A good new smartphone does not need to cost you $1000.
While the iPhone X has made waves with its $999 starting price, a good new phone doesn’t need to cost you nearly that much.
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has made waves, and built a sizable following, in recent years by offering high-powered devices that rival the Samsung Galaxy and iPhone in specs but are significantly cheaper in price. On Thursday the company announced its latest phone, the OnePlus 5T, which starts at $499 and is available on Nov. 21.
Similar to the OnePlus 5 that was announced in June, the OnePlus 5T features a powerful Qualcomm 835 processor, improved dual 16-and-20 megapixel rear cameras, and a 16-megapixel front camera. The $499 model comes with 64GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. An extra $60 gets you 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Unlike the 5, which was $20 cheaper, the 5T embraces the 2017 smartphone ideal of larger edge-to-edge displays with thinner bezels. Although the overall size of the 5T is roughly the same as the 5, the screen on the new phone has been bumped to 6.01 inches, up from 5.5-inches on the 5.
The display remains at a 1080p resolution, which while sharp, is not quite as crisp as the higher-resolution displays I’ve seen on rival Android devices like the Galaxy S8 or Google’s $849 Pixel 2 XL.
The phone currently runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat, but an update to the latest version, 8.0 Oreo, is coming next year.
Other 2017 smartphone staples such as water resistance and wireless charging remain missing on the 5T, though the device does thankfully keep the standard headphone jack.
The fingerprint sensor has been moved to the back to unlock the phone. There also is a new facial recognition feature to unlock the device with your face.
As with other OnePlus phones, the 5T is sold “unlocked” and will only work on AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks in the U. S.
In briefly using the 5T the phone is a nice improvement over the 5, though it remains to be seen how well it holds up to other top phones in deeper testing.
The rear cameras take nice photos, but in some quick pictures at night in Manhattan did not appear to be as clear as similar shots taken on iPhone X or the Pixel 2 XL. That said, I will reserve final judgment until I have some more time to try it out.
Though not officially certified, OnePlus says the phone can withstand use in the rain or a drop in a puddle. I did not have a chance to try this out, but I do wish it was officially IP rated to better withstand the elements.
The omission of wireless charging is equally a bummer on a top-tier 2017 Android phone, but the 5T does have the company’s proprietary “Dash Charge” quick charge technology to quickly refill the battery if you recharge with its included adapter and cable.
I do, however, love that there is a normal headphone jack. And the facial recognition feature was a welcome addition, functioning quickly and not easily fooled by photos or videos of my face in quick tests.
Over the past four years, OnePlus has built itself a rabid following, so rabid that hundreds of fans paid $40 for the right to watch the company unveil the 5T on Thursday in Brooklyn (OnePlus plans to donate the proceeds to charity).
At first blush, the 5T seems to reward those fans with a highly capable device while seeming to provide another strong alternative for those looking for a high-powered phone that doesn’t cost nearly four digits.
