OnePlus 8T: Returning to a winning formula

The OnePlus 8T is the right phone at the right time.

- MICHAEL SIMON

The OnePlus 8T couldn’t have come at a better time. When OnePlus launched the OnePlus 8 (go. pcworld.com/1pl8) and 8 Pro (go. pcworld.com/1p8p) earlier this year, they were the company’s most expensive phones ever, and they came amidst a premium smartphone slump fueled by economic uncertainty and a global pandemic. In short, people needed the Samsung Galaxy A71 (go. pcworld.com/ga71) but got the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (go.pcworld.com/20ut).

With the 8T, OnePlus has returned to its roots. At $750 from OnePlus (go.pcworld. com/by8t), not only is it $50 cheaper than a comparably specced OnePlus 8, but it also brings the kind of high-end features and innovations that fans expect without cutting too many corners. You’re still not getting wireless charging, which is almost a running gag for OnePlus at this point, but you are getting stupendous 65W Warp charging out of the box.

While you’re missing out on a few other “pro” features like a curved Quad HD display and the newer Snapdragon 865+ processor, nothing about the OnePlus 8T feels inferior to phones costing upward of $1,200. Stacked up against the $700 Galaxy S20 FE and $799 iPhone 12, the OnePlus 8T is once again a true competitor.

A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN ALL AROUND

Like every other phone in 2020, the OnePlus 8T doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It has a 6.55inch display with a hole-punch camera and rounded corners, and a glass back that isn’t too glossy or slippery. It feels good in my hand and pocket, and likely hits the sweet spot for most people looking for a larger screen phone.