OnePlus 6T review

Display

Now, compromising on quality of life extras like ingress protection or stereo speakers is one thing, but an inferior display is something central to a phone's experience, which will definitely drag it down. Thankfully, OnePlus has its priorities straight in this regard. Aside from the questionable notch, the 6.4-inch AMOLED panel on the OnePlus 6T has little faults to speak of.

At 6.41 inches in diagonal, it is definitely a step up in size from its predecessor. Of course, not all of that screen real estate is created equal or universally usable, due to the "skinny" 19.5:9 aspect ratio. For most vertically scrolling UI components, like lists and web pages it works pretty well. Multimedia is a bit of a different story.

Resolution is still set at an ultra-wide FullHD of 2340 x 1080 pixels, in this particular case. This is both a cost-saving measure and potentially a small battery-conserving one. Frankly, at 402 ppi, we still find the picture on screen perfectly sharp.

It's an excellent panel, even if not one that exactly manages to live up to OnePuls' claims of "one of the brightest in the industry." 453 nits are really good on an OLED. Plus, thanks to the perfect blacks, you get that all-important infinite contrast. Under direct sunlight, the OnePlus 6T does consistently manage to shine a couple of nits brighter, but for all intents and purposes, it lacks a brightness boost mode as other makers do.

Sunlight contrast ratio

• Apple iPhone XS
  5.171
• Apple iPhone X
  5.013
• Huawei Mate 20 Pro
  4.965
• OnePlus 5T
  4.789
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  4.768
• Samsung Galaxy S8+
  4.658
• Samsung Galaxy S9
  4.63
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
  4.615
• Samsung Galaxy S9+
  4.537
• Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update)
  4.234
• OnePlus 3T
  4.232
• Google Pixel XL
  4.164
• ZTE Axon 7
  4.154
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  4.148
• Meizu Pro 7 Plus
  4.147
• OnePlus 6T
  4.138
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
  4.124
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  4.124
• vivo V11
  4.113
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal)
  4.096
• Samsung Galaxy Note5
  4.09
• Huawei P20 Pro
  4.087
• Xiaomi Mi 8
  4.086
• Meizu 15
  4.082
• Nokia 6 (2018)
  4.052
• Google Pixel 2 (pre-update)
  4.023
• LG V30
  4.022
• Huawei Nexus 6P
  4.019
• vivo NEX S
  4.012
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
  3.998
• OnePlus X
  3.983
• Vivo Xplay5 Elite
  3.983
• LG G7 ThinQ (outdoor)
  3.978
• Oppo R7s
  3.964
• Apple iPhone 7
  3.964
• Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone)
  3.957
• Huawei P9 Plus
  3.956
• Oppo Find X
  3.954
• Meizu Pro 6 Plus
  3.935
• Lenovo Moto Z
  3.931
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  3.918
• OnePlus 5
  3.914
• Samsung Galaxy C5
  3.911
• Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
  3.901
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  3.896
• Samsung Galaxy A5
  3.895
• Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
  3.879
• Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
  3.873
• Motorola Moto G6 Plus
  3.865
• Samsung Galaxy A8
  3.859
• Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)
  3.842
• Microsoft Lumia 950XL
  3.837
• Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018)
  3.834
• Sony Xperia XZs
  3.818
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone)
  3.725
• Oppo F1 Plus
  3.709
• Vivo X5Pro
  3.706
• Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
  3.688
• Huawei P20
  3.683
• Apple iPhone SE
  3.681
• Huawei Mate 9
  3.68
• Samsung Galaxy A7
  3.679
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
  3.675
• Meizu PRO 6
  3.659
• BlackBerry Priv
  3.645
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  3.597
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  3.588
• Sony Xperia XZ2
  3.58
• LG G6
  3.556
• Apple iPhone 6s Plus
  3.53
• Motorola Moto Z Play
  3.526
• Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
  3.523
• Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
  3.523
• Acer Jade Primo
  3.521
• Microsoft Lumia 950
  3.512
• Oppo R7 Plus
  3.499
• Nokia 7 plus
  3.479
• nubia Z11
  3.466
• Huawei P10 Plus
  3.456
• HTC U Ultra
  3.453
• Motorola Moto G6
  3.448
• Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
  3.445
• Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
  3.445
• Samsung Galaxy J7
  3.422
• Motorola Moto G6 Play
  3.419
• Meizu MX5
  3.416
• LG V20
  3.402
• Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018)
  3.397
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera
  3.393
• LG G7 ThinQ
  3.39
• Huawei P10
  3.379
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
  3.378
• Oppo R9s
  3.352
• Honor Play
  3.349
• Honor 8 Pro
  3.341
• Oppo F7
  3.333
• Oppo R7
  3.32
• Lenovo P2
  3.316
• Archos Diamond Omega
  3.305
• Honor 9
  3.289
• Xiaomi Mi 5s
  3.276
• Nokia 5
  3.261
• Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
  3.244
• Xiaomi Mi 5
  3.24
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  3.238
• Samsung Galaxy J2
  3.235
• Oppo Realme 2 Pro
  3.235
• Sony Xperia X Performance
  3.234
• Xiaomi Mi Note 2
  3.228
• Motorola Moto X Play
  3.222
• Oppo F3 Plus
  3.218
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
  3.065
• Xiaomi Mi Max 3
  3.061
• Xiaomi Pocophone F1
  3.059
• Huawei Mate 20
  3.052
• Huawei Mate 20 Lite
  3.051
• Apple iPhone 6 Plus
  3.023
• Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL
  3.019
• Sony Xperia XA1
  3.012
• Motorola Moto X4
  3.012
• Oppo Realme 2
  3.006
• Sony Xperia L1
  2.994
• Sony Xperia X
  2.989
• LG Q6
  2.987
• Huawei P10 Lite
  2.974
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  2.97
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
  2.966
• Huawei P20 Lite
  2.952
• Xiaomi Redmi 5
  2.951
• Huawei Mate 8
  2.949
• Sony Xperia XA2
  2.938
• Oppo Realme 1
  2.932
• Xiaomi Redmi 4
  2.92
• Xiaomi Redmi 3S
  2.913
• Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
  2.913
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  2.906
• LG G5
  2.905
• Huawei Honor View 10
  2.896
• Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
  2.893
• Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
  2.884
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB)
  2.877
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
  2.877
• Sony Xperia Z5
  2.876
• Nokia 3
  2.871
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
  2.867
• Microsoft Lumia 550
  2.851
• Nokia 3.1
  2.837
• Lenovo Moto M
  2.813
• Nokia 7.1
  2.804
• Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
  2.803
• Sony Xperia Z5 compact
  2.784
• Honor 10 (Vivid)
  2.757
• Nokia 2
  2.752
• Meizu MX6
  2.751
• LG V10
  2.744
• Huawei Mate 10 (normal)
  2.742
• Motorola Moto G5S Plus
  2.737
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  2.735
• Huawei Honor 7X
  2.734
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  2.714
• Meizu M5
  2.71
• Xiaomi Mi A2
  2.696
• Sony Xperia M5
  2.69
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  2.689
• Huawei P9 Lite
  2.679
• Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
  2.679
• vivo V7+
  2.671
• Vivo V3Max
  2.659
• Xiaomi Mi Mix
  2.658
• Huawei Mate 10 Lite
  2.654
• Oppo F5
  2.653
• Doogee Mix
  2.642
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  2.641
• Xiaomi Redmi 4a
  2.635
• Sony Xperia Z3
  2.618
• Xiaomi Mi 5X (Standard)
  2.616
• Sony Xperia XA
  2.609
• Motorola Moto G4 Plus
  2.582
• Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
  2.582
• Meizu M5s
  2.58
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  2.574
• LeEco Le Max 2
  2.567
• Microsoft Lumia 640
  2.563
• Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
  2.563
• Huawei P Smart
  2.563
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  2.561
• HTC U11+
  2.556
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A (Y1)
  2.556
• Motorola Moto G 4G
  2.546
• Lenovo Moto G4
  2.544
• Lenovo K6 Note
  2.544
• Oppo F1
  2.528
• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
  2.525
• Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
  2.506
• Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
  2.503
• BlackBerry Motion
  2.494
• Oppo F1s
  2.481
• Motorola Moto G
  2.477
• Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
  2.473
• Huawei G8
  2.471
• Huawei nova
  2.467
• Sony Xperia Z
  2.462
• Lenovo Vibe K5
  2.459
• Meizu m3 max
  2.447
• Xiaomi Mi 5X (Auto)
  2.417
• Xiaomi Mi 4S
  2.095
• Acer Liquid X2
  2.084
• Huawei P8lite
  2.078
• vivo V5
  2.059
• Moto G 3rd gen max manual
  2.026
• Xiaomi Mi 3
  2.001
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  1.996
• Sony Xperia E4g
  1.972
• OnePlus One
  1.961
• Meizu m3 note
  1.923
• BlackBerry Leap
  1.892
• Meizu m2 note
  1.892
• HTC Butterfly
  1.873
• ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
  1.759
• Sony Xperia U
  1.758
• Asus Zenfone Selfie
  1.68
• Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
  1.675
• ZTE Nubia Z9
  1.659
• Jolla Jolla
  1.605
• Samsung Galaxy Core
  1.563
• Motorola Moto E
  1.545
• Sony Xperia M
  1.473
• Sony Xperia L
  1.351
• Xiaomi Redmi 2
  1.311
• HTC Desire C
  1.3
• Nokia X
  1.291
• Meizu MX
  1.221
• Sony Xperia E
  1.215

