Breaking

Showing posts with label OnePlus 6. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OnePlus 6. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

7/18/2018 09:02:00 PM

Latest OnePlus 6 update improves camera, adds group text messaging

The OnePlus 6 camera was already impressive, but the company claims it can push it even further starting with OxygenOS 5.1.9.


Over the weekend, OnePlus started slowly rolling out a software update to its latest smartphone, the OnePlus 6.

Improvements in the update include the addition of group MMS (used for group text message threads), Google Lens directly to the camera app, and improvements to the camera. Specifically, OnePlus claims the update improves clarity, dynamic range, and edge detection in portrait mode.

By adding Google Lens directly to the camera app, users can launch the camera and ask Google to identify objects in the picture such as a movie poster or a book.

According to a post on the OnePlus forums, a small number of users should have received OxygenOS 5.1.9 on Sunday. After the company ensures there aren't any major issues with the update, it will begin reaching more devices in a few days.

To check for the update, open the Settings app and select System Updates.




Thursday, May 24, 2018

5/24/2018 09:17:00 PM

OnePlus 6: Not perfect, but it costs less than it does to fix the rear glass panel on the iPhone X

While the OnePlus 6 has some flaws, what smartphone doesn't these days?


The iFixit team have managed to get their hands on a new OnePlus 6, and here's what they discovered during the inevitable teardown.

  1. It appears that the battery is easy to replace. Since this is what concerns most people who like to repair their own handset, this will be good news for those who worry about such things.
  2. Another win for those who like to repair things is that most of the components are modular and can be replaced without having to throw out the entire mainboard.
  3. However, it might be a good idea to not let your OnePlus 6 get into a fight with Sir Isaac Newton because if you break the screen, you're looking at a pretty big job to replace it.
  4. It seems that the glass on the back of the OnePlus 6 is only there to break, and is unnecessary since the handset doesn't feature wireless charging.
  5. Despite the fact that the manufacturer doesn't give the OnePlus 6 a water- or dustproof rating, silicone gaskets can be found around flex connectors, along with gaskets surrounding the SIM tray, speaker grille, USB Type-C port, and headphone jack. Would I trust these? Not without a rating, I wouldn't.
  6. However, as iFixit points out, the OnePlus 6 might not be perfect, but buying it new - it's priced at $549 - is still cheaper than getting the rear glass panel on an iPhone X fixed.


Overall, the OnePlus 6 gets a repairability score of five out of ten (where 10 is the easiest). This makes it harder to repair than the iPhone X and iPhone 8 (which both scored 6), but easier to repair than the Samsung Galaxy S9 (which scored a 4).


Friday, May 18, 2018

5/18/2018 04:30:00 PM

OnePlus 6: Features, price, release date, and everything you need to know

OnePlus announced more than just its next smartphone at an event in London.


continues to blur the line -- separating an affordable smartphone and a premium smartphone -- with the OnePlus 6.

Announced on May 16, the latest phone from the Chinese manufacturer has nearly every feature or specification one would expect to find in a Samsung or Apple device, but for half the cost.

ONEPLUS 6: DESIGN

The OnePlus 6 features an all-glass design, and a display that spans nearly the entire front of the phone, save for the new trend of a notch centered at the top of the phone.

ONEPLUS 6: SPECIFICATIONS

Display6.28-inches, 2280x1080, 19:9 aspect ratio
Dimensions155.7 x 75.4 x 7.75-millimeter, 177g
OSOxygenOS, Android 8.1
Front camera16MP
Rear cameras16MP with Optical Image Stabilization, and 20MP
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM6GB, 8GB
Storage64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Battery3,300 milliamp-hour
Headphone jackYes
ConnectorUSB-C
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, Glonass
ColorsMidnight black, Mirror black, Silk white
ONEPLUS 6: PRICING

ModelUSUK
Mirror Black (6GB/64GB)$529£469
Mirror Black (8GB/128GB)$579£519
Midnight Black (8GB/128GB)$579£519
Midnight Black (8GB/256GB)$629£569
Silk White (8GB/128GB)$579£519
ONEPLUS 6: AVAILABILITY

The OnePlus 6 will be available to buy on May 22 in midnight black and mirror black finishes, through the OnePlus website. A special-edition silk white model will go on sale June 5.

