An In-Depth Look at the OnePlus 3T

The OnePlus 3T was released in November 2016 as a minor upgrade to the popular OnePlus 3 smartphone. While very similar to its predecessor, the 3T offered some modest improvements that helped extend the life of an already excellent device.

Design and Display

The OnePlus 3T sports an all-metal unibody construction with slim bezels surrounding its 5.5-inch AMOLED display. The screen provides bright, vivid colors and deep blacks thanks to its Optic AMOLED panel. At full HD resolution, the 401 PPI density ensures images and text appear super sharp. Protection comes from Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

The metal chassis feels very premium in the hand. At just 7.4mm thin and 158g light, the 3T is comfortable to hold and use one-handed. Both front and back are curved to nestle smoothly against the palm.

 Hardware and Performance

Powering the OnePlus 3T is Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 821 processor. Paired with up to 6GB of RAM, it provides lightning fast and buttery smooth performance for all tasks. Gaming, multitasking and browsing feel superbly responsive.

Storage comes in 64GB and 128GB options. While there is no microSD card expansion, most users will find either capacity ample. The 3400mAh battery is also large enough to provide all-day endurance under normal usage. Quick charging gets it juiced up in no time via the USB-C port.

Cameras

The main 16MP camera performs well in most lighting. Details are crisp and colors appear natural. Low-light photos can be noisy but the large f/1.7 aperture helps capture more light. Video specs are also strong, with 4K capture at 30fps.

Selfies are handled by a 16MP front-facing camera. It performs admirably for sporadic social media posts. Portrait mode blurs backgrounds intelligently for well-composed shots.

Software and Updates

The OnePlus 3T launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow which has since been upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie. OxygenOS, OnePlus’ slick skin over Android, provides a clean interface and useful customization options. Regular security patches have kept the device protected for years beyond its prime.

Conclusion

While no longer the newest option, the OnePlus 3T remains a very capable smartphone even in 2023. Excellent specs, solid build quality and swift software support give it far more life than typical devices of its era. For those wanting a high-performance Android without the highest-end price, the 3T remains a tremendous bargain.