We’ve come to expect special smartphones at affordable prices from OnePlus, and the OnePlus 7 Pro is definitely special, but starting at $670, it’s considerably more expensive than its predecessors. What does the extra cash get you? Is it worth upgrading from an older model? Should you opt for the OnePlus 6T instead and save yourself some money? All these questions and more will be answered as we dig into a spec comparison that pits the last three OnePlus flagships up against the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Specs
| OnePlus 7 Pro | OnePlus 6T | OnePlus 6 | OnePlus 5T | |
| Size | 162.6 × 75.9 × 8.8 mm (6.4 × 2.98 × 0.34 inches) | 157.5 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.32 inches) | 155.7 × 75.4 × 7.8 mm (6.13 × 2.97 × 0.31 inches) | 156.1 × 75 × 7.3 mm (6.15 × 2.95 × 0.29 inches) |
| Weight | 206 grams (7.26 oz) | 185 grams (6.53 ounces) | 177 grams (6.24 oz) | 162 grams (5.71 oz) |
| Screen size | 6.67-inch Fluid AMOLED | 6.41-inch AMOLED display | 6.28-inch AMOLED | 6.01-inch AMOLED |
| Screen resolution | 3120 × 1440 pixels (516 pixels per inch) | 2340 x 1080 pixels (402 pixels per inch) | 2280 × 1080 pixels (402 pixels per inch) | 2160 × 1080 pixels (401 pixels per inch) |
| Operating system | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Storage space | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB |
| MicroSD card slot | No | No | No | No |
| Tap-to-pay services | Google Pay | Google Pay | Google Pay | Google Pay |
| Processor | Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 845 | Snapdragon 845 | Snapdragon 835 |
| RAM | 6GB, 8GB, 12GB | 6GB, 8GB, 10GB | 6GB, 8GB | 6GB, 8GB |
| Camera | Triple-lens 48-megapixel, 16MP ultra-wide angle, and 8MP telephoto rear, 16MP front | Dual-lens 16MP (with OIS) and 20MP (with OIS) rear, 16MP front | Dual-lens 16MP and 20MP rear, 16MP front | Dual-lens 16MP and 20MP rear, 16MP front |
| Video | 2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 480 fps | 2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 480 fps | 2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 480 fps | 2,160p at 30 fps, 1,080p at 60 fps, 720p at 120 fps |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C port | USB-C port | USB-C port, 3.5mm audio jack | USB-C port, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, in-display | Yes, in-display | Yes, on back | Yes, on back |
| Water resistance | No | No | No | No |
| Battery | 4,000mAh
Fast charging (Warp) |
3,700mAh
Fast charging (Dash or Warp) |
3,300mAh
Fast charging (Dash) |
3,300mAh
Fast charging (Dash) |
| App marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
| Network support | T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint | T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint | T-Mobile, AT&T | T-Mobile, AT&T |
| Colors | Mirror Gray, Nebula Blue, Almond | Mirror black, midnight black | Midnight Black, Mirror Black, Silk White, Amber Red | Midnight Black, Lava Red, Sandstone White |
| Price | $669 | $549 | $530 | $500 |
| Buy from | OnePlus | OnePlus, Amazon, T-Mobile | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Review score | 4 out of 5 stars | 4 out of 5 stars | 4.5 out of 5 stars | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
Performance, battery life, and charging
With the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor inside, the OnePlus 7 Pro is one of the fastest phones around and easily outperforms the older trio. The OnePlus 6T and the OnePlus 6 are not too far behind, with the Snapdragon 845, but the aging Snapdragon 835 in the OnePlus 5T really can’t keep up. All have ample RAM with a choice of 6GB or 8GB. You can even get a version of the 6T with 10GB of
Battery size has gradually grown in each new model, but so has the screen size, so there isn’t a big real world advantage. In fact, we found that the OnePlus 7 Pro needs to be charged at the end of every day, while the OnePlus 6T tends to last a bit longer. They all offer fast charging with the kit in the box, but the OnePlus 7 Pro is the quickest to recharge. Sadly, there’s no support for wireless charging here.
