The OnePlus 3 is the old warhorse from the company and made its debut in June, while the upgraded OnePlus 3T was unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
But which of the two OnePlus smartphones is the better buy? Here is an in-depth comparison of the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 smartphones.
Design
Physically, the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T look identical as the company has stuck with the tried and tested and not changed anything in the design. The only way you would be able to distinguish the OnePlus 3T from the OnePlus 3 if they were side by side is if the former was in the new Gunmetal hue vis-à-vis the latter's Graphite.
If you were hoping for a design change in the OnePlus 3T, then you will be disappointed. That said, OnePlus 3 has premium-looking sensibility and really, there was no need to make any changes for the new variant.
Display
Both the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T have the same screen size and resolution - 5.5-inch Optic AMOLED with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (401 ppi pixel density). OnePlus has also stuck with the Gorilla Glass 4 on the OnePlus 3 for the OnePlus 3T, whereas it could have used Gorilla Glass 5 Samsung used for the Galaxy Note 7.
Processor And RAM
One of the major upgrades OnePlus made from the OnePlus 3 to the OnePlus 3T is improving the processor. The OnePlus 3T houses a Snapdragon 821 processor whereas the older OnePlus 3 packs in the previous-gen quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor.
While this change may not seem that major on paper, the fact that the Snapdragon 821 runs much cooler when compared to Snapdragon 820 is an advantage. Why? This means that the Snapdragon 821 CPU will not throttle as easily and will offer more consistent speeds.
Moreover, the Snapdragon 821 CPU consumes less power compared to the Snapdragon 820, which means less battery consumption for the OnePlus 3T. The CPU also has optimizations for Android's weak spots such as scrolling and web browsing - which will contribute to a smoother experience.
Both OnePlus smartphones have the same 6 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, OnePlus 3T did not benefit from a memory increase.
Storage
OnePlus has brought a notable change with the arrival of the OnePlus 3T - another storage option. While the OnePlus 3 was only available in 64 GB, the OnePlus 3T will also come in a 128 GB option.
The additional storage expansion option remains missing on the OnePlus 3T as there is no microSD card slot.
Consumers would welcome the addition of the 128 GB model, but would be hoping that the OnePlus 3T does not encounter memory management issues like sibling OnePlus 3 did.
Camera
OnePlus has made no alterations in the megapixels offered by the primary camera of the OnePlus 3T. It remains the same as the OnePlus 3 - a 16-megapixel primary camera. However, the front-facing camera on the OnePlus 3T is 16 megapixels as well, vis-à-vis the OnePlus 3's 8 MP selfie snapper.
OnePlus has also used sapphire glass on the rear-facing camera of the OnePlus 3T to make it scratch-resistant and more durable, a notable upgrade from the OnePlus 3. Moreover, the rear-facing camera on the OnePlus 3T benefits from Intelligent Pixel Technology, which will reduce noise in low-light conditions. The primary camera also gets improved EIS.
Battery
The OnePlus 3T boasts a bigger 3,400 mAh battery when compared to the OnePlus 3's 3,000 mAh one. It is commendable that OnePlus managed to achieve this feat without increasing the weight of the OnePlus 3T - it is the same 158 grams (5.57 ounces) as the OnePlus 3.
Both smartphones offer wireless charging support, as well as Dash Charge support.
Operating System
Both OnePlus smartphones run on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. Consumers may be disappointed that OnePlus did not pre-load the OnePlus 3T with the latest Android 7.0 Nougat OS.
Price
The OnePlus 3T has a steeper price point when compared to the OnePlus 3 and this is largely due to the minor upgrades made to the handset. It will be available from Nov. 22 in the United States and set consumers back by $439 and $479 for the 64 GB and 128 GB models, respectively. The OnePlus 3, on the other hand, costs $399 for the 64 GB variant.
OnePlus has introduced a new color option for the OnePlus 3T - Gunmetal, which replaces the OnePlus 3's Graphite. It is a darker shade of gray if you please. Both handsets are available in Soft Gold as well.
The big question - is it worth upgrading to the OnePlus 3T? If you are a selfie-lover then yes, as the camera enhancements are for you. Those who want a smartphone that offers higher storage could also opt for the OnePlus 3T as the 128 GB model could sway things in its favor.
The battery size may have increased in the OnePlus 3T, but that does not assure a better battery life.
If you are looking for a new smartphone then the OnePlus 3T is a great option, but if you have the OnePlus 3 it is better not to upgrade. The upgrades to the OnePlus 3T are not major and you could do well to wait for the OnePlus 4.
