JUNE 2020 PCWorld 61more hertz of refresh, and 3
fewer pixels per inch. Taken
together, though, all those
small changes make a huge
difference. The faster refresh
rate is the most noticeable,
with simply effortless scrolling
and super-smooth transitions.
But even when you’re not
touching the screen, the
brightness, refined motion
interpolation algorithms and
HDR Boost are noticeable. My
only complaint is with edge
rejection, which is a constant
nuisance on a phone this size.
The brightness of the
display helps the optical
fingerprint scanner. On the whole, it’s
speedier and more reliable than the S20’s
ultrasonic sensor, but despite conscious effort
from OnePlus to improve the experience, it’s
still very hit-or-miss. All things being equal, I’d
much rather have 3D facial recognition like
the Google Pixel 4’s Face Unlock, even if that
meant a return to a notch.
Biometrics aside, the OnePlus 8 Pro isn’t
just the best screen OnePlus has made—it’s
the first I’ve used that rivals the latest from
Apple and Samsung. The brightness, color
gamut, and color accuracy truly raise the bar.
But I’m not sure anyone who would consider
a OnePlus phone necessarily needs a screen
this good. It’s not that OnePlus customersDISPLAY: PIXEL PERFECTION
While there are plenty of “pro” components
inside the OnePlus 8 Pro, none of them matter
more than the display. OnePlus isn’t often at
the forefront of screen tech—its first OLED
screen didn’t arrive until late 2015, in fact—
but the Fluid Display on the 8 Pro is on the
absolute cutting edge of smartphone screen
tech, belying the seemingly minor spec-sheet
improvements over the 7 Pro:
OnePlus 7 Pro: 6.67-inch 3120x1440,
516 ppi, 19.5:9, 90Hz refresh rate
OnePlus 8 Pro: 6.78-inch 3168x1440,
513 ppi, 19.8:9, 120Hz refresh rate
We’re talking about a tenth of an inch
more screen, a slightly taller aspect ratio, 30
The OnePlus 8 Pro (right) might look similar to the OnePlus 8, but it’s
better in every way.