ONEPLUS 6: ACCESSORIES

In addition to the OnePlus 6, the company also announced its first foray into wireless earbuds: The OnePlus Bullets Wireless. These earbuds wrap around the back of your neck.

The earphones use magnets to connect to one another when not in use, which doubles as a means to turn them on and off. When the magnets are connected, the earbuds turn off. When you disconnect the earbuds from one another, they automatically turn on and connect to your phone.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless will cost $69 and be available in late June.


5/18/2018 07:30:00 AM

OnePlus 6 vs iPhone X: almost half the price, but does it beat Apple's top phone?

The most expensive iPhone vs the OnePlus 6


We've just seen the OnePlus 6 for the first time and it manages to pack in a whole lot of spec with a high-end design and it's all for a more affordable price than a lot of other flagship phones.

But how does it compare to one of the most expensive and popular devices on the market? The iPhone X sits in our best phone list right now, but it's going to cost you a lot of money if you decide to buy it.

We've run down the specs, design, price and much more in this guide to help you make your mind up between the OnePlus 6 and the iPhone X.

OnePlus 6 vs iPhone X design


Both the OnePlus 6 and iPhone X have glass backs with metal edges, but that's where the similarities end. 

The OnePlus 6 is a touch bigger than the iPhone X - that's so it can house that larger display - but it's only a touch heavier at 177g compared to the iPhone X's 174g.

Each has a high-end, premium-feel design with both being the most attractive products from each of the respective companies.

The notch is at the top of the screen on both devices, but on the OnePlus 6 you can hide it within the settings on the phone so it blacks out the bits to the side of the notch at the top of the screen.

The OnePlus 6 comes in your choice of mirror black, midnight black or silk white, while the iPhone X is restricted to plain white or black color choices.


There's a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the OnePlus 6, but there isn't one on the iPhone X and instead the company has opted to just use face unlock technology to protect your privacy. The OnePlus 6 has facial unlocking as well, but you may feel safer having the fingerprint option as well.

OnePlus 6 vs iPhone X display

Upon first look, the OnePlus 6 and iPhone X may look to have similar screens but there are a lot of differences you need to know about here.

It's a 6.28-inch optic AMOLED display on the OnePlus 6 with a Full HD+ resolution (that's 1080 x 2280). The Super AMOLED display on the iPhone X is smaller at 5.8-inches, but it has a better resolution at 1125 x 2436.


That means there are more pixels per inch on the iPhone X at 458ppi, while the OnePlus 6 has 402ppi. If you want the larger screen, you'll likely enjoy the OnePlus 6 but if you want an easier to use or higher resolution display you'll probably like the iPhone X.

We can't fully judge the display on the OnePlus 6 yet, so be sure to check back for our full look at the screen quality in our final review.

OnePlus 6 vs iPhone X OS and power

The new OnePlus 6 comes running the latest Android 8.1 Oreo software with the company's own Oxygen OS UI running over the top. It looks top-end and you can expect OnePlus to support OS updates for this phone for at least a couple of years.

The iPhone X comes running the latest iOS 11 software, which if you're used to using iPhones it'll probably be the best for you to run.

Inside the OnePlus 6 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, which we've seen inside a lot of flagship phones this year and it has impressed us. That's paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on which version of the phone you go for.

You've also got the choice of 64GB / 128GB or 256GB storage options, with the largest option being the most expensive. More about that down at the bottom of this article.

As for the iPhone X, you can expect the height of iPhone performance here with the A11 Bionic chipset inside paired with 3GB of RAM. Although on paper that may not sound as powerful as the OnePlus 6, we've found the iPhone X can hold its own in terms of performance against the top-end devices 2018 has brought.

OnePlus 6 vs iPhone X camera and battery


Cameras on these two devices are still dramatically different. The OnePlus 6 comes with a dual sensor 16MP and 20MP working together to take photos. Both of those are f/1.7 and can record a variety of video including 120fps slow motion at 720p.

On the front of the phone is a 16MP (f/2.0) selfie camera too.

In terms of raw spec, the iPhone X looks worse off with a dual sensor rear camera that's a 12MP sensor with an aperture of f/1.8 and another 12MP with f/2.4 aperture too. Those are used for a variety of modes including a 2 x optical zoom, which is something you don't get on the OnePlus 6.

