The OnePlus 8 Pro lastly will get IP-certified waterproofing and wi-fi charging, after the corporate stubbornly ignored these tendencies for years. It’s like a dream come true for OnePlus followers. Other element enhancements are a given, however by including these two options, we lastly get a OnePlus flagship smartphone, seemingly, freed from compromises.
It will get higher. Prices in India begin at Rs. 54,999, which is decrease than the worldwide pricing, and solely marginally greater than what the OnePlus 7T Pro value when it launched final October. Other than the Mi 10 (Review) from Xiaomi, the OnePlus 8 Pro would not have any main direct competitors. Samsung’s S20 collection remains to be priced quite a bit greater, there’s barely any chatter about Asus’s 2020 flagship but. If you do not rely older flagships which have dropped in worth, there is a fairly open taking part in discipline for OnePlus proper now.
So, is the OnePlus 8 Pro the very best cellphone available in the market at round Rs. 55,000, and must you pay the premium and purchase it over the OnePlus 8?
What’s new within the OnePlus 8 Pro?
In a nutshell? Quite a bit. The OnePlus 8 Pro is now IP68 rated for mud and water resistance, and there is quick wi-fi charging at as much as 30W. You additionally get new digital camera sensors, an even bigger battery, a extra highly effective processor, and the next refresh charge show. Compared to the OnePlus 7T Pro (Review), that is a fairly large improve proper there. We’ll get into extra element about every of those new options, however suffice it to say, the 8 Pro packs in a wholesome mixture of updates, which is one thing I actually like.
OnePlus 8 Pro Design: Keeping it easy
The OnePlus 8 Pro has an identical design because the OnePlus Eight however with some delicate modifications. Its show is definitely rounded on the perimeters, slightly than simply having curved glass like on the 8. As a outcome, the show provides a extra immersive really feel, however this additionally means your fingers are nearly all the time touching some half the display screen everytime you maintain this cellphone.
Palm rejection works effectively, and I used to be in a position to make use of the OnePlus 8 Pro even when the perimeters of my hand have been clearly involved with the show. Trying to take pictures with one hand will get difficult, although. I might inevitably find yourself touching an icon for one more taking pictures mode or menu unintentionally. The bundled case is definitely of massive assist right here.
The Glacial Green color on the OnePlus 8 Pro appears excellent
The Glacial Green color unit that I acquired appears lovely, and I like the texture of the frosted glass again. It can get a little bit slippery, however a minimum of fingerprints aren’t an enormous drawback. The OnePlus 8 Pro is lighter and slimmer than the 7T Pro, however the digital camera bump is gigantic and makes holding this cellphone a little bit awkward. Once once more, the bundled case helps with this challenge.
Similar to the OnePlus 8 (Review), the SIM tray, Type-C port, and speaker are positioned on the backside, whereas the amount and energy buttons sit on reverse sides of the metallic body.
Overall, the OnePlus 8 Pro feels solidly constructed and really premium, and appears unimaginable on this color. It’s a little bit large and heavy, however I did get used to the dimensions and heft after just a few days.
OnePlus 8 Pro Display: Big and clean
The OnePlus 8 Pro has a fairly large 6.78-inch QHD+ (1440×3168-pixel) AMOLED panel, with a claimed excessive color accuracy and HDR10+ assist. New this 12 months is the 120Hz refresh charge, which is bump up from final 12 months’s 90Hz. The OnePlus 8 Pro can run at 120Hz on the QHD+ decision, which is one thing you continue to cannot do on Samsung’s S20 collection. Of course, utilizing the cellphone with that combo will put extra pressure on the battery, however as I observed, it wasn’t an enormous drawback. More on that later.
Out of the field, the display screen is ready to 120Hz and full-HD+ decision, so you may should manually enhance it to QHD+. Content appears good even on the decrease decision however I personally most well-liked native QHD+ for the added sharpness.
