arguably one of the best phones to have around the €300 mark. You can even strike a deal for around €260 if you shop outside Realme’s official web store. And even though the display is just 60Hz, it’s still big, bright and crisp. Definitely not on par with the competition, though. It also settles for a Snapdragon 720G like the Galaxy A52. The camera department is the main reason to consider the handset – with its proficient main sensor and lossless (sort of) 3x zoom. Its 50W fast charging is another aspect worth taking into account, while the microSD card support + 128GB base storage combo is nice to have. And yet, the Nord CE’s more powerful chipset, HRR display, solid software experience and great battery life are really hard to beat.
Verdict
You’ve probably noticed the recurring theme when comparing the Nord CE to its direct rivals – it has better performance than most, and it has a better battery life than most. Even though the camera software needs more work, the Nord CE can stand its ground in the face of competition with a compact size, great OLED display and snappy user experience.
It sure has a few omissions like the microSD card support or the HDR10 video support, but they can be easily forgiven when assessing the Nord CE as a complete package. The Nord CE 5G is a great addition to the OnePlus roster, and it gets an easy recommendation from us.
Pros
Compact and lightweight design.
The plastic doesn’t feel like one and the Void Blue color keeps fingerprints at bay.
Bright OLED 90Hz display with good auto HRR control.
More powerful SoC than the majority of competitors, 128GB base storage.
Excellent battery life and fast charging solution.
OxygenOS feels as snappy as ever, adds a couple of neat features.
3.5mm jack, NFC.
Cons
No ingress protection rating.
Main camera outputs muted photos with a slight magenta tinge and cool white balance.
Ultra-wide camera has oversaturated colors and image quality is underwhelming.
The OnePlus 12 has already debuted in China, but the global release is still about a month away. Now, new leaks reveal that, on the global market, the OnePlus 12 will upgrade to offer at least 12GB of RAM while its budget-conscious companion will stick at 8GB.
91Mobiles sourcing leaker Ishan Agarwal says that the OnePlus 12 in India, which is the global variant, will come in two variants. The first will have 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the other OnePlus 12 variant will have 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That’s in line with the Chinese release, which also offers a 24GB variant, but there was no word on the global release up until now. It’s also notable that OnePlus seems to be skipping the 24GB tier, at least in India and presumably in other countries.
While the OnePlus 11 also offered a 16GB/512GB tier, the base model started at 8GB of RAM rather than 12GB. It’s a notable upgrade and puts OnePlus’ release more in line with Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, which also has 12GB of RAM. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, notably, still starts at 8GB.
Beyond that, the OnePlus 12R would start at 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and offer a second variant with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
OnePlus is set to launch the OnePlus 12 series globally on January 23, as previously confirmed, and the OnePlus 12R is confirmed to be sold in markets across North America and Europe.
OnePlus 12R is officially coming to the US and Europe
After offering the series in India over the past few years, OnePlus is officially bringing the OnePlus 12R to the US and Europe in 2024, the company has confirmed in a recent video.
In a “Fireside Chat” with core members of OnePlus, including Pete Lau, OnePlus takes a look back over the events of the past 10 years, as well as teasing what’s coming next.
The OnePlus 12 has already launched in China, and this video was published on the same day that OnePlus announced the global release date of the brand’s new flagship. But the OnePlus 12, when it arrives globally, won’t be alone.
Like in years past, OnePlus will release an “R Series” version of the device. That series started with the OnePlus 9R in 2021, and has continued through subsequent generations with the OnePlus 10R and OnePlus 11R.
Now, the OnePlus 12R is expanding outside of India to North America and Europe. We know the device will be sold in the US, too, as OnePlus confirmed that while teasing the US launch last week.
In addition to India, this time we will launch the OnePlus 12R in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world as well. Regardless of where people reside, they will have the opportunity to experience the OnePlus R Series. So the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R will soon be available globally.
OnePlus 12 goes official with 24GB RAM, 4,500 nit display, higher price
The OnePlus 12 has been officially announced, at least over in China. Here’s the full specs of the brand’s 2024 flagship ahead of the global debut.
Today’s launch of the OnePlus 12 in China tells us a lot about the device as, generally speaking, differences between the Chinese model and the global model are minimal if there are any at all. So, while we don’t know anything about pricing in the US and other countries, any region-specific changes, and more, we do know pretty much all of the important stuff.
The OnePlus 12 will be a powerhouse flagship for 2024, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 leading off the specs. Qualcomm’s latest chip looks promising so far, and the OnePlus 12 will be among the first to bring that chip to the global market (Xiaomi 14 has already debuted with the chip in China).
Paired with that new Snapdragon chip, the OnePlus 12 will be available with up to 24GB of RAM, up from the 16GB available on the top-end OnePlus 11. All variants of the device will use UFS 4.0 storage, with options including 12GB+256GB, 16GB+512GB, 16GB+1TB, and 24GB+1TB.
As for the camera system, the OnePlus 12 will have a trio of sensors on the back. A 50MP Sony Lytia sensor serves as the main shooter, with a 64MP sensor behind a periscope telephoto lens, and ultra-wide shots are handled by a 48MP sensor. OnePlus says the new setup can do 3x optical zoom, 6x “optical quality,” and up to 120x digital zoom, just like the OnePlus Open. There’s also a 32MP front-facing camera with no autofocus.
