OnePlus 7 Smartphone: Performance, Display, and Battery Life

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The OnePlus 7 is a powerhouse of a smartphone, boasting impressive performance that's sure to satisfy even the most demanding users.

Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, paired with up to 12GB of RAM, makes for seamless multitasking and rapid app launches.

In terms of display, the OnePlus 7 features a stunning 6.41-inch AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, providing a silky-smooth visual experience.

This high refresh rate, combined with the phone's vibrant colors and deep blacks, makes for an immersive viewing experience that's hard to put down.

Battery life is also a major highlight of the OnePlus 7, with a large 3700mAh battery that easily lasts a full day of heavy use.

Design and Display

The OnePlus 7 has a 6.41-inch display that's large and colorful, with a Full HD+ resolution that provides a crisp pixel density of 402ppi. This means you'll get plenty of detail and color in your visuals.

The display is an AMOLED panel, which is known for its good color accuracy and contrast. However, it's worth noting that the screen on the OnePlus 7 Pro is both bigger and sharper.

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In terms of design, the OnePlus 7 is very similar to the OnePlus 6T, but with a few minor differences. It has a notch at the top of the screen, which houses the front-facing camera, and a small chin at the base of the display.

The phone's rear glass finish is shiny and sleek, but it doesn't offer much in the way of grip, so a case may be a good idea if you want to have a better hold on the phone.

Here's a comparison of the OnePlus 7's display with some other high-end devices:

The OnePlus 7's display also performs well in terms of response times, with a black-to-white response time of 6ms and a 50% grey-to-80% grey response time of 8ms. This makes it well-suited for fast-paced gaming.

Design

The OnePlus 7 has a design that's very similar to the OnePlus 6T, but with a few minor differences.

The phone's rear glass finish is shiny and smooth, but it doesn't offer much grip, making a case a good idea if you want a better hold on the phone.

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The OnePlus 7 is available in one color in Western markets: Mirror Gray, while those in China and India can also buy it in red.

The phone has stereo speakers, with a speaker grille running along the top edge and a down-firing speaker on the base.

Here are some of the design features of the OnePlus 7:

  • Similar design to the OnePlus 6T
  • Shiny glass finish
  • No IP rating
  • No microSD card slot
  • No wireless charging
  • No headphone jack

The OnePlus 7 Pro, on the other hand, has a more premium design with a curved edge display and a pop-up selfie camera.

The phone's display is a Quad HD+ screen with a 3,120 x 1,440 resolution (516ppi), HDR 10+ support, and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

The OnePlus 7 Pro is available in three colors: Nebula Blue, Mirror Grey, and Almond, with the latter releasing after the initial launch.

The phone's rear glass has a shimmer effect that's similar to the Samsung S10 series and the HUAWEI P30 range.

The OnePlus 7 Pro has no wireless charging, always-on display support, or 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does have official nylon and sandstone cases that accommodate the pop-up camera.

Broaden your view: Wifi 7 Compatible Devices

Display

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The display on the OnePlus 7 is a real highlight, featuring a large 6.41-inch AMOLED screen with a crisp Full HD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.

This translates to a pixel density of 402ppi, which is plenty sharp for general usage, gaming, and video. The screen also has a tall 19.5:9 aspect ratio, providing more space for landscape gaming and a better viewing experience for video.

The display is interrupted by a small notch at the top, which houses the front-facing camera. While this does mean you lose some space for additional icons in the notification bar, it's not a major issue.

OnePlus has managed to keep bezels around the screen to a minimum, but there is a small chin at the base of the display.

The display is bright and colorful, providing enough detail for general usage as well as gaming and video. However, it lacks HDR and a QHD (or higher) resolution, which means image quality isn't as good as some other high-end devices.

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Here are some key display specs for comparison:

The OnePlus 7's display also performs well outdoors, but the brightness sensor could be more aggressive in its brightness increase. There are some slight color shifts to be noticed regarding viewing angles, but these aren't critical.

Performance and Battery

The OnePlus 7 is a powerhouse when it comes to performance.

The phone is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 chipset, which provides flagship performance and dedicated gaming modes. This means you can expect fast app loading and seamless multitasking.

In our testing, the OnePlus 7 achieved an average multi-core score of 10,576 on the Geekbench test, just below the OnePlus 7 Pro. This is a great result, especially considering the phone's lower price point.

The OnePlus 7 also features a range of power-saving modes, including Fnatic mode, which blocks notifications and calls to provide more power to your game.

Here's a comparison of the OnePlus 7's battery life with other smartphones:

The OnePlus 7's battery life is overall slightly above the OnePlus 6T, and it even outperforms the OnePlus 7 Pro in some tests.

Screen Flickering due to PWM

Credit: youtube.com, PWM flicker test (Fullscreen)

The OnePlus 7 display is prone to screen flickering due to Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM).

This flickering is quite noticeable, especially at lower brightness settings, and can cause eyestrain for sensitive users.

The frequency of the flickering is around 200 Hz, which is relatively low.

In fact, 53% of tested devices don't use PWM to dim the display.

If PWM was detected, an average of 8228 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

Fortunately, the display offers very short response times, making it great for gamers.

However, if you're sensitive to PWM flickering, you might want to take note of this issue.

The good news is that OnePlus offers the experimental feature of DC dimming, which can reduce or even eliminate the effects of PWM flickering.

This feature is still in its experimental phase, but it's worth keeping an eye on for future updates.

Performance and Battery

The OnePlus 7 is a powerhouse of a phone, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset that's sure to keep up with your demanding needs. This latest Android software is paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, making it a great choice for gamers and heavy users alike.

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The phone's performance is impressive, with apps loading swiftly and multitasking a breeze. You can easily switch between multiple apps without any slowdown, making it perfect for those who need to stay productive on the go.

The Geekbench test shows that the OnePlus 7 has an average multi-core score of 10,576, just below the OnePlus 7 Pro. This puts it in the same league as top-performing smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and iPhone XS.

For gamers, the OnePlus 7 has a dedicated gaming mode that lets you lock the screen brightness, enhance the display, and choose whether or not to display notifications or call pop-ups on screen. You can also engage Fnatic mode, which blocks notifications and calls, restricts background activity, and disables your second SIM to enhance your network connection and reduce latency.

The OnePlus 7's battery life is also impressive, lasting a full day on a single charge. The 3,700mAh battery is fast charging compatible, but there's no wireless charging. You can get a full charge in under 1:30 hours, making it a great choice for those who need a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyle.

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Credit: pexels.com, From above composition of white wired earphones and modern mobile phone with blank screen and connected charging cable placed on wooden surface in daylight

Here's a comparison of the OnePlus 7's battery life with other popular smartphones:

Temperature

Temperature is a major concern for any device, especially one that's used for gaming and other resource-intensive activities. The system's maximum case temperatures can reach up to 46.7 °C (~116 °F) after sustained load.

This is almost a critical value, and it can feel quite uncomfortable if you put the smartphone in your pocket after a long gaming session. The heat can be perceived even in idle usage, but it's considerably lower and poses no problems.

The average temperature is 42.8 °C (~109 °F), which is still a bit high but not alarming. The temperatures vary, but they're always above 39 °C (~103 °F) in the front, back, and middle of the device.

Here's a breakdown of the maximum temperatures:

Overall, the temperatures are a bit concerning, but they're not deal-breakers.

Camera and Features

The OnePlus 7 has a dual rear camera setup with a powerful main 48MP lens and a 5MP depth sensor for portrait mode and 2x zoom.

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The main camera produces better quality images with more detail, although the visual improvement is not drastic. In good light, the cameras perform well, but indoor shots can dip in quality slightly.

The camera app is straightforward with a few options, including photo, portrait, nightscape, and video modes. Swipe up to reveal more options, including pro mode and slow-motion video capture.

The front-facing camera is a 16MP sensor with a beauty mode that's thankfully turned off by default. Portrait mode is available, but it's not as accurate as the rear setup due to the lack of a secondary depth sensor.

Here's a quick rundown of the camera features:

  • Main camera: 48MP, f/1.7
  • Depth sensor: 5MP, f/2.4
  • Front camera: 16MP, f/2.0

Overall, the OnePlus 7's camera is a solid setup that's sure to please most users, but may not be the best for pixel peepers or enthusiasts.

Games for Fnatic Mode

Games for Fnatic Mode are a breeze on the OnePlus 7, thanks to its fast Qualcomm Adreno 640 graphics solution.

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You can expect smooth performance in modern games like Arena of Valor, which runs at a stable 60 fps regardless of settings.

