Saturday 17 October 2020

The best OnePlus 8T alternatives: 5 other phones to check out before you buy

Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE vs OnePlus 8T back 2

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The OnePlus 8T is finally here, marking the fifth in OnePlus‘ T-series. From high-end silicon and a 120Hz OLED display to super-fast charging and a relatively large battery, there’s plenty to like on paper.

What if the phone doesn’t quite tickle your fancy though? Maybe you’re looking for something a little different or you need even more bang for your buck? This is our list of the best OnePlus 8T alternatives.


The best OnePlus 8T alternatives


1. OnePlus 8 Pro

OnePlus 8 Pro in hand 2

  • The same chipset and 120Hz capability as OnePlus 8T
  • Also has water resistance and wireless charging, but slower wired charging
  • Available in a variety of markets, including Europe, North America, and India

There’s no OnePlus 8T Pro this year, but even CEO Pete Lau himself has directed fans to the OnePlus 8 Pro if they want a more feature-packed premium experience. And there’s a lot to like about this phone.

Much like the OnePlus 8T, you’ve got a Snapdragon 865 processor, a 120Hz OLED screen, and a 4,500mAh battery. But the OnePlus 8 Pro also stands out with the addition of wireless charging and water resistance.

It’s worth noting that the OnePlus 8 Pro had a launch price of $899, but you’re definitely getting a few more extra features for the price.


2. OnePlus Nord

OnePlus Nord back side hero shot lit

Credit: Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
  • Offers recent OnePlus staples at a cheaper price
  • Slower wired charging and a weaker processor than OnePlus 8T
  • Available in the likes of Europe and India, but not in North America

Like the idea of the OnePlus 8T but not a fan of the price? Then you need to look at the OnePlus Nord. It offers the core OnePlus experience in a mid-range phone. That means a high refresh rate OLED screen (90Hz), 30W wired charging, Oxygen OS, and 5G capabilities.

There are several compromises to reach this lower price point though, such as slower wired charging versus the 8T, an upper-midrange chipset, and a slightly smaller battery.

Our verdict OnePlus Nord review

When it comes to the camera experience, it’s a clear case of quantity over quality. Aside from the 48MP main and 8MP ultra-wide shooter, the firm chose to also offer a 5MP depth sensor and 2MP macro shooter to bump up the numbers. You’ve also got a dual selfie camera setup for standard and ultra-wide shots. Unfortunately, we weren’t terribly impressed with the photos it produced.

Still, you can do much worse than the Nord if you want a cheaper OnePlus experience, and it definitely seems greater than the sum of its parts.


3. Poco F2 Pro

Poco F2 Pro Angled home screen

  • One of the more affordable Snapdragon 865 phones in 2020 (and it has a 3.5mm port!)
  • Lacks the OnePlus 8T’s super-fast charging and high refresh rate display though
  • General availability is restricted to Europe for the most part

Poco’s 2020 entry offers a somewhat different experience compared to the OnePlus 8T, but it’s still worth considering if you’re on the hunt for an affordable flagship. Expect to find powerful core features here too, such as a Snapdragon 865 SoC, 6GB to 8GB of RAM, and 128GB to 256GB of storage.

Other noteworthy features include a 4,700mAh battery that’s slightly larger than the OnePlus 8T’s pack, 8K recording, a 3.5mm port, and a quad rear camera setup (64MP main, 13MP ultra-wide, 5MP telephoto macro, and 2MP depth). You’re also getting a 20MP pop-up selfie camera too, as opposed to the punch-hole seen on OnePlus’s recent phones.

There are downsides to the Poco F2 Pro though, as the OnePlus device packs much faster wired charging (65W vs 30W), and a high refresh rate. Still, you’re getting one of the more competitive OnePlus 8T alternatives out there for ~$499.


4. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Back side

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
  • Delivers flagship power and premium extras (wireless charging, telephoto camera, and water resistance)
  • Lags behind when it comes to wired charging speeds
  • Much wider availability than virtually all phones on this list

The latest Galaxy S20 series phone bucks the trend of $1,000+ pricing to deliver a phone that comes in at just $700. Sacrifices obviously have to be made compared to the standard S20, such as a plastic back, FHD+ screen instead of QHD+, and no 8K recording. But there’s still plenty left to make the Galaxy S20 FE one of the best OnePlus 8T alternatives around.

