OnePlus 10T Review: this charger comes with a phone!
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OnePlus 10T Intro
The T series for OnePlus is a weird phenomenon in the tech world. It’s the second big release for OnePlus for the year, and for the OnePlus 10T, it follows the flagship OnePlus 10 Pro model, which launched in April.
While the new OnePlus 10T has a very similar look and a top-tier processor, one look at the price tells you that it is clearly not a flagship phone, so some compromises must have been made.
After living with the phone for a while, we found one such compromise to be the camera. The 10T does not get the zoom camera of the flagship 10 Pro, replaced instead with a mostly useless 2MP macro shooter, and then a few other features like wireless charging have also been removed.
We mentioned the T series is a bit weird and that is because while being cheaper than the flagship model, the 10T also has a couple of features that are actually better than the flagship model: 150W charging speeds, for once, which is just as insane as it sounds, and then the newer version of the top-tier Snapdragon processor, which heats up less and is perfect for gamers. So can this phone be a good fit for you, and should you buy one when it launches in September? Let’s take a closer look and find out!
We mentioned the T series is a bit weird and that is because while being cheaper than the flagship model, the 10T also has a couple of features that are actually better than the flagship model: 150W charging speeds, for once, which is just as insane as it sounds, and then the newer version of the top-tier Snapdragon processor, which heats up less and is perfect for gamers. So can this phone be a good fit for you, and should you buy one when it launches in September? Let’s take a closer look and find out!
Update: The new OnePlus 11 is out and you should seriously consider it over the OnePlus 10T. Check out our in-depth OnePlus 11 review here!
Before we dive in, though, let’s quickly go over the OnePlus 10T prices:
- 8/128GB — $650
- 16/256GB — $750
This is very competitive and we believe the 10T will be the cheapest phone with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor in the United States when it launches in September. And having a version with 16GB of RAM (!) and double the storage for merely $100 more also sounds like a great deal.
What’s new about the OnePlus 10T
- 150W SuperVOOC fast charging
- Alert Slider is removed
- Design is very similar to OnePlus 10 Pro
- New Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip for faster performance
- An impressive 16GB RAM version in some markets
- New cooling system for gamers
Table of Contents:
OnePlus 10T Unboxing
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The OnePlus 10T comes with a charger in the box, but no case
You get the OnePlus 10T in a bright red box that is much bigger than what most other phones come in these days. The reason for its larger size is that you actually get a charger included, unlike those other phones, so for this reason we are more than happy to have a slightly larger box in our drawer.
The charger is a special one, a bit larger than your typical charging brick, and packed with technology that allows it to deliver 150 watts of power (125W if you are in the US, but more on that later). It has a single USB-C port, and you need to pair it with the Type C to Type C cable that also comes in the box. It's a thicker cable than your average USB-C cable, so that it can handle the higher load and it comes in the signature for OnePlus red color.
The charger is the big star of the unboxing, and this time around, OnePlus does not include a case for the phone inside the box, which is a bit of a disappointment. The phone does come with a pre-applied plastic screen protector though. Inside the box, you will also find the usual user manuals, a couple of OnePlus stickers, a SIM tool and other technical literature.
The charger is a special one, a bit larger than your typical charging brick, and packed with technology that allows it to deliver 150 watts of power (125W if you are in the US, but more on that later). It has a single USB-C port, and you need to pair it with the Type C to Type C cable that also comes in the box. It's a thicker cable than your average USB-C cable, so that it can handle the higher load and it comes in the signature for OnePlus red color.
OnePlus 10T Specs
Fast and furious
Below, you'd find a summary of the most important specs, but don't forget that we have an in-depth dive at the OnePlus 10T specs here.
| Specs | OnePlus 10T |
|---|---|
| Size and Weight | 163 mm × 75.37mm × 8.75 mm, 203g |
| Display | 6.7" OLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| RAM & Storage | 8GB LPDDR5 RAM + 128GB UFS 3.1 8GB + 256GB 16GB + 256GB No expandable storage (no microSD) |
| Software | OxygenOS 12.1 based on Android 12 |
| Cameras | 50MP wide camera, 24mm, Sony IMX766, f/1.8 aperture 8MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2 aperture 2MP macro camera (2-4cm distance) 16MP front camera |
| Battery Size | 4,800 mAh |
| Charging Speeds | 150W wired charging no wireless charging |
| Price | starting from $650 |
The thing that we would pay attention to in this specs table are the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip which is getting glowing reviews and is the fastest processor in use on an Android phone at the moment. Additionally, the 150W fast charging, but again, more on that later.
