The Top 5 Biggest Changes In The OnePlus 6T

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Finally, after months of speculation and leaks surrounding its release, the OnePlus 6T launched this November. It arrived on the heels of the original — just six short months after the OnePlus 6 first made its splash on the market.

The timing is perfect, making it a popular choice of gift to leave under the tree this holiday. The price is, too. By starting at $549, it’s practically a steal when compared to flagships like the Pixel 3 XL and iPhone XS Max.

But before you wrap up this modest handset for that special person on your list, you should know the kind of phone you’re about to give this year. Although it’s similar to the regular ol’ 6, it has some tricks up its sleeve that sets it apart.

Let’s take a look at the biggest changes in the 6T.

1. Bye, bye headphone jack

OnePlus has finally joined the overwhelming majority of manufacturers that have nixed the separate headphone jack. This may come as a shock to many of their fans, as they have always promised to listen to the demand of their customers. And these customers have never shied away from yelling at the top of their lungs for manufacturers to keep their mitts off this jack.

OnePlus went on record to say the loss of this beloved jack was worth the other hardware upgrades we’ll get to later. As a result, anyone with a OnePlus 6T will have two options:

  • Fumble with the headphone jack dongle supplