Of the 2 new flagship telephones OnePlus simply introduced, the OnePlus 8 is not simply extra reasonably priced than the OnePlus 8 Pro, it is also the telephone I want. At $699 (£599) for 128GB of storage and $799 (£699) for 256GB, will probably be out there starting April 29. You should buy the OnePlus 8 within the US at T-Mobile and, for the primary time ever, Verizon; and it’ll work on different carriers (OnePlus and Amazon will promote it unlocked, as properly). Note that Verizon is promoting it at the next value of $799 (128GB).
LikeCharges rapidly90Hz displayRelatively extra reasonably priced high-end telephone
Don’t LikeMacro zoom lens is unimpressiveNo wi-fi charging
On specs alone, the OnePlus 8 Pro is objectively the higher telephone. It has extra options, like a 120Hz show and a telephoto digital camera (you may see the record of different fundamental variations under). But the cheaper OnePlus 8 nonetheless maintains sufficient different specs like 5G, a 90Hz show, a permanent battery life and a top-of-the-line processor to ship a premium Android expertise.While it is true that the OnePlus telephones aren’t low cost as they was once — the iPhone 11 prices the identical at $699 — the OnePlus 8’s premium expertise comes at a comparatively extra reasonably priced value than its different high-end Android opponents just like the Galaxy S20 and certain the Pixel 5 when it launches later within the 12 months, if Google goes with the identical launch value because the Pixel 4. (On that word, the Pixel 4 at this second is on sale at varied retailers and you will get it cheaper than the OnePlus 8 — take into account although that it got here out final 12 months.) If you are watching your price range carefully however do not need to sacrifice quite a bit by way of {hardware}, the OnePlus 8 must be your prime contender.
OnePlus 8 vs. OnePlus 8 Pro: Key variationsOnePlus 8 has a 90Hz show, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a 120Hz showOnly OnePlus Pro has wi-fi and reverse wi-fi chargingOnePlus 8 is a tad smaller, thinner and lighter than the 8 Pro (see spec chart on the finish for actual measurements)OnePlus 8 has three cameras; the OnePlus 8 has 4, together with a colour filterThe unlocked model of the OnePlus 8 shouldn’t be IP68 waterproof. The OnePlus 8 Pro is. OnePlus 8’s 90Hz display screen nonetheless deliversLike final 12 months’s OnePlus 7 Pro, the OnePlus 8 has a 90Hz show. Compared to a telephone with a extra frequent refresh price of 60 frames per second, the OnePlus 8 feels quicker and smoother — scrolling by means of my social media information feed or paging by means of dwelling display screen pages felt zippier. This pattern of upper refresh charges is probably going going to be adopted by extra telephone makers. (Before we often noticed these in gaming telephones, however the mainstream Galaxy S20 telephones have 120Hz shows too.)Surprisingly, as a result of I may readily see the distinction between a 60Hz show show and a 90Hz show, I assumed the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 120Hz would look even higher. But after I navigated each of them side-by-side, the 8 Pro did not really feel miles forward of the OnePlus 8. So, in case you’re leaning in direction of the OnePlus 8 between the 2, don’t be concerned about “missing out” on a superior show.I reviewed the iridescent variant of the OnePlus 8 known as interstellar glow. It’s a flashy, pleasant colour(s?) that’s, for lack of a greater phrase, cute. But the shiny materials attracts an unimaginable quantity of fingerprints. If you do not thoughts wiping down your telephone each couple of minutes (otherwise you simply can ignore the prints), it is positively a fun-looking telephone to hold round.
A fast word concerning the telephone’s water resistance. T-Mobile and Verizon’s OnePlus 8 telephones shall be rated IP68 for water resistance. But the unlocked model of the OnePlus 8 shouldn’t be rated (as in, those offered by means of OnePlus and Amazon). That doesn’t suggest it is fully weak, although. OnePlus says the OnePlus 8 is as protected in opposition to water as previous fashions. Last 12 months, I submerged the OnePlus 7 Pro, which is not IP licensed both, in a fish tank for 30 minutes and it survived with out points. The OnePlus 8’s enjoyable iridescent variant.