OnePlus 10T Design
Big phone, premium materials, but loses signature OnePlus elements like the Alert Slider
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The OnePlus 10T in jade on the left. It is a looker, and quite similar to the OnePlus 10 Pro (right)
The OnePlus 10T is first and foremost a big phone with a 6.7-inch screen and a weight of more than 200 grams (7+ ounces).
It’s actually even wider, thicker and heavier than the OnePlus 10 Pro, but so slightly that you might not even notice unless you actually look at the dimensions:
There’s been a lot of uproar about one particular, signature OnePlus design feature that is missing on the 10T: the alert slider, aka the mute switch. It’s been a staple of OnePlus phones for years, but it seems that this time around OnePlus has decided to remove it citing the need to include more antennas for better reception, but we would have loved to have the Alert Slider to easily mute the device or put it into silent or vibrate mode, so it will be missed.
For all else, this is your typical modern day smartphone: aluminum frame, glass on the back and the front, USB-C and loudspeaker on the bottom. Oh, and no 3.5mm headphone jack too, unfortunately.
OnePlus tells us the 10T has IP54 water and dust resistance rating, which is also not quite on par with flagships toting IP68 ratings these days. The difference is that an IP54 rating signifies only dust limited ingress vs total dust protection, and protection from water sprays vs long term immersion on flagships. In other words, you would be just fine leaving the phone in the rain for a while, but you’d better not drop it in water.
It’s actually even wider, thicker and heavier than the OnePlus 10 Pro, but so slightly that you might not even notice unless you actually look at the dimensions:
- OnePlus 10T — 163 x 75.4 x 8.75mm, 203g
- OnePlus 10 Pro — 163 x 73.9 x 8.55 mm, 200g
There’s been a lot of uproar about one particular, signature OnePlus design feature that is missing on the 10T: the alert slider, aka the mute switch. It’s been a staple of OnePlus phones for years, but it seems that this time around OnePlus has decided to remove it citing the need to include more antennas for better reception, but we would have loved to have the Alert Slider to easily mute the device or put it into silent or vibrate mode, so it will be missed.
For all else, this is your typical modern day smartphone: aluminum frame, glass on the back and the front, USB-C and loudspeaker on the bottom. Oh, and no 3.5mm headphone jack too, unfortunately.
OnePlus tells us the 10T has IP54 water and dust resistance rating, which is also not quite on par with flagships toting IP68 ratings these days. The difference is that an IP54 rating signifies only dust limited ingress vs total dust protection, and protection from water sprays vs long term immersion on flagships. In other words, you would be just fine leaving the phone in the rain for a while, but you’d better not drop it in water.
OnePlus 10T Display
(Image credit - PhoneArena) A large 6.7 inch OLED screen with 120Hz and beautiful colors
For all else, color calibration is great and the screen gets plenty bright so you can see it outdoors under direct sunlight, no complaints here.
The 10T also supports adaptive refresh rate, meaning that the phone can automatically decide to run from 120Hz that looks buttery smooth while scrolling, and down to 90Hz or 60Hz when the higher refresh rate is not needed.
We use professional equipment to measure all sorts of display metrics which you can see above, and to see how well exactly phone makers calibrate the screens on their phones.
In terms of biometrics, the OnePlus 10T uses an in-display optical fingerprint scanner that is super fast and accurate. It’s strange how some big companies like Google struggle to implement an in-screen fingerprint reader that is at least halfway decent, while others like OnePlus have been using fast and accurate fingerprint scanners for years, and this is once again a zippy and reliable fingerprint scanner on the 10T.
You can also register your face for the image-based face unlock feature, just keep in mind that while face unlock might be even faster than the fingerprint scanning, it is still based on a 2D image rather than a safe 3D scan, so it is easier to spoof the camera and less secure compared to the fingerprint unlock.