It can also do slow motion video at 240fps in Full HD, so if you want to be catching top quality slowed down video this will be the phone for you. The front camera isn't as strong as on the OnePlus 6 as it's a 7MP f/2.2 sensor that can record slow-motion video as well.


We've yet to test the battery life on the OnePlus 6, but it contains a 3300mAh cell inside with Dash Charge fast-charging onboard too.

The iPhone X comes with a 2716mAh cell that has fast-charging too and will go up to 50% full in just 30 minutes of charging. Apple's phone features wireless charging, but the OnePlus 6 doesn't.

Price and availability

You'll be able to buy the OnePlus 6 around the world on May 22 and it should arrive on your doorstep soon after.

Pricing starts at $529 / £469 (about AU$700) for the cheapest version and the most expensive costs $629 / £569 (about AU$840). That's the touch more expensive than the OnePlus 5T that started at a cost $499, £449, AU$599.

The iPhone X is already on sale and it's much more expensive than what the OnePlus 6 costs. The price starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,579 for the 64GB one, while the 256GB one is much more expensive at $1,149 / £1,149 / AU$1,829.

That makes the OnePlus 6 half the price of the iPhone X in the UK and just over half the price in the US. That may be a big factor when you come to buy your next phone.

Takeaway

Both of these devices are top-end products that are going to satisfy a lot of your flagship phone needs.

One is significantly more expensive with the iPhone X being one of the most priciest phones you can buy right now, but you usually pay that for Apple's devices.

It does have a slightly more feature built-in, so it depends a lot on which design you like the most, whether you want to be on Android or iOS and how much you're willing to spend on your new phone.


Wednesday, April 4, 2018

4/04/2018 01:12:00 AM

OnePlus 6 Release Date, News, Price and Leaks

Everything we know so far about the new OnePlus 6


New OnePlus 6 rumors point to an Android smartphone that combines faster speeds and a trendy all-screen notch design, but one that remains affordable next to other flagship devices. And it's likely just weeks away.

Update: The OnePlus 6 will come with 256GB of storage alongside a Snapdragon 845 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the Chinese firm has confirmed.

Things are getting tough at the top of the smartphone game, and where OnePlus used to have a dedicated place as the de facto 'low cost, great spec' smartphone, that position is increasingly under threat from other brands.

The OnePlus 6 will be replacing the OnePlus 5T right now (the latter is actually not on sale anymore in the US). The 5T was already one of the more impressive phones of 2017, finally bringing the longer display that was so fashionable among the other big brands, as well as improvements to the camera. OnePlus 6 promises to be better.

However, there are more changes coming to the OnePlus 6, with a larger screen and a notch at the top on a similar vein to the iPhone X now confirmed for the handset.

We're really hoping that the resolution gets upped beyond Full HD this year - although the latest leaks suggest that this isn't going to happen.

We've got a lot of information about the new phone, so here's everything you need to know about the new OnePlus 6.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next numbered flagship from OnePlus
  • When is it out? Launch event is rumored to be this month, April 2018
  • What will it cost? A lot, but likely less than most high-end handsets


Read our OnePlus 5T review

OnePlus 6 release date
Hottest leaks:
  • OnePlus 6 release date: expected June 2018, but may come earlier
  • An earlier OnePlus 6 launch of April is being rumored


The OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 3 were both released in June of their respective years, so in or around June 2018 is our best guess for the OnePlus 6 release date.

That said, it's not a month that OnePlus always sticks to, but for its main numbered releases (aka everything except the OnePlus 5T, OnePlus 3T and OnePlus X) it does always launch them around the middle of the year.

There is evidence that the OnePlus 6 could launch earlier though, as a source speaking to GizmoChina claims it will be announced in April (though they have previously said it was going to be March until that month came and went).

April seems like a given, however. OnePlus has run out of stock of the OnePlus 5T in the US and needs to start selling a phone to replace the 5T.

That leaves the door wide open for the OnePlus 6, although there's still stock of the 5T in other regions including the UK and Europe.

OnePlus 6 price
Hottest leaks:

  • OnePlus 6 price: latest leaks suggests a price hike between $625 and $725 
  • Expected to be more expensive than the $499 (£449, AU$599) OnePlus 5T


It looks like the OnePlus 6 price will be the highest the firm has ever charged for a smartphone. How much it costs if the one thing we don't know for certain about the new phone, but everything points to it being more expensive than last year's devices.