Judging by the "Optic OLED" moniker, used by OnePlus, we can only assume the panel comes courtesy of Samsung as their previous screens. The lack of HDR certification hints that it's probably not a top-of-the-line model. Still, it excels when it comes to color accuracy. The OnePlus 6T offers quite a few color profile tweaks.

Screen calibration options

In the default mode most colors tend to get over-saturated a bit. It makes for a punchier AMOLED-y look, but the particular profile does introduce a fair bit of blue tint. If you like looking at a bit brighter colors, you can use the custom color profile slider and just warm the pallet up a bit to your liking. For an even more comfortable everyday experience, the Adaptive mode does a pretty good job of recognizing the ambient light temperature and adjusting the panel accordingly.

For more precise color control, both the DCI-P3 and sRGB profiles test well within what can be considered color-calibrated territory. The latter produced an average deltaE of just 2.4, with a maximum of 5 in cyan.

Rounding off the additional display options, there is a Night Mode, that's simply a fancy name for a blue light filter. It does come with an intensity slider and a scheduler.

Then there is Reading mode, which simply makes the display monochrome. In can be set to auto-trigger on a per-app basis.

Night mode • Reading mode • Ambient display

Ambient display has a few extras hidden under the hood as well. You can set a couple of different triggers for it, like tapping the screen or picking up your phone and there are a few watch style to choose from. There is no always-on mode, as a pre-emptive battery conservation measure.

Battery Life

Looking at a quick specs comparison between the OnePlus 6T and its predecessor, one thing almost instantly sticks out - the 400mAh or so, bump up in battery capacity. The handset now rocks a 3,700mAh pack, which is only natural, considering its bigger display and bigger body, all around.

The OnePlus 6T scored a great 90 hour total endurance rating in our battery test. Looking back at the OnePlus 6 and its endurance rating, the variance in individual on-screen tests, namely web browsing and video playback mostly falls in line well with the increase in battery capacity.

However, it is also clear that OnePlus has been keeping busy with software optimization, as well, since a few mAh of battery aren't nearly enough to explain the massive network standby time improvement we observed on the OnePlus 6T, compared to its predecessor. Whatever network issue OnePlus had, it appears to be all cleared up now. Hopefully, the fix is already available across existing OnePlus 6 devices as well.

Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the OnePlus 6T for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern, so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.

Now, we've already established that you don't get any fancy new ultra-fast charging tech with the OnePlus 6T, a la Oppo's new 50W standard. Still, the trusty old 20W technology (even if they've dropped the Dash name) is still speedy and efficient and safe in its "divide and conquer" approach to charging two halves of the battery simultaneously. With the included wall charger, the OnePlus 6T managed to get from 0% to 55% in 30 minutes, and a full charge was completed in just over an hour.

Since OnePlus is yet to make the jump to a Type-C to Type-C cable, the Fast Charge still relies on a custom Type-A to Type-C USB connector, with extra pins on one side. That means you do need to hold on to your custom cables, but it also means that any previous editions of the OP accessories you already happen to own are still compatible. Fans will surely appreciate that.

Loudspeaker

The OnePlus 6T only has a single, bottom-firing speaker at its disposal. Still, it gets quite loud and produces clean sound.

Looking at the individual scores, we can see that the new phone ranks lower than the OnePlus 6 in the Music and Voice loudness tests, but scores a lot higher in the high-pitched Old phone ringing test.

This shows that the two phones have differently tuned speakers. The OnePlus 6T does distort high-pitched sounds a bit but less so than the OP6.

Audio quality

The move away from a 3.5mm audio jack has cost the OnePlus 6T a bit regarding loudness - the OnePlus 6 was above average both with an active external amplifier and with headphones, whereas its successor is average and below average respectively.

Yet, when it comes to clarity of the output, the two are virtually indistinguishable. You get perfectly accurate output without headphones and a moderate amount of stereo crosstalk when you plug them in. Some minor intermodulation distortion and frequency response shakiness also appear, but those are impossible to detect without dedicated equipment.

OnePlus 6T frequency response

You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.