The company is clear this is not a major version upgrade, but instead a simple refresh. When asked why update a device just six months after the previous iteration, OnePlus’ answer was basically “why not?”
Can’t say I disagree with them. So here’s the small batch of updated specs:
- Snapdragon 821 (from an 820)
- 16MP front-facing camera (from 8MP)
- 3,400 mAh battery (from 3,000 mAh)
- 128 GB storage option
- Sapphire lens rear camera cover
- Gunmetal color (a darker silver)
And that’s about it; the screen is still a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED, the camera is still a 16MP f/2.0, and RAM is still an impressive 6 GB.
That said, the Snapdragon 821 puts the 3T at parity with the Google Pixel and LeEco Le Pro3 in terms of processing power – a mild boost in power and efficiency over the 820 – while beating both in terms of RAM.
But in practical terms, the biggest boon will likely be the expanded battery life (unless you’re really serious about your selfies); everything else should pretty much feel the same in day to day usage. Impressively, OnePlus managed to fit in the extra battery without increasing the device’s footprint at all.
Contrary to expectations, the device is not launching with Nougat. Instead, a community build will hit both the OnePlus 3 and 3T by the end of November, with the final version launching before the end of the year.
So if you already have a OnePlus 3, there’s little reason to upgrade, but the intermediate update is a nice option for people hearing about OnePlus for the first time – probably a fair amount, given the company says the OnePlus 3 was its best seller yet.
The device will go on sale November 22 in the US and November 28 in Europe. Prices start at USD 439 / EUR 439 / GBP 399 for the Gunmetal color, with the Soft Gold option available “shortly after launch.” Stay tuned for our full review of the device soon.
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