In terms of biometrics, the OnePlus 10T uses an in-display optical fingerprint scanner that is super fast and accurate. It’s strange how some big companies like Google struggle to implement an in-screen fingerprint reader that is at least halfway decent, while others like OnePlus have been using fast and accurate fingerprint scanners for years, and this is once again a zippy and reliable fingerprint scanner on the 10T.
OnePlus 10T Camera
The big compromise
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The imposing look of the camera system can be deceiving
The OnePlus 10T comes with a 50MP main camera (that shoots 12MP photos), an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro shooter. No telephoto lens in this mix, which is a sore disappointment, but to be honest it's hard to justify the existence of that 2MP macro camera as well.
Photos from the main camera are merely decent. A good photographer can turn that decent hardware into great photos, but in itself this is definitely not a flagship-grade camera.
Images often turn out a step overexposed, resulting in way too bright, burned out highlights. Colors are way too vivid and even compared to phones like the Galaxy S22 series, which are known for capturing vivid photos, the OnePlus goes a step beyond that. Colors overall also feel a bit flat. OnePlus still has a month to update the phone before its launch, and we sincerely hope that it takes note and fixes those issues.
Additionally, you have no telephoto camera on this phone whatsoever, which means zoom quality suffers quite noticeably. Digital zoom maxes out at 10X, but even at 3X you start noticing big differences compared to the immediate competition.
The included 2MP macro camera is another weird thing to have. It can photograph objects at close distances of around 4cm or 1.6in (the main and ultra-wide camera cannot), but you still end up with… 2MP photos that lack sorely in detail! It would make far more sense to include a proper ultra-wide camera with macro shooting capabilities, like most of the industry, but instead you get… this.
Images often turn out a step overexposed, resulting in way too bright, burned out highlights. Colors are way too vivid and even compared to phones like the Galaxy S22 series, which are known for capturing vivid photos, the OnePlus goes a step beyond that. Colors overall also feel a bit flat. OnePlus still has a month to update the phone before its launch, and we sincerely hope that it takes note and fixes those issues.
Additionally, you have no telephoto camera on this phone whatsoever, which means zoom quality suffers quite noticeably. Digital zoom maxes out at 10X, but even at 3X you start noticing big differences compared to the immediate competition.
The included 2MP macro camera is another weird thing to have. It can photograph objects at close distances of around 4cm or 1.6in (the main and ultra-wide camera cannot), but you still end up with… 2MP photos that lack sorely in detail! It would make far more sense to include a proper ultra-wide camera with macro shooting capabilities, like most of the industry, but instead you get… this.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera is also not a stellar performer. An 8MP camera does not inspire confidence as the level of detail is low, but you can also see that in some cases there is a very noticeable artificial over-sharpening that results in lots of artifacts around the edges of objects in a photo.
The selfie camera is quite wide, but unlike other phones that offer both a wide view (for group shots) and a close-up view (for one-person shots), you only get this one wider view.
Video from the OnePlus 10T maxes out at 4K60 resolution. There are fewer issues with video quality than with photos, plus we appreciate the excellent video stabilization. However, make no mistake: this is still not flagship-grade experience.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera, for instance, cannot be used for 4K video recording at all (the resolution is not enough), an annoying limitation. You can use the ultra-wide camera in 1080p mode, though.
Footage out of the main camera comes out well-stabilized, but the issue with overly vivid colors persists and when the camera is moving, you can see a weird color shift. In our OnePlus 10T video sample above, you can see it starting from the 0:30 mark when the sky weirdly changes its color as you walk.
At the end of the day, the OnePlus 10T feels like OnePlus deliberately withdrew its photography team from the making of this phone, just so that this camera would be so bad, that it wouldn’t endanger sales of the flagship OnePlus 10 Pro. We guess there is always some reason to leave specific features for the flagship device, but the OnePlus 10T feels way too compromised in the camera department.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera, for instance, cannot be used for 4K video recording at all (the resolution is not enough), an annoying limitation. You can use the ultra-wide camera in 1080p mode, though.
Footage out of the main camera comes out well-stabilized, but the issue with overly vivid colors persists and when the camera is moving, you can see a weird color shift. In our OnePlus 10T video sample above, you can see it starting from the 0:30 mark when the sky weirdly changes its color as you walk.
