OnePlus 3

[tsupersonic]

I'm surprised there's no thread on here for this phone. It just got announced today.

Specs:
Snapdragon 820
6 GB LPDDR4 RAM
5.5" 1920 x 1080 PenTile AMOLED
152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm, 158g
3000 mAh battery
Rear camera - 16MP 1.1 μm Sony IMX298, f/2.0, OIS
Front camera - 8MP 1.4 μm Sony IMX179, f/2.0
64GB UFS 2.0
USB 2.0 Type-C connector, 3.5mm audio
802.11a/b/g/n/ac + BT 4.2, USB-C
NFC, GPS/GNSS
$399 (6GB/64GB) - No invite system
Android 6.0.1

Anandtech News Link

Honestly it's just meh, and not for me.

 

[linkgoron]

What would make it not meh?

Looks like top of the line specs and an actually decent camera for 400$.

The downsides are that it's too big, no SD card, and I'll have to see what reviewers say about the pentile AMOLED, but for 400$ it's a good phone.

 

[zCypher]

Still rocking the original OnePlus here. The biggest thing I want is a better camera as the one on this model is very slow. Aside from that I love this phone. I haven't been compelled to upgrade so far. I don't like the 3 aesthetically... and I really love the Sandstone finish on mine. The specs look fine but 6GB RAM, really? Why? haha. I see they've reintroduced NFC, too bad I couldn't care less about that.

It's nice to see that they've included optical image stabilization, but they have reduced the sensor size and pixel size while increasing to 16MP. We'll have to see how the final outcome is with the camera software, image processing, etc - but in terms of strictly numbers, increasing resolution while reducing sensor and pixel size is not good for quality.

All in all though, still pretty solid for the very low price. Can't wait to see what comes out next in this part of the market!

 

[quikah]

No fingerprint reader?

 

[Artdeco]

No fingerprint reader?

Yep, it has one, and just slightly slower than Apple's current reader.

Pretty impressive phone for the $$$

 

[ChronoReverse]

Pretty decent. They should have put in 4GB of RAM and a larger battery though since it's a 5.5" screen.

 

[tsupersonic]

What would make it not meh?

Looks like top of the line specs and an actually decent camera for 400$.

The downsides are that it's too big, no SD card, and I'll have to see what reviewers say about the pentile AMOLED, but for 400$ it's a good phone.

Don't get me wrong, it has awesome specs for the price (which is what OnePlus has always been about). However, the poor customer service stories and slow updates (seeing how OP2 just recently got Marshmallow) doesn't inspire any confidence in OP. There are some strong contenders including the recent sales on the Nexus 6P (dropped down to $380, granted 32 GB version).

Also, re:specs, even though this isn't a phone for me, I hate the trend of manufacturers making phones thinner and thus reducing battery capacity. I get that we have quick charging, but I wish we'd see 3500 mAh as minimum capacity of any flagship smartphone over 5.2". In my eyes, quick charging is NOT a substitute for a smaller battery.

 

[dawheat]

Looks like a decent phone for the price. Couple things keep me from considering it a true flagship:

- 1080p pentile AMOLED screen - totally unsuited for any sort of VR and barely good enough at that size
- small battery - might be OK in 2015 as all phones seemed to have mediocre batteries but batteries are much healthier this year. Even with the S820 battery life will be ok to good, not great.
- Camera seems like a 2015 flagship approach and likely can't touch the low light performance of the best 2016 phones

But the S820 + 6GB + 64GB + aluminum body at $399 is totally solid.

 

[isekii]

Looks like a decent phone for the price. Couple things keep me from considering it a true flagship:

- 1080p pentile AMOLED screen - totally unsuited for any sort of VR and barely good enough at that size
- small battery - might be OK in 2015 as all phones seemed to have mediocre batteries but batteries are much healthier this year. Even with the S820 battery life will be ok to good, not great.
- Camera seems like a 2015 flagship approach and likely can't touch the low light performance of the best 2016 phones

But the S820 + 6GB + 64GB + aluminum body at $399 is totally solid.

Is there a battery test for this?
Also the quick charge is nice too.

 

[mrochester]

I'm surprised there's no thread on here for this phone. It just got announced today.

Specs:
Snapdragon 820
6 GB LPDDR4 RAM
5.5" 1920 x 1080 PenTile AMOLED
152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm, 158g
3000 mAh battery
Rear camera - 16MP 1.1 μm Sony IMX298, f/2.0, OIS
Front camera - 8MP 1.4 μm Sony IMX179, f/2.0
64GB UFS 2.0
USB 2.0 Type-C connector, 3.5mm audio
802.11a/b/g/n/ac + BT 4.2, USB-C
NFC, GPS/GNSS
$399 (6GB/64GB) - No invite system
Android 6.0.1

Anandtech News Link

Honestly it's just meh, and not for me.

It's yet another cookie cutter Android device. Nothing exciting here at all.

 

[PeckingOrder]

if I was in the market for a new phone (still happy with my One M8), I'd probably take this one

close to stock OS, strong hardware and lots of RAM for great multitasking, decent build quality and camera

I just wish the battery was a bit bigger instead of the phone being so slim

 

[Red Storm]

With OnePlus it's their long term quality and support that has me worried, not their ability to check off a spec sheet. I had issues with touch and call quality on my OnePlus 1, two things that I simply don't tolerate with smartphones.