Next up is the display, which contains another big figure.
The OnePlus 12 is using a BOE AMOLED QHD+ display that measures 6.82-inches with a 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. Like other panels, that’s based on a very small portion of the display, but it’s a staggering figure nonetheless. For comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro maxes out at 2,400 nits, and is currently the brightest display sold on a non-folding smartphone in the US. Outside of those huge peaks that you’d likely only ever see in HDR content, the OnePlus 12 hits around 1,600 nits.
The battery and charging systems also get an update this year, with a bigger 5,400 mAh battery that charges at up to 100W over a wire (which is still USB-A). And then there’s also the return of wireless charging, which hits up to 50W on OnePlus’ own stand.
Rounding things out there’s IP65 water resistance, a SIM card slot, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 over the display, and another under-display fingerprint sensor too. All in all, it looks good.
But, we also know that OnePlus has a considerable price increase in the books for OnePlus 12. In China, pricing starts at ¥4,299, about ¥300 over the OnePlus 11. That translates directly to around $600 in the US, which was the starting price of OnePlus 11, but OnePlus’ prices in China usually aren’t directly reflective of the prices internationally.
OnePlus 12 will be available in green, white, and black in China.
When with the OnePlus 12 launch globally? That remains to be seen, but there’s some evidence out there. According to a page on OnePlus’ website, it’s looking like we can expect a debut in late this month January 2024.
Oppo and OnePlus have been sharing more and more in common over the past few years, and there’s nowhere that’s no apparent than the OnePlus Open and Oppo Find N3 foldables, which quite literally are the same device.
The Oppo Find N3 and OnePlus Open share basically everything. The same specs, the same cameras, the same hinge, the same displays. It’s all the same, and you can tell in person. Over the summer, 9to5Google got a brief early chance to spend a few minutes with the Find N3, and it is indeed the same device we ended up getting in the OnePlus Open.
At the time, Oppo even said that the OnePlus Open is essentially the “global version” of the Find N3.
That’s certainly good news, as Oppo’s book-style foldables have never launched outside of China. The Find N and Find N2 both never made it to global markets, and from the looks of it, the Find N3 technically won’t either unless it’s called the OnePlus Open.
The only real differences come down to the software and the fit and finish. The Find N3 is sold in gold, red, and some other colors, while the Open is only available in black and green. The Find N3 has ColorOS, and the Open has OxygenOS (not that those are different).
The only real difference is the logo on the back.
So, yeah. These are the same phones, just for different markets. Will that continue into future releases? We’ll see! If it’s for flip phones, I hope that we see more crossover, but I would prefer if OnePlus’ main flagships retain at least some personal identity.
The OnePlus 11 this year comes without a Pro model, so the vanilla has a tough job carrying the weight of two devices. After all, it has to convince older OnePlus 9 users, for example, and those using the Pro. And it appears that the company was able to splice the two versions into one.
We see the OnePlus 11 as a strange mixture between the OnePlus 10 Pro and the OnePlus 10T from last year. Compared to the Pro, it has a couple of notable downgrades, but in the context of the 10T, it offers a substantial upgrade. For example, the OnePlus 11 is now equipped with a third-generation LTPO OLED display with support for Dolby Vision and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also bumps up the resolution to QHD+.
Of course, the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is running all those pixels and is paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The camera department gets a solid upgrade too – 2x telephoto camera with a big 32MP sensor and the ultrawide is now 48MP with support for autofocus. Moreover, the 11 is now featuring the Hasselblad Color Calibration, which wasn’t present in the 10T from last year. Oh, and the alert slider is back!
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Wireless charging is off the menu this year, but we get 100W fast charging almost everywhere except in the US where it’s 80W, which is nonetheless a welcome upgrade in both markets. It should fill up the battery from flat to full in just 25 minutes.
Other standout features include advanced cooling hardware, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos-tuned display and speakers, respectively. This should allow for immersive multimedia and gaming experience on the go. Of course, we put that to the test in the following pages, so make sure to stick around and find out whether this year’s OnePlus phone is worth your hard-earned money.
Unboxing the OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 11 comes in a standard OnePlus-styled big, red box containing all the usual stuff like user manuals, USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and the appropriate 100W-rated charger. Interestingly enough, the OnePlus 10 Pro last year came with a USB-C to USB-C cable, but OnePlus said that due to users’ feedback, they decided to switch back to USB-A as most sockets and PCs still have the older standard giving them more flexibility.
There’s no protective case this time around. Only Chinese customers get an extra case.
Competition
According to OnePlus, the 11 is missing the Pro designation from its name, not because they don’t believe it’s a Pro model, but rather because there’s only one OnePlus 11 phone (except for the 11R). However, the pricing and the feature set speak for themselves. The OnePlus 11 is a clear step down from the 10 Pro from last year in some aspects, but it also asks a bit less at launch – $699/€849. On one hand, it’s pretty competitive, but on the other, you can find quite a few adequate alternatives. It’s considerably more expensive than the OnePlus 10T as it’s a more capable phone overall, while being more attractive than the 10 Pro as it carries most of its high-end features.