Another characteristic unique to the 8 Pro is Motion Graphics Smoothing. When enabled, it bumps up the framerate of any video for a smoother, cleaning soap opera-like really feel when viewing it in fullscreen. It’s suitable with most video gamers and streaming apps. It works effectively, however at occasions it may well trigger some elements of a scene with quick movement to flicker or clip. The ‘Comfort tone’ toggle within the show settings can also be new, and behaves just like Apple’s True Tone. It adjusts the show’s color temperature based mostly on the ambient mild round you.
The show is vibrant, vibrant, and brilliant. I did not actually discover any ‘black crush’ challenge both, which others have reportedly confronted. Like the OnePlus 8, the 8 Pro additionally has a cutout within the higher left nook for the selfie digital camera. I did not discover it to be intrusive, and most apps have a tendency to dam out the realm when utilized in panorama mode.
The 8 Pro’s in-display fingerprint sensor works very effectively, with none fuss. You also can use face recognition, which I discovered to be equally fast.
I’m usually not an enormous fan of pre-applied display screen protectors on smartphones, and the one on the 8 Pro is very annoying. Due to the pronounced curves of the show, the display screen protector all the time will get in the best way when performing a side-swipe gesture.
OnePlus 8 Pro Software: Lean, but purposeful
At the time of this evaluate, the OnePlus 8 Pro was working OxygenOS 10.5.10. This was after it acquired two updates within the week we spent testing it. Some customers complained that an earlier update had downgraded Google’s Widevine DRM to L3, which restricted video streaming to sub-HD resolutions. However, this appears to have been fastened with the firmware we had.
The software program expertise is similar to that of the OnPlus 8, except controls for some additions resembling reverse wi-fi charging and video playback enhancement. The interface feels snappy, and OxygenOS normally runs very effectively.
OnePlus 8 Pro Performance: Top-notch
The OnePlus 8 Pro is bigger and heavier than the OnePlus 8, and isn’t essentially the most snug cellphone to make use of one-handed. However, I’ve completely loved utilizing it. The construct high quality and show greater than make up for its bulk. The very first thing I wished to check out was that IP68 score, and whereas I did not go too loopy, it simply survived splashes and being dunked in water just a few occasions.
With that out of the best way, app and gaming efficiency was fairly stable too. I examined the bottom mannequin, which has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and is priced at Rs. 54,999. There’s a second variant, which has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage that retails for Rs. 59,999. One key distinction in comparison with the OnePlus Eight is that the 8 Pro makes use of LPDDR5 RAM, which is meant to be quicker and extra energy environment friendly in comparison with LPDDR4X RAM.
Benchmark numbers have been just like what I obtained from the OnePlus 8, since each characteristic the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC. AnTuTu returned 5,71,936 factors, whereas GFXbench’s Car Chase graphics check returned a stable 45fps. The 8 Pro obtained a little bit scorching whereas working assessments however that is commonplace.
Games additionally ran simply wonderful, it doesn’t matter what I threw at this cellphone. Real Racing Three appeared nice on the 8 Pro’s show. Games with vibrant graphics, resembling Hungry Dragon and Hawk, appeared particularly good. Some titles resembling Fortnite can reap the benefits of the upper refresh charge show and run at the next framerate.
The stereo audio system sound nice, identical to on the OnePlus 8. They’re loud and balanced, and the Dolby Atmos setting helps enhance high quality and spatial separation. HDR content material appears excellent too, and most streaming apps resembling Netflix had no drawback taking part in HDR content material on the 8 Pro.
OnePlus 8 Pro Cameras: Nailing the fundamentals
The OnePlus Eight will get 4 rear cameras, in comparison with the three on the OnePlus Eight and the 7T Pro, however the fourth digital camera is a slightly uncommon one. OnePlus calls it a ‘Color Filter’ digital camera, and it has a 5-megapixel sensor with a particular filter over the lens. Images captured with this digital camera are said to have a “surreal” look, like if you invert colors of a picture in Photoshop.
While this appeared quirky on the time of this cellphone’s launch, to not point out a bit gimmicky, OnePlus confronted loads of privateness backlash when customers realised that they may use it to ‘see’ via skinny supplies resembling some plastics and sorts of clothes. Due to this, OnePlus has disabled this digital camera within the newest firmware update. The firm has mentioned that it’ll repair this and re-enable this digital camera quickly with a future update.
