In the not-so-distant past, we compared the OnePlus 3 to other modern flagship smartphones. However, now that OnePlus has delivered the OnePlus 3T, an iterative upgrade to the handset launched in June, it’s time to take a look at how this handset compares to the likes of the iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy S7 Edge, and Pixel XL.
Flagship smartphones compared
The handsets in this comparison can all be considered to be their manufacturers’ top-of-the-line devices. Unfortunately for the Galaxy S7 Edge, this is a role which it has had to reprise due to the unfortunate early demise of the Galaxy Note 7. However, it is more than up to the task of taking on each handset in this article. As for the OnePlus 3T, let’s take a look at what’s new.
OnePlus 3T
OnePlus is a Chinese manufacturer which has charmed Android enthusiasts over the last few years with low-priced, high-spec devices. However, with the introduction of the OnePlus 3T this week, it has received a negative response from some of its fans who recently purchased the OnePlus 3.
Feeling cheated, these handset users, don’t understand why the company rapidly replaced a handset which was launched in June. In response to questions at the handset’s launch, co-founder Carl Pei simply said the OnePlus 3T exists because it’s a better piece of technology.
From a design point of view, the OnePlus 3T is identical in every way to its predecessor, although this changes when you look under the hood, as there are plenty of differences there to talk about.
Processor
Probably the most important change is to the two handsets is the chipset. The 3T comes with the quad-core Snapdragon 821, coupled with an Adreno 530 GPU and 6GB of RAM. Its sibling has the older Snapdragon 820 Adreno 530 GPU and 6GB of RAM. Based, this, you may think nothing much has changed, but you’d be wrong. The next chipset comes with two cores clocked at 1.6Ghz and two more clocked at 2.35Ghz.
Storage
When it comes to storing music, images, apps and anything else, it’s obvious that the more storage you have, the more of those things you can keep. Unfortunately for many OnePlus 3 owners, the limited 64GB option provides no room to expand and thus wasn’t enough.
With the OnePlus 3T, the company has listened to its customers and introduced 64GB and 128GB variants.
Camera
The rear camera on the handset has not changed; it’s still a 16MP sensor from Sony. However, the front camera has been changed; there’s now a 16MP sensor from Samsung on the front.
Battery
Packing a 3,400mAh battery, the OnePlus 3T is looking to take on the likes of the Pixel XL and Galaxy S7 Edge in terms of capacity. While it falls slightly short of its rivals, compared to its sibling at 3,000mAh, users will notice a difference.
OnePlus 3T vs. iPhone 7 Plus in size and weight
Moving on, it’s now time to compare the OnePlus 3T to the iPhone 7 Plus. To start with, it’s clear that both devices are large phablets. Concerning the size of the two, the 3T’s dimensions are as follows: 153mm x 75mm x 7.4mm. If you compare this to the 7 Plus at 158mm x 78mm x 7.3 mm, it’s clear that the iPhone is larger.
Overall, the OnePlus 3 is 3% shorter and 4% narrower, which isn’t much. As for weight, the 3T comes in at 158 grams, and the 7 Plus at 188 grams.
Display
The overall size of the displays on each handset is identical. Both come in at 5.5-inches, and the same can be said for resolution at 1920 x 1080 and 401ppi. However, OnePlus used AMOLED display technology, while Apple has chosen to stick with IPS yet again.
Camera
The OnePlus 3T does something different with its cameras. There’s a 16MP on the rear and front, which is more than most cameras have. The iPhone 7 Plus has a dual-sensor 12MP rear camera and a 7MP camera on the front.
The 3T’s camera has an aperture size of f/2.0, while the 7 Plus has an aperture of f/1.8 and an f/2.2 telephoto lens. Other features include optical image stabilization on both devices. Also the dual-lens on the rear of the iPhone provides optical zoom.
Battery
This is where the iPhone 7 Plus lags behind with a 2,900mAh battery, compared the new OnePlus 3T’s upgraded 3,400mAh battery, which means the iPhone can’t compete.
