OnePlus 10T review: super speedy sub-flagship

The 10T is a follow-up to the 10 Pro but at a much more affordable price point. But is the price low enough to justify purchasing it?

                                                                                                   Price: £629

The OnePlus 10T is the sub-flagship successor to the OnePlus 10 Pro, which was released earlier in 2022. It sits beneath that device, but to say it is a downgrade in every way is an understatement. Here is our complete OnePlus 10T review.

While the 10 Pro is a true flagship, the 10T takes a similar design but uses different materials, though it's difficult to tell the difference.

The 10T also lacks several flagship-class features, such as wireless charging. Instead, it boosts wired charging to an almost unbelievable 150W and employs Qualcomm's cutting-edge Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 platform (the + is the new bit).

OnePlus' strategy is fascinating, especially given that, while there was a OnePlus 8T last year, there was no OnePlus 9T (though there was an India-only 9R) to bridge the gap between the OnePlus 9 series and the OnePlus 10 Pro (this might have been pandemic-related). And there have been new additions to the budget Nord series in the interim, most notably the OnePlus Nord 2T - this is clearly an upgrade from the Nord series, but it is also a significant change.

Design and display

The more you play with the 10T, the more subtle differences between it and the 10 Pro become apparent. While the 10T has the same 6.7-inch HDR10+ display as the 10 Pro, the resolution is 1080 x 2412 pixels rather than 1440 x 3216 pixels, and the pixel density is 394ppi rather than 525ppi. The adaptive refresh rate display, likewise, does not range from 1-120Hz, instead switching between 120, 90, and 60Hz as needed. While the 10 Pro uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, the 10T uses Gorilla Glass 5. Are these modifications observable? Not in general, though the display on the 10 Pro is clearly more appealing when compared.

Other significant design differences exist. The camera bump is less pronounced and more of an integrated part of the body - it's a unibody-style design that reminds us of parent company Oppo's Find X5 Pro, which we love! The bump also lacks Hasselblad branding, and the selfie camera is centered rather than in the display's corner.

The dual LED flash has also been relocated. However, one design decision this time around will be unappealing to many OnePlus fans: the removal of the OnePlus alert slider.

This is a OnePlus signature feature that works similarly to the iPhone's distinctive switch in that you can mute the phone without looking at it. This is unfortunate, but we may not have seen the last of it. Change happens and works out fine, as we've seen with decisions like removing the glowing Apple logo from a MacBook.

But, in today's crowded liable Android market, it seems like removing something so distinct was a mistake - could it return in the OnePlus 11 Pro, or is this the end of the line for it?

OnePlus, for its part, recognizes the controversy this will cause and elaborated on the omission in a blog post: "This wasn't a decision made quickly or easily - we understand its value and heritage on OnePlus devices." This decision gave us the necessary space inside the device to incorporate new, meaningful technologies... all while maintaining a thin and light form factor.

"We know our users expect high-wattage charging, a large battery capacity, and better antenna signal from OnePlus devices." To excel in each of these three areas, new technology must occupy space inside the OnePlus 10T."

The antenna technology on this model has been upgraded, according to OnePlus, with 15 separate antennae and a feature called AMP connect to reduce interference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth - but it appears that the battery is the main reason for the removal, with OnePlus claiming that it could only have included a 4500mAh unit in the device rather than the 4800mAh unit actually included.

The OnePlus 10T will be available in two colors: the 16GB memory, 256GB jade green model shown here, and a grippy matte moonstone black finish for the cheaper 8GB/128GB model. We particularly like the jade green finish. Oh, and there is a 12GB memory model, but it will only be available in India. 

Features and performance

There's little doubt about this phone's performance credentials - it's super fast across the board, whether you're playing demanding games, opening boring documents, or retouching images.

One of the 10T's standout features is its 150W fast charging (still branded Supervooc in the style of parent company Oppo), which is simply incredible when using the included charger. Yes, there is still a power brick included! The timing is approximately 19-20 minutes from zero to full, which is, of course, insane (in a good way). It'll be interesting to see how wired charging technology evolves over the next year or two, now that phones can charge in a few minutes – will wireless charging be phased out due to its slowness?

According to OnePlus, the 10T fast charge works by using two 75W charging pumps, and the cooling system has also been improved - there are 13 temperature sensors inside the device, and the fast charging is managed by a custom chip.

Face Unlock, as with the 10 Pro, is the most convenient way to unlock the phone, but there's also a quick fingerprint sensor on board. It also has Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, thanks to the latest-generation Snapdragon.

The device ships with OxygenOS 12.1 based on Android 12, but it should receive a relatively quick update to the upcoming OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13, though OnePlus confirmed that this will occur after the OnePlus 10 Pro. Among other things, OxygenOS 13 offers more customization. OnePlus promises three major Android updates and four years of security updates for the OnePlus 10T.

As is customary, there are some cool cases available for it, most notably the Glacier Mat case. It aids in the cooling of the phone. It also has a somewhat rough finish. You won't have your phone sliding around if you use it.

Camera

The 10T appears to have a camera setup similar to the 10 Pro, but it's not the same - there's no Hasselblad-enhanced software this time around. The main lens has a 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS, as well as an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensor.

On paper, the main camera is a very slight upgrade over the 10 Pro, but the rest of the setup is disappointing, with the macro lens not being very useful (as they usually are) and the lack of a telephoto lens unfortunate but to be expected at this price point. The macro, in particular, left us feeling uneasy. The camera system is indeed similar to that of the much cheaper Nord 2T, which is disappointing.

samples

Images from the main camera are acceptable in normal lighting conditions, but they aren't well-balanced and, unlike images from the Pixel 6, lack vibrancy. Then there's low light, which, like the 10 Pro, leaves a lot to be desired in images taken in low light.

Conclusion

The OnePlus 10T has a lot to offer, but as with so many phones this year, there are a lot of really good competitors waiting in line. The Google Pixel 6 in particular provides fierce competition. So, the 10T has a few features that put it ahead of the competition in terms of specifications.

It has the latest Snapdragon hardware, cutting-edge charge technology, a larger battery, and a much better selfie camera. However, you should only buy it if you're okay with a camera setup that isn't top-tier. Check out the Pixel 6 if you want to step things up a notch and get something better. And If you want a telephoto lens, you'll have to look at the Samsung Galaxy S22 or perhaps the 10 Pro itself.

TechliciousOfficial says...

Score: 4/5                                                                                    ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰

A reliable sub-flagship. However, competition at this price is fierce, so it's only a worthwhile choice if you don't require the best camera experience.

• Good Stuff

+ Outstanding performance

+ Large battery capacity and lightning-fast charging

+ Variable refresh is appreciated.

+ High-quality design

•  Bad Stuff

− There is no wireless charging.

− There is no waterproofing.

− There is no telephoto lens, and the macro is ineffective.

Tech specs

Display: 6.7in Fluid AMOLED display with 1080 x 2412 pixels (394ppi)

Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

Storage and memory: 128GB/ 8GB or 256GB/ 16GB 

Software: OxygenOS 12.1 based on Android 12 

Cameras: 50 megapixels, f/1.8 wide, 8 megapixels, f/2.2 ultrawide, and 2 megapixels macro 

Dimensions: 163 × 75 × 8.75mm  

Weight: 203g