Published on August 6th, 2018 | by Guest

OnePlus 6 Unboxing: A Snappy Flagship Killer with a Notch

You’d be forgiven for thinking Apple, Samsung, et al are the only phone makers who can do a bang-up job on a top-tier smartphone. Well, the two are always locking horns in a battle over who has the better of the so-called flagship phones. Enter OnePlus, the company that has been hailed as the “flagship killer.”

The latest iteration of the OnePlus lineup of low-cost, high-quality Android smartphones is OnePlus 6, which is specially designed to give flagship models like iPhone X and Samsung S9 a run for their money, unless you actually unlock iPhone.

Overview

Right out of the box, OnePlus 6 is a looker. It spots an-all glass, reduced-bezel design with the latest Qualcomm processor, Snapdragon 845, revving under the hood. And for the first time, OnePlus has decided to hop onto the “notch” bandwagon. With a noticeably large 6.28” AMOLED display, decent cameras, and snappy performance, OnePlus 6 is a worthy challenge to the big boys, iPhone X and Samsung S9.

Forget what you have heard about this OnePlus flagship phone. Besides a budget-friendly price, let’s check out how OnePlus 6 actually measures up against its counterparts. Of course, you might want to compare it with an unlocked phone. The good news is that it’s super easy to unlock iPhone nowadays.

Key Features

Display

6.28-in Optic AMOLED Display
1080 x 2280p Resolution
Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Protection
DCI-P3 Color & Oxygen OS 5.1.9

Platform

OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
Chipset: Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845
CPU: Octa-Core (4×1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver; 4×2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold)
GPU: Adreno 630
Memory: 6 GB RAM (64 GB model) or 8 GB RAM (128/256 GB models); has no SD card slot

Camera

Dual Camera: 20 MP (f/1.7) + 16 MP (f/1.7); Max. Video: 2160p@30/60fps
Selfie Camera: 16 MP (f/2.0)

Body Specs

Weight: 177g
Dimensions: 6.13 x 2.97 x 0.31in
3.5mm Headphone Jack: YES
Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor
USB Type-C 1.0 Connector
Build: Front/rear glass, aluminum frame
SIM: Dual SIM

Battery

3300 mAh Li-Po in-built Battery with Fast Charging Capability

Pros

Breezy performance and a snappier processor for the price-tag
Sleek, all-glass design makes a bold statement
Large display with the trendy notch
Delivers 4K60 video recording
Significantly cheaper than flagship phones with similar features
Dash Charger is still the best way to add “juice” to your OnePlus on the go

Cons

Lack of wireless charging capability raises eyebrows
It’s water-resistant — not waterproof
Shorter battery life than peers, including OnePlus 5T
No CDMA Carrier support
Shrill audio

In-Depth Review

(1) Performance

OnePlus 6 might not have the best bells and whistles like Samsung S9 and iPhone X, but it boasts one of the fastest processors under the hood. The Snapdragon 845 by chipmaker Qualcomm is blazing fast and a major upgrade from 835 found in OnePlus 5T. When combined with an option of 6GB or 8GB RAM, Snapdragon 845 makes OnePlus 6 a formidable force to reckon with when it comes to multitasking, gaming, and video rendering.

To cap it off, this stylish smartphone comes with Adreno 630 which boosts graphics performance by 30 percent and draws 30 percent less power than the last iteration. Performance wise, it seems OnePlus is showing no sign of slowing down (fingers crossed).

(2) Display

At first glance, it becomes obvious that the display is where OP brought its A-game. The front side of the all-glass design boasts one of the largest displays OnePlus has ever incorporated into their smartphones. It’s a Full Optic Super AMOLED display with a 6.28-inch real estate, which is unmistakably an upgrade from the 6.1”display of OnePlus 5T. The display is sharp and vibrant, complete with a round bezel.

Some people might complain that OP didn’t go for QHD display, but this full HD screen comes with 1080p x 2280p resolution. And with 402ppi, this display offers sharp, crisp, and effortless viewing experience, all while being easy on the battery. Of course, it doesn’t come close to iPhone X’s retina display with 458 ppi, but you have to unlock iPhone to enjoy the freedom of OnePlus 6.

It is a shame that OP didn’t go full bezel-less, but OnePlus 6’s bezel is so reduced that it provides an incredible 84% screen-to-body ratio. If you are a fan of the trendy “notch,” you will be glad to know that OnePlus 6 now has one. It might not be something to call home about, but it comes with amazing features and capabilities. Besides, increased support for the notch in the upcoming Android P makes this inclusion a no-brainer.

What’s more interesting is that OP has managed to fit everything you like into the notch, including a notification LED, proximity sensors, ambient light, earpiece, and camera. OnePlus also added a setting that allows either side of the notch to become a black status bar, making it your call. These two features are a huge plus for OnePlus 6.

Perhaps the biggest downer for OnePlus 6 display is that it pales in the presence of Samsung S9. For starters, OnePlus 6 display lacks HDR support, which is not something strange for a budget phone maker like OnePlus.

(3) Design

The stand out change made by OnePlus in this model is the all-glass design. That’s right; OnePlus 6 features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 both in the back and front, a U-turn from the all-aluminum design of OnePlus 5T. The company claims the design offers more strength, agility, and sturdiness, but silicon cover case is included in the box for added grip and protection.

OnePlus 6 is slightly wider and thicker than its predecessor, but it’s as tall as OnePlus 5T. The one place this phone fails is waterproofness. This is where iPhone X shines; however, you will have to unlock iPhone to get value for your money.

OP decided to keep your favorite 3.5mm headphone jack, yay! In line with its tradition, OnePlus 6 offers dual SIM support. The alert switch and power buttons sit conveniently side-by-side on the right flank. What’s more, it features an oval (as opposed to circular) fingerprint scanner on the back and a nifty face-detect biometric scanner that you don’t have to look at directly to recognize you.

(4) Camera

Unsurprisingly, OnePlus 6 boasts of a dual rear-facing camera, a 20 MP (f/1.7) and a 16 MP (f/1.7) camera duo. Both come with EIS and OIS sensors with low-light capabilities. The dual camera setup offer four video shoot options: 720p@480fps,1080p@30/60/240fps, 2160p@30/60fps, and auto HDR. It also features a decent Selfie camera in the front, which is nothing compared to when you unlock your iPhone X.

(5) Battery

OnePlus 6 battery life is nothing to call home about. In fact, it’s shorter than that of OnePlus 5T. However, it packs a 3,300mAh battery which can last a whole day on a single charge. And with Dash Charge, you can get 60% battery life in 30 min. You can always switch to battery saver modern to get more juice per charge.

Verdict

OnePlus 6 ticks nearly all upgrade boxes, including a notch, improved camera, new and better chipset, and snappier performance. And with a sinfully affordable price, OnePlus 6 is worth your top dollar, save for doubtful waterproofness. Moreover, OnePlus phones are famous for being sold unlocked. Luckily, you can also unlock iPhone X and get even better features and perks.

Tags: flagship, killer, notch, OnePlus, OnePlus 6, snappy, unboxing