Superb Hardware, Excellent Value

The OnePlus three annihilates the contest at its $400 price point. This handset is only as good equally more expensive rivals, making information technology a fantastic choice for virtually all consumers after a high-end smartphone.

This smartphone'due south build quality is fantastic, featuring a premium metallic unibody that comfortably wraps effectually all four edges. The OnePlus 3 is slimmer than its predecessor and feels absolutely fantastic to agree, with an attention to detail helping deliver a cute design. There'south a range of swell features around this device too, like a fast fingerprint sensor, USB-C, and dual-SIM support.

The performance is another standout feature. The Snapdragon 820 SoC is extremely fast, especially when paired with a 1080p display. Chart-topping NAND performance leads to quick app loading, while 6 GB of RAM delivers a great multi-tasking experience. OnePlus has learned from their mistakes, which is why this handset includes NFC, and this is the first high-end device I've used in a long fourth dimension that doesn't throttle during lengthy gaming sessions.

The OnePlus three'south camera is a very solid performer, delivering accurate and colorful photos in the vast majority of lighting weather condition. The phase detection autofocus system is fast, OIS helps with exposure in poor low-cal, the level of detail is higher up average from the 16-megapixel sensor, and the camera app is clutter free. Add in a decent front-facing camera and 4K video recording, and the entire camera packet competes well with the best on the market.

The brandish included on the OnePlus three is pretty good though not outstanding for a flagship product. The AMOLED panel delivers perfect dissimilarity and nifty viewing angles, and despite below average brightness information technology'south all the same easy to see in most weather condition. Past default, the display is very oversaturated and quite inaccurate – although that's a look some people bask – but a contempo software update introduced a reasonably accurate sRGB fashion that's suitable for those who require a calibrated display.

I haven't spoken at length nigh the OnePlus three'southward software considering information technology's substantially stock Android. It runs Android 6.0.one out of the box with very few additions, delivering a consequent software experience that's costless of nigh bloatware. If you love stock Android, you lot'll love what the OnePlus 3 has to offer. OnePlus also has a improve-than-boilerplate rails record for delivering minor patches, and then I hope the OnePlus iii will become security patches from Google on a reasonably frequent basis.

Most of my complaints about the OnePlus 3 are very pocket-sized. Quick charging only works with the included charger and cable, which is disappointing. There's no microSD expansion, although 64 GB of storage should suffice for virtually users. The display is only 1080p while competitors apply 1440p hardware, although this doesn't have significant usage implications. And at that place aren't many software additions, which is a byproduct of using near-stock Android.

There are some reasons you may decide the OnePlus three is not the best option for you. At five.5-inches, this phone is larger than the boilerplate smartphone, then a smaller device like the Huawei P9 or Galaxy S7 may be a more comfortable selection for some users. It doesn't feature the best camera hardware, which is why some may opt for the LG G5 or Galaxy S7. Storage is limited to 64 GB, which may not exist plenty for power users. The build is sturdy, merely information technology'due south not waterproof or as rugged as other devices on the market place.

But for the about part, the OnePlus 3 volition satisfy the wide bulk of users and utilize cases. When the OnePlus 3 costs but $400 unlocked and off-contract, it's hard to recommend any other flagship smartphone. This device has essentially everything you'd want from a high-end product at a price that undercuts the competition, and that is a truly winning combination.

Pros: Excellent value. Fantastic metal unibody build. Impressive Snapdragon 820 and storage functioning. Great 16-megapixel camera with OIS. Runs stock Android.

Cons: Express quick charging support.