We have simply heard concerning the OnePlus 6T, a brand new cellphone that has a number of notable upgrades on the lauded OnePlus 6. Its beefed-up specs and options, together with the primary in-screen fingerprint scanner within the US market, make it an actual contender to problem pricier units.
Whereas it could not have the ability to go toe-to-toe with high-priced flagships iPhone XS or Google Pixel 3, the 6T may compete in opposition to telephones within the next-highest value tier.
So we’ve pitted the 6T in opposition to an acceptable rival, the Samsung Galaxy S9, to see the place the scrappy upstart stands compared with the king of modest flagship smartphones.
Design
The Samsung S9 is the smaller of the pair at 147.7 x 68.7 x eight.5mm and 163g. Examine that to the OnePlus 6T at 157.5 x 74.eight x eight.2mm (barely bigger than the OnePlus 6 to incorporate the in-screen fingerprint sensor) and a barely heavier 185g.
Every cellphone has a glass again and shiny finishes, although OnePlus 6T additionally has a matte texture, however that’s it for selection. That is in contrast to the array of colours that the Samsung S9 is available in, as you’ll be able to solely get the 6T in black (for now).
On the rear, the S9 has a fingerprint sensor under its digicam whereas the 6T doesn’t: the brand new OnePlus cellphone’s notable function is an in-screen sensor embedded in its entrance. In our testing, this labored rather well.
The telephones additionally distinction of their bodily button structure. The S9 has its much-maligned devoted Bixby button on the left facet, which we sometimes by chance pressed when toggling quantity or sticking the cellphone in our pockets. The OnePlus 6T retains its predecessor’s three-position change on the best facet to shift between ring, vibration and silent mode, a comfort that’s uncommon in right this moment’s telephones.
Catch-all comparisons: The OnePlus comes with twin SIM functionality, and so does the S9 – until you’re shopping for one within the US, which is single-SIM solely. The S9 has an official IP68 water and dirt safety score, whilst you’ll simply need to take OnePlus’ phrase for it that the 6T is waterproof sufficient. Oh, and there’s one different massive distinction: the 6T misplaced its headphone jack, whereas the S9 nonetheless has one.
As with many Android smartphones, each telephones seem so comparable that it’s onerous to present one an edge over the opposite, however the S9 has a barely classier look, retains its headphone jack and is out there in a plethora of colours. The sting goes to Samsung’s cellphone, until you completely need to have the most important gadget.
Show
Talking of dimension, there’s an actual distinction between the 2 telephones, although that doesn’t inform the entire story.
The Samsung S9 has the smaller display screen at 5.eight inches, however its AMOLED show is available in high-resolution Quad HD+ (2960×1440), which reaches a formidable 570 ppi pixel density.
The OnePlus 6T has an even bigger 6.41-inch 19.5:9 AMOLED show, although its 2340×1080 decision manages solely 402 ppi.
You face a dilemma: higher decision or bigger display screen dimension? However the higher query is, will you even discover? Probably, because the S9 has one of many sharpest screens on the market, and in side-by-side comparisons, the Samsung show was admittedly crisper. However you need to squint to see it.
The opposite variations are extra stylistic. The S9 show comes with Samsung’s signature curved edges, which don’t simply look cool – you too can allow gesture controls centered round these shiny margins, although you may overlook about them (we did).
Then, in fact, there’s the notch subject. The S9 doesn’t have one, although it’s basically simply blacked out the areas adjoining to the front-facing digicam. The 6T has a notch, although it’s smaller than the vanilla OnePlus 6: they shifted round a sensor so the display screen hugs the entrance digicam carefully. In any case, you’ll be able to black out the “ears” adjoining to the digicam should you crave a notchless life.
All instructed, the S9 wins this spherical, although the OnePlus 6T didn’t underperform by any means. It ought to be famous that the S9 additionally works with the Gear VR and Google VR setups, whereas it’s unclear if the 6T works with any VR setup. That’s not one thing everybody will care about, however it’s added performance.
OS and energy
Whereas Samsung has taken its time slowly rolling out Android 9 Pie in numerous alpha and beta waves for testing, OnePlus 6T launches with it already put in. Whereas we haven’t performed round a lot with the up to date OS on the telephones, if latest is greatest for you, the 6T may need the sting.
