Is China's little tyke coming back into line? OnePlus has just launched its new smartphone, the OnePlus 6T, in the 'traditional' way, for sale by French operators. In just a few years, the Chinese firm, a subsidiary of the Oppo group, has established itself on the global telecoms market by promising handsets with the qualities and technologies of premium brands, but at a slightly lower price. In the same way, OnePlus focused on rarity from the outset, with limited production and selective distribution. As a result, it has built up a very active community of fans, who have been busy creating a buzz every time a new OnePlus is launched. The same was true on Monday 29 October, at the official presentation of the OnePlus 6T in New York, especially as the mainstream media were now getting impatient.
While the OnePlus 6 sold over a million units in just a few weeks in the spring, the Oneplus 6T is a technological update of its predecessor, incorporating the latest version of the Android operating system while taking advantage of the latest trends in mobility, starting with a larger screen and a new battery for increased autonomy. As usual, OnePlus unveiled a smartphone in the spring, followed in the autumn by a new generation called the T, at the cutting edge of the latest technology, a principle that has always won over its technophile aficionados.
The first visible change compared to the 6.28-inch OnePlus 6, is the larger 6.41-inch screen of the OnePlus 6T, with a new anti-scratch glass protection and anti-reflective coating. Ultimately, 85.1% of the mobile's surface area is covered by the screen. This is in line with the borderless trend in premium smartphones, with the notch also tapering off at the top. The Amoled panel remains Full HD, but still delivers quality images.
Another major innovation is the integration of a fingerprint reader under the glass panel, as on the new Huawei Mate 20 Pro. The back of the smartphone has been lightened to make room for a dual-sensor 20MP and 16MP camera module. In terms of photography, OnePlus is highlighting new features for taking portraits and landscapes at night.
But it's the speed and fluidity of operation that have always been at the heart of OnePlus' quality criteria. To the power of Qualcomm's latest and fastest processor, already present in the OnePlus 6, is added a time-saving feature. Known as Smart Boost, this feature improves the speed at which applications are launched by storing data from the most frequently used applications in the phone's memory. In addition to speed, OnePlus has also emphasised the increased battery life of 20% of its new model compared to the OnePlus 6 with a 3700mAh battery, accompanied by a fast charging system. The dual SIM card principle remains.
On the other hand, OnePlus is following the lead of other premium smartphones by doing away with the jack, replacing it with a USB-C connector. The Chinese firm is making up for this by offering USB-C headphones and an adapter with its handset, for those who refuse to throw away their wired headphones.
While OnePlus is retaining its policy of marketing its OnePlus 6T via ephemeral pop-up stores with a trendy feel, it is also being offered by operators and at FNAC. A real change for the brand, which will enable it to showcase its new flagship alongside its top-of-the-range rivals... but at prices under 700 euros!
A smartphone with a difference - OnePlus 6T by OnePlus
Screen 6.41-inch Full HD Amoled display (2340 x 1080 pixels)
Operating system : Android 9 Pie/OxygenOS
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Memory 6 or 8 GB RAM depending on version
Storage 128 GB
Battery Power consumption : 3700mAh
Camera Dual 20MPX/16MPX rear photo sensors; 16MPX front photo sensor
Video recording : 4K
Connectivity 4G+Wifi, BT 5.0; USB C connector
Prices from 559 euros
Availability From 6 November