The latest two price leaks point to a OnePlus 6 price tag of about $605 (about £431, AU$790) to $749 (around £530, AU$970), and could go as far as £700 in reality when the UK prices are announced.

To put that into context, the $499 price tag of the 5T would have been around £320 when converted, but landed at £449 / AU$599 on the shelves.

A small price increase wouldn't be a surprise considering the specs rumored for the OnePlus 6, and its competition in the market, but a jump quite this large will be hard for some fans to handle.

OnePlus 6 design and display



Hottest leaks:

  • CONFIRMED: iPhone X style screen notch and headphone jack
  • Glass rear with dual cameras and fingerprint scanner
  • 6.28-inch screen


It's official, the OnePlus 6 will have an iPhone X-style notch in its display, although it will be smaller than the one found on Apple's flagship smartphone.

The Chinese firm has also confirmed that the OnePlus 6 will feature the biggest screen it's ever put on a phone while not increasing the handset's overall size, resulting in a 90% screen-to-body ratio.

OnePlus 6 screen notch

OnePlus has officially revealed this shot of the OnePlus 6 (credit: The Verge)


With the OnePlus 5T already boasting a 6.01-inch display, rumors that the OnePlus 6 screen will measure 6.28 inches are now even more believable.

Finally, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei also confirmed that the firm's next device will retain a headphone jack - which will be music to many people's ears.

This news chimes with a leaked image from Evan Blass which shows the OnePlus 6 touting a similar style to the OnePlus 5T, it looks to have a textured back and a realigned camera module. 


The OnePlus 6 headphone jack for all to see credit Evan Blass 

Our first potential look at the OnePlus 6 came courtesy of ITHome, who published a couple of snaps claiming to show the new handset in the flesh.

If genuine, the new OnePlus 6 could adopt a glass rear - something that's been missing from the firm's previous handsets. It wouldn't be the first time it's used glass on the rear of a device though, as the short-lived OnePlus X featured this finish.

While things didn't go all that well for the OnePlus X, the glass-metal body is on trend in 2018 and would see the OnePlus 6 follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 8, iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9 and Sony Xperia XZ2.


This could be our first look at the OnePlus 6 credit ITHome 

The leak also shows a vertically stacked rear dual-camera setup in the middle of the phone, with a fingerprint scanner below it.

More recently, we've seen a potential OnePlug 6 leak that shows a phone with a textured back. Based on the camera and fingerprint sensor's center alignment, it looks a lot like the image posted above.

Round the front and it seems the OnePlus 6 will inherit the large display of the OnePlus 5T, with one key addition. A notch.

Like the iPhone X, and a number of others since, OnePlus could well jump on the screen-indent bandwagon in an attempt to squeeze in as my display real estate as possible.

We've also seen a leaked specs sheet, listing a 6.28-inch 2280 x 1080 display, with the phone said to be 7.5mm thick and 175g.

Leaked screenshots also reveal a potentially widescreen 19:9 aspect ratio and also hint at the presence of a notch, as the icons at the top are all to one side or the other. 

OnePlus 6 camera and battery

Hottest leaks:

A 20MP and 16MP dual-lens rear camera
A 20MP front-facing camera
A 3,450mAh battery

A leaked specs list reveals that the OnePlus 6 might have a dual-lens f/1.7 camera on the back, with 20MP and 16MP sensors - the same as the OnePlus 5T.

However, the front-facing camera is listed as being a 20MP f/2.0 one, up from 16MP on the OnePlus 5T.

The same leak lists a 3,450mAh battery, which would be a slight increase on the 3,300mAh juice pack in the OnePlus 5T. It's worth noting that most of these specs match the Oppo R15, which makes sense, since OnePlus flagships are often similar to Oppo ones, as the two companies are linked.

It currently looks unlikely that the OnePlus 6 will support wireless charging. The company has confirmed that the OnePlus 5T doesn't due to the tech not being a match for wired Dash Charge, and we doubt it will have advanced enough for OnePlus to reverse its decision for the OnePlus 6.

OnePlus 6 power and storage

Hottest leaks:

CONFIRMED: Snapdragon 845 chipset
CONFIRMED: 8GB of RAM
CONFIRMED: 256GB of storage

There's no more guesswork required here. The OnePlus 6 will pack in a Snapdragon 845 chipset, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, as confirmed by the CEO.

