OnePlus 6 long-term review

Conclusion

OnePlus isn't the new kid on the block anymore. The company is now all grown up, and that's reflected very well in its latest smartphone. While it's the most expensive OnePlus ever, it's still quite far from the usual pricing level for a top of the line handset in this day and age.

Once again OnePlus offers a more affordable package than its biggest competitors, but this time around without any glaring omissions or show-stopping compromises built-in. It's not a perfect device, obviously, because such a thing hasn't been invented yet.

The camera quality, while much improved from previous OnePlus phones, still isn't quite on par with the best that the mobile world has to offer. The secondary rear camera seems to be there just to make sure that no one slams the OnePlus 6 for not having a dual sensor array. A wider-angle cam or a telephoto option would have been much more useful day to day, but for some reason, OnePlus chose not to go either of those routes.

Some will hate the notch, but it can be 'hidden' in software, and otherwise, the display is very good, despite not being the best we've ever seen. The alert slider is still a unique feature in the Android world, and the 3.5mm headset jack has thankfully been spared (for now).

Performance is excellent, and OxygenOS has come a very long way in recent years. No bugs anywhere to be seen, and the entire experience of using this phone is surprisingly smooth for something that isn't a Pixel. Battery life is very good but there's definitely room for improvement there - maybe OnePlus can learn a thing or two from other companies finally starting to cram 4,000 mAh cells in flagships too, not just mid-rangers. Dash Charge deserves a mention here as well because it's one of the fastest systems on the market right now and will top up your handset in no time.

Even if some downsides exist here and there, overall the OnePlus 6 is a complete package. It may not shine exceedingly bright in any one area, but it's a well-rounded smartphone that will suit almost anyone very well. Buy one and you're guaranteed a pretty much frustration-free experience. Oh, and you'll still have some cash left over in your pocket for other things if you chose it over one of its much more expensive competitors.