Moving on, the first digital camera will get an enormous improve. It’s a 48-megapixel Sony IMX689 sensor, with a a lot bigger native pixel measurement of 1.12 micrometres, in comparison with sensor used for the 7T Pro. It helps optical stabilisation, and has an aperture of f/1.78. It captures 12-megapixel oversampled pictures by default.
The telephoto digital camera has an 8-megapixel decision, with optical stabilisation. Finally, the wide-angle digital camera will get an enormous improve too, and now makes use of a 48-megapixel sensor with autofocus, which provides it the power to shoot excessive close-ups. For selfies, you get the identical Sony IMX471 16-megapixel sensor as on the 7T Pro, however with a narrower f/2.45 aperture.
The OnePlus 8 Pro helps 3x hybrid zoom and as much as 30x digital zoom. The true optical zoom stage between the primary and telephoto sensors appears to be a lot decrease, round 0.36x going by the distinction in focal lengths. The 8 Pro makes use of the primary digital camera until the two.9x zoom stage, after which it switches to the telephoto digital camera all the best way to 30x. Like the 7T Pro, the 8 Pro’s autofocus (AF) system makes use of a mixture of PDAF, distinction AF, and laser AF.
There’s an HDR mode for video too, which captures wider dynamic vary. OnePlus has skipped 8K recording altogether with this collection however that is a characteristic which could possibly be added with an update in a while. Another characteristic that is nonetheless sorely lacking is 4K video recording for the selfie digital camera, which remains to be caught at 1080p.
When taking pictures beneath good mild, the primary digital camera captures excellent particulars with a impartial color tone. The edges of objects are effectively outlined, textures look pure, and there is no noticeable noise even on the sides of the body. Dynamic vary can also be significantly good, with numerous seen element within the shadows and highlights. Photos taken with the wide-angle digital camera look good too, and just like the OnePlus 8, colors are effectively balanced and consistent with what the primary sensor captures. Wide-angle pictures are additionally saved as 12-megapixel photographs, though you possibly can shoot on the full 48-megapixel decision if you’d like.
The OnePlus 8 Pro robotically switches to the wide-angle digital camera and permits ‘Super macro’ mode if you carry the cellphone shut sufficient to a topic. This could be very useful and it saves you the difficulty of doing this manually. Macro pictures look excellent and are miles higher than what you possibly can seize with the devoted 2-megapixel macro digital camera on the OnePlus 8.
Next, we put the 8 Pro’s hybrid zoom to the check. Naturally, we needed to evaluate it with top-of-the-line zoom digital camera telephones round — the Samsung Galaxy S20+ (Review). At 3x zoom, the 8 Pro and the Galaxy S20+ are fairly evenly matched. The Samsung has barely higher publicity general and is much less aggressive with sharpening, however the OnePlus 8 Pro is not far behind. 10x zoom is often the candy spot for the Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy 8 Pro manages to match Samsung in texture high quality and hues. The solely distinction between the 2 pictures is that the Galaxy S20+ lifts the shadows, giving objects extra depth. Other than that, the 2 are very related.
Finally, at 30x zoom, the Galaxy S20+ does a greater job of cleansing up noise, however at the price of element. The 8 Pro then again really manages barely higher element, however the tradeoff is slight grain within the picture. Overall, I’m fairly impressed with the OnePlus 8 Pro’s zoom capabilities and in addition fairly shocked that OnePlus is not making an even bigger deal about this.
In low mild, the primary sensor captures well-lit panorama pictures, with good particulars. Nightscape helps repair the publicity a bit and in addition produces barely higher textures. The wide-angle digital camera suffers essentially the most in low mild however Nightscape will help salvage pictures. The 8 Pro would not change to the telephoto digital camera in very dim lighting, and easily makes use of digital zoom with the primary sensor.
