The OnePlus catalog continues to grow in the Nord series, with the Nord N100 and N10 5G models. If we go up the ladder to the mid-range (premium), the novelty is the OnePlus 8T, one of the best phones from this manufacturer. And very probably the most interesting to buy for its price and features, some of them at the height of the flagship phone, OnePlus 8 Pro, and even some better, such as fast charging (and some worse, of course). But less money does not mean that it is a device suitable for all budgets.
An effective camera
OnePlus 8T incorporates four rear cameras in a rectangular module: a 48-megapixel primary camera with hybrid image stabilization (OIS and EIS), a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, another 5-megapixel macro photography lens, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens, which supports the primary sensor to gain sharpness, contrast and dynamic range, in addition to taking black and white photos. This model records video in portrait mode, something not so familiar with smartphone cameras.
The cameras offer good quality. Although they saturate the colors somewhat – with greens and reds more intense and a bit artificial – the photos will not disappoint you; you can achieve excellent images. Like other cameras, the OnePlus 8T camera embellishes everything it focuses on, and the result is satisfying, despite the unrealistic appearance of some shades. The night landscape mode does not convince us in the dark since it does not illuminate the scene, and the flash is necessary. Not that it is a tragedy, but something is missing. With illumination, the camera does respond as expected in a premium phone. It doesn’t have a specific lens for telephoto, solves it with software, and works very well, except when you get to 10x, it loses sharpness. In macro photography mode, it is activated on the left side and focuses well on the object, but on the rest, it is not at the same level.
High-end performance for everything you need
The equipment of the phone could not be better for its price. It points to the top with its Snapdragon 865 processor, which is somewhat less potent than the 865+; both are high-end. Our test unit brings the best also in RAM and storage in this model, that is, 12 GB and 256 GB. This set – the same as the OnePlus 8 Pro – does a superb job; you can expect it to handle anything you throw.
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro models have already received the update to Android 11. But the 8T has an advantage; it already comes with it and, of course, with the OxygenOS 11 customization layer. In this merger, the Chinese manufacturer maintains news of Google’s operating system, such as the possibility of consulting a notification history and notification bubbles (they can be more annoying than helpful, although the colors are for tastes). From OxygenOS 11, we highlight two new features: Zen Mode can now also be used with a group, and in the premiere of Always On Display, the screen is always on, which is very useful.
If you’re sick of procrastinating, Zen Mode (accessed directly via an icon on the slider) renders your phone useless for a while. It only allows urgent calls and answers those that are received. OnePlus has optimized the interface to improve the user experience when using the phone with one hand, for example, the settings menu.
Amazing fast charging
How does it behave in the autonomy section? A 4,500mAh battery isn’t the most advanced on the market—there are plenty of 5,000mAh and higher and some 6,000mAh (the latest being the Moto G9 Power). And it doesn’t matter that it’s not one of the best: OnePlus 8T manages resources very well, and with this capacity, it offers autonomy for three days, with non-intensive use (taking photos, checking the news, and playing videos for four hours each day).
But without a doubt, what this phone stands out for is its incredible 65 W Warp Charge fast charge. If you plug it in for 14 minutes, it reaches 50 percent autonomy. And you get a complete account in just 38 minutes, based on our tests. Many flagship phones do not match these figures.
With this mid-range model from OnePlus, you get many critical high-end features, such as the processor, RAM and storage, glass finish, refresh rate, and impressive fast charging. The camera can take outstanding photos, although the night landscape mode forces you to shoot the flash in scenes without light, and the macro sometimes does not measure up. However, we think most users could live without these features because it makes up for them with everything else.
The changes in OxygenOS for use with one hand, the comfortable dimensions, the fluidity of 120 HZ, and the power of the chip make it a phone that is as manageable as it is fast when performing any task.
All this is complemented by an Incredibly efficient fast charging and a modern and youthful design, and with the very personal imprint of this brand that the youngest (including the spirited) love.
For its price of 699 euros, the OnePlus 8T is a device that is not within reach of all pockets, and even so, it seems fair to us with all these premium features. However, perhaps you do not need 12 GB of RAM or 256 GB of storage, and the 8 GB and 128 GB models that cost 100 fewer suits you better. Of course, if you are looking for a waterproof phone from this manufacturer, you should opt for the OnePlus 8 Pro.
