OnePlus 8 Buying Guide: What You Need to Know

The OnePlus 8 is a powerful and feature-packed smartphone that's definitely worth considering. It has a large 6.55-inch AMOLED display.

If you're in the market for a new phone, you'll want to know the key specs of the OnePlus 8. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and comes with up to 12GB of RAM.

The OnePlus 8 has a quad-camera setup, which includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and more. The phone also supports 5G connectivity, making it a great option for those who want the latest network technology.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus 8 is its fast charging capabilities, with the phone capable of charging up to 65% in just 30 minutes.

The OnePlus 8 Pro comes in four model variants depending on the country of intended use: IN2020 (China), IN2023 (Europe/Asia), IN2021 (India), and IN2025 (NA/USA).

The display size and resolution vary across the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro models. The OnePlus 8 features a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,080x2,400 pixels, while the OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a larger 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,440x3,168 pixels.

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Here's a comparison of the display sizes and resolutions of the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, and Google Pixel 4:

The OnePlus 8 Pro has a higher pixel density of 513ppi compared to the OnePlus 8's 402ppi.

The OnePlus 8 Pro has a 6.78-inch 1440p screen with a 19.8:9 aspect ratio and a 120 Hz refresh rate, making it the first smartphone to support both 1440p resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate.

This display is quite impressive, offering 1 billion colors and an Adaptive Display feature similar to Apple's True Tone.

The OnePlus 8 Pro also features an optical (in-display) fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for biometric security.

The standard OnePlus 8 has a 6.55-inch 1080p screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 90 Hz refresh rate, which may seem like a compromise compared to the Pro model.

However, in practice, the difference between the two screens is barely noticeable, and the 1080p AMOLED screen on the OnePlus 8 looks just as sharp.

The OnePlus 8's 90Hz screen is still very smooth and feels faster and smoother than a phone with a 60 Hz refresh rate, making it a great choice for everyday use.

The iridescent color of the OnePlus 8, called interstellar glow, is a fun and delightful option, but it does attract a lot of fingerprints.

If you don't mind wiping down your phone every few minutes, the glossy material is definitely a fun-looking option.

The OnePlus 8 Pro has four model variants available depending on the country of intended use: IN2020 (China), IN2023 (Europe/Asia), IN2021 (India), and IN2025 (NA/USA).

The battery capacity of the OnePlus 8 Pro is 4510 mAh, and it supports wired fast charging at 30W via Warp Charge, as well as wireless charging via the new OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless.

The OnePlus 8 Pro also supports reverse wireless charging, making it a convenient option for users who want to charge their accessories on the go.

The OnePlus 8 Pro has a single-core score of 894 and a multi-core score of 3,322 in a standard Geekbench 5 benchmark, indicating its impressive performance capabilities.

The OnePlus 8 has the same processor as the OnePlus 8 Pro, and it performed similarly on benchmark tests, making it a competitive option among other Android phones that share the same Snapdragon 865 chipset.

The OnePlus 8 has a large 4300 mAh battery, which provides great battery life, and it comes with the incredibly fast Warp Charge 30T charger, capable of charging the phone from 15% to 100% in just about an hour.

The OnePlus 8 series offers impressive network compatibility, making it easy to stay connected on the go. The devices support a wide range of frequency bands, ensuring seamless connectivity on various networks.

The OnePlus 8 model supports GSM bands 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz, as well as CDMA bands BC0 and BC1. This means you can enjoy reliable coverage on both Verizon and T-Mobile networks.

In addition to 2G and 3G networks, the OnePlus 8 also supports LTE and 5G connectivity. The device can connect to FDD LTE bands 1-30, 66, and 71, as well as TDD LTE bands 34-46 and 48. This provides fast data speeds and low latency for streaming, gaming, and online applications.

The OnePlus 8 5G UW model takes it to the next level by supporting millimeter-wave networks on bands 260 and 261. This means you can enjoy ultra-fast speeds on Verizon's 5G network.

Here's a summary of the network compatibility for each model:

The OnePlus 8 Pro also supports a wide range of frequency bands, including FDD LTE bands 1-30, 66, and 71, as well as TDD LTE bands 34-46 and 48. However, it does not support millimeter-wave networks like the OnePlus 8 5G UW model.

The OnePlus 8 packs a punch with its powerful hardware. The phone uses the Snapdragon 865 processor, which is a high-performance chip that will handle demanding tasks with ease.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus 8 is its storage options. You can choose between 128 or 256 GB of non-expandable UFS 3.0 storage, which is fast and efficient.

The phone also comes with 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM, which is plenty for most users. The 8 GB of RAM is paired with LPDDR4X memory, while the 12 GB option uses faster and more efficient LPDDR5 RAM.

Stereo speakers with active noise cancellation are also a great feature of the OnePlus 8. This means you'll get clear and balanced sound, even in noisy environments.

The OnePlus 8 has a premium feel to it, just like the OnePlus 8 Pro.

The phone's body is made of anodized aluminum, and it's paired with curved Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back, giving it a solid and durable construction.

You'll find a circular cutout in the upper-left-hand corner for the front-facing camera, which is a design change from the pop-up camera used on the 7 Pro and 7T Pro.

The rear camera module is similar to that of the 7 Pro and 7T Pro, and it protrudes slightly from the back panel.

