still the best OnePlus

The OnePlus 8 Pro saw the light of day in April and has been my main one ever since daily driver been. How do you like the device more than seven months later? You can read that in our review update of the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Read the OnePlus 8 Pro review update

Review updates of smartphones some time after they have been released are important. Slightly older devices may have been caught up a bit, but they have also often fallen in price. The same applies to the OnePlus 8 Pro, which sold for at least 899 euros on release.

The phone now costs a lot less and no new Pro model has been presented yet. We gave the device a thick 8.5 in our review, because the device delivered excellent performance in almost all areas. But how is it doing at the moment? Do you like the flagship still so well and have there been any new things that have been noticed?

Design: a blue glass slipper

In our review we already wrote that we were happy with the design and finish of the OnePlus 8 Pro, and that is no different after months of use. The device stands out because of its dark blue glass housing and scratches or other damage are nowhere to be seen. The 8 Pro is large and operating with one hand is difficult, but we have also become used to that for a long time.

The buttons still feel as firm as the first time they were pressed and that also applies to the Alert Slider. That is the physical slider with which you can quickly select a different sound profile. All in all, the 8 Pro is still a very nice device, which we keep looking at with pleasure.

Screen offers everything you want

The same goes for the screen, which is 6.78 inches in size. Thanks to the high resolution, the amoled panel and refresh rate of 120Hz, it is a beauty to watch. The screen refreshes 120 times per second by default, which makes everything look very smooth.

Whether you watch a movie on Netflix or Amazon, scroll through websites or check photos taken: the screen is great. It is still a shame that the manufacturer opts for a small hole in the screen. We like a retractable camera, such as was used with the OnePlus 7 Pro, in that area. It doesn’t bother us (anymore), but it could be just a bit better.

The rounded screen edges are labeled by many people as annoying, unpleasant and difficult to use. We don’t experience that like that ghost touches, or unintentional touches, is also out of the question. Such an element just exudes some chic. In terms of brightness and viewing angles, everything is still fine.

The Android 11 update for the device is also ready and offers the option to enable an always on display function. This way you always see the time, missed calls and incoming notifications.

Hardware is still top level

In terms of performance, you still have nothing to complain about with this device. Thanks to the Snapdragon 865 chip and ample RAM, you can do whatever you want with it. Apps start quickly, multitasking is smooth and playing a graphics game is no problem at all. The storage (128GB or 256GB) cannot be expanded, but enough for most people. Of course you can always switch to cloud services.

For the rest, the device is quite complete thanks to support for two SIM cards, support for 5G internet and an ip68 certification. As a result, the device is officially dust and waterproof, an always welcome feature with a telephone. A headphone jack is not on board. Too bad, but unfortunately we see that less and less with smartphones.

Now running on Android 11

The OnePlus 8 Pro came with Android 10 with the OxygenOS shell over it. That combination is – as we wrote in our review – very nice. The software is clean and easy to use, but also has several great options. For example, you can get started with choosing an accent color, the shape of icons or a dark mode.

The smartphone has since been updated to Android 11, making OnePlus relatively fast. The OnePlus update policy (not for cheaper devices) scores the necessary points with this. If they also released the security update monthly, that would be even better.

OxygenOS has been changed considerably during that update and as a whole still takes some getting used to. It is much more like the One UI software from competitor Samsung. This was done, among other things, to be able to use the software better with one hand, according to OnePlus. This is useful in itself, but we think it’s a shame that the software is less like stock Android and simply looks busier.

Reliable cameras for every situation

There are a total of five cameras on board, so you can shoot a great photo in every situation. Colors look great and thanks to the 48 megapixel sensor, you can shoot pictures with lots of details. Do you want to shoot a photo at a wider angle? That is also no problem with the 8 Pro. This way you can capture a little more of nature, architecture or the landscape.

That camera is also used for the close-ups and that works well. Thanks to the 16-megapixel resolution, you can shoot fine pictures of objects a few centimeters away. Zooming is also possible, but in this area the OnePlus 8 Pro lags behind the competition. In the next generation of OnePlus smartphones, we hope for better optical zoom.

The fourth camera on the back should have been left out and is no more than one gimmick. A night mode is also available and captures images in difficult lighting conditions just a little better. However, the Google Pixel 5 and Nokia 8.3 5G do that much better.

Battery: still good for an intensive day

In recent months we have used the OnePlus 8 Pro on a daily basis and due to the corona virus just a little more on WiFi than with mobile internet. Getting through an intensive day with hours of screen time is still no problem. If you use the device less, you can charge it once every two days.

Here, the device is used on a full HD resolution with the 120Hz mode. Using a higher resolution is possible, but hardly visible and that has an impact on the battery life. Charging is both wired and wireless with a maximum of 30 watts.

That is quickly enough for a device in 2020, but has now been overtaken by the competition, and also by OnePlus itself. For example, the OnePlus 8T charges with a maximum of 65 Watt, which is much faster.

Alternatives to the OnePlus 8 Pro

Are you not completely charmed by the OnePlus 8 Pro? Then you can take a look at brands such as Samsung or Xiaomi. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is a high-end device with a comparable price. That device also performs well in almost every area and is a good choice. Android 11 is coming soon, but the software contains more bloatware.

As a result, the OnePlus 8 Pro software feels a lot cleaner. Are you looking for a lot for a little? The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is a good option and fully equipped device, as we are used to from the manufacturer. In terms of software, you deliver even more, because the MIUI shell is very busy.

Do you just want the best of the best in software? Then the Google Pixel 5 is definitely worth considering. In terms of hardware, you have to hand in a lot, but the software is clean and you will also receive (security) updates for years. In addition, the camera is excellent.

Conclusion OnePlus 8 Pro review update

Are you looking for a high-end device that delivers good performance in every area and you don’t want to pay the absolute top price? Then the OnePlus 8 Pro is still recommended months after its release. A nice side effect is that the device now costs a lot less, making it even more attractive.

The 8 Pro offers functions that no other OnePlus smartphone has and is one of the first smartphones to run on Android 11. However, that software takes some getting used to compared to Android 10. The roll-out of security updates can also be a bit faster. For the rest, you still do a very good buy with the 8 Pro.

Buy OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro was presented in April 2020 with a suggested retail price of 899 euros for the entry-level model. You can choose a separate OnePlus 8 Pro or the OnePlus 8 Pro with a subscription. You can choose from all providers and via the price comparison below, you will quickly find the best deal. Bought a separate device? Then also check our sim only deals.