Even as we started playing around with the OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus unveiled Nord, it’s first value for money smartphone since the debut of the OnePlus X almost five years ago. Aggressively priced smartphones seem to be the order of the day in a post-COVID world. It’s why the iPhone SE has been trending ever since it hit the shelves. Almost all along, OnePlus always told us that there were things that we didn’t really need. Wireless charging and an IP rating for dust and water resistance were high up on that list of those features. All that has changed with the 2020 flagship of OnePlus and it’s a great place to start.
If you asked me to pick my favourite OnePlus from 2019, the 7T wins my vote. It was the 7 Pro’s slightly unwieldy form factor that made me lean towards the 7T that feels much nicer in your hand. The 8 Pro is a shade lighter than the 7 Pro and also a hair thinner. It makes the device slightly less intimidating and yet this is a device for those who live life king size. It’s a gorgeous looking device. We love the premium, almost frosted finish that plays out particularly well in the Glacial Green colour option that we checked out. OnePlus has opted for a negligible, punch-hole option for the selfie cam; we certainly don’t miss the pop-up selfie cam from the 7 Pro that bordered on gimmicky. If there’s a minor crib with the design, it’s the slight bump from the rear cam that’s impossible to escape when the device is placed on a flat surface.
Sticking with the cameras, OnePlus has made a big leap. You only have to go back to 2018, a time when OnePlus cams were not up there with the premium Android flagships. That has changed as OnePlus has crossed the Rs 50,000 threshold with its premium devices. The 8 Pro’s 16MP selfie cam won’t let you down while the quad rear cam is driven by 48MP primary sensor (f/1.8 aperture). It’s one of the most versatile cams with great Macro photography capabilities. But it was the ultra-wide angle (OnePlus opts for a 48MP ultra-wide sensor) option and the OnePlus’ proprietary low-light solution – Nightscape, that impressed us the most. The lowlight images can hold their own against other stellar cams like the Samsung Galaxy S20+ and iPhone 11 Pro.
Speed has always been a given with OnePlus. The 8 Pro only enhances that credo. We tested the 8GB/128GB version (there’s also a 12GB/256GB variant) that is powered by the best of breed Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. The device blazed through our Geekbench tests finishing among the top of the Android heap. One of our favourite features of last year’s 7 Pro was the binge-watch friendly, fluidic 90Hz display. The 8 Pro is the next chapter with a 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED display (1440 x 3168 pixels) that packs 513 PPI. OnePlus allows you to watch Content with a QHD+ display option combined with the 120Hz refresh rate with motion graphics smoothing thrown in. It all adds up; this is one of the most immersive displays out there. It also elevates gaming experiences. Not surprisingly, opting for the best resolution impacts battery life that dipped in our tests. If you choose the conservative option then we found the 4510 mAh battery comfortably sail through a full day.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is the fully loaded OnePlus that we’ve all been waiting for. Wireless charging is faster than most competitors and the device also offers reverse charging (3W) for the first time on a OnePlus device. The IP68 rating is a great add-on. The 8 Pro is certainly a bulky device but gets almost everything right – it’s lightning quick, features an immersive display, looks every inch premium and is the best camera system we’ve seen on a OnePlus device.
The OnePlus 8Pro comes in three colours –Glacial green, Onyx black and ultramarine blue. There’s a choice of two storage variants – 8GB/128 GB – Rs 54,999, 12GB/256GB – Rs 59,999.