The selfie digital camera is presumably the weakest of the lot. It handles HDR effectively and captures first rate pores and skin tones, however pores and skin textures look closely processed even beneath good lighting. Indoors, with good synthetic lighting, we managed to get first rate outcomes. In very low mild although, pores and skin textures appeared mushy and particulars weren’t nice. The display screen flash is kind of efficient for publicity, though it would not assist enhance particulars or textures.
The OnePlus 8 Pro can shoot video at as much as 4K 60fps in common 16:9 and a 21:9 facet ratio that OnePlus calls 4K CINE. I do not assume the dearth of 8K recording goes to place many individuals off, though it could have been a pleasant characteristic to flaunt. There’s a brand new HDR mode that captures a a lot wider dynamic vary, permitting you to shoot objects immediately towards any mild supply and nonetheless get well-exposed video. This solely works at 1080p 30fps or 4K 30fps, and you’ll’t change between sensors when utilizing it. However, the outcomes are fairly spectacular.
In normal video mode, picture high quality is excellent, publicity is dealt with effectively, and pictures is stabilised. Here, you possibly can change between the primary, wide-angle, and telephoto cameras whereas recording at as much as 4K 60fps, which is one thing not many flagships supply.
Other taking pictures modes embrace panorama, sluggish movement, timelapse, portrait, and professional. The OnePlus 8 Pro would not have many frills within the digital camera app like some opponents, however it does nail the fundamentals. Having mentioned that, I might have appreciated to see a professional mode for video with guide controls for publicity, focus peaking, and many others. Tracking autofocus would even have been very helpful.
OnePlus 8 Pro Battery: Solid as all the time
I used to be anticipating OnePlus to ship the next Wattage charger with the Pro mannequin, however just like the 8, this one helps the proprietary Warp Charge 30T normal. The 8 Pro has a barely larger 4,510mAh battery capability, which may be charged to 100 p.c in beneath an hour.
The large addition is after all wi-fi charging, which we have seen for the primary time on any OnePlus smartphone. For quick wi-fi charging, you may want the particular Warp Charge 30 Wireless charger, which prices Rs. 3,990. Unfortunately, OnePlus did not ship it to us together with the cellphone, in order that’s one thing I could not check. The 8 Pro does work with any Qi wi-fi charger although, so it is not an enormous drawback. Reverse wi-fi charging works effectively too. Simply flip it on and place any suitable machine on the cellphone’s again to start charging it.
In basic, I discovered battery life to be glorious. The OnePlus 8 Pro simply lasted a day and half with typical utilization, with the show decision and refresh charge at their highest respective settings. Our HD video loop check additionally ran for round 22 hours, which is excellent. I did not actually really feel the necessity to drop the decision or refresh charge, as even with gaming and heavy digital camera use, I nonetheless managed to wrap up a full day on one cost.
Verdict: Should you purchase the OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus has had an excellent streak through the years, however few of its telephones have felt as full because the OnePlus 8 Pro. We at the moment are coping with a correct flagship smartphone, the type that may go toe-to-toe with the very best on the market. Compared to the OnePus 8 (Review), the 8 Pro provides sufficient new options to distinguish itself, and that helps justify its worth. I might say, when you have the price range, skip the Eight and go for the 8 Pro.
Cameras have all the time been a hot-button topic for OnePlus units, and this time, it is no completely different. I’m curious to see how the corporate will redeem this colour filter digital camera, however aside from that, I’ve no complaints with the rear sensors. However, I do assume it is excessive time we obtained a greater selfie digital camera within the Pro fashions.
At a beginning worth of Rs. 54,999, the OnePlus 8 Pro is much more reasonably priced than the Samsung Galaxy S20 collection, which begins above Rs. 70,000, and the iPhone 11 Pro which nonetheless prices above Rs. 1 lakh. Even although the costs of OnePlus telephones have elevated through the years, it is nonetheless producing ‘flagship killers’ within the grand scheme of issues.
Is OnePlus 8 Pro the premium cellphone with glorious pricing that you just all the time wished? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly expertise podcast, which you’ll be able to subscribe to through Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or simply hit the play button under.
This post was last modified on June 13, 2020 2:33 pm