In the context of the 2023 flagships, the OnePlus 11 is kind of a flagship killer, even. The Samsung Galaxy S23 came out pretty pricey, and the Xiaomi 13 Pro is expected to be around the €1,000 mark (educated guess).
One of the few proper flagship phones that undercut the OnePlus 11 is the Pixel 7 Pro. In our opinion, the latter is the more desirable option if photography is your top priority. It has a better overall camera experience with superb performance and further zoom reach (5x). It also has a brighter display, IP68 certification against dust/water (higher rating than OnePlus 11’s IP64) and a clean Android. Because let’s face it, if you came here looking for that good old OnePlus experience, the Pixel 7 Pro will probably cater better to your needs.
Google Pixel 7 Pro • Motorola Edge 30 Ultra • Realme GT2 Pro
On the other hand, the OnePlus 11 is more powerful; it offers better sustained performance under load and lower surface temperatures, substantially faster wired charging and longer battery life too.
Another clean Android alternative is the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, which also checks all the boxes and sells for a bit over €700. Charging is almost as fast, the display is faster and brighter and almost as quick to charge, while using a more widely spread charging protocol. OnePlus’ contender, though, has the upper hand with better overall camera experience (particularly the telephoto and ultrawide).
Surely, the Realme GT2 Pro is due for an upgrade already, given that its initial release was exactly one year ago, but its price makes it a very lucrative alternative to the OnePlus 11. It runs the same software, offers a similar level of camera experience (better ultrawide, albeit no telephoto), excellent LTPO2 OLED panel, fast charging and outstanding battery life. It’s the same size as the OnePlus 11 too, minus the premium build.
OnePlus 10 Pro • Oppo Find X5 Pro
Now, the hard part. Should you get the OnePlus 10 Pro or the OnePlus 11? After the recent price cuts, the newly announced 11 is just €10 cheaper, going by OnePlus’ official web store, but third-party retailers will sell you the Pro for a little over €700. Still, like most things in life, it depends.
The 10 Pro has fast wireless charging but marginally slower cable charging. It also has a longer reach with a 3x zoom (but not as good quality). And it’s got the nicer overall ultrawide camera, but no AF.
The rest of the hardware and overall experience is pretty much identical, for all intents and purposes. The upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 isn’t negligible, but it would go unnoticed by the vast majority of users. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is still a very capable SoC.
All in all, one could make a case that the OnePlus 11 is just a more affordable version of the 10 Pro (going by the launch prices of both phones). That’s not to say the OnePlus 11 isn’t a competitive handset in the context of H1 2023.
Verdict
After years of uncertain releases, the OnePlus 11 seems to have a good chance of winning over many fans this year. It’s a competitive upper-tier phone with little missing from its specs sheet. It has a cutting-edge LTPO3 AMOLED panel, the latest hardware from Qualcomm, good overall camera experience in both day and night, long battery life, blazing-fast charging, nice-sounding stereo speakers and great sustained performance.
Sure, the OnePlus 11 isn’t flagship-level in some aspects, but it doesn’t need to be. In the context of its pricing, it’s a well-rounded phone with little to complain about. A better variable refresh rate handling would be nice as this current implementation produces issues with some apps, and we would love to see OnePlus finally catch up with the competition in terms of zoom level – 2x doesn’t cut it on a flagship in 2023. But that handicap is true for Oppo’s flagships, too, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.
Finally, the software changes will surely be polarizing. The new OxygenOS 13 has nothing in common with the older versions, and OnePlus clearly isn’t sticking to its promise about keeping true to its roots in this regard. While we like ColorOS in general, we would have liked at least some of OxygenOS’ native features retained. Right now, there’s little to no reason to opt for OnePlus’ smartphones because Oppo and Realme phones are already running the exactly the same software. OyxgenOS is what defined OnePlus for all those years.
Nonetheless, if you don’t care about the current state of OxygenOS or you are completely new to OnePlus’ ecosystem, we see no reason not to get the OnePlus 11. It’s a solid all-rounder that would ultimately become even more desirable with time as the price settles in.
Pros
Distinctive design with great ergonomics (feels thin and light in hand).
Superb 120Hz LTPO3 AMOLED display with granular HRR control and great color accuracy.
Excellent battery life.
100W SuperVOOC charging speeds are almost unrivaled.
Excellent sustained performance and thermals.
Good overall camera experience day and night.
Cons
OxygenOS is just ColorOS at this point, and fans will miss some OnePlus features.
Display has issues with the HDR and adaptive refresh rate.
OnePlus‘ latest flagship offering is here. After launching in China in 2022, we wondered when the rest of the world would see the new OnePlus flagship. Alas, the OnePlus 10 Pro is now available outside of China, and we are having our rounds with it. It includes the flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a larger battery, a new selfie camera, and an updated ultrawide camera.
On paper, these updates feel more like they should belong to a vanilla OnePlus 10, with more significant upgrades reserved for the “Pro” model. The recent rumor of a OnePlus 10 “Ultra” to arrive later this year is starting to make more sense – speculatively, of course.
Update, 26 Aug 2022: A OnePlus 10 Pro unit made its way to our HQ and we jumped at the opportunity to fill in some of the gaps left from the review. Those include the loudspeaker test, photo and video samples from the usual locations, and entries in our Photo and Video compare tools. You can find the new additions on the respective pages.