Winner: OnePlus 7 Pro
Design and durability
The design of the OnePlus 7 Pro is beautifully minimal. The curved glass back and enormous curved screen blend into a solid metal frame. The gorgeous screen is free of notches and with minimal bezel. The back has a triple-lens camera suite stacked vertically in the middle and the OnePlus logo. You can see the journey to reach this point in the last three phones.
The 5T looks very dated now with big bezels above and below the screen, a round fingerprint sensor on the back and a camera suite offset at the top left. The OnePlus 6 centered the camera suite above a fingerprint lozenge and shrank the bezels at the expense of a notch. The 6T reduced the notch to a teardrop and got rid of the fingerprint sensor, melting it into the display. The 7 Pro also has an in-display fingerprint sensor and we’re pleased to report it works far more reliably than the one in the OnePlus 6T.
While the OnePlus 7 Pro is the sleekest and most modern of the bunch and has to take this round, it is significantly bigger and heavier than the others which may put some people off.
Winner: OnePlus 7 Pro
Display
OnePlus has been increasing the display size with each new iteration, going from a 6.01-inch display in the OnePlus 5T to a 6.67-inch display in the OnePlus 7 Pro. That’s not all that’s improved though. All of these phones use superior AMOLED tech, but the OnePlus 6T and 6 had a resolution that translated to 402 pixels per inch (ppi), whereas the 7 Pro boasts a 3120 x 1440-pixel resolution that adds up to 516 ppi. Not only is it sharper and free of notches, it also has a higher refresh rate of 90Hz and it really shows. Everything feels smooth and stutter-free. The display in the 7 Pro is one of the best available and a real crown jewel for the phone.
Winner: OnePlus 7 Pro
Camera
We have found the camera to be a consistent weak spot for OnePlus. The 5T, 6, and 6T all have dual-lens main cameras that pair 16-megapixel and 20-megapixel lenses and they all have a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. While they’re capable in good conditions, they really don’t compare well at all to the best camera phones around. The OnePlus 7 Pro features a beefed up triple-lens camera suite that combines a 48-megapixel lens with a 16-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. There’s also a 16-megapixel front-facing camera that pops up from the top of the phone. While we still don’t think the 7 Pro lives up to the best of the competition, it does have a much more capable and versatile camera than its predecessors.
Winner: OnePlus 7 Pro
Software and updates
OnePlus has a fairly light user interface in Oxygen OS. It feels a lot like Google’s version of Android that you’ll find on the Pixels, but there are a few extra customization options and gestures. The manufacturer also has a good record of updating software fairly quickly and all four of these phones have
Winner: Tie
Special features
The in-display fingerprint sensor is faster and more reliable than the one in the OnePlus 6T, the slick screen is a real highlight, and we like the pop-up front-facing camera. The quality of the display and the 90Hz refresh rate makes this phone perfect for gaming and watching movies. The higher refresh rate is still relatively rare in phones. In fact, it has largely been confined to specialist gaming phones so far, so it’s a standout special feature. The more affordable 6T, 6, and 5T come without frills, so there isn’t a great deal to point to in the special features department.
Winner: OnePlus 7 Pro
Price and availability
If you opt for the mirror gray OnePlus 7 Pro with 6GB of
Overall winner: OnePlus 7 Pro
There’s no doubt that the OnePlus 7 Pro is the pick of the bunch here and it offers a raft of improvements over its predecessors including a bigger and better display, slicker performance, a more versatile camera, and a more desirable design, but it’s also considerably more expensive. If you have a OnePlus 5T or another older phone, the OnePlus 7 Pro is going to be a good upgrade, if you can afford it. But if your budget is a bit tighter, then the both the OnePlus 6T and the OnePlus 6 are still excellent phones that offer great value and we may see them drop in price further now that the 7 Pro has arrived.
