The OnePlus 5T, because the identify suggests, is not a very new handset – slightly, it is an incremental improve of the OnePlus 5.

[Update: The OnePlus 5T is now available in a limited edition Sandstone White finish. We’ve been hands on the new color variant and have added pictures and our thoughts on the finish in this review. An update to Android Oreo is also nearly ready.]

It is not simply an improve although; it is also a alternative, as OnePlus has ceased manufacturing and gross sales of the cellphone it launched simply six months previous to the arrival of the OnePlus 5T.

This is not a shocking transfer, as OnePlus did precisely the identical factor in 2016 when it launched the OnePlus 3T half a 12 months after launching the OnePlus 3.

So what do you get with OnePlus’ second technology ‘T’? The primary speaking factors embrace the most important display screen the agency has ever placed on a cellphone, a tweaked design, improved rear digicam and face recognition. 

Briefly, there’s sufficient new stuff to justify its existence with out it providing a radically new smartphone expertise.

Take a look at our video under outlining the design and display screen of the OnePlus 5T

OnePlus 5T worth and availability

• OnePlus 5T launch worth: from £449, $499, AU$599
• OnePlus 5T launch date: November 21

The excellent news is that the OnePlus 5T worth is precisely the identical because the OnePlus 5’s, which implies SIM-free you are taking a look at £449 ($499, AU$599) for the 6GB/64GB mannequin, and £499 ($559, AU$699) for the 8GB/128GB variant.

This makes the OnePlus 5T cheaper than just about all of its flagship rivals – however considerably the distinction in spec between them is the smallest it is ever been.

So far as a OnePlus 5T launch date goes, the handset might be out there from November 21 in North America, UK and Europe, with China, Hong Kong and India getting the cellphone quickly after.

Within the UK, OnePlus has signed an unique take care of O2, with the community providing the handset on a variety of tariffs for many who don’t fancy shopping for the 5T outright. You may see the best OnePlus 5T deals O2 has to offer by clicking here.

Show

• Greatest-ever display screen on a OnePlus cellphone
• 6.01-inch Full HD, AMOLED show with 18:9 side ratio

The one largest change on the OnePus 5T is the show, with the handset boasting a 6.01-inch Full HD AMOLED panel with a 18:9 side ratio that follows this 12 months’s pattern of elongated screens on the iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG V30.

It is the primary time OnePlus has elevated the scale of the show on its core handset (the smaller OnePlus X apart), making this the most important display screen we have ever seen on a handset from the Chinese language agency. 

Whereas its dimension and side ratio might even see the OnePlus 5T pull inline with the flagship handsets it is trying to topple, there may be nonetheless one spec which denies it full membership of the high-end show membership: decision.

OnePlus has as soon as once more opted to stay with a Full HD decision, at 1080 x 2160 with a 401ppi pixel density, whereas rivals all boast QHD (2K) shows.

It doesn’t suggest the display screen on the OnePlus 5T is poor, and due to the AMOLED panel colours are brilliant and punchy, however if you slide it alongside the competitors you possibly can see it is not as sharp. In isolation although, it’s troublesome to select any actual fault with it.

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei additionally revealed on Twitter that he fooled a fan into pondering it did have a QHD show, when truly it’s caught with Full HD.

The default shade stability does appear to be slightly blue, and if that does not fit your eyes you possibly can change this within the settings menu.

The display screen calibration choices allow you to modify to SRBG, DCI-P3, adaptive mode or customise your personal settings, though the default mode does provide the punchier colours. 

Choosing one other mode mutes the vibrancy, however does give a extra pure look to colours, particularly when viewing photos. The selection is yours, however we opted to stay with the default setting for almost all of our OnePlus 5T evaluation.

OnePlus has additionally included a characteristic it calls Daylight Show, which robotically detects harsh gentle and adapts the show for the most effective viewability; it is mainly an auto brightness mode, but it surely additionally is aware of what you’re doing on display screen (whether or not it is a sport, film or basic navigation) and can optimize the show accordingly.

We did not discover the OnePlus 5T adapting the display screen throughout our evaluation interval, however we additionally did not expertise any viewability points, which means that Daylight Show does work, if solely subtly. 

Design

• Premium metallic unibody seems to be and feels nice
• Fingerprint scanner on rear with smaller bezels up entrance

The larger show has had a knock-on impact by way of the design of the OnePlus 5T, with the bezels above and under the display screen getting slimmed down to supply a sleeker look and an 80.5% screen-to-body ratio.

That discount in bezel has necessitated one other design change too, with the fingerprint scanner and bodily navigation keys disappearing from the entrance of the cellphone.

Biometric followers needn’t fear although, because the digit reader has been relocated to the rear of the gadget, and its centralized place means it is easy to hit along with your forefinger – and naturally there’s now face recognition too, of which extra in a second.

The OnePlus 5T continues with the premium metallic unibody design of the cellphone it is changing, which makes it look good and really feel nice within the hand, with the gently-curving rear serving to it nestle properly into the palm.