In any case, we hope to see improvements in battery life, and we’re happy to finally see an updated 32 MP selfie camera module. We’re also excited to test out the new 150-degree ultrawide camera, and we wonder if we’ll see improvements in the main camera’s image processing despite the 10 Pro using the exact same main camera as the 9 Pro.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The display panel is the same as that of the 9 Pro. It is rated for 1300 nits of peak brightness, and it has HDR10+ support and a variable 120Hz refresh rate that optimizes battery life by switching down to as low as 1Hz. One new tidbit for the 10 Pro is Dual Calibration, which means OnePlus has color-calibrated the panel at both 500 and 100 nits – for more consistent accuracy across brightness levels.
In North America, OnePlus is launching the 10 Pro with a single memory configuration of 8GB + 128GB, though there are plans to bring the 12GB + 256GB variant to the market sometime in the future (India and EU get the 12GB + 256GB at launch). Otherwise, there’s no vanilla 10 variant, and OnePlus has been mum as to why that is. We will reserve all judgments for the end of the review, so let’s dive into OnePlus’ flagship option and find out what makes it stand out.
Unboxing
The OnePlus 10 Pro comes in standard OnePlus packaging affair: a sturdy red box with all the essentials included. Our North American variant didn’t include a protective case (despite there being a space for it in the box), but it did include a USB OTG adapter (USB-A to USB-C) for transferring data from an old device. Recent OnePlus flagships never included this in North America.
The package includes OnePlus stickers, documentation, SIM-eject tool, 65W SuperVOOC charging adapter, and USB-C to C cable.
If you were to pick up the phone in, say, India, you’d get an 80W SuperVOOC fast charger. This charger has a USB-A port instead of USB-C and is thus incapable of supporting USB-Power Delivery standard. This charger can only fast charge OnePlus and Oppo phones, but everything else will get the standard 10W, making it much less useful compared to the 65W model.
Competition
In North America, the OnePlus 10 Pro is positioned at $899, which goes head to head with the Google Pixel 6 Pro, and it sits between two iPhone 13 models, and two Galaxy S22 models. Overseas, OnePlus sees competition from Chinese brands Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi, and Realme.
Google Pixel 6 Pro • Realme GT2 Pro • Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G • Oppo Find X5 Pro
The Google Pixel 6 Pro features Google’s camera prowess and updates directly from Google. It has the stock Android 12 experience, though Google has had a few software snafus with delayed updates and new bugs that come with each update. Of the two, we think the 6 Pro has a more consistent software experience considering OnePlus’ recent and inconsistent rebranding of OxygenOS.
Realme’s GT2 Pro is identical to the 10 Pro in many ways. It has the same display, same chipset, same battery and 65W charging, but its triple camera setup is different due to the lack of a telephoto camera. Still, if you wanted to save a few bucks, you could get an identical smartphone with even similar software, as Realme UI 3 is derivative of ColorOS – which invaded the real OxygenOS starting with version 12.
Samsung’s Galaxy S22/S22+ feature(s) a more complete and consistent software experience. Both offer capable camera suites and yield great battery life, though the OnePlus 10 Pro will certainly charge faster. If you’re looking for an ecosystem to be a part of on the Android front, Samsung’s is a great choice.
The Oppo Find X5 Pro is similarly equipped with its triple cameras and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. In our first-impressions review, we noted that the Find X5 Pro didn’t feel like much of an upgrade over the Find X3 Pro, which is kind of how we feel about the 10 Pro relative to the 9 Pro. We might even suggest you can save some bucks if you manage to find a 9 Pro at a discount.
Although the Huawei P50 Pro doesn’t include Google services, it does offer a competitive camera suite. If you can also get over the fact that there’s no 5G connectivity and battery life isn’t up to par with competitors, the P50 does have beautiful hardware.
The iPhone 13 Pro is chosen for its camera and video capabilities, as well as its software suite and excellent interoperability with Apple’s ecosystem of products. If you’re coming from an iPhone and looking to switch to Android, OnePlus does offer a way to transfer data in, but only offers the option to transfer from an iCloud account.
OnePlus 9 Pro • Huawei P50 Pro • Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Verdict
So far, the OnePlus flagship had a different launch from previous years. Aside from not launching a vanilla OnePlus 10 model, the brand staggered its Chinese launch from the rest of the world by several weeks. Plus, with recent reports of a OnePlus 10 Ultra coming later this year, perhaps the company is restructuring its brand strategy as it figures out how to cope with its unification of OnePlus and Oppo’s resources.
We (and OnePlus fans alike) have been disappointed by the most recent release of OxygenOS. It feels like OnePlus grasped at a bunch of elements of ColorOS and stuffed them into a package, and pretended that it was still OxygenOS. We’re happy to hear that OnePlus has taken the feedback from its community on this, but users won’t see the brand’s undoing of the ColorOS-ification of OxygenOS until Android 13 comes out in the later part of the year.
The recent rumors of a OnePlus 10 “Ultra” are what gives us hope for the brand in 2022. Otherwise, the OnePlus 10 Pro feels like it could have been the vanilla 10 model. Disappointments aside, we were quite impressed with the thermal handling and the raw performance of the OnePlus 10 Pro. There are enough features to keep semi-serious gamers happy.