Angela Lang/CNET
Some minor software program variationsFor essentially the most half, the software program options and OS on the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are similar — you may learn extra particulars about them in my OnePlus 8 Pro evaluate. But the 8 Pro does have a couple of goodies all its personal. They embrace the 8 Pro’s “Comfort Tone,” which robotically adjustments the tint of the display screen relying on the ambient gentle atmosphere. Don’t fear, although, you may nonetheless regulate the OnePlus 8’s display screen tone (and thus make it extra comfy on your eyes at midnight), by means of Night Mode in Settings.The 8 Pro additionally has a “motion graphics smoothing” choice, which is meant to easy out movement blur when watching movies. But after I turned on these choices and watched movies, I barely seen any enchancment.OnePlus 8’s triple rear cameras Like the OnePlus 8 Pro, the OnePlus 8 has a regular 48-megapixel digital camera and wide-angle digital camera that take glorious photographs. Nightscape, OnePlus’ low-light digital camera mode, additionally brightened up photographs properly, however I seen the mode labored a tad higher on the 8 Pro. When I took a photograph of a big plant at midnight, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s picture had extra element. I like how the digital camera handles the colour contrasting between the blue constructing and yellow lemons.
Lynn La/CNET
A photograph of a playground taken with the wide-angle digital camera.
Lynn La/CNET
This image was taken in a darkish yard with Nightscape mode on.
Lynn La/CNET
The OnePlus 8’s digital camera has a 2x lossless zoom, which is nice for closing in on faraway objects. It can even digitally zoom as much as 10x, however objects regarded quite a bit blurrier at this stage. A lakeside photograph with no zoom.
Lynn La/CNET
Zooming in on buildings at 2x.
Lynn La/CNET
The Oakland courthouse at 10x zoom.
Lynn La/CNET
Instead of sharing a telephoto digital camera or a colour filter digital camera with the OnePlus 8 Pro, the OnePlus 8 has a macro digital camera. I used to be excited at this prospect, as I discover a macro digital camera to be extra helpful than the colour filter digital camera. But after I went up shut with a rose, the picture was muddy and the colours regarded flat. Instead, zooming in with the common digital camera produced photographs that, whereas maybe not as sharp, have been extra aesthetically pleasing and colourful. Keep in thoughts that the telephone can nonetheless take portrait photographs with out a telephoto digital camera, in addition to good portrait photographs with the selfie digital camera.This closeup shot of rose pedals utilizing the macro function is sharper than the one under, however colours are flatter.
Lynn La/CNET
This picture was taken with out macro. Though it is blurrier, it is extra vibrant and pleasing.
Lynn La/CNET
The OnePlus 8 can nonetheless take portrait photographs with out a telephoto lens.
