Makings Of A Flagship Killer

OnePlus 8 & 8 Pro

- Liu Hongzuo

OnePlus needs no introduction. The brand was (and still somewhat is) famous for its self-proclamation of making phones that are flagship killers, packing top end hardware and features at affordable prices.

OnePlus’s latest flagship devices the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro pack several headlining features beyond 5G. These phones have heightened refresh rates for their displays, HDR playback support in both models, WiFi 6, and a flagship Snapdragon 865 processor. Key differences between both models lie in their camera capabilities, with the OnePlus 8 touting a triple rear camera setup while the Pro gets a quad-camera system.

The OnePlus 8 starts at $998 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, while the OnePlus 8 Pro starts at $1,298 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. There exists a 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant for both models in the market too. With these prices and specs, will they finally claim the flagship killer title, or will they just be another flagship phone in the mix?

The OnePlus 8 series may be relatively ‘affordable’ flagship smartphones with current-gen hardware, but they feel undeniably premium like their more expensive competitors. OnePlus 8’s design mostly follows the modern look for top-shelf phones - a curved glass front that goes down to the sides with a unibody-like appearance.

Aesthetically, the OnePlus 8 series feature minor differences. They sport the same bodywork and have identical button placements. What sets them apart are their proportions. The OnePlus 8 is smaller, slimmer, and lighter than the Pro variant. The OnePlus 8 Pro model is preferable if you like larger displays with more to see and interact with, while the OnePlus 8 is better if you value the ease of use with a single hand.