But by far the most perplexing aspect of this phone is the camera. While the camera is good in general, we expected some upgrade over the previous year’s model. Except, there’s none to be found here. In fact, the camera system is quite simply worse than the OnePlus 9 Pro due to downgrading of the ultra-wide camera. While the quality difference isn’t massive, it is still objectively and measurably worse and also drops the macro functionality in favor of a frankly pointless fisheye effect.
If you are ready to drop $899 on a OnePlus 10 Pro, you might consider that paying a bit more will get you a more polished and more consistent experience somewhere else, but we would also say that the OnePlus 10 Pro is still worth considering. The 10 Pro is certainly a strong contender, but that might depend on who you ask. If you’re looking to buy into an expansive ecosystem, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, the 10 Pro does have a capable all-around camera with enough features to keep photographers and casual picture-takers happy while also catering to content creators who appreciate a color-accurate display.
Pros
Distinctive design with premium finish.
Superb 120Hz LTPO2 AMOLED display with granular HRR control and great color-accuracy.
Competitive battery life.
80W SuperVOOC charging speeds are excellent.
Excellent sustained performance and thermals.
Reliably good performance from the primary camera.
Cons
No formal IP rating outside US.
OxygenOS 12 no longer has that OnePlus fan-favorite look and feel.
Ultra wide is not at the level of last year’s model and also lacks AF or Macro.
Most games limited to 60Hz refresh rate.
Front camera and telephoto camera only offer 1080p video recording.
80W charger shipped globally is not much faster than 65W charger in the US, and it doesn’t support USB-PD for fast charging your other devices.
OnePlus has today announced that it will launch OxygenOS 14, the brand’s skin on top of Android 14, on September 25.
OxygenOS 14 will be the second major update to OnePlus’ skin since the closer merger with Oppo that resulted in OxygenOS and ColorOS effectively becoming one and the same. This next update, OnePlus says, will be one of the first updates built on top of Android 14.
Google itself has yet to finalize Android 14, but is expected to do so and roll the update out to Pixel phones within the next week or two.
OnePlus says that its Android 14 update will have a big focus on performance, with the debut of the new “Trinity Engine” which is said to “[achieve] greater synergy between hardware and software” through CPU Vitalization, RAM Vitalization, ROM Vitalization, HyperBoost, HyperTouch, and HyperRendering. Marketing words aside, OnePlus says that should bring better power efficiency, multitasking, and an overall faster and smoother experience that is also longer lasting.
To bring this experience to life, OnePlus is introducing its brand-new proprietary performance platform, the Trinity Engine, to OxygenOS 14. By achieving greater synergy between hardware and software, the Trinity Engine unleashes the full potential of OnePlus handsets to address industry-wide challenges in pursing higher power consumption efficiency, better multi-tasking capability, and more enduring fast and smooth experience. Under the hood of the engine are six innovative technologies, including CPU Vitalization, RAM Vitalization, ROM Vitalization, HyperBoost, HyperTouch, and HyperRendering. When combined, these technologies guarantee a versatile fast and smooth experience in scenarios such as multi-tasking, intensive mobile gaming, and long-term usage.
OnePlus says that OxygenOS 14 will launch on September 25, but the brand doesn’t mention which device will get the update first – presumably, it’ll be the OnePlus 11. Other OnePlus devices likely, but not confirmed, to be updated include OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10T, recent Nord launches, and more. The OnePlus Open foldable, expected to debut in October, may also make its debut with the update.
Given the closely connected underlying work, expect Oppo to debut its Android 14 update around the same time.
OnePlus Open foldable has apparently been delayed for a display upgrade
OnePlus confirmed earlier this year that it would launch its first foldable smartphone in Q3 2023, but it seems that date will be slipping. According to a new report, the OnePlus Open will suffer a delay, but at least for a good reason.
Less than a week after the company confirmed the name of its first foldable in a cheeky teaser, the OnePlus Open appears to be getting hit with a delay. The news comes courtesy of Max Jambor, a reliable source for this sort of information. Jambor says that the Open’s launch has been delayed “a bit,” with no clear timeline on when it will actually be revealed.
OnePlus Open was expected to see its debut in late August.
Why the delay? Jambor claims that OnePlus made a late switch to a key component, the display. The Open was originally set to use a display panel from BOE, a Chinese display maker who has provided displays for devices such as the 2019 Motorola Razr and Huawei’s more recent Mate X3. OnePlus apparently ran into some issues with the BOE panels and is moving to panels provided by Samsung.
In theory, this should be an upgrade. Samsung panels are used pretty widely in foldables right now, with the company providing displays for the Google Pixel Fold, Motorola Razr+, and of course the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5 which are on pre-order now.
Will it be worth the wait? That’s harder to know, but past leaks certainly have the OnePlus Open looking like a compelling foldable.
We’ve reached out to OnePlus for an official statement on the alleged delay, but the company wasn’t immediately available for comment. We’ll follow up when/if we hear back.
Open Launch got pushed back a bit, but no worries the delay is actually good in a way
Open was supposed to have a BOE screen but turns out it was 👎🏼 – new panels are from Samsung ✅
Stay tuned for an exciting device! More to follow 🔜
OnePlus confirms the name of its foldable in cheeky teaser
Samsung is unveiling its latest batch of foldable smartphones this morning into a market that’s more packed than ever. And, just a few weeks from now, OnePlus is also set to unveil the “OnePlus Open,” its first foldable that the brand has just confirmed the name last July 26.
