OnePlus 3 Flagship Killer Skips QHD, Bring 5.5-inch FHD Display, Snapdragon 820, 6GB RAM
OnePlus says that those choosing its new OnePlus 3 smartphone “Never Settle.” Well, that would be true if users aren’t looking to get their hands on a flagship smartphone with a QHD display, since the OnePlus 3 is still rocking a 5.5-inch display with a FHD (1920x10280) resolution. Still, OnePlus explains that going with a FHD allows it to instead offer longer battery life while at the same time keeping heat in check. And you’d likely be hard pressed to find too many faults with the display, which checks in at 401 ppi and its new AMOLED panel offers excellent outdoor visibility/readability.
And there’s no shortage of firepower under the hood, as the OnePlus 3 is packing the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor backed by a whopping 6GB of RAM and Adreno 530 graphics. All of that silicon is fueled by a non-removable 3000 mAh lithium-ion battery.
The OnePlus 3 has also gained an NFC chip to support the Android Pay wireless payments platform and the USB-C port now supports fast charging. Camera duties are handled by a 16MP unit on the rear with optical image stabilization, while selfie shots are taken care of by an 8MP unit. But unlike other top Android flagships, the OnePlus 3 doesn’t come with a microSD slot for storage expansion. The smartphone is only available with 64GB of internal storage (now UFS 2.0 instead of eMMC), and there are no plans for a 128GB option. Likewise, you won’t find waterproofing like you get with the Galaxy S7/Galaxy S7 Edge.
However, what you will find is an aluminum unibody that cribs more than a few design cues from the Apple iPhone 6/6s family of smartphones, and perhaps just a bit from HTC. OnePlus has also managed to slim down the phone just a tad from 9.85mm thick to just 7.35mm thick. Weight has also dropped from 6.17 ounces to 5.57 ounces.
Every flagship smartphone on the market represents a compromise, and the OnePlus 3 definitely has its fair share of them. However, it’s really hard to argue with the amazingly low $399 price tag, which undercuts its rivals from Apple, Samsung, and HTC by roughly $300. The OnePlus 3 ships unlocked, but will only work on GSM carriers (meaning T-Mobile and AT&T in the United States). You can purchase the phone directly from the OnePlus website.