At the end of the day, the OnePlus 10T feels like OnePlus deliberately withdrew its photography team from the making of this phone, just so that this camera would be so bad, that it wouldn’t endanger sales of the flagship OnePlus 10 Pro. We guess there is always some reason to leave specific features for the flagship device, but the OnePlus 10T feels way too compromised in the camera department.
Also read:
- OnePlus 10T camera: Cutting corners
OnePlus 10T Performance & Benchmarks
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 powered, great for gamers
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The new Snapdragon chip is so fast
You have to know, however, that the phone defaults to a balanced performance mode that goes the extra mile to ensure the chip will not overheat and one consequence of that is you don't always get the maximum performance in this mode. You also have a “High performance mode”, which unleashes the chip, but OnePlus warns may decrease your battery life (enable it from Settings > Battery > Advanced settings). We noticed that in the regular mode, some benchmarks yielded results more akin to the non-plus version of the same Snapdragon chip, while enabling the high performance mode delivers that extra punch that you expect to see from this processor. Gamers might also consider running this phone in high performance mode all the time, especially if you are the kind of person who plays Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal.
On the other hand, in daily use, we found the performance perfectly smooth and zippy, even in the default mode. The base model of the phone ships with 8GB of RAM, but we had the souped up 16GB version, which is another insane feature and allows you to keep literally dozens of apps open in the background.
Performance Benchmarks:
You also have 128GB UFS 3.1 storage in the base model, the fastest type currently available on Android, or a 256GB in the pricier version. Keep in mind that storage is not expandable (there is no microSD card slot).
OnePlus 10T Connectivity
In the United States, the OnePlus 10T will launch only on T-Mobile and expectations are that it will be available in September. Naturally, expect support for all key T-Mobile 5G bands. Interestingly, the OnePlus 10T will also support 5G bands for Verizon's mid-band 5G network, but no mmWave support. You will not be able to bring the OnePlus 10T to AT&T, however, because it is not certified to run on the carrier.
Being based on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 platform, the OnePlus 10T comes with the powerful Qualcomm X65 5G modem, and in addition to that OnePlus has included 15 antennas all across the device for better all-around connectivity (having so many antennas is also cited as the reason to ditch the Alert Slider). This might just be one of the best equipped phones when it comes to connectivity.
The OnePlus 10T supports Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC for wireless payments, as well as Wi-Fi 6 (but not the newer 6E standard).
OnePlus 10T Android version, OxygenOS and software support
The OxygenOS skin on top of Android 12 is a mostly clean affair with a few signature OnePlus touches like the Shelf, which is essentially a one-stop shop for all sorts of widgets and shortcuts. The one thing that we love most about this skin is how well optimized it feels, every swipe is buttery smooth, there are no hiccups, it all just flows together very nicely and instills confidence that this phone will remain fast for years to come.
OnePlus promised three major Android updates and four years of security updates. This used to be the standard for most Android phones, but this year, Samsung announced that it is expanding support to 4 years of major updates / 5 years of security updates, and Apple traditionally supports its iPhone for 5 or even 6 years, so OnePlus could definitely up its game in this regard.
OnePlus promised three major Android updates and four years of security updates. This used to be the standard for most Android phones, but this year, Samsung announced that it is expanding support to 4 years of major updates / 5 years of security updates, and Apple traditionally supports its iPhone for 5 or even 6 years, so OnePlus could definitely up its game in this regard.
OnePlus 10T Battery
4,800mAh battery inside
Battery life is very good and the phone lasted us more than a day on a single charge, but it’s not quite iPhone 13 Pro Max kind of good, as that phone would last a full 2 days or even more on one charge.
PhoneArena Battery Test Results:
We perform all of our tests in equal conditions, with screens on all phones set to the same brightness level. All of our tests are carried out over a Wi-Fi connection, but each one measures something different. Our video test, for example, runs a YouTube playlist until the phones die, and is a great metric for those watching lots of videos. Our web browsing test simulates browsing the web and is a lighter test, while finally our 3D Gaming test works the GPU.
