The OnePlus 3 surely isn’t the best kept secret since mankind, or since this week. Either way, it’s no doubt it’s an exciting phone, and it’s finally here — officially.
The phone was launched in VR which may sound punk but it’s something OnePlus are quite used to. Anyway, let’s skip the launch event itself and talk about the phone — that’s what we’re here for.
The phone comes with the Snapdragon 820 SoC, which is far, far from a surprise. With that, the OnePlus 3 has a massive 6GB of RAM. It appears as though it’ll only be the 6GB RAM version of the phone that’ll go on sale initially. 6GB RAM… that’s a lot indeed! With that, the OnePlus 3 gets a nice 64GB ROM to work with.
We kind of missed the screen – let’s take a quick look. It’ll be a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a 1920 x 1080p FHD resolution. The display will be coated in Gorilla Glass 4.
Moving on to the camera department, the OnePlus 3 has a 16 mega-pixel rear camera with OIS (and full manual controls) along with an 8 mega-pixel front-facing shooter for ya selfie lovers.
The battery on the OnePlus 3 is a rather low-capacity one (3000mAh; low capacity for 2016, but then a lot also depends on the software implementation). That said, OnePlus have finally introduced fast charging (in the form of ‘Dash Charge’ quick charging, more than likely an OPPO VOOC equivalent).
What OnePlus have also managed to include in the OnePlus 3 is NFC, something that lacked on the OnePlus 2… and managed to irk the savvy population.
On the software side of things, the OnePlus 3 will feature the company’s OxygenOS running on top of Android 6.0.1, so no real surprises here.
As we’d reported previously, the OnePlus 3 will be available invite-free to anyone who wishes to purchase the phone. That said, OnePlus seem to be looking at the premium segment more than the ‘geek’ market, which they’re catered to with the OnePlus One and the 2.
Moving on to the most important bit — pricing, the OnePlus 3 will be available for $399 in the US, $519 in Canada, £309 in the UK, €399 in Europe and 27,999 INR in India. Some (including me) expected OnePlus to give the pricing a bit of a shave after the 27,999 INR pricing leaked in a newspaper ad (for real!).
Specs in a nutshell:
Gizchina News of the week
- 5.5-inch AMOLED 1920 x 1080p display
- Snapdragon 820 SoC
- 6GB RAM
- 64GB ROM
- 16 mega-pixel OIS rear camera
- 8 mega-pixel front facing camera
- 3000mAh battery
- OxygenOS (Android 6.0.1)
OnePlus 3 Photos
Sd card slot?
nope
How is 3000mAh low capacity for 2016? It is the norm for 2016 Flagships:
LG G5 – 2800 (2K)
Galaxy S7 – 3000 (2K)
Xiaomi Mi5 – 3000
Zuk Z2 Pro – 3100
Meizu Pro 6 – 2560
Battery life is largely going to depend on how well the software is. If the software doesn’t get in the way battery life should be about the same as that of the Mi5.
Still average… I’m getting tired of this general policy of “the phone could last a day of use… If you watch your battery carefully”… As smartphone’s capabilities grow, the battery should grow as well, but that’s a point largely overlooked!
My redmi note 3 pro lasts 4 days, gg wp, ez. 😀
You lucky bast… Eahm… GG m8 ?
That’s a beast of a phone, although not in the category of “high end” (still it has more power than needed)… I’m currently waiting to see if they’ll fix the camera before considering buying it ?
It’s not 2 k but it’s not 6 inch either, you will not really notice the difference at 5.5 and for 300 it’s similar to the big brands, for me it’s a true flagship with a cheap price. I don’t need useless sensors, yeah and you are right with something let’s see the camera first, my next phone I want to have top notch camera.
RL player? Me too!
Seriously, though, why the OP3? Why not the ZTE Axon 7 for just $50 more? It’s so much more phone for just a little more money.
Can you give a link with the price you mention?
Umm… Just google “ZTE Axon 7” and read any one of the dozens of launch stories or hands-on reviews. It’s $449 for 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, SD 820 SoC, microSD/dual-SIM (not just in some countries, but everywhere), dual front-facing speakers with 24-bit/192Khz DAC & amplifier, QHD AMOLED display, 20MP Samsung Isocell rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, OIS and EIS, PDAF and sapphire outer lens, (very fast) rear fingerprint sensor, Daydream VR certification (which is far more than just a comittment of support), near-stock Android software implementation with fast upgrade to Android N (thank you Daydream VR), and a 3140mAh battery with QC quick-charge 3.0.
OnePlus who?
Oh, and for those that live in the US, both GSM and CDMA network compatibility.
OP3 NA version has complete network coverage, so that negates any advantage for ZTE. No interest in either phone, but admittedly OnePlus has upped their game: notice all the (very good) reviews of the OP3 published at launch, meaning reviewers already had samples with an embargo in place until launch time. And notice you can buy the OP3 at launch while the Axon 7 -despite all those (very good) reviews you mention- is still “Coming Soon”.
It’s pretty common for manufacturers to officially reveal a phone and ship it a month, sometimes 2 or 3 months later (in China, sometimes a year or never). OP revealed the OP1 in April, 2014, but didn’t ship the first batch until July. Same with the OP2 at launch, save for a lucky few that showed up to a launch event in person and some that won promotional contests. Are you saying that you didn’t buy either a OP1 or OP2 because of their nebulous availability at launch? And before we heap praise on them for fixing their supply issues, why don’t we wait to see if they can keep up with demand sans invite system.
The OP3 is a good phone, no doubt, and a good value at $399. But it has nothing to set it apart from other phones in its class, except for a (now) minor price advantage. At $449, the Axon 7 is a superior product in every way, including bang-for-the-buck value. It’s 2016’s true “flagship killer” and, like the OP1, it’s worth waiting for.
Also, the OP3 does not have complete network coverage in the US. In the US, Verizon, Sprint, and MVNO’s like Virgin and Boost mobile, all use CDMA networks. The OP3 has no CDMA capability.
I’m not faulting OP for that, but for people in the US it is a boon to the Axon 7.
On oppomart the 4gb version is 600 $ preorder, the 6 gb is 800 $…
I would just wait and buy it direct from ZTE for $449, but more power to you. lol
Ok, I will wait for Axon to be released and then I will decide on the ZTE Axon 7, Oneplus 3, Zuk Z2 Pro or Leco Le Max 2.
He’s talking about something that is not even on sale yet and we don’t know how much is going to cost or if it’s going to be available in selected countries directly from ZTE.
Let’s hope It will be up for grabs in UK and that price will be real 😀
By 2016 Flagship standards it’s exactly where it should be. Personally as long as it lasts me a full day + I am happy especially with where quick charge technology is going.
The deal is that there some of us that will use the phone for several straight ours.
I don like gaming consoles as it would require me to be in one place in order to keep my gaming. But i could sit here and play an hour and a half and then go there and play 2 more hours. By the time I’m on a third place I migth want to play or do something else… and…. it becomes a matter of SCREEN ON TIME.
Thats my measure for a good Battery, as the time can go to weeks if I don’t use it.
I am not arguing against larger batteries, I am arguing against the statement “low for 2016”. By that statement you would think other flagships are offering much more than 3000 when they really aren’t.
The galaxy S7 5.5 a.k.a. EDGE is at 3500mah
The ZOPO SPEED 8 is at 3600 (even though that’s a rare find) everyone should have gone that route.
Of course you can find outliers but the vast majority of flagships are right at or near 3000. Again I am not arguing for the actual battery level just the wording in the article.
I wish I had that much time… haha
Who has time to play on their phones several hours straight when not at home? Security guards maybe…
Obviously, I do. Hahahaha. Full time physician, translator if needed, husband, parent to be, bla bla bla bla bla…
So that is why we have to wait in the doctors office so long.
Hahahaha, most likely ????
2 (many, in this case) wrongs don’t make 1 right lol
I get your point about it being the general trend, but it doesn’t mean they’re all not wrong about it…
You both are right.
He’s right saying that 3000 mha is what all last flagships adopted and you’re right saying that 3000 mha isn’t enough.
Many 2014 flagships (OPO,MI4 to name few of them) had 3000 mha and since then we saw specs getting better (CPU, Ram, storage…) while the battery stayed the same.
It is indeed the bottleneck of this industry.
They can’t make battery with more capacity without adding bulk on it, and that’s why we don’t see more than 3000 mha on flagships.
Yeah, I wasn’t arguing with him because that’s a fact: many flagship does have around 3000mah battery, so it’s the phrasing in the article to blame as he said…
My point was against op: just because others do it, it doesn’t mean everyone have to do the same…
And I don’t really get the point in upgrading soc, ram and everything and then downgrading the battery like it isn’t the most important thing (you can do anything with 4gb of ram in place of 6gb, but you can’t do anything with 0% battery)
Oneplus is playing safe:
A big battery would have meant a thicker phone that might not sell as good as a thin one.Understandable.
We need more efforts regarding batteries, I mean, let’s look at drones, 20-25 minutes of flying is nothing and that’s the best that the market offers right now.
Yeah, after last year they decided to play “safer”, I bashed them myself many times for pulling out a phone ticker than ulefone power, yet with half the battery!
However, I still think a phone is not thin when the camera is almost 2mm protruding from the body… Isn’t camera part of the phone?! ?
Anyway, a revolution is needed in battery department, and that’s stupid how we read every 6 month “found a new technology for double the mah with the same space needed” and then… We have had the same batteries for 5-6 years now… I think no one is actually interested to invest in this right now…
Congratulations on drafting a list of 5.1-5.2″ phones where as the OP3 is 5.5″. (ok, the G5 is 5.3″ but everyone knows the battery is small because LG went with their failing version of modularity)
A few of those 5.1-5.2” phones also use a 2k display and the OP3 uses a 1080p. Congratulation on completely ignoring that fact.
I clearly saw your “2k” in brackets. This is about physical size, a larger phone should be able to accommodate a larger battery, right? (ie. A9 Pro) I also think you missed the fact that both the original OnePlus and Two had larger capacity batteries so people are perhaps perceiving this as a step backwards considering in reviews those phones just scored average in battery performance. You seem to already be perfectly happy with the battery specs considering no real reviews or endurance numbers have surfaced yet.
A larger phone should be able to. Again I am not arguing against bigger batteries, if you read my previous comments you would see that, I am only pointing out that 3000 isn’t low for 2016 it is the same as almost every other flagship. You seem to already be perfectly happy with jumping to conclusions without actually reading, but then again that is the norm for you.
well,well, a new baby is about to come home in 13 days 🙂
399 U.S. dollars =
356.000482 Euros
399 euros VAT included…
Could be a little more expensive because of the resellers but I think Zuk Z2 pro it’s a better option (yeah, not all the people live in USA,CANDA,EUROPE,INDIA)
The good thing about OP is you don’t need to go through a reseller if you live in one of about 35 countries you can buy directly from them. If you are outside of those countries you are going to pay 500+ on resellers.
I am one of those who live outside of those countries ?
Moar cores, moar RAM … more is better 😀 What you actually need it for no one really knows though 😀
I am almost sure this will be my next phone, love the specs.
I am waiting to see a review for the Zuk Z2 Pro but I think this one is better.
Yeah, zuk doesn’t have much room options yet. And for use outside China, zui ain’t very good!
Oh well, i got one for testing;)
Quick !!! Give us some about it!!!
Yup, especially interested to know how the camera performs
Might get it in about half a year after the prices drop on resellers
This year we are very near to perfection… more power(SoCs) than we need, more Ram than we need, Great audio performers, great screens, nice conectivity and stuff.
Of course i mean on the true FLAGSHIP models being offered…. BUT
THEY ALL MISSED IT !!!?
SOT = SCREEN ON TIME
That is what lets you enjoy the wonders of all the other features in the phone. Most have some sort of fast charge abilities but still that requires you to detours from your merry way to stop maybe half an hour for a decent charge.
Maybe next year this could be the goal…
Nice phone, hopefully they will launch a cheaper version with less Ram and less storage only!
I don’t want a cheaper phone also with worse camera and missing sensors like ZuK did, otherwise I’ll pass this like I did with ZuK.
Let’s see
Yea if they have a 3/4GB RAM and 32GB ROM model that they sell for $299 and everything else is equal I will be interested.
Yeah, I don’t need all that Ram and storage.
My fear is that they will lower everything like ZuK did.
Hopefully I’m wrong.
Ohh, btw… we will probably see the cheaper version coming in probably several months
And hopefully in other colour variations too. Silver phones, over it!
If you are getting all that for a good price what is the problem I mean £309 is hardly expensive. Yes I agree what am I going to do with 6gb but to be honest it’s not a badly priced 6gb
If they came at the beginning with lower spec’s and that bland design it would have been like shooting them selves in the forehead !!!
Not surprising seeing they launched a One Plus X.
Maybe later half of the year.
I think that would be the oneplus x2. Snapdragon 652, 4GB ram, 32GB rom, $299
I wouldn’t buy that. I want a OnePlus 3 with 4/32, like they did the OP2 with 3/16, otherwise I am not interested.
well, pete Lau just told the press that they won’t release an X2 and they will focus on 1 flagship from now on. Make sense if they want to concentrate, cut cost & supply demand for the 3. But the Chinese price ain’t bad, it’s the cheapest in all the market at 2499RMB.
I think the X was more of an experiment for them of what they could do. I don’t think it was ever meant to be an annual phone. The price is pretty good but it’s just too much phone for me. I will never fill 64GB and I’ll never come close to needing 6GB of RAM. I am paying for specs I will never use.
Sorry, I hope they don’t ??
Why…..?
I would like to se where would we be if companies were only allowed to put the best they can in only 2 or 3 phones by brand maximum something like Apple does. And see where the software battle and the spec’s battle and design battle take us. In my head it all looks great.