But when we’re speaking about model OS overlays, that’s as much as your style.
The S9 comes with the suite of Samsung apps and interface, which doesn’t look to have changed an excessive amount of for Android 9. The 6T, then again, comes with the anticipated minimalist choice of OnePlus apps, which is best for the consumer that prefers third-party applications in a light-weight interface.
Efficiency-wise, the 6T comes filled with an octa-core Snapdragon 845 chip, and so does the Samsung S9 – however solely in sure markets (together with the US). Within the EMEA areas, the S9 comes filled with the extra highly effective, Samsung-developed Exynos 9810 processor. The S9 solely comes with 4GB of RAM, whereas the 6T might be purchased with both 6GB or 8GB of RAM.
Going by Geekbench four reviews, the S9 (Exynos 9810 version) scored a decent eight,721 factors, which in our testing places it solely under a handful of newer Android telephones in addition to Apple’s iPhone X and iPhone XS. The brand new 6T, then again, scored eight,846 on our Geekbench four exams.
The capability of the 6T’s three,700mAh battery surpasses the three,000mAh battery within the S9. Simply how a lot battery life the previous has past the latter gained’t be clear till we do some extra testing with the 2 telephones collectively.
Given its edge in specs, efficiency, and the truth that one cellphone already has Android 9 Pie whereas the opposite is taking its time rolling the brand new OS out, we’re giving this part to the OnePlus 6T.
Digital camera
The digicam is the place many midrange telephones lower corners, however each the S9 and OnePlus 6T have respectable efficiency from very totally different setups.
The Samsung S9 packs solely a single 12MP lens, nevertheless it’s twin aperture, and might shift between f/1.5 (for lower-light photographs) and f/2.four robotically (for brighter scenes). This works cleverly, however you’ll be able to solely get a lot efficiency out of 1 lens.
The 6T has two lenses, a 16MP fundamental and 20MP sensor, each at f/1.7. Whereas it took nice photographs, customers complained about poor low-light efficiency, so OnePlus added the Nightscape mode to deal with these considerations.
The S9 actually has the sting in slow-motion footage: it’s able to capturing 960fps at 720p for breathtakingly sluggish video (like, much more drawn-out than these slow-motion photographs in Inception), In the meantime, the 6T manages a decent 480fps at 720p, or 240fps at 1080p.
Actually, each telephones have sufficient execs and cons that it is perhaps as much as style. The S9 possible has an edge because of the extra sturdy Samsung digicam interface.
Value and availability
By value, the 6T has a major benefit, because it begins at $529 / £499 for 6GB of RAM / 128GB of storage, $579 / £529 for a bump as much as 8GB of RAM with the identical 128GB house and a high model for $629 / £579 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage.
The S9 is priced greater, beginning at $719 (£739/AU$1,199) for 64GB of storage with 4GB of RAM and climbing as much as $839 for 256GB of house. However the cellphone has been out lengthy sufficient you can possible discover a discounted unlocked model (maybe on our helpful US deals and UK deals pages.
It’s a bit simpler to get your arms on a Samsung S9, which most carriers promote and assist. It launched again in March, so even discovering an unlocked cellphone shouldn’t be too onerous.
The OnePlus 6T… not a lot. T-Cell is the one provider promoting the cellphone within the US, which works on sale in shops and on-line on Nov 1 (or for European prospects, Nov 6). And T-Cell will solely promote the 8GB RAM, 128GB storage mannequin in mirror black for $629. Verizon will assist the 6T, however not promote it.
Takeaway
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and OnePlus 6T are fairly evenly matched, which is a testomony to OnePlus because the underdog right here. However by way of sheer worth, we’d give the match to the 6T.
After all, there’s much more happening than a easy cost-to-specs equation. The OnePlus lacks the heavily-refined Samsung interface that packs a number of bells and whistles in its fancy body. The 6T additionally has a notch and likewise allotted with its headphone jack.
In different phrases, it’s form of a photograph end between these similar-looking however notably totally different telephones, and the ultimate increase might come right down to which interface you favor and which options you’ll be able to’t dwell with out.
Suppose onerous on whether or not you need the Samsung S9’s very seasoned setup or if pure functionality at a significantly reasonably priced value ideas your hand in favor of the OnePlus 6T.