OnePlus 5T hands-on review

Camera

The OnePlus 5T has a dual camera on its back, and it's a solution we haven't seen before: both cameras have the same focal length equivalent and see the world in color. So it's not a zoom-capable setup like on the Galaxy Note8 or the iPhones, and it's not a color/monochrome pair like Huawei does (and Xiaomi, on occasion). The idea is that in low light the phone combines photos from the two cameras in an attempt to improve image quality.

The primary camera is a 16MP unit, while the secondary one is 20MP, both sensors courtesy of Sony, and both paired with f/1.7 aperture lenses. You're still getting a 2x toggle in the viewfinder, but it's digital zooming as both lenses have the same focal length and field of view.

We took a few quick shots around the office to get some first impressions, and things are looking good (we're not talking about the weather, obviously). Here's a sampler.

Camera samples

We also went out for some night shots around the usual locations. We won't be passing any verdicts just yet, but the results look promising.

Low light samples

The lack of a telephoto cam doesn't mean there's no portrait mode, on the contrary. It gives you an approximate live preview, but the end result is only visible later in the gallery.

Portrait samples

Of course, you can use it to isolate subjects that aren't people.

Portrait mode used for non-portraits

Some people would only take a selfie with the rear camera in a mirror, but the rest would be curious to learn that the selfie camera on the OnePlus 5t is unchanged from the previous model - it's another Sony contribution, a 16MP sensor behind a f/2.0 lens. Down below, you can find a couple of samples.

Selfie samples

Benchmarks

We like synthetic benchmarks as much as the next guy - who doesn't enjoy putting a number to signify performance and ponder over differences in the single-digit percentages. So here is how the OnePlus 5t performs in a few of our favorite benchmark apps. Granted, it's using the best silicone Qualcomm has to offer this year, so performance is quite expectedly top notch.

GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  10037
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  6784
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  6783
• Samsung Galaxy S8+
  6754
• OnePlus 5T
  6701
• Huawei Mate 10
  6625
• OnePlus 5
  6604
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  6590
• Sony Xperia XZ1
  6541
• HTC U11
  6393
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  6301
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
  5460

GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  4232
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  1987
• Samsung Galaxy S8+
  1986
• OnePlus 5T
  1960
• OnePlus 5
  1932
• HTC U11
  1919
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  1902
• Huawei Mate 10
  1882
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  1862
• Sony Xperia XZ1
  1840
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
  1836
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  1832

AnTuTu 6

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  188766
• OnePlus 5
  180331
• OnePlus 5T
  179790
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  178510
• HTC U11
  177343
• Huawei Mate 10
  175426
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  175153
• Samsung Galaxy S8+
  174070
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  172425
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  168133
• Sony Xperia XZ1
  144462
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
  144223

Basemark X

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S8+
  43862
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  40890
• Huawei Mate 10
  40809
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  40232
• OnePlus 5
  38844
• OnePlus 5T
  38656
• Sony Xperia XZ1
  38583
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
  38507
• HTC U11
  38399
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  37211
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  34951

That seems to be all for now. We're busy writing the review applying the usual level of scrutiny and getting all the numbers, the truly important ones too, so stay tuned.