OnePlus 6T vs Apple iPhone XS Max: first look

Apple better watch out! That’s because OnePlus is slowly becoming one formidable competitor that may very well one day take on the giant in the smartphone space. Apple unleashed its latest iPhones not too long ago, the iPhone XS and XS Max, to the delight of many having proven their worth in nearly every capacity. Well, the OnePlus 6T is looking to rattle things for the Cupertino-based company, seeing that it’s innovative in its own unique way. Spending just a short time with the OnePlus 6T and Apple iPhone XS Max, it’s going to be interesting to see how much of a dent the OnePlus 6T can make into Apple’s unrelenting grasp.

Responsiveness, it’s arguably one of the most notable commonalities that the two phones share with one another. Apple’s iPhones have always proven to be the most responsive in the industry, including its latest offering in the iPhone XS Max, which leverages the company’s new A12 Bionic chip. In contrast, there have been few that can match its insane level of snappiness, but the we can certainly attest that the OnePlus 6T gives it a good run for its money – an impressive feat for a Snapdragon 845 powered device, so you know that the software and optimizations certainly have a hand in all of that!

Next up, we can’t help but look at the difference with the notches on their respective displays! The iPhone XS Max has that notorious, hard-to-miss notch that covers a wide gap towards the top of the display – whereas the OnePlus 6T has a very subtle “teardrop” shaped one. It’s night and day essentially with them, but the reasoning behind that is seen in how the two phones differentiate with their security. With the OnePlus 6T, it employs a fancy new in-screen fingerprint sensor, while the iPhone XS Max features an array of tech for its Face ID. Technically, the facial unlock option is still there for the OnePlus 6T, but it doesn’t utilize the same kind of accurate and precise technology that’s powering the iPhone XS Max’s Face ID feature. We’ll give the OnePlus 6T the credit for now with its in-screen fingerprint sensor, but we really hope it’s just as reliable as Face ID.

Another disparity between the two is seen with the design of both phones. Yes, they both offer that glass meets metal construction, but the iPhone XS Max is significantly heavier in the hand, which does make it feel a bit more substantial in the process, but the OnePlus 6T certainly feels like it’s more manageable to handle. We’re especially in love with the midnight black edition of the OnePlus 6T, since it seems to do a great job at masking fingerprints and smudges. The silver version of the iPhone XS Max does equally well with that, but it’s worth noting that Apple’s offering has an advantage in the form of its IP68 water resistant construction! For some, this is definitely useful!

OnePlus really did hype up the new nightscape mode with the OnePlus 6T, which leverages HDR and optimization processes to enhance its performance under low light situations. By now, there's no denying that the dual-camera system of the iPhone XS Max is a pleasure to use because it’s well-rounded in producing phenomenal shots – in just about any condition too! Furthermore, it’s proven to be a champ already when it comes to nighttime photography, so we’re eager to find out in nightscape mode can be equally captivating with its performance on the OnePlus 6T.

And lastly, there’s the matter of price. Right away, the advantage seemingly goes to the OnePlus 6T for its super aggressive starting cost of $549, which makes the iPhone XS Max seem bloated at $1100 for the base 64GB model. The base storage option for the OnePlus 6T is the same, but it’s mind blowing to know that you’re still forking over double the price to pick up Apple’s larger iPhone. Naturally, there are certain expectations given to the higher priced smartphone – like it producing better looking photos, longer battery life, and much more. However, if the OnePlus 6T proves that it’s able to bridge the gap closely in all those key areas, Apple will definitely need to take OnePlus seriously.