The OnePlus 8 was already a bit of a strange duck in the bite at the release, but that is much more so for eight months. In this review update we discuss whether it is still worthwhile to purchase the smartphone.
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Review: the OnePlus 8 after eight months
Earlier this year we came up with something new Android Planet: review updates. Here we look at whether popular high-end, midrange and budget smartphones from last year are still worthwhile. We also discuss popular devices that were released a few months ago, so you know whether you should consider them. Slightly older Android phones may have been ‘overtaken’ by other smartphones, but they have often fallen considerably in price and therefore quite attractive.
At the launch of the OnePlus 8 phones in April, most of the attention went to the OnePlus 8 Pro, and that was not surprising. The device introduced all kinds of cool improvements and was a real flagship in everything. The normal OnePlus 8 therefore remained a bit under the radar, also because the price-quality ratio was not great. Eight months later this is unfortunately no different. In fact, the arrival of the OnePlus 8T makes us wonder why the normal 8 is still being sold at all. You can read more about it in this review update.
The test model for this OnePlus 8 review update is provided by OnePlus.
90Hz screen has been caught up
The OnePlus 8 has a sleek design of glass and although it is vulnerable, it does feel luxurious. As we wrote in our review of the OnePlus 8, it is smart to use a cover, because the device is extremely sensitive to fingerprints and other stains.
The 6.55-inch screen is nice and large and has very thin edges, with a small hole at the top left for the selfie camera. We are still pleased with the display; everything looks nice and sharp, colors look nice and because of the amoled panel, black is really black. The higher refresh rate of 90Hz ensures smooth animations, but the OnePlus 8 has caught up in this area.
The OnePlus 8T, which has been for sale in the Netherlands for a while, has a 120Hz display. This means that the screen refreshes itself more often and therefore everything looks even smoother. The difference between 90 and 120Hz is not very big and you may hardly notice it in practice, but it is a nice bonus.
Nice and fast hardware, good battery life
The internal hardware of the OnePlus 8 hardly differs from that of the 8T. Under the hood is the same Snapdragon 865 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The performance remains excellent: the OnePlus 8 flies through the software, runs every app and game effortlessly and is still one of the fastest Android phones at the moment.
We are also very pleased with the battery life. The 4300 mAh battery can easily last a full day – even if you use the phone intensively – and also charges quickly. Due to the 30 Watt charger, the OnePlus 8 is quickly full, but the 8T does it just a little better. This smartphone charges with a maximum of 65 Watt and is completely full within 40 minutes. The OnePlus 8 has now also been caught up in this area.
Software: Android 11 updated very quickly
The OnePlus 8 ran on Android 10 when it was released, but was later quickly updated to Android 11. In fact, the 8 was one of the first smartphones that got an update to the latest Android version, and that’s great.
Moreover, OnePlus is neat with updating its high-end devices, which means that you can also count on good software support in the future. The expectation is that the OnePlus will also receive upgrades to Android 12 and 13, although this has not yet been confirmed.
OxygenOS 11, the software that now runs on the OnePlus 8, is quite different from its predecessors. Where the OnePlus software used to be characterized by the simple, bare appearance, version 11 is a lot more radical. Everything is a bit like One UI, the software that runs by default on Samsung phones. This is not necessarily a problem, but it is something to be aware of if you are used to a bare version of Android.
Cameras far from great
On the back of the OnePlus 8 are three cameras: a main camera of 48 megapixel, wide-angle lens of 16 megapixel and 2 megapixel macro camera. These are good for a high-end smartphone, but far from great. The OnePlus 8 Pro may be considerably more expensive than the normal 8, but it also takes much better photos.
In addition, smartphones have appeared this year that cost about the same as the OnePlus 8, but exceed this device in this area. Consider, for example, the Google Pixel 5 with its excellent cameras, but the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE also takes very nice photos and is also more versatile than the OnePlus 8.
For example, the S20 FE has a telephoto lens to zoom in without loss of quality. The OnePlus 8 lacks such a zoom camera, and the macro camera that is there is very limited. Although the smartphone also takes excellent photos, the OnePlus 8 certainly does not excel with its cameras. The wide-angle lens is useful, but not as good as that of the Pixel 5.
Conclusion OnePlus 8 review update
Eight months after its release, the OnePlus 8 is still the odd one out and difficult to recommend. However, this does not mean that it is a bad smartphone. In fact: the OnePlus 8 is very nice to use, nice and fast and has a good battery life. The cameras are also fine (but not remarkably good) and the update policy is perfectly fine.
The problem is that the phone has been outpaced by the OnePlus 8T. You get a device with an even smoother screen, super-fast charging, better cameras and a lower price tag. As a result, the 8T is a much better deal and that makes the normal 8 totally unnecessary.
OnePlus 8 prices
If you nevertheless intend to purchase the OnePlus 8, you will see the current prices of the device in the comparator below. This way you know exactly what a separate OnePlus 8 currently costs. Also take a look at the OnePlus 8T price comparison if you are considering getting this smartphone at home.
OnePlus 8
Which OnePlus 8 do you want?
OnePlus 8 with subscription
Device once € 0.00
€ 30.00 p / m Abo: € 7.00 p / m Device: € 23.00 p / m
Need a SIM only?
OnePlus 8T
Which OnePlus 8T do you want?
OnePlus 8T with subscription
Device once € 0.00
€ 30.00 p / m Abo: € 7.00 p / m Device: € 23.00 p / m
Need a SIM only?