A lot of companies wouldn’t exist. That strategy works for Apple it doesn’t mean it would work for everyone.
Uhmmm….
Most of these Android companies make more money off their budget/midrange phones than their flagships. The big companies need a product for every segment they couldn’t survive on the Apple Model of 2 flagships and an S model.
To be honest it’s not expensive
Expensive is different from overpriced.
I didn’t say the phone is overpriced, I think it’s not overpriced at all, but it is expensive for many, may not be expensive for you but it is expensive for many.
I know you didnt say it was overpriced i never said that you did. And for what you get its not expensive and no i am not overflowing with money but £309 is good
wasnt this supposed to be $305 or somethin’ ?
I am guessing there is a 3/4GB RAM version for that price.
Please, 10 more articles each day with OP3 specs, the ones before is not enough.
Why did every manufacturers go for the protruding lens?
Manufacturers want thinner phones. The problem is the the camera module + lens apparatus ends up being thicker than the phone itself, that leads to the protruding lens.
I watched all the reviews, battery life isn’t going past 4hrs SoT and the camera is worse than the OP2.
4 hrs SoT at launch isn’t bad. With time and optimization i believe it will get much better. Just checked my OPO: 76% battery and 1h42m SoT 🙂
Tell that to OPX users who have to charge by lunch.
They had 4 hrs SoT on launch and then got worse?
You mean OPX users that had a 2525mAh battery paired with a much less efficient SD801?
Don´t know. Just trying to figure what OPX has to do with my first reply. Just said 4 hrs SoT at launch isn’t bad.
You and me both lol. It made zero sense to mention that phone.
i too was dissapointed with the camera…in 1 of the reviews
SoT is very subjective as every person uses their phones for completely different things, with different apps, different display settings and on different networks. Instead I like to look at what people report from actual usage and overall it is very good:
“The 3,000mAh battery in the OnePlus is good enough to keep it going for a full day of heavy use and the aforementioned quick charging features make it easy to top up when needed. Of all the phones I’ve used this year, the only one that does better is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and that’s only because it has a 20 percent larger battery.” – The verge
“Day-to-day use is a different story, though. The OnePlus 3 typically finished a 12-hour workday with about 25 percent charge left, and even if I forgot to charge it, I could usually count on it to see me through an early lunch the next day.” – Engadget
“The OnePlus 3 continues to have great battery life just like its predecessor. My average day with the phone, which includes plenty of social networking, dozens of photos, podcast listening, emails and all sorts of typical smartphone uses, left me with about 25% battery after 15 hours. On a more relaxed day, such as this Sunday that I’m sitting writing this review, at 8:45 p.m. over 12 hours after I unplugged the phone I’m sitting at 58% battery remaining. With several opportunities to take advantage of Marshmallow’s battery-saving Doze mode and quite a long time on Wi-Fi today it’s been an absolute battery champ. ” – Android Central
There are plenty of more just like this, all describe it as having very good battery life that will easily last an entire day with regular usage. As for the camera the reviews are pretty mixed, seems it needs some optimizing.
Which phone would you suggest when the most important thing is the Camera? Oneplus 3, Xiaomi Mi5, other…
Depends what you’re budget is, in the $400 price range I would say the Zuk Z2 Pro but we still need more reviews on it.
THE Zuk Z2 Pro has the best camera in your opinion? I would go for the OP3. The Zuk Z1 was not that good either.
The Z1 was a decent phone just like the OP2. Both had a fair share of issues.
My thoughts exactly, OP went high and low to get 6GB of RAM in that phone, but didn’t put a +500mAh battery in there? Would that have made the phone cost too much more? Not like they are going for the thinnest phone.
Android Authority’s review pins it at just over 3hrs per day, that is insultingly low, and NO, I don`t care if it can be charged in 30 min, because you will have to find somewhere to charge it and carry that charger with you at all times.
Even Apple learned from their past mistakes and the 6 and 6plus have much better SoT.
Camera in daylight is pretty decent, but in low light it`s just OK.
“With quite a few days of heavy usage that included GPS navigation and plenty of music consumption, the OnePlus 3 was able to achieve 3 and a half hours of screen-on time.”
I also would like to have a bigger battery but with GPS and “plenty of music” 3hrs30m of SoT isn’t bad out of the gate. With a dark theme, AMOLED, some optimization, i can see it having a 5hr SoT.
Overall a very solid phone, if they manage to get the camera a bit better. Probably my next phone although i usually only buy a phone after 6 months on the market. OPO is still serving me well on SlimSaber MM. Looking for the other version to see ram/storage/price.