At 156.1 x 75 x 7.3mm and 162g the OnePlus 5T is wider, taller and heavier than the OnePlus 5, however stays the identical thickness, making it comparable in dimension and weight to the LG V30 and iPhone 8 Plus.

OnePlus 5T Midnight Black fingers on gallery

One thing the design would not supply, although, is way grip, so you could wish to spend money on a fabric or silicone case to offer you slightly further buy – though it would add to the cellphone’s dimension in your hand.

You will discover that the ability/lock key on the precise, and the quantity rocker on the left, fall simply below thumb and finger if you’re holding the cellphone in portrait, and OnePlus continues with its notification slider on the aspect of the handset, permitting you to simply swap between silent, don’t disturb and loud modes.

In January 2018, OnePlus launched a brand new shade variant of the OnePlus 5T. It is a restricted version, and we’re undecided what number of gadgets have been produce within the Sandstone White end, but it surely does supply one thing slightly completely different to the inventory Midnight Black shade.

To start with it is white (duh), however solely on the again. The entrance of the handset stays black, as does the rear digicam bump. Whereas we’d have appreciated a white encompass on the entrance too, we do just like the black digicam bulge.

The Sandstone White OnePlus 5T makes use of the identical black quantity rocker, energy swap and SIM tray, offering extra distinction in opposition to the white end. Then there’s the alert slider, which is an eye catching purple.

OnePlus 5T Sandstone White fingers on gallery

If this seems to be acquainted, it is as a result of it is precisely the identical shade composition OnePlus used for the Star Wars Edition of the handset (launched in only a handful of nations) minus the well-known franchise’s brand on the again.

What the white end does present is extra grip, with a textured completed which extra carefully resembles the unique OnePlus One. The trade-off is the white model would not really feel as premium within the hand, and if the OnePlus One is something to go by it might find yourself getting fairly soiled comparatively shortly.

It is price noting that OnePlus gives a transparent plastic case within the field with each the Midnight Black and Sandstone White fashions, which ought to hold it wanting smarter for longer.

One other plus level on the OnePlus 5T is that the headphone jack has additionally been retained, permitting you to plug in your headphones with out the necessity for a clunky adapter.

The digicam bump from the OnePlus 5 stays on the 5T, however this time across the edges of the protrusion have been extra lovingly sculpted into the primary physique of the gadget for a extra uniform and slick look.

OnePlus claims it has added an anti-fingerprint layer to the end on the OnePlus 5T, however we discovered that it nonetheless received grubby fairly simply, though marks and prints are straightforward sufficient to wipe off.

At launch the OnePlus 5T is accessible in only one shade, Midnight Black, with no phrase on whether or not extra hues might be on supply sooner or later. 

Face recognition

• Quick, straightforward and efficient
• Not as completed as iPhone X

One other key characteristic, and a primary for OnePlus, is the inclusion of face recognition tech because the model makes an attempt to experience the coattails of the iPhone X.

Face recognition on the OnePlus 5T is not as superior as Apple’s providing, but it surely’s nonetheless surprisingly good, utilizing over 100 facial identifiers to verify it is you. 

It is used just for unlocking the handset, and you may must double-tap the display screen or press the ability key to put it to use.

The excellent news is that it is very easy to setup, with the cellphone requiring solely a matter of seconds to lock in your look.

It is extremely quick, with virtually no delay between you tapping the display screen or button and your house display screen showing earlier than you. OnePlus claims the tech can determine you and unlock the handset in simply zero.four seconds, and we’re inclined to agree.

This does imply it’s a contact slower than the fingerprint scanner (zero.2 seconds), and it requires you to be wanting virtually instantly on the cellphone for it to work.

Nonetheless, we did discover that face unlock labored at some spectacular angles, which implies you do not have to carry the OnePlus 5T instantly in entrance of your face for it to work. 

One thing it may possibly’t do, however which the iPhone X can, is see you at the hours of darkness. That is as a result of, not like Apple, OnePlus hasn’t used an infrared digicam to spy you at the hours of darkness. 

Face unlock on the 5T requires a light-weight supply – road lights at night time are sufficient, however the display screen brightness itself is not – to verify your face.

The OnePlus 5T can deal with glasses and no glasses, so whether or not or not you’re carrying them the cellphone will comprehend it’s nonetheless you, so long as your eyes are nonetheless seen. The place it struggles is when the eyes are coated.

We tried face unlock in a number of completely different situations (as you possibly can see above), however after we wore a low slung hat, after which blinkered goggles, the 5T wouldn’t unlock.

We additionally handed it across the workplace, family and friends to see if anybody else’s face unlocked the handset, and the excellent news is that they didn’t. The chances are high that the expertise could also be fooled on uncommon events – as it has been on the iPhone X – but it surely feels safe.

Sooner or later OnePlus plans to develop using face recognition to allow you to log in to apps and confirm purchases, however for now it is utilizing the OnePlus 5T as a take a look at mattress for the expertise to ensure it is safe.