OnePlus has made something of a name for themselves as makers of cheap alternatives to Samsung and Google phones. The OnePlus 6, their 2018 flagship, is no different. Retailing for a cool $529, and sold unlocked on their website, the OnePlus 6 is a great budget choice for a premium-feeling smartphone.
Top Notch (Or Not)
The newest trend among premium smart phones is the inclusion of a top screen notch. This has been talked to death, and many Android users can’t stand the iPhone-looking notch design. The idea, of course, is to maximize screen size without increasing handset size. However, as the screen takes up most of the front face, normal hardware like the earpiece and the front-facing camera have to go somewhere, thus the notch.
This is an interesting look, but many are not sold on the odd break in the display. These users will be pleased that the OnePlus 6 offers a feature that blackens the screen all around the notch, giving the illusion of a standard phone display. Both modes look great, to me, and I would find neither to be particularly distracting.
OnePlus 6 Eschews Metal Back
OnePlus models predating the 6 all had a unique construction that included a metal back. Many other phone manufacturers have now switched to using a glass back. The glass back decision has largely been in order to facilitate wireless charging. The OnePlus 6 has no support for wireless charging, though. Instead, it seems, OnePlus chose to make their new flagship glass-backed just to look like the competition.
All-glass constructions like this are worrisome, due to their fragility. While most users will have their phones in a protective case, it is still disappointing to see OnePlus ditching their unique design in favor of a more generic appearance.
Some Disappointing Features
The OnePlus 6 is certainly not a perfect phone. The fingerprint reader on the back is tiny. So tiny, in fact, that it is often difficult to get an accurate scan of your finger. This is disappointing, given that fingerprint scanning technology has been standard on smartphones for more than four years now. The other disappointment is the phone’s relative lack of waterproofing: the website says the phone isn’t rated for any submersion.
Bottom Line? It Doesn’t Hurt Your Bottom Line
The most impressive thing about the OnePlus 6 is just how many things it does right, though. It is a snappy, quick phone with a great build (in spite of its glass back and small fingerprint scanner.) Its shortcomings can be forgiven in light of its price. Given that it’s a full $300 cheaper than a lot of its competition, it’s alright to overlook a few minor gripes. If you’re in the market for a great looking phone for a great price and can overlook some small issues, consider the OnePlus 6.
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