In a tweet last July 26, OnePlus takes advantage of Samsung’s imminent event to confirm the name of its foldable. The brand says that it “opens” when others “fold.” That confirms previous claims that the foldable will be called the “OnePlus Open.”
It’s a funny, if a little cringey, line, but it also puts OnePlus in a spot where it has to deliver, as it’s clearly implying that its foldable will be better than Samsung’s.
Of course, Samsung hasn’t really been pushing the boundaries with foldables lately. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 were both very iterative upgrades, and aside from the Flip 5’s new cover display there’s really nothing major going on this year either. But you can check out our coverage of Samsung’s devices for more on that.
The OnePlus Open, meanwhile, is expected to be something quite impressive. Leaked specs include Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 16GB of RAM, a bigger 7.8-inch inner display, and a wider 6.3-inch outer display compared to Samsung’s foldables, as well as a big 4,800 mAh battery, 67W charging, and strong rear cameras too.
OnePlus Open is set to debut in late August but got delayed to October.
Touchscreens haven’t changed much in a while, and that’s because they’re largely quite good. One of the few remaining flaws, though, is that they don’t function quite right when wet, such as when you get caught in the rain. On one of its new devices, though, OnePlus is trying out a new screen that handles touch input when the device is wet.
On Weibo, OnePlus is showing off its upcoming Ace 2 Pro, a midrange smartphone equipped with this new touchscreen. “Rain Water Touch” allows the phone to accept touch input accurately when the screen is also being hit with water, as the video below shows. Most smartphones, such as the iPhone 14 Pro that OnePlus shows in the test, have trouble accurately handling touch when the screen is wet, sometimes ignoring touches entirely and, at other times, leaving them wildly inaccurate.
Why does this happen? Modern touchscreens rely on capacitive tech to detect your finger. This uses electrical conduction to detect when and where your finger hits the screen and does so incredibly quickly. But, when the screen is wet, that detection is impacted because water also conducts electricity. This new design OnePlus is using (presumably from Oppo) is powered by special touch algorithms and a custom chip inside to get around that.
The OnePlus Ace 2 Pro, which is debuting this technology, will launch in China soon, but we certainly hope that this touchscreen tech will make its way to future OnePlus devices sold in other markets in the future.
A big trend in smartphones over the past few years has been the “periscope” zoom camera, and it seems OnePlus will finally adopt the tech in an upcoming release.
Periscope lenses in smartphones allow for zoom that goes beyond 2-3x. Google uses the technique in Pixel phones to hit up to 5x optical zoom, while Samsung uses it for the 10x telephoto lens on its Ultra devices, and countless other brands have been jumping on board too. Even Apple is rumored to introduce a periscope lens on its next iPhone.
But OnePlus, surprisingly, has yet to use a periscope zoom lens in its smartphones. The OnePlus 10 Pro and OnePlus 11 both maxed out with traditional zoom methods at 3.3x and 2x respectively.
It seems that may soon change, though. Digital Chat Station reports on Weibo that OnePlus has a “periscope arrangement” in the pipeline, with testing underway. It’s unclear what optical zoom level OnePlus is aiming for, but the simple fact the brand is finally jumping on board is great to see.
Presumably, this would make its debut in the OnePlus 12 sometime next year. OnePlus’ next smartphone is expected to be its first foldable, which would be a relatively odd place for the tech to debut. Periscope lenses are quite rare in foldables, with Google’s new Pixel Fold offering the tech, as well as Huawei’s Mate X3 and some others. But most stick with rather basic camera hardware for the sake of space.
Kuo: Upgraded optical zoom to be exclusive to iPhone ‘Pro Max’ cameras until at least 2025. Apple is expected to release its first iPhone with a periscope lens with this year’s iPhone 15 lineup, but rumors say it’ll be limited to only the highest-end iPhone 15 Pro Max. According to a new report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the current expectation is that this exclusivity won’t change for the foreseeable future…
(3/5) Only one/the highest-end model of the new 2H24 iPhone 16 series may have a periscope camera, not the two models of market expectation. It's detrimental to Largan and Genius since the demand for lens upgrades will fall below expectations.
Periscope lens for iPhone 15 and beyond. A periscope lens is one that relies on a prism to reflect light to multiple internal lenses at 90 degrees to the camera sensor. What this means is that the length of the lens can be much longer than a traditional telephoto lens, which in turn means that periscope lenses can offer much better optical zoom capabilities.
For example, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max both have a telephoto lens that offers 3x optical zoom and 15x digital. Samsung has already made the switch to a periscope lens in its flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra, which offers 10x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom.
The expectation is that the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year will be the first iPhone to switch to a periscope lens. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s implementation of the technology will include a 1/3″ sensor that has a 12-megapixel resolution with f/2.8 aperture, sensor-shift stabilization, and up to 6x optical zoom.
Rumors initially indicated that while the periscope lens would be exclusive to the highest-end iPhone 15 model this year, Apple would expand it to the smaller “Pro” phone in 2024. Now, that no longer appears to be the case.
