OnePlus 3 Review

The OnePlus 3 is official, and it's even better than we expected. Here’s what we know, including the OnePlus 3 release date, specs, features, and price.

5.5-inch screen

1,920 x 1,080 pixel display (401ppi)

Dimensions: 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4mm

Weight: 158 grams

Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor

Adreno 530 GPU

6GB RAM

64GB storage (32GB variant may be offered in some markets)

16MP main camera

8MP selfie camera

USB-C port (Dash Charge 5V/4A)

3,000mAh battery

Fingerprint scanner

NFC

Dual-SIM

3.5mm headphone jack

Oxygen OS (Android 6.0.1)

From that large camera sensor in the middle, to the antenna lines running around it, everything feels very familiar. We’re not really saying it’s a bad thing, but it feels very safe.

The OnePlus 3 comes a robust 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. In terms of processing power, the new handset packs in a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip – the same processor that can be found in many top-end handsets, including US versions of the Galaxy S7. That should ensure some seriously speedy performance, especially in combination with the 6GB of RAM. 

However, an early video test published on YouTube seems to suggest that the added RAM isn't being put to good use just yet. The test pitches the OnePlus 3 (6GB RAM) against the Galaxy S7 Edge (4GB RAM), examining how each handset performs in key areas like opening apps and games, and managing memory. It took the OnePlus 3 more than twice as long as the Galaxy S7 Edge to run through its app allotment, and it appeared that the OnePlus 3 was reloading each ap, rather than holding it in the memory. Fortunately, this sort of issue can be easily corrected by a software fix. 

And when it comes to the display, there's lots to be excited about. Although OnePlus has kept the resolution at 1080p, the 5.5-inch screen is now made using AMOLED technology. That means each individual pixel emits its own light, as opposed to LCD, which uses a backlight to illuminate the pixels. It should result in deeper blacks, more vibrant colours, and better energy efficiency.

OnePlus has also loaded its new handset with a 16-megapixel rear camera. That's more than the Galaxy S7 but, as we've seen with several phones this year, more pixels doesn't always mean better photos. We'll have to wait until we get our hands on a review model to see how the OnePlus 3 camera stacks up against others on the market. The new sensor also features optical image stabilisation (OIS), which should make for sharper shots. We've seen a number of official camera samples from OnePlus in the run up to the OnePlus 3 launch. Bear in mind that these images may have been taken on pre-production models, and thus aren't necessarily representative of the final product:

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