OnePlus 8 review, 4 months on: Another great phone at an awkward price

OnePlus may not be the ultra-affordable “Flagship Killers” it once hung on to, but the OnePlus 8 is still a very fantastic value compared to the Galaxy-branded alternatives. For $ 700, you get a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 processor, a great display with a high refresh rate, and one of the best software experiences around.

I spent a lot of time with the OnePlus 8 this year, well beyond the initial review period, in large part because I absolutely love the company’s OxygenOS software. As it turns out, even after testing newer phones like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and LG Velvet, this phone still feels new, thanks to its ultra-responsive performance and even its 5G connectivity.

The design of the OnePlus 8 is nothing groundbreaking or even very exciting, but it gets the job done. It’s your typical narrow, high plate with a metal frame and glass on the front and back. It’s well put together, and depending on the color option you go for, you’ve got either a glossy or medium back – Interstellar Glow for the former, Glacial Green for the latter.

Your choice in color also determines the price you will pay and the specifications you will receive. With Glacial Green, the OnePlus 8 packs 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the Interstellar Glow configuration I used offers double the storage and 12GB of RAM. Elsewhere, look for the same concoction: a Snapdragon 865 processor, an X55 modem with sub-6 5G support (mmWave support is only available on the Verizon variant), and a 4300mAh battery.

The audio profile switch is a quality of life feature that I miss every time I switch from a OnePlus phone.

My favorite hardware aspect of any OnePlus phone remains the audio profile switch above the power button, allowing you to quickly mute your phone without having to unlock it or dig through the software. It’s a nice quality of life that, while not essential to me, advances me on new OnePlus phones as I move on.

That display has held up well these last few months as well. At 6.55 inches, it is definitely not the smallest phone there is, but due to the tight edges, the phone is still a reasonable size.

With this generation of phones, OnePlus really stepped up its display game, and the OnePlus 8’s Fluid AMOLED panel is bright, color – accurate and responsive with a 90Hz refresh rate.

I also still love OnePlus’s OxygenOS software, which adds a layer of customization to the phone without straying far from Android 10, as Google saw it. Of course, that’s all changing – the upcoming OxygenOS 11 update looks a lot more like Samsung’s One UI, and although I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing, I’ve enjoying the software because it’s in its current form is.

This is a bit strange, as I normally am not a fan of most cases, but OnePlus itself manages to do it well. Of course, there is the usual assortment of options such as sandstone and carbon fiber, but I have been a part of the nylon bumper case, which needs some grip and an interesting texture without too much bulk.

OnePlus 8 review, 4 months on Still room for improvement

As much as I love OxygenOS, it is not without its quirks. Perhaps most annoying is all Chrome Hangups; often and seemingly randomly, Google Chrome just freezes as I scroll through a page. It’s a long documented issue that has been reported by a number of my colleagues, and it’s something I’ve been dealing with with both the 7T before my time with the OnePlus 8, and the 8 Pro thereafter. I still have to try another browser (I hear Brave is good!), But it’s a big annoyance that I just do not have to deal with phones from other brands.

It also lacks some of the ancillary features that its Pro counterpart has, namely hydrogen and wireless charging. These are not huge losses in a $ 500 phone, but when you spend $ 700, it’s a bit of a letdown to look missing. While I’m at it, there is also no headphone jack, nor is there any microSD expandability.

And although the cameras are by no means bad, and they are certainly better than what we have seen on previous OnePlus phones, in the age of phones like the Pixel 4a which provide better optics and image processing for half of ‘ the price hardly to be raised. I took some decent photos with the 48MP main sensor, but the ultra wide leaves a lot to be desired – although I’m thankful they chose this for a 2x telephoto.

On the other hand, I could have done completely without the 2MP macro sensor. It has become a bit of a trend with 2020 handsets, and a major point of controversy among every offender. Don’t get me wrong, macro lenses can be great, and even OnePlus proved it with last year’s 7T, whose ultra-wide lens doubled as a macro. But with only 2MP to work with, even in-focus photos (which are remarkably difficult to land) are lacking in massive detail.

OnePlus 8 review, 4 months on The league

Whenever a company places enough products in different price ranges, it inevitably risks cannibalizing its own sales, and this is especially true for the current lineup of OnePlus. At $ 700, the OnePlus 8 is awkwardly priced between the company’s flagship, the OnePlus 8 Pro, and last year’s 7T, which the company still sells.

Both alternatives are excellent phones with their own advantages over the 8 (better cameras and a lower price each come to mind respectively), and potential buyers outside the US also have to consider the OnePlus Nord, which brings an extremely similar experience to the company lowest price point in years.

Outside of the company’s own selection, $ 700 puts the OnePlus 8 right in line with the LG V60, a phone with exceptional battery life and an optional Dual Screen attachment for multitasking. For a little more, you can also grab a phone like the Galaxy S20, which benefits from better cameras, expandable storage and a compact form factor.

OnePlus 8 review, 4 months on Do you have to buy it?

For who it is

• Those who want clean, flexible software
• Those who want to experience 5G
• Power users looking for the latest Snapdragon processor
• Those looking for a fast 90Hz display

Where it is not for

• Photographers who want the best camera experience
• Those looking for a small, compact phone
• Buyers on a tight budget

The OnePlus 8 is still a great phone, but it comes with a handful of caveats. No wireless charging or water resistance is a bit bummer for this price, especially if you can get both plus better cameras and an even faster display for just $ 200 more, than most of the same features in the 7T for $ 250 less. We’re also fast approaching the OnePlus 8T – at least, if the company’s usual six-month release cycle is any indicator.

4
of 5

If you are looking for the absolute best phone that OnePlus can offer, the 8 Pro is definitely a better buy, but for everything else, the OnePlus 8 is still a good option. It’s a bit smaller than the Pro, which I appreciate, and between the great display, excellent and (most) responsive software, and respectable cameras, it’s a fantastic phone. But OnePlus has it priced among a handful of other great phone prices, and you have to keep that in mind when you consider it.