PC World - USA (2020-11)

32 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2020

REVIEWS ONEPLUS 8T

There are other smart compromises as

well. While “T” models usually opt for the

best possible processor, the 8T uses the

Snapdragon 865 chip rather than the newer

865+ one. This helps keep costs down

without giving up too much in the way of

speed. However, OnePlus compensates for

the speed loss by combining the chip with

UFS 3.1 storage and 12GB of RAM, so apps

launch and load incredibly fast. And of

course, the 8T supports 5G (though only on

T-Mobile’s network). Compared to the

similarly priced Pixel 5, the OnePlus 8T is an

absolute screamer, and it doesn’t feel any

slower than the $1,300 Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Equally impressive is the OnePlus 8T’s

battery life, despite a relatively average

4,500mAh capacity (technically twin

2,250mAh batteries). In benchmarks, I

recorded a whopping 11 hours and 37

minutes with the 120Hz display

turned on, and even longer with it off

(though the app crashed before I

could get a recorded time). That’s a

good deal longer than other phones

I tested with bigger batteries. You

should have no problem keeping the

120Hz option on all the time.

Helping matters is that the

OnePlus 8T charges a whole lot faster

too. Normally I would knock a phone

for not having wireless charging in

late 2020—and it’s definitely a

detriment for the 8T—but the 65W

Warp Charge is simply mind-blowing. Not

only does it fill up a nearly empty phone in

less than a half-hour, with sustained charge

speeds of 55 watts according to my testing,

but everything you need is included in the

box. Unlike Samsung, which sells its super-

fast charger for $50, OnePlus supplies a

USB-C charging cable and a 65W adapter in

every 8T box. What’s more, you can use it as a

45W charger for other devices, including

laptops. The OnePlus 8T represents the kind

of charging breakthrough we’ve been waiting

for from Apple or Samsung.

AN ALWAYS-ON DISPLAY AT

LONG LAST

That long battery life and fast charging also

allow OnePlus to finally add a long-overdue

feature to the 8T: an always-on display.

Previous OnePlus phones have had an

When you charge your OnePlus 8T using the new 65W

USB-C charger, you’ll get mind-blowing speeds.