OnePlus 3T Initial Review : 'Flagship Killer' Sells for Php 24,990 At All Digital Walker Stores

Dubbed as 'The Flagship Killer', great-value-for-money Android smartphone OnePlus 3T comes replete with many features that you'll find on 2016 and 2017 flagship handsets that cost more than Php 10,000 more.

Starting from its design all the way to its technical specifications, from its imaging capabilities to battery performance, the OnePlus 3T definitely has what it takes to stand shoulder to shoulder with all high-end phones this year and not feel a bit shy.

Flaunting an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy shell, the slim OnePlus 3T doesn't only feel very durable when you hold it but it's also easy on the eyes. If anything, this model's aethetics are similar to some HTC top-of-the-line smartphones, but that's a topic for another entry altogether.

Inspecting the device, it's clear that details are what makes the OnePlus 3T a stunner in both design and build. To be specific, as you can see, the unibody enclosure seamlessly meets the Gorilla Glass 4 face resulting in a flex-free tank-like build. Also, notice that all the buttons are made of real metal just like the back plate.

Above the volume rocker, on the left panel, you'll find the three-level Alert Slider that allows you turn on or turn off notifications or to only let the important ones pass through. This is particularly useful at night or when you're in an important meeting.

Just like many flagship smartphones, all of the ports of OnePlus 3T are found at the rear panel. Here, we'll find the 3.5mm combo jack and the USB Type C port beside the loud speaker.

While I was playing with the handset yesterday - April 25, 2017, at the intimate gathering organized by Digits Trading to announce the availability of OnePlus 3T, I was particularly impressed with the quality of the phone's display.

It's a 5.5-inch Full HD Optic AMOLED panel that doesn't only look great regardless of the viewing angle but is also more brilliant than than the IPS screens that you'll find on competing devices in this handset's price category.

Another department where the OnePlus 3T truly shines is in terms of imaging performance.

Protected by a shatter-proof and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens cover, the rear camera is a 16 MegaPixel PDAF shooter with Sony IMX 298 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, and Optical Image Stabilization. Crafted to deliver clear images even in low light settings, this module can also shoot 4K videos at 30 frames per second.

Here are some sample shots that I took using OnePlus 3T rear camera (Will show you more in my full review):

For selfies, OnePlus 3T sports a 16 MegaPixel front-facing fixed-focus camera above the display with Samsung 3P8SP Sensor, EIS, and f/2.0 aperture. This self-portrait snapper can also shoot Full HD 30fps videos, which is great for those who want to start vlogging.

Here are sample selfies that I took using OnePlus 3T's front-facing 16MP camera:

With Marco Grajo, PR and Brand Officer of Digits Trading Corporation

Complementing its stellar looks and above-average mobile imaging capabilities, this handset's top-notch internal hardware ensure ultra-smooth overall performance. OnePlus 3T runs its Oxygen-OS-skinned Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with a powerhouse 64-Bit Quad Core 2.35 GHz Kryo and Adreno 530 GPU based Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, has a whopping 6GB of RAM, and comes with a sizable 64GB of non-expandable internal storage. Together, these components work together to give this smartphone great 3D gaming, multitasking, and multimedia performance.

Apart from having a fairly large 3,400 mAh battery pack that delivers around a whole day of uptime with regular use, this smartphone also comes replete with the company's Dash Charge technology which promises 50% charge after 30 minutes of plugging the phone to an outlet. Just make sure that you use the charger and the USB Type C that comes with the official retail package.

Now being officially distributed in the Philippines by Digits Trading Corporation, OnePlus 3T is available at all Digital Walker Stores across the country - including the ones in Mega Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, among others. You can get this model for Php 24,990, which makes it a real steal given all of its key features and main selling points.

All things considered - from design to price, internal hardware to camera performance, I'd say that I'm inclined to recommend OnePlus 3T to Pinoy consumers who want to enjoy top-of-the-line, flagship-level performance on a smartphone but aren't keen on shelling out more than Php 25,000 to purchase one.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OnePlus 3T Philippines
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Upper Midrange
Dimensions : 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4 mm
Weight : 158 grams
Available Colors : Gunmetal, Soft Gold
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat (via upgrade) with Oxygen OS 4.0.2 UI
Display : 5.5 inches (~73.1% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), Optic AMOLED, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Processor : 64-Bit Quad Core 2.35 GHz Kryo, Adreno 530 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821
RAM : 6GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, non-expandable
Camera : Back: 16 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash, 1/2.8" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, HDR
Front: 16 MegaPixels, f/2.0, 1.0 µm pixel size
Video Capture : Back - 4K 30fps, 720p 120fps
Front - 1080p 30fps
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C 1.0 reversible, USB OTG, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.2 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat6
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner (front)
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100, 4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,400 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Premium Design, 6GB of RAM, Flagship Level Features at a Upper Midrange Price Point
Announcement : Philippines - March 25, 2017
Availability : Philippines - March 25, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines via Digital Walker - Php 24,990