Kuo reports that he now expects only the highest-end iPhone 16 model in 2024 will offer a periscope lens, whether this is called the “iPhone 16 Pro Max” or “iPhone 15 Ultra.”
There are two reasons Apple may have made this decision. It could be that the company views the periscope lens as a way to differentiate the iPhone 16 Pro Max from the iPhone 16 Pro, giving people a reason to spend more on the high-end model. Alternatively, it could be a technical or engineering limitation.
In the past, the switch to a periscope lens could be one of the biggest changes to the iPhone camera hardware in several years. The lack of greater optical zoom (and digital zoom, to a lesser degree) is the major advantage Samsung’s latest flagship devices have over the iPhone lineup.
The fact that the periscope lens will be limited to the big-screen iPhone until at least 2025 is disappointing for people who prefer smaller phones. The bifurcation here is similar to the days of the iPhone 6s, where the iPhone 6s Plus included an optical image stabilization sensor for video and still pictures, unlike the iPhone 6s.
OnePlus tipped to launch its first foldable in August
2023 is quickly turning into the year of the foldables, and now we’re hearing more about when OnePlus will launch its first entry.
With Oppo being one of the biggest names pushing foldable smartphones, it was only a matter of time until OnePlus took the plunge. Earlier this year, alongside the debut of its latest flagship, the OnePlus 11, the company teased a foldable smartphone to debut later in the year. The company then reiterated that at MWC.
Now, reliable tipster Max Jambor is adding a date to that. Apparently, the first OnePlus foldable will make its debut in August of this year.
That timeline doesn’t come as much of a surprise, really. Last year, OnePlus launched its OnePlus 10T in August, and years prior have seen similar timelines as well. An unveiling in August would also put OnePlus in a good spot as far as the competition goes, with Samsung expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in July, a date it has pushed up from previous years. Google is also preparing to launch its first foldable, which is expected to go on sale in June.
Leaks of the first OnePlus foldable have been relatively minor thus far, with one past leak revealing the possible “OnePlus V Fold” name for the product. A recent tweet also made the rounds claiming the device would have an 8-inch inner display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and triple-camera array comprised of a 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto. There hasn’t been anything to back up that rumor, but it seems reasonable to expect, especially given that we know the OnePlus foldable won’t be an exact copy of the Oppo Find N2.
During its first launch event of 2023 earlier this month, OnePlus offered a somewhat cryptic teaser that, in Q3 of this year, it would host another launch. The brand offered no context at the time, but it was pretty clear what was coming – foldables.
Now, OnePlus is explicitly confirming that, yes, it will launch its first foldable smartphone in 2023.
During a session at MWC in Barcelona today, OnePlus confirmed that it will launch a foldable smartphone in the “second half of 2023,” likely referring to the previously teased Q3 timeline. The brand offered no further insight into what to expect, beyond saying that more information would be released the months to come.
OnePlus COO Kinder Liu said:
Our first foldable phone will have the signature OnePlus fast and smooth experience. It must be a flagship phone that doesn’t settle because of its folding form, in terms of industrial design, mechanical technology, and other aspects. We want to launch a device that aims to be at the pinnacle experience of today’s foldable market.
It’s notable that OnePlus is referring to this as a singular device, as many expected the company to launch both “book” and “clamshell” foldables. The brand at one point trademarked the names “OnePlus V Fold” and “OnePlus V Flip,” furthering the idea of two devices. That would also make sense, given OnePlus’ parent company Oppo also sells two foldables.
OnePlus hasn’t confirmed if this first foldable will be a “book” like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or a “clamshell” like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, but given recent leaks it sounds like it will be of the Fold variety. Just last week, a leak claimed the device would have less in common with Oppo’s Find N2 than expected, which supports the idea that OnePlus is aiming for that form factor first.
Whatever the case, it’s certainly exciting, as a OnePlus foldable would bring more competition to Samsung, especially if it ends up launching in North America.
An update to the phone that never was, the OnePlus 10T arrives in late summer to fill a slot a notch below the 10 Pro. There was no OnePlus 10 to be succeeded, and there’s no 10T Pro now either, so the 10T is in somewhat of weird spot – superior to the 10 Pro is some ways, not quite as good in others.
The upgrades come in areas that one easily associates with OnePlus. On the one hand, is performance – the new model uses the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, the TSMC-made version coming with improved speed and efficiency. It’s coupled with the most advanced cooling system the company has made, so it can make the most out of that chip. And then there’s charging speed – the 150W charging capability of the OP10T sounds excessive on paper, but it does make it one of the fastest charging handsets we’ve seen.
Not being a Pro, the 10T does make some concessions in other areas, key among them being the camera. The rather unimpressive setup is missing a zoom camera (a 3x one present on the 10 Pro), and the ultrawide one is a midrange-grade unit (if even that). That only leaves the main camera with some proper imaging chops, but it, too, is hardly cutting edge.
A similarly not-quite-flagship bit is the display – sure, it’s a 120Hz capable OLED, but it omits the granular adaptive refresh rate we’ve come to expect from top-end models.