Lynn La/CNET
The digital camera additionally has OIS and shoots 4K video that is sharp and regular. There’s an additional “super stabilization” mode to additional easy down movement blur from hand shaking, however after I checked out each movies side-by-side, the impact or enhancements appeared minimal. OnePlus 8 efficiency and batteryThe OnePlus 8 has the identical processor because the OnePlus 8 Pro, so for extra particulars on efficiency, head to the 8 Pro evaluate. For essentially the most half, each telephones carried out equally on benchmark assessments and the OnePlus 8 stays aggressive amongst different Android telephones that additionally share the identical Snapdragon 865 chipset, just like the Galaxy S20 and the LG V60. Note that whereas I included the Pixel 4 for comparability, Google’s telephone is supplied with final 12 months’s Snapdragon 855 processor.3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Geekbench v.5.0 single-core
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Geekbench v.5.0 multicore
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
I carried out battery assessments on steady video playback on Airplane mode. The 4,300-mAh battery contained in the OnePlus 8 ran for a median of 18 hours, 48 minutes on each its 90Hz and 60Hz display screen setting (as a result of the video I performed was shot in 30fps, it is smart that the instances have been shut). By comparability, the 8 Pro’s 4,510-mAh battery clocked in 18 hours, 52 minutes. I’ll replace this piece with closing outcomes and rankings after we end operating streaming video assessments.As with previous generations of OnePlus gadgets, the OnePlus 8 has super-fast Warp Charging. From a 0% battery stage, 15 minutes of charging powered up the telephone as much as 35%, at 30 minutes it was at 65% and after an hour the battery was almost fully replenished at 98%.OnePlus 8 spec comparability
OnePlus 8 5G
OnePlus 8 Pro 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G
Google Pixel 4
Display measurement, decision
6.55-inch AMOLED; 1,080×2,400 pixels
6.78-inch AMOLED; 1,440×3,168 pixels
6.2-inch AMOLED
5.7-inch OLED; 1,080×2,280 pixels
Pixel density
402ppi
513ppi
563ppi
444ppi
Dimensions (Inches)
6.3 x 2.8 x 0.31 in
6.51 x 2.93 x 0.35 in
2.72 x 5.97 x 0.311 in
2.7 x 5.7 x 0.3 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)
160 x 72.9 x 8.0 mm
165 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm
69.1 x 151.7 x 7.9 mm
68.8 x 147.1 x 8.2 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)
6.35 oz; 180g
7.02 oz; 199g
5.75 oz; 163g
5.7 oz; 162g
Mobile software program
Android 10
Android 10
Android 10
Android 10
Camera
48-megapixel (normal), 16-megapixel (ultra-wide), 2-megapixel (macro)
48-megapixel (normal), 48-megapixel (ultra-wide), 8-megapixel (telephoto), 5-megapixel (‘colour filter’)
12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide)
12.2-megapixel (normal), 16-megapixel (telephoto)
Front-facing digital camera
16-megapixel
16-megapixel
10-megapixel
8-megapixel
Video seize
4K
4K
8K
4K
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
64-bit octa-core processor (Max 2.7GHz + 2.5 GHz + 2.0 GHz)
2.84GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
Storage
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB
128GB
64GB, 128GB
RAM
8GB, 12GB
8GB, 12GB
12GB
6GB
Expandable storage
No
No
Up to 1TB
No
Battery
4,300mAh
4,510mAh
4,000mAh
2,800mAh
Fingerprint sensor
In-screen
In-screen
In-screen
No
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
No
No
No
No
Special options
5G enabled; Warp Charge; 90Hz refresh price
5G enabled; Warp Charge; reverse wi-fi charging; waterproof (IP68); 120Hz refresh price
5G enabled; 120Hz refresh price; waterproof (IP68)
Soli movement sensing and touchless gestures; 90Hz refresh price; waterproof (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging
Price off-contract (USD)
$699 (8GB RAM/128GB), $799 (12GB RAM/256GB)
$899 (8GB RAM/128GB), $999 (12GB RAM/256GB)
$999 (5G)
$499 (64GB)*, $599 (128GB)*
Price (GBP)
£599 (8GB RAM/128GB), £699 (12GB RAM/256GB)
£799 (8GB RAM/128GB), £899 (12GB RAM/256GB)
£799 (4G), £899 (5G)
£519 (64GB)*, £599 (128GB)*
Price (AUD)
UK converts to: AU$1,570 (8GB RAM/128GB), AU$1,770 (12GB RAM/256GB)
UK converts to: AU$1,180 (8GB RAM/128GB), AU$1,370 (12GB RAM/256GB)
AU$1,349 (4G), AU$1,499 (5G)
AU$849 (64GB)*, AU$999 (128GB)*
Note: Pixel 4 costs as of April 14, 2020.