 

[gorcorps]

I have the same worries as everybody else. When OnePlus started with the One everyone assumed updates would be quick, but that fell apart and is no better than other smartphone makers... and leagues behind a Nexus. So the only real perk is still price, and it's not THAT much better than the 6p. With the problems they've had in the past and no good way to support them, it's worth the money to get something better IMO.

Plus no option for 128gigs is always going to be a no-go for me.

 

[linkgoron]

I have the same worries as everybody else. When OnePlus started with the One everyone assumed updates would be quick, but that fell apart and is no better than other smartphone makers... and leagues behind a Nexus. So the only real perk is still price, and it's not THAT much better than the 6p. With the problems they've had in the past and no good way to support them, it's worth the money to get something better IMO.

Plus no option for 128gigs is always going to be a no-go for me.

The Oneplus 3 should be much faster than the Nexus 6P.

FHD instead of 1440p and a snapdragon 820 vs 810. Multi tasking with 6gb vs 3gb should also be better. I also assume that the battery life will be about equivalent. The op3's smaller battery mitigated by FHD and a more efficient snapdragon 820.

Software/updates/support are the main problems with OnePlus, and the Nexus line are the best in the Android world. OP have been disappointing so far.

 

[npaladin-2000]

It's not a bad device at all, but it's missing WiFi calling support for T-Mobile. That's important for some. Also, is EVERYONE going to make a metal unibody phone with bottom USB-C and speaker this year? It looks like an HTC or an iPhone, or a metal-backed Samsung. I realize there isn't much you can do with a rectangular screen, but I'd really like to see some more distinct visual differentiation between manufacturers. Maybe someone should go back to machined polycarbonate again....

 

[Red Storm]

It's not a bad device at all, but it's missing WiFi calling support for T-Mobile. That's important for some. Also, is EVERYONE going to make a metal unibody phone with bottom USB-C and speaker this year? It looks like an HTC or an iPhone, or a metal-backed Samsung. I realize there isn't much you can do with a rectangular screen, but I'd really like to see some more distinct visual differentiation between manufacturers. Maybe someone should go back to machined polycarbonate again....

I hope Google sticks with front facing speakers for this year's Nexus. I dislike non stereo speakers on phones.

 

[pete6032]

How is this meh for $400? Great specs for the price.

 

[sweenish]

Had you read the thread, you wouldn't have needed to ask the same question twice.

And as far as the Nexus comparisons go, let's all remember that we're comparing a brand new OP to last year's offering. I think the OP3 will be much less compelling once this year's Nexus line is announced. Because the extra money you'll pay for a Nexus will get you an appreciably better overall experience.

 

[Red Storm]

Had you read the thread, you wouldn't have needed to ask the same question twice.

And as far as the Nexus comparisons go, let's all remember that we're comparing a brand new OP to last year's offering. I think the OP3 will be much less compelling once this year's Nexus line is announced. Because the extra money you'll pay for a Nexus will get you an appreciably better overall experience.

I would still take a Nexus 6P over the OP3, never mind this year's Nexus.

 

[mrochester]

How is this meh for $400? Great specs for the price.

Specs have been boring for a long time, and no matter the specs, you're still getting the same old Android experience as every other Android phone on the market.

 

[linkgoron]

Specs have been boring for a long time, and no matter the specs, you're still getting the same old Android experience as every other Android phone on the market.

I like my Android experience, and you get a better experience with better specs. This is a 400$ phone, I don't expect anything earth shattering, and those 400$ get you top of the line specs and a close to stock Android. You can, however, buy better phones for more money (better support, a better camera, maybe SD card expansion).

Would you buy the iPhone 5s instead of the SE? Same screen, same form factor just different specs. The SE doesn't even have 3d touch, so it really is the same old iPhone experience. Of course you wouldn't, because better specs lead to a better experience.

Is the Android market mature? Yes. So what?

 

[mrochester]

I like my Android experience, and you get a better experience with better specs. This is a 400$ phone, I don't expect anything earth shattering, and those 400$ get you top of the line specs and a close to stock Android. You can, however, buy better phones for more money (better support, a better camera, maybe SD card expansion).

Would you buy the iPhone 5s instead of the SE? Same screen, same form factor just different specs. The SE doesn't even have 3d touch, so it really is the same old iPhone experience. Of course you wouldn't, because better specs lead to a better experience.

Is the Android market mature? Yes. So what?

The point is, boring specs and boring software. Again. There's nothing to get excited about here.

 

[zod96]

Almost every review including Anandtech said its one of the best phones you can buy now hands down.

 

[Megatomic]

With OnePlus it's their long term quality and support that has me worried, not their ability to check off a spec sheet. I had issues with touch and call quality on my OnePlus 1, two things that I simply don't tolerate with smartphones.

I'm still using my OPO from July of 2014. It's basically brand new still with a glass screen protector and TPU case on it. There were issues with call quality (specifically my voice coming through) but I'm running a custom ROM and it's now just as good as my Moto X or A9.

I'll be buying a OP3 as soon as I can swing the money.

 

[Megatomic]

The point is, boring specs and boring software. Again. There's nothing to get excited about here.

Serious question here, but what the hell do you want from a phone that the OP3 will not provide?