OnePlus 8T vs. its rivals: iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 11 vs. Pixel 5 vs. Galaxy S20 FE
The OnePlus 8T is the Chinese phone-maker's newest device, but it's not the most advanced. Here's how it compares to international competitors, including the Pixel 5, iPhone 12 and Galaxy S20 Fan Edition.
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OnePlus boldly chose to launch its new 5G phone a day after the debut of the iPhone 12. The $749 OnePlus 8T is the Chinese phone-maker's attempt at "raising the bar," after it launched the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro in April. (The OnePlus 8T's UK price of £549 converts to about AU$1,000.) Although the timing seems curious, it follows OnePlus' usual release pattern of putting out a major new phone in the spring followed by an incremental fall upgrade in the form of a "T" phone.
The OnePlus 8T has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a class-leading Snapdragon 865 processor, and four rear cameras. The 8T is the first non- Google phone to ship with Android 11, the company says. It comes with new additions including a refreshed user interface and and always-on display. But the competition is stiff and there are a bunch of high-powered and reliable rivals to choose from that won't break the bank, either: the iPhone 12, the iPhone 11, the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition and the Pixel 5.
At $799, the iPhone 12 is the the most expensive of the four, while the Pixel 5 and S20 FE are on the other end of a narrow spectrum starting at $699. Apple has reduced the price of last year's iPhone 11 to $599.
One key difference is the 8T's 65-watt fast-charger, which it says can fully revitalize its 4,500-mAh battery in under 40 minutes. But one thing the OnePlus's latest flagship lacks is a formal IP rating for water and dust resistance (the unlocked version at least -- the T-Mobile variant is rated IP68). But the unlocked version isn't entirely vulnerable: OnePlus says the 8T is splash-proof and this claim checked out with the OnePlus 7 Pro , according to CNET's Lynn La.
The 8T's 120Hz display makes scrolling through apps and webpages feel liquid smooth.
All five phones boast multiple camera arrays, but only the S20 FE has a telephoto lens and expandable storage. Google killed the telephoto lens in the Pixel 5 replacing it with an ultrawide lens. The Pixel 5 also has a slower 90Hz display and an older processor even though it's Google's most premium and advanced phone.
If you need specific numbers, check out our chart below. If you need to get even more insights, read CNET's reviews of the OnePlus 8T, iPhone 12, Pixel 5, S20 FE and iPhone 11.
OnePlus 8T vs. rivals
| OnePlus 8T | iPhone 12 | Google Pixel 5 | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE | iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.55-inch AMOLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,532x1,170 pixels | 6-inch FHD+ OLED; 2,340x1,080 pixels | 6.5-inch super AMOLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels | 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792x828 pixels |
| Pixel density | 402ppi | 460ppi | 432ppi | 405ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (Inches) | 6.33x2.92x0.33 inches | 5.78x2.82x0.29 inches | 5.7x2.8x0.3 inches | 6.29x2.97x0.33 inches | 5.94x2.98x0.33 inches |
| Dimensions (Millimeters) | 160.7x74.1x8.4 mm | 146.7x71.5x7.4 mm | 144.7x70.4x8.0 mm | 159.8x75.5x8.4 mm | 150.9x75.7x8.3 mm |
| Weight (Ounces, Grams) | 6.63 oz; 188g | 5.78oz; 164g | 5.33 oz; 151g | 190g | 6.84 oz; 194g |
| Mobile software | Android 11 | iOS 14 | Android 11 | Android 10 | iOS 13 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (standard), 16-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (monochrome) | 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 12.2-megapixel (standard), 16-megapixel (ultrawide) | 12-megapixel (standard), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 8-megapixel (3x telephoto) | 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| Front-facing camera | 16-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 32-megapixel | 12-megapixel with Face ID |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Apple Bionic 14 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (5G) Samsung Exynos 990 (4G) | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB | 128GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| RAM | 8GB | Undisclosed | 8GB | 6GB | Not disclosed |
| Expandable storage | No | No | No | 1TB | None |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh | Undisclosed; Apple lists 15 hours of video playback | 4,000 mAh | 4,500 mAh | Not disclosed, but Apple claims it will last 1 hour longer than iPhone XR |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-screen | None (Face ID) | Rear | In-screen | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | Lightning | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | No | No | No | No | No |
| Special features | 5G enabled; 120Hz refresh rate; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); 65W charger | 5G enabled; MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM) | 5G enabled; water resistant (IP68); 90Hz refresh rate display; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); reverse wireless charging; fast charging | 120Hz screen refresh rate, support for 30W fast charging and 15W fast wireless charging | Water resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging |
| Price (USD) | $749 (unlocked) | $799 (64GB), $849 (128GB), $949 (256GB) Unlocked: $829 (64GB), $879 (128GB), $979 (256GB) | $699 | $699 | $699 (64GB), $749 (128GB), $849 (256GB) |
| Price (GBP) | £549 | £799 (64GB), £849 (128GB), £949 (256GB) | £599 | £599 (4G) £699 (5G) | £729 (64GB), £779 (128GB), £879 (256GB) |
| Price (AUD) | Converts to AU$1,000 | AU$1,349 (64GB), AU$1,429 (128GB), AU$1,599 (256GB) | AU$999 | Converts to AU$975 | AU$1,199 (64GB), AU$1,279 (128GB), AU$1,449 (256GB) |
All prices noted in chart are at launch.