OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Now that OnePlus has launched its latest phone, what is the difference between the OnePlus 3T and the older OnePlus 3? Should OnePlus 3 owners upgrade to the new model? Here’s everything you need to know.
Here at Recombu we still blooming love the OnePlus 3, which at a snifter over £300 offers pretty much all of the features you’d expect in a phone twice the price.
However, OnePlus isn’t content to simply sit back and dust off its hands. The OnePlus 3T has now been released in the UK, coming just six months after the launch of the original mobile. There are a few vital changes however, as the OnePlus 3T offers a boost in specs and some updated features.
Question is, should OnePlus 3 owners consider upgrading to the OnePlus 3T, and which is best for newcomers to the OnePlus brand? Here’s our full OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 3T comparison review, so you can make up your own mind.
Check out our OnePlus 3 and 3T hub, where you’ll find comparisons with the best new Androids as well as tips and tricks and more.
OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Specs
| Phone | OnePlus 3 | OnePlus 3T |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.5-inches | 5.5-inches |
| Screen resolution | Full HD 1920×1080 | Full HD 1920×1080 |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistant? | No | No |
| OS | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 821 |
| Memory | 6GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB | 64/128GB |
| MicroSD? | No | No |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 3400mAh |
| Rear camera | 16-megapixel | 16-megapixel |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel | 16-megapixel |
| Price | £329 | From £399 |
OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Design
The new OnePlus 3T hasn’t changed much at all compared with the original OnePlus 3, as far as design goes. You once again have a mighty 5.5-inch phone packing a metal unibody, which looks and feels pleasingly rugged.
However, you can pick up the OnePlus 3T is a funky new gunmetal colour, as well as soft gold. And as before, if you want to change up the look and feel of your handset at any time, you can snap on one of OnePlus’ funky covers.
OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Performance and features
When you dive into the internals, that’s where the OnePlus 3T really differs from the original handset.
At first glance, there’s not much difference. That 5.5-inch screen is once again a Full HD AMOLED panel, so you’ll enjoy crisp, colourful visuals when kicking back with a movie or your favourite apps. The OS hasn’t changed either, so once again you have the Oxygen OS overlaid on top of Android Marshmallow (hopefully Nougat will arrive soon).
However, the OnePlus 3T now comes with a choice of storage, between 64GB and 128GB. The OnePlus 3 only offered 64GB. Neither phone supports microSD expansion.
And while the original OnePlus 3 offers blistering performance thanks to its Snapdragon 820 processor and 6GB of RAM, the OnePlus 3T boosts this to the latest Snapdragon 821 chipset, for an even smoother experience.
Read next: Snapdragon 821 vs 820, what’s the difference?
We still get a full day of battery life per charge with the OnePlus 3, but the OnePlus 3T boosts the battery size to 3400mAh from 3000mAh. You can therefore expect even better battery life, complete with full support for the excellent Dash Charge.
OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Cameras
The OnePlus 3 boasted a pretty decent 16-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel selfie cam, which did a decent job of snapping detailed shots in a range of conditions. That 16-meg shooter wasn’t perfect however, especially when it came to video recording. Check out our OnePlus 3 camera review for samples and more info.
So the OnePlus 3T updates the camera tech with a fresh new 16-megapixel f/2.0 front-facing camera from Samsung, which is better for low-light selfies while also capturing a lot more detail. You can’t shoot 4K UHD footage, but you can record perfectly crisp Full HD video.
The rear camera stays at 16-megapixels, but now has a sapphire coating so it’s less likely to get scratched up. Just as well, as it once again juts out of the surface. Like before, it’s a f/2.0 Sony lens with Phase Detection Autofocus and Optical Image Stabilisation. But now you also get Electronic Image Stabilisation, a digital method of smoothing out video footage, as well.
OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: UK price
The OnePlus 3T is available to buy here in the UK from £399, for the 64GB model. The 128GB model costs £439.
That means the OnePlus 3T is at least £70 more expensive than the standard OnePlus 3. Not too bad considering the boost in power, battery size and camera tech. Would you buy the OnePlus 3T over the OnePlus 3, or will you upgrade if you already own the original phone? Let us know in the comments below.
OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3: Video
You can grab the OnePlus 3T exclusively on contract from O2, from £31 per month.
You can also grab the OnePlus 3 from O2 from £28 a month
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