However, we expect a cheaper option to be available, likely with less RAM and storage, with a rumor pointing to a 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage configuration, and Android 8.1 on board.

This was then followed by a report from GizmoChina which claimed OnePlus would use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 chipset to power the phone, and this was backed up by leaked screenshots supposedly revealing OnePlus 6 benchmark results. 

So far, so believable.


These screenshots could have been taken on a OnePlus 6. (credit: Android Central)

However, more recently a fresh image slip claims the OnePlus will have a 6.2-inch display, Snapdragon 845 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, dual rear cameras of 16MP + 20MP and Dash Charge capabilities.

We've also seen another leak pointing to a Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, along with Android 8.1 - which makes use confident we'll see two variants of the OnePlus 6.

More OnePlus 6 leaks and news

We've heard the possibility that the OnePlus 6 will have a fingerprint scanner built into the screen, but we wouldn't count on its accuracy, since it's a feature we're yet to see on a mainstream handset. But it is possible.

Elsewhere we've heard that the phone might have a more advanced facial recognition system than the OnePlus 5T, possibly one that could rival Face ID on the iPhone X.

What we want to see

The OnePlus 6 leaks are starting to pick up pace, but we already know what we want from the cut-price flagship smartphone. The following five things top our wish list.

1. A QHD screen


OnePlus has stuck with a Full HD screen on all its handsets to date, and while that was top-end in the days of the OnePlus One, it now lags behind compared to the QHD+ (and even 4K) displays that are becoming increasingly common.

Given their generally upper mid-range prices, OnePlus phones can still just about get away with a 1080p resolution, but they’re intended to be flagships, and with each passing year their screens feel less and less flagship-worthy.

So, we’d like to see the company step things up for the OnePlus 6 and give us a pin-sharp QHD display.

2. A microSD card slot

OnePlus tends to offer a generous amount of storage in its phones. The OnePlus 5T for example comes with a choice of 64GB or 128GB, but there’s no microSD card slot, and such a slot is one of the main advantages Android has over its iOS rivals.

While most users will probably be fine with the built-in storage, some will want room to expand, so a microSD card slot would be appreciated in the OnePlus 6.

3. An affordable price

One of the best things about OnePlus handsets is how affordable they are, but the price has been creeping up. They still undercut most flagships, with the OnePlus 5T starting at $499/£449/AU$599), but it’s on the edge of having a high-end price.

What we really don’t want to see is another price rise for the OnePlus 6. If the company can push the price back down below the level of the OnePlus 5T then all the better, but keeping it around the same seems more realistic, and would keep one of the phone’s main selling points intact.

4. Water resistance


The OnePlus 5 looks and feels great, but it lacks any kind of water resistance, so you’d better keep it dry.

Water and dust resistance were once fairly niche features, but they’re now becoming almost standard on flagships and even some mid-rangers, and they’re genuinely useful features to have, as anyone who’s ever got a call in the rain will tell you, so we’d like to see water resistance added to the OnePlus 6.

5. Better audio

The OnePlus 5 and 5T kept the headphone jack, but we shouldn’t really be applauding a phone for keeping core features and in most other ways the audio experience isn’t great.

That’s especially true when relying on the built-in speakers, which can’t match audio from handsets like the HTC U11, and are easy to accidentally block with your hands when holding the phone.

For the OnePlus 6 we’d love to see – and hear – high-quality, front-facing stereo speakers, so audio quality remains strong however you choose to listen.


6. A bigger, longer lasting battery

The OnePlus 5T comes with the firm's Dash Charge technology, allowing you to get a decent slug of juice from just 30 minutes of plugged in time. That's all very well, but the battery itself generally lasts a day on a full charge, but no longer.

What we want from the OnePlus 6 is a phone that will comfortably stride into day two on the same charge and get us to at least lunchtime before requiring a top up.

An easy way to achieve this would be to issue a larger battery. OnePlus actually reduced the size of the battery in the 5 and didn't increase it again for the 5T, so an increase for its successor would be lovely.

7. Under-screen fingerprint scanner

Apple and Samsung were both rumored to be working on under-screen fingerprint scanners, but neither of them have yet launched a phone with one.

If the OnePlus 6 can be one of the first to put the digit reading tech under the display, while reducing the bezels, then it really would have something to shout about.