But framing the 10T as a flagship and pointing out ways in which it misses the mark may be unfair to its aspirations. There’s a reason why there’s no Pro in its name, and with a starting price of $650/€740 it’s fighting a different battle. Let’s see how it does.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
OnePlus 10T unboxing
There are no surprises in the presentation – the 10T arrives in a familiar bright red cardboard box. It’s a full-size one, too – it has to be in order to fit the chunky power adapter. There’s a 160W stamp on it, but the phone will max out at just 150W, as mentioned before. In the US, the power output will be capped at 125W, too – bummer. It’s worth mentioning that the charger is also USB PowerDelivery compliant and will put out up to 45W through its USB-C port.
There’s little more in terms of accessories inside the box other than the adapter and cable to go with it. There are a couple of 1+ stickers, for what it’s worth.
There’s no bundled protective case, but OnePlus sent us a couple from their case roster that you can purchase at an extra cost. One of them is black and mimics the sandstone texture of earlier models by the company – from when they still did things to stand out from the pack. The other one is the cooling type, similar to the one we had for the Oppo Find X5 Pro. It has cutouts in a striped pattern, and with some imagination, you could see stylized lightning bolts in there.
Competition
The OnePlus 10T‘s base price of $650/€740 (for an 8GB/128GB version) makes it reasonably competitive, both in the US and Europe, while the INR 50K asking price sounds like a bargain in India.
A Galaxy S22 is nominally $800 but now runs for $700 (for the same base 8GB/128GB configuration), while it’s €750 or less in Europe. It comes with a few advantages to make up for the small premium in the US, while the level playing field in Europe makes it a fight on the merits entirely. At INR 75K, the Galaxy is in a very different price bracket in India.
The IP68 rating is among the S22’s pros in this head-to-head, as is the more versatile camera system (3x tele, higher-res ultrawide, AF-capable selfie camera). The OP counters with better battery life and way quicker charging, though the S22’s wireless charging could settle it in the opposite direction for some buyers. The 10T does have a brawnier chipset, though it goes to waste with the gaming fps caps – the Galaxy does allow high fps gaming. The S22 could be too small for some folks looking at the OP 10T, and the plus-size model can be out of budget.
If, however, small is good, there’s always the Zenfone 9, retailing for €800 in Europe. At less than 10% more expensive than the 10T, this one too has its advantages – the IP68 rating and superior camera setup (though missing a tele) aren’t surprising, but the Zenfone also has its own solid implementation of the SD8+ Gen 1, making it one better than the Galaxy. There’s no matching the 10T’s charging speed, however, and if you want big, the Asus is not it.
In a way, you might be able to get a Xiaomi 12 Pro for OnePlus 10T money in Europe – if you’re eyeing the 16GB/256GB OP at €820. A 12GB/256GB Xiaomi goes for as much and is a proper flagship – with the cameras and display of one. It also charges about as fast as the 10T, which is quite the achievement, though the OnePlus still wins for endurance. In India, even a base 8GB/256GB 12 Pro is more than 10% pricier than the top-of-the-line 10T, but it may still be worth the extra money if you’re after a more competent cameraphone.
Meanwhile in the US, Google will sell you a Pixel 6 Pro for the same $650 that OnePlus charges for the 10T – admittedly, it’s a temporary discount from the usual $900, but it’s the number we’re looking at right now. The Pixel has more and better cameras, software from the very source, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating. It matches the 10T’s battery life, though the 10T obviously takes the wind for wired charging speed. If you’re on this side of the Atlantic, the Pixel 6 (non-Pro) for €650 can be a reasonable alternative to the 10T as well.
With the close ties between the brands, can the Realme GT2 Pro count as a rival? Well, why not – it’s different enough and is priced in the same ballpark wherever the two share markets. We got significantly better battery life out of the Realme, perhaps thanks to its more advanced display, and while the OP maintains an advantage in charging speed, the Realme is no slouch either. Main cameras are similar, but the Realme’s fisheye ultrawide and microscope are infinitely more interesting than the 10T’s meh ultrawide and pointless macro.
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G • Asus Zenfone 9 • Xiaomi 12 Pro • Google Pixel 6 Pro • Realme GT2 Pro
Verdict
The OnePlus 10T is hardly an exciting release, and it makes it easy on us to pick on it for its missteps. For the most part, those were already there in the spec sheet – the so-so camera system and lack of wireless charging and IP rating weren’t exactly surprises, and the press images readily reveal the absence of the alert slider too. That last bit, coupled with the fact that OnePlus and Oppo Android overlays have been steadily converging, may also put off long-time fans of the brand.
But the 10T doesn’t have to be all things to all people quite like a ‘proper’ flagship does, and the 10 Pro is still there to cater to a more demanding audience. The 10T’s main selling points were also right there on the official product pages, and the phone does deliver top-level performance and charging speed. For its conservatively specced camera, it delivers an okay experience, the display is solid in its average-ness, battery life is similarly middle-of-the-road – all of these to be taken in a good way if that makes any sense.
In its essence, the OnePlus 10T is an upper-midrange phone with a top-tier chipset and class-leading charging capability. We’d say it’s priced accordingly and is worth what OnePlus is asking – perhaps you can read that as sort of a recommendation.
Pros
Bright 120Hz display.
Competent main camera for both stills and video, in good light and at night alike.
Some of the fastest charging in the business, solid battery life.
Nice sounding stereo speakers.
Fastest Android chipset on the market, great sustained performance.