Our verdict: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review

Much like the new OnePlus phone, the Galaxy S20 FE packs a Snapdragon 865 chipset (or Exynos 990 in some locales), a 4,500mAh battery, 5G, and a 120Hz FHD+ OLED screen. So, those looking for the fastest experience in terms of performance and responsiveness should be happy, while the relatively large battery should keep you going. One of the few downsides is that the 25W charging is much slower than OnePlus’s 65W solution. Samsung also only offers a 15W charger in the box.

The S20 FE does hold several advantages over the OnePlus 8T though, serving up a telephoto camera as part of a flexible rear camera setup. It also offers wireless charging and water resistance. If any of these features are high on your priority list when buying a phone, then the Samsung device might be for you.


5. Google Pixel 5

Google Pixel 5 front and back

  • The first Pixel flagship with an ultra-wide rear camera and 5G
  • Lacks the high-end horsepower seen on the OnePlus 8T
  • Available in Australia, Europe, North America, Japan, and Taiwan (sorry, India and MEA countries)

The latest Pixel phone bucks the trend of previous Pixel flagships by offering an upper-midrange processor instead. It still brings 5G to the table, but you should expect less impressive horsepower than most 2020 high-end phones and even its predecessor.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 5 offers plenty of goodness anyway. There’s a 90Hz OLED screen, a dual rear camera setup (12MP main and 16MP ultra-wide), a 4,080mAh battery, IP68 water/dust resistance, and wireless charging. Additionally, the traditional Pixel strengths of great picture quality and a three-year commitment to updates should be in effect here too.

Related: Why Google chose the Snapdragon 765G for the Pixel 5

The OnePlus 8T offers a bigger battery, higher refresh rate, and faster wired charging than the Pixel 5. But those who value picture quality, updates, and flagship extras (i.e. wireless charging and water resistance) should keep an eye on the Google phone.


OnePlus 8T alternatives: Honorable mentions

That’s our main list of OnePlus 8T alternatives, but there are two great honorable mentions that are also worth considering. Check them out below.

Realme X50 Pro

realme x50

Credit: Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
  • High-end power, 5G, and 65W charging in one package
  • Also serves up a variety of cameras for every occasion
  • Restricted to the likes of Asia and Europe

The Realme X50 Pro is one of the better priced OnePlus 8T alternatives on the list, and it’s not sacrificing much with its €600 price tag.

You’ve got the Snapdragon 865 and 5G combo, a 90Hz OLED screen, and 65W charging for its 4,200mAh battery. The phone also serves up a versatile quad rear camera setup (64MP+12MP+8MP+2MP), as well as a normal+ultra-wide pairing in a cutout upfront. Don’t expect water resistance or wireless charging here, but the OnePlus 8T lacks this as well, to be fair.

Realme’s software has also come in leaps and bounds since its 2018 debut, and the Realme UI skin takes plenty of cues from stock Android. Nevertheless, Realme doesn’t have the best reputation for commitment to updates. So those hoping to get system updates two or three years from now might want to keep that in mind.


Asus Zenfone 7

Asus Zenfone 7 Pro taking a selfie

Credit: Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
  • The flipping camera setup means your main cameras are your selfie cameras too
  • One of the few phones to support 120fps slow-mo at 4K
  • Availability is limited to Asia and Europe right now

The Asus Zenfone 6 was one of 2019’s better affordable flagships, delivering high-end power and a big battery for just $500. The Zenfone 7 series adopts a two-tiered approach this time. The vanilla model picks up where the Zenfone 6 left off, while the Pro variant aims higher.

The two phones share a 90Hz OLED panel, a 5,000mAh battery with 30W wired charging, a flexible triple camera setup on a swivel (64MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP 3x optical zoom), and 8K/30fps and 4K/120fps recording. Otherwise, the two devices differ in the chipset category (the Pro packs a Snapdragon 865 Plus instead of a vanilla SoC) and in terms of camera capabilities (no OIS for the standard variant).

The Zenfone 7 starts at €699 (~$838) in Europe, which means it’s playing in roughly the same segment as the OnePlus 8T. You’re giving up a higher refresh rate and faster charging if you opt for this over the OnePlus phone, but you do gain that sweet camera mechanism and a bigger battery.


That’s it for our rundown of the best OnePlus 8T alternatives! Did we miss any great picks? Let us know in the comments section below. Still have your heart set on the OnePlus 8T? Grab your own below!

OnePlus 8T Better than the OnePlus 8, but still not as good as the OnePlus 8 Pro
The latest flagship from OnePlus features some relatively subtle upgrades over the OnePlus 8. However, it does feature a huge new feature: Warp Charge 65, which will allow the 8T to charge faster than any other OnePlus phone.


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