Processor and RAM
Here we have the quad-core Snapdragon 821 chip running at 2.35Ghz and the quad-core A10 Fusion chip running at 2.34Ghz. While the A10 is impressive and smooth, the Snapdragon 821 is a little bit faster, meaning that it offers more in terms of grunt and overall performance, aided by the massive 6GB of RAM. The iPhone has 3GB of RAM, which is ideal for the iPhone and gives a smooth and lag-free operation.
Galaxy S7 Edge
With Samsung firmly entrenched as the king of Android handset manufacturers, OnePlus can only dream to one day compete. That being said, on a handset vs. handset level, they can. Let’s take a look at how the latest flagships compare.
Size and weight
Both of these handsets are big and can be considered to be phablets. However, the OnePlus 3T is slightly larger than the S7 Edge, coming in at 153mm x 75mm x 7.4mm, compared to the Galaxy’s 151mm x 73mm x 7.7mm size.
The two devices are almost identical in weight; the 3T weighs 158 grams, and the Edge weighs 157 grams.
Display
The overall size of the screens for the two handsets is the same at 5.5 inches, but the Samsung takes the lead where resolution is concerned. Its display offers 2560 x 1440 and 534ppi, whereas the OnePlus 3T has 1920 x 1080 and 401ppi.
The technology used for both is AMOLED, so it’s resolution where the S7 Edge firmly beats the 3T in terms of display.
Camera
Featuring strong front and rear cameras at 16MP each, the OnePlus 3T offers extremely high resolution, which could be a little overkill. In comparison, the S7 Edge is packing a 12MP rear and 5MP front camera. Lastly, the size of their apertures: the 3T rear camera is f/2.0, and the Galaxy’s aperture is f/1.7.
Battery
Unfortunately for the OnePlus 3T, it has a smaller battery at 3,400mAh, compared to the 3,600mAh found in the Samsung. However, there’s a chance that the lower-resolution screen could enable its battery to last longer.
Processor and RAM
Just because the OnePlus features the Snapdragon 821 and the Galaxy has the older Snapdragon 820, we think it’s the winner. After all, when you throw 6GB of RAM into the mix, compared to the still-respectable 4GB, it must perform better.
Pixel XL
With the demise of the Note 7, Google sneaked in the launch of the Pixel XL and its sibling. However, OnePlus may have seen this as a challenge to its Android enthusiast credentials, so the OnePlus 3T was born. So how do these new Androids compare?
Size and weight
Overall in terms of size, they are very similar, with the Pixel XL just coming out a bit larger at 155 x 76mm x 7.3mm. This is in comparison to the 3T at 153mm x 75mm x 7.4mm.
When it comes to tipping the scales, the Pixel is the heavier, weighing in at 168 grams, compared to the 3T’s 158 grams.
Display
It seems as though 5.5 inches is a universal display size these days, as yet again, the two devices are identical; however, when it comes to resolution, the 3T falls down again. At 1920 x 1080 and 401ppi, it may have been comparable to the 7 Plus, but the Pixel XL has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 534ppi, which is the same as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
Both devices have AMOLED screens, which is almost the standard for Android flagships.
Camera
With its 16MP front and rear sensors, the cameras on the 3T are impressive. However, the Pixel XL’s 12MP rear and 8MP front cameras have been widely acclaimed to be the best–even better than the dual-sensor setup on the iPhone 7 Plus.
Battery
There’s not much to separate the two handsets here. The 3T has a 3,400mAh battery, and the Pixel XL has a slightly larger 3,450mAh battery. However, yet again, the 3T could benefit from having a lower-resolution display. It could go a long way to making that battery charge last much longer.
Processor and RAM
The two handsets are directly comparable when it comes to the processor, as both carry the Snapdragon 821. However, the quad-core chip on the 3T is clocked slightly higher at 2.35Ghz, compared to 2.15Ghz on the Pixel.
When it comes to RAM, the 3T is carrying an industry-leading 6GB, whereas the Pixel lags a little behind with 4GB, which will surely make a difference to performance.
Specs compared
