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- The $4 is the $4 of the Android world — it's missing a few features, but comes with the same power as the top models.
- To bring its price tag down to $700 when most high end phones cost around $1,000, the
OnePlus 8 technically concedes on screen resolution and smoothness, memory (RAM) standards, wireless charging, and camera quality. - Except for the lack of wireless charging, I never perceived or felt any of these concessions during normal use and testing.
- The
OnePlus 8 is the best option for Android users who want the most power that 2020 specs have to offer, but don't want to spend around $1,000.
The $4 caters the same needs as the $4 — a smartphone that might be missing a couple features, but it does everything well, comes with the latest and most powerful chip, and costs a little less than the top flagship models.
As a concept, that's great for us smartphone users. It means we can get a nearly-flagship smartphone with all the important parts for hundreds less than the top flagships.
With that in mind, special attention needs to be placed on what these nearly-flagships get right and what they get wrong.
Here's what you get with the Android version of the iPhone 11:
OnePlus 8 specs
- Display: 6.55-inch 1080p (2,400 x 1,080) 90Hz AMOLED
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
- Memory & storage: 8GB LPDDR4x RAM & 128GB UFS 3.0 storage; 12GB LPDDR4x RAM & 256GB UFS 3.0 storage
- Rear cameras: 48-megapixel wide, 16-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro lens
- Selfie camera: 16-megapixel
- Battery: 4,300mAh
Design and display
Even though the standard (non-pro) OnePlus 8 is positioned as the less expensive alternative to the $4, there's no perceivable difference in quality and finish between the two. That's to say that the OnePlus 8 looks and feels every bit as premium as the
The screen, however, is where some might perceive some compromises. It "only" has a 1080p resolution, and its refresh rate "only" goes up to 90Hz when the OnePlus 8 Pro has a technically sharper 1440p screen and a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. Turns out it doesn't matter — I barely noticed any difference at all between the two screens during actual day-to-day usage. The OnePlus 8's 1080p AMOLED screen looks every bit as sharp, even with its larger 6.55-inch display. And, 90Hz is still very smooth and nothing to complain about.