In Asphalt 9, the frame rate reaches a maximum of 30 fps, but it's still playable.

The new Fnatic mode minimizes distractions like notifications, so you can fully focus on your game.

Our review device handled all the games we tested with ease, thanks to its powerful graphics capabilities.

Camera

The OnePlus 7's camera is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, with a powerful main 48MP lens and a 5MP depth sensor for portrait mode and 2x zoom.

The main sensor is a Sony 48MP f/1.7 offering, which provides better quality images with more detail.

In good light, the OnePlus 7's cameras perform well, offering a good level of contrast and color.

However, inside the quality dips slightly, but results are still strong.

The camera app on the OnePlus 7 is straightforward, with only a few options visible when you load it up.

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There are four modes to choose from at first - photo, portrait, nightscape, and video - but swipe up over the shutter key and you'll open up an expanded menu revealing more options, including a pro mode and slow motion video capture.

The front-facing camera is a 16MP f/2.0 sensor, which produces good quality selfies.

A beauty mode is available, but it's thankfully turned off by default.

The OnePlus 7 also has a portrait mode available on the front-facing camera, which uses machine learning to blur the background.

Here's a comparison of the rear camera's modes:

The 48MP camera in the rear produces very nice-looking photos with vivid colors and well-reproduced details.

Videos can be recorded in 4K, and the camera performs well in low light, but it can't produce as many details as some other smartphones.

OnePlus claims to be using a new algorithm driving the photography, with dedicated modes for improved HDR, new super resolution 48MP shots, and an upgraded Nightscape 2.0 for better low-light shots.

The camera sometimes has issues with washed out skies and a brightening of scenes and colors to an unrepresentative degree.

Pros and Cons

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The OnePlus 7 has its advantages and disadvantages.

One of the major pros of the OnePlus 7 is its fast charging capabilities, which can charge the phone up to 70% in just 30 minutes.

The phone's AMOLED display is also a significant pro, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it perfect for gaming and watching videos.

However, one of the cons of the OnePlus 7 is its lack of water resistance, which may be a concern for users who live in areas with high humidity or plan to use their phone near water.

Additionally, the phone's software updates can be slow to roll out, which may leave it vulnerable to security exploits.

Pros

The OnePlus 7 is a solid smartphone offering flagship features at a price point that easily undercuts the likes of Apple, Samsung and Sony.

One of the key benefits of the OnePlus 7 is its latest power under the hood, which provides a seamless user experience.

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The phone also boasts a solid battery life, making it a great option for those who want a premium phone without breaking the bank.

Here are some of the key pros of the OnePlus 7:

  • Latest power under the hood
  • Premium features for less
  • Solid battery life

The OnePlus 7 is a great option for those who want an affordable flagship phone, with a premium build and flagship power under the hood.

Cons

The OnePlus 7 has its downsides, and one of them is that it's very similar to the OnePlus 6T. The design and features are almost identical, which might make it feel like an older model.

One of the biggest cons is that it's overshadowed by the OnePlus 7 Pro. The Pro model was released earlier and has more advanced features, making it the more desirable option.

The OnePlus 7 also lacks a few key features, including a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. This might be a deal-breaker for some users who rely on these features.

Here are some of the notable cons of the OnePlus 7:

  • -Very similar to OnePlus 6T
  • -Overshadowed by OnePlus 7 Pro
  • -No microSD, headphone jack

Who's It Not For?

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The OnePlus 7 might be a great option for some, but it's not for everyone. Specifically, if you live in North America or Australia, you're out of luck.

OnePlus decided to only offer the pricier 7 Pro in North America, so if you're in the US or Canada, you won't be able to get the OnePlus 7. This is a pretty significant limitation, especially if you were looking forward to trying out this phone.

The same goes for Australia, where OnePlus hasn't launched a new phone since the OnePlus 5, and there's no sign of the OnePlus 7 changing that trend.

Verdict and Pricing

The OnePlus 7 is a dependable, affordable flagship smartphone that's a cautious upgrade from its predecessor, the OnePlus 6T. It's got high-end power and an in-display fingerprint scanner, but borrows a lot from its predecessor.

The price of the OnePlus 7 starts at £499 (around $640, AU$930) for the 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage model, which is the same price as the OnePlus 6T started at with the same RAM and storage. This is excellent value, considering the upgraded specs.