The OnePlus 8 is available in Onyx Black (glossy) and Glacial Green (matte) finishes, with additional colors available on certain carrier models.

The phone has an official IP Code water resistance rating, rated at IP68, making it resistant to water and dust.

The OnePlus 8 looks and feels premium, just like the more expensive phones out there.

The OnePlus 8 gets some things right, like its fingerprint sensor and facial recognition, which are fast, accurate, and significantly faster than on the Galaxy S20 phones.

It also offers 5G connectivity at a price that's not outrageously expensive, a refreshing trend in 2020.

One of the drawbacks of the OnePlus 8 is its 5G connectivity, which is a patchwork that will only alienate smartphone users away from 5G.

It only supports Verizon's full 5G network for users who buy the phone from Verizon, and doesn't support T-Mobile's full 5G network or AT&T's 5G network at all.

Unless you live in a carrier's super fast mmWave 5G coverage area, you're unlikely to run into mmWave 5G networks very often.

OnePlus 8's fingerprint sensor and facial recognition are fast and accurate, making unlocking the phone significantly faster than on Galaxy S20 phones.

The phone's 5G connectivity is also a major plus, especially considering it's not outrageously expensive. In fact, it defies the trend of high prices driven by 5G technology in 2020.

The OnePlus 8 has technically lesser RAM compared to other high-end smartphones. This might affect performance, but it didn't seem to make a huge difference in my experience.

The phone also has a 2-megapixel macro camera, which is a bit of an odd choice. It's not a major issue, but it's something to consider if you're a photography enthusiast.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the OnePlus 8 is its 5G support, or rather, lack thereof. It only works on Verizon's network, and even then, it's limited to a slower 5G network.

Unless you live in an area with Verizon's super-fast mmWave 5G coverage, you're unlikely to use 5G often. And even then, it's uncertain when 5G will become widely available.

OnePlus 8 owners reported issues with black crush, green and red tints, and image retention resembling display burn-in. These problems were so severe that OnePlus attempted to fix them with software updates, but the issue may still be related to the screen hardware itself.

In July 2020, users also discovered that the dual-sim function on the NA version of the phone was not functional. This issue was specific to the North American version of the phone.

A software update released in mid-November fixed a battery drain issue that users experienced after updating to OxygenOS 11 in October 2020.

OnePlus faced controversy over the 8 Pro's Color Filter camera, which can see through certain plastics, including clothing, producing an X-ray like effect. This was due to the sensor lacking an IR filter.

OnePlus apologized for "creating privacy concerns and causing troubles for OnePlus users and other netizens." They temporarily disabled the filter on Chinese models with HydrogenOS.

An over-the-air update, OxygenOS 10.5.9, disabled the filter globally; however, OnePlus later stated this was an error, and subsequently pulled the update.

OnePlus 8 Pro owners reported issues with black crush, green and red tints, and image retention resembling display burn-in after pre-orders were delivered.

These display issues were attempted to be fixed by OnePlus through software updates, but some users suspect the problem may be with the screen hardware itself.

A dual-sim function issue was reported on the NA version of the phone, which remained unfixed as of July 20, 2020.

In August 2020, users noticed a dark bar appearing across the selfie camera, particularly visible over gray backgrounds like the incognito window of Google Chrome or the Google Search app in dark mode.

A software update was released in mid-November to address battery drain issues on the OnePlus 8 Pro, which started after updating to OxygenOS 11 in October 2020.

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You can buy the OnePlus 8 from various merchants, including those listed in the article.

The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro can be purchased from these merchants for the best deals, allowing you to compare prices and find the best option for your budget.

The article already lists the specific merchants where you can buy the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro, so be sure to check there for the most up-to-date information on pricing and availability.

Related reading: Buy Pixel 8 Pro or Wait for Pixel 9 Pro

The OnePlus 8 series offers a range of impressive specs, but how do they compare to other top-notch devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G and Google Pixel 4?

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro 5G both feature AMOLED displays, with the 8 Pro boasting a larger 6.78-inch screen compared to the 6.55-inch display on the standard 8.

In terms of pixel density, the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G takes the lead with 563ppi, followed closely by the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G with 513ppi.

Worth a look: Samsung Galaxy S20

Here's a quick rundown of the dimensions for each device:

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro 5G both boast 4,300mAh and 4,510mAh batteries, respectively, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G packs a 4,000mAh battery.

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You can buy the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro from the following merchants: OnePlus will begin accepting orders on April 29, and they plan to start shipping the same day.

OnePlus is one of the merchants where you can purchase the new phones. You can also check out other retailers for deals.

OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are available for purchase on April 29, and you can place your order then.

The OnePlus 8 has a unique water resistance situation. The T-Mobile and Verizon versions are rated IP68, but the unlocked versions from OnePlus and Amazon are not.

OnePlus 8 phones will be available at full retail price starting April 29, with orders shipping the same day.

You can get the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro factory unlocked, but keep in mind that the unlocked version of the OnePlus 8 isn't rated for water resistance like the other versions.

The unlocked OnePlus 8 is still protected against water, according to OnePlus, but it's worth noting that last year's OnePlus 7 Pro survived a 30-minute underwater test without issues.