Just a month ago, OnePlus launched their flagship in India, the OnePlus 6. Of course, at the time I was using the OnePlus 5T, having previously shifted over from the OnePlus 3T. To that end, moving to the OnePlus 6 felt like home in many ways, but also something new.
Images courtesy: Gwyn D'Mello
As far as the look and feel goes, the OnePlus 5T had it pretty sorted. Somehow though, it feels like the OnePlus 6 improves that even further, and it¡¯s all thanks to the glass back. Where the last few models had aluminium ear panels, this new device instead covers it with Gorilla Glass 5. I can honestly say, while it may not look so much different at first glance, you immediately feel more expensive when you touch it. Something about that naked rear glass feels luxurious and dangerous at the same time (especially for butterfingers like me).
The other big change for me was the new display and, yes, the notch. Let¡¯s face it, we¡¯re probably going to be stuck with this design for a while. It does let the OnePlus 6 size up its screen a tiny bit, going from 6 inches on the OnePlus 5T, though that¡¯s not something you¡¯d notice given that the body is about the same size. In fact, once you¡¯re used to it, you also tend to tune out the notch, especially since videos are cropped to blacken it out anyway. And if it¡¯s really bothering you, there¡¯s always the option to permanently turn it off.?
I have no idea what it is, but it seemed to take less effort to acclimate to the scanner on the OnePlus 6. It might have to do with the shape, and maybe that the body of the device is also millimetres smaller than the 5T, who knows? Either way, it¡¯s at least in the most comfortable spot a rear fingerprint scanner can be, and works like a charm. Yeah, most days you won¡¯t even realise you're hitting it to unlock.
While there¡¯s no hardware difference in the display, it does seem to be better optimised on the OnePlus 6 than its predecessors. In the past, I¡¯ve usually had to fiddle with display settings on older devices, but this time around the default was just fine. Everything from text to moving visuals, and images in between, appear nice and crisp -- gorgeous to behold!
The camera on this new phone feels the same as on the OnePlus 5T (because it mostly is) but there are a few new add-ons to appreciate. For one, the company claims the pixels are larger with the new device, which does in fact translate to better low-light shots. More fun though is the updated video capability of the camera. While you can capture 4K now, you¡¯re probably not going to find many options to do that. Instead, you might just find yourself messing around with the new slow-mo function instead.
The good thing about the OnePlus 6 is that the battery life is just as long-lasting as you remember, able to take you through a full? a day of power with a 30-minute boost from the Dash charger. The bad thing is, I expected at least a little something more from I already had with the OnePlus 5T. Sadly, that wasn¡¯t to be.
It¡¯s also safe to say that audio performance on the OnePlus 6 is notably better. While the 5T was no slouch with regards to volume, the updated model manages to output a decent punch while still keeping a goodly amount of clarity in the bass line. And, of course, it¡¯s still got the reliable 3.5mm jack, so you have another option whenever your Bluetooth headphones decide to act up.
One minor difference between the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 5T is that the Alert Slider has been shifted to the opposite side. on the previous model, the SIM tray was located above the power button on the right spine, with the alert slider above the volume rocker on the left. With the OnePlus 6, the alert slider and SIM tray have swapped sides. It doesn't really do much, except I suppose you're less likely to accidentally finger the slider while searching for the volume buttons. Similarly, your thumb is not likely to hit it when going for the lock button either.
The OnePlus 6 is also a return to the company's OxygenOS. Built on Android 8.1 Oreo, it's as close to stock Android as you can get with a custom UI. While it does add a tonne of new features, you're not ever going to be bogged down in settings hunting for the option you're looking for. Not to mention that it looks great, especially with the Dark mode option turned on.
One option in particular in Oxygen OS, lets you do away with the soft navigation buttons at the bottom of your screen, in favour of navigating with gestures. Unfortunately, this makes the OnePlus 6 more the iPhone X only in theory. In practice, it's one of those things you could either love or hate -- there's no middle ground. You can swipe up from the bottom to go the Home screen, but you have to swipe up from the bottom right to go back, instead of just swiping right. It's just too complex for its own good, and I ended up turning this feature off again just five minutes later.
So the big question here is, do you really want to buy the OnePlus 6? Well, if you're just a major OnePlus fan that wants to support the company, or just prefer to have the latest model each year, then I guess you probably have the budget to afford it. For the rest of you however, it's time to think carefully.?
If you already own the 5T, there's not really enough of a difference to warrant another big spend, even with the notch and glass back. But if not, then the OnePlus 6 is a pretty great option for a flagship buy, especially at the comparatively low prices of Rs 34,999 and Rs 39,999. The OnePlus 6 is easily the best value for money smartphone right now, north of Rs 30,000.