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You can opt for the 8GB/256GB configuration at £549 (around $700, AU$1,000), which is actually cheaper than the 256GB 6T. This is a great option for those who want a bit more space and power.

The OnePlus 7 is cheaper than contemporaries like the Honor 20, Honor View 20, and Pocophone F1, while it matches other 'affordable flagship' rivals such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 and Oppo Reno.

Here's a summary of the OnePlus 7's price and specs:

Overall, the OnePlus 7 is a solid upgrade from the 6T, but it's not a game-changer. It's a confident, ridiculously fast mid-range device that should appeal to anyone who's been tempted by a OnePlus device before.

Software and Connectivity

OnePlus 7 offers a unique blend of pure Android and thoughtful customization.

The software is remarkably clean, with a 'parallel apps' feature that lets you clone certain apps like Uber, so you can log in to two separate accounts on one device.

Take a look at this: How to Close Apps Iphone 7

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OnePlus' control center features cute animations while transitioning, a nice touch that shows attention to detail.

You can disable certain status bar icons by default, like the NFC logo, and force the screen to always stay in QHD+ mode.

OnePlus also offers an alternative to Google's official gestures that hide the buttons altogether, making it truly edge-to-edge.

These gestures are so much more intuitive than Google's own, and don't interfere with the menu bar gesture that every Android user is already using.

The ambient display on the OnePlus 7 is a notable omission, as it's one of my favorite features on other phones - it reduces notification anxiety by showing the time and any notifications without waking up the phone.

Comparison and Variants

The OnePlus 7 has a more limited variant selection compared to its predecessor. There are only two variants available, both in Mirror Gray.

You can choose between 6 GB + 128 GB and 8 GB + 256 GB storage options. The prices for these variants are 559 Euros and 609 Euros respectively.

The good news is that the entry-level device's price increase is only 10 Euros compared to the predecessor.

Connectivity Fewer Variants

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The OnePlus 7 has made some changes to its connectivity options, and it's worth noting that the microSD reader is no longer present. This isn't a major issue, thanks to the phone's large storage space.

One can choose between 128 GB and 256 GB of storage, which is the same as its predecessor. However, the RAM options have been limited to just two variants.

Here are the available storage and RAM combinations:

  • OnePlus 7 Mirror Gray 6 GB + 128 GB: 559 Euros (~$633)
  • OnePlus 7 Mirror Gray 8 GB + 256 GB: 609 Euros (~$690)

The entry-level device's price increase is moderate, with a 10 Euros (~$11) hike compared to its predecessor.

6T Evolved

The OnePlus 7 is essentially the OnePlus 6T evolved. It boasts an identical design, display, battery size, and overall dimensions to its predecessor. The excitement over the ultra-premium flagship from OnePlus will inevitably grab all the headlines, but we shouldn't forget about the regular OnePlus 7.

The OnePlus 7 gets an upgrade to the Snapdragon 855 SoC, which is a notable improvement. The same 48MP primary camera as the OnePlus 7 Pro is also a welcome addition.

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The Dolby Atmos stereo speakers make their way over from the Pro variant, as does UFS 3.0, RAM Boost, Zen Mode, and all the gaming mode extras.

The OnePlus 7 will be available to buy in June with options of 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB storage. Pricing starts at 559 euros/499 pounds/32,999 rupees.

Expand your knowledge: Samsung Galaxy A6 / A6+

Additional Features

The OnePlus 7 is a powerhouse, and it's not just about the specs. It has a long-lasting 3700mAh battery that can easily get you through a day and a half, even with heavy use.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus 7 is its fast charging capabilities, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in just 60 minutes.

The phone's Warp Charge technology is incredibly efficient, and it's a game-changer for anyone who's always on the go.

OnePlus 7 also has a dedicated gaming mode that provides a seamless gaming experience with reduced lag and increased performance.

In addition, the phone has a sleek and durable design, with a premium glass back and an aluminum frame that feels great in the hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is OnePlus 7?

The OnePlus 7 was unveiled on May 14, 2019. As of the current year, the OnePlus 7 is approximately 4 years old.

Francis McKenzie

Writer

Francis McKenzie is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a focus on technology and software development, Francis has established herself as a knowledgeable and authoritative voice in the field of Next.js development.

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