The OnePlus 10T scored in line with its predecessor on the video test, but we guess the more efficient processor helped it score much higher on the web browsing test. Interestingly, it scored lower on the gaming test, despite all the innovative cooling that OnePlus uses, but still that score is actually quite good.
OnePlus 10T Charging Speeds
In one word: bonkers!
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The 150W SuperVOOC charger is included in the box
150W SuperVOOC fast charging. No, this is not a typo, the number is indeed 150W. Yes, this is indeed 6X times the 25W charging speed most Samsung phones come with, and indeed, it is absolutely bonkers. There is a few things to know here: the charger says 160W for some reason, users in Europe will benefit from the full 150W charging speeds, while in the US speeds will max out at 125W.
Also, the phone comes with the charger included in the box, like it should. In case you lose it, OnePlus is selling the charging brick separately for $50, and it charges $20 more for the thicker cable that goes with it.
It's a slightly bigger brick than your typical charger, but not by much, and it has a USB-C connection. Just make sure you always pair it up with the red OnePlus cable that is also included in the box to get the maximum charging speed possible, and you will be amazed by this charger.
We know we were. Here are the charging speeds we measured. Keep in mind that we measure charging speeds for a completely drained phone and we start the timer the moment we plug in the charger:
- in 5 minutes — 31%
- in 10 minutes — 52%
- in 15 minutes — 68%
- in 20 minutes — 89%
- 23 minutes for a full, 0-100% charge
Impressive, huh?
With such a fast charge, you might be worried that your OnePlus 10T battery may degrade faster, but actually that is not the case, per OnePlus. The company explains that it uses a 7C rated battery that supports higher current, and the cell is equipped with 13 temperature sensors to prevent overheating. Actually, OnePlus guarantees 80% battery health after 1,600 charging cycles, an impressive figure. There are other safeguards implemented as well, including a smart chip for battery management and a VFC trickle charging that optimizes charging efficiency in the last 10% of the charge cycle to reduce heat.
Wireless charging is missing on the OnePlus 10T. Some may not like this, but honestly, when you have THIS fast wired charging, who needs wireless charging at all?
OnePlus 10T Audio Quality and Haptics
Like most modern-day flagships, the OnePlus 10T lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Output from the two loudspeakers is decent, but not quite the best around. We missed a bit in terms of volume, and we wished to hear a bit more depth in the sound profile.
On the other hand, haptics are absolutely excellent. OnePlus phones recently have these really impressive vibration motors that give this "vibrating glass" kind of feel, a nice and tight vibration effect. It's delicate and gives just enough feedback for typing or notifications.
OnePlus 10T Competitors
The OnePlus 10T might be priced aggressively, but it doesn't exist in a vacuum and there are plenty of phones that you may consider as alternatives.
The Pixel 6 is closest in price, as the $600 Google phone is actually cheaper, while offering better photo and video quality. The Pixel is not as powerful and has a smaller screen, plus it doesn't charge nearly as fast as the OnePlus, though. Read more in our OnePlus 10T vs Pixel 6 comparison.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is quite a bit more expensive, but it delivers a flagship camera experience that you won't find on the OnePlus. Its software, however, doesn't feel as snappy as the OnePlus and of course, it cannot match it in charging speeds. Read more in our OnePlus 10T vs Galaxy S22 Plus comparison.
Finally, some of you may look at the other side of the fence over at iPhones. The iPhone 13 is a bit more expensive, but a worthy alternative with a more capable camera (still no zoom lens, though), and much longer software update support. Read more in our OnePlus 10T vs iPhone 13 comparison.
OnePlus 10T Summary and final verdict
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The OnePlus 10T is a big phone that packs some style
At the end of the day, the OnePlus 10T follows a familiar path for OnePlus: it's filled with the latest and most powerful hardware, it's fast, it's great for gamers, and it offers insane charging speeds, but it compromises on the camera quality.
We have to once again emphasize this: the OnePlus 10T is a great phone for gamers, so much so that we almost expect the next version to come with RGB lights, fans for cooling and all that jazz. But that kind of look might be a turn-off for average users and the truth is that the average user who values performance in a phone and a clean software experience will also find this to be a great option, but those looking for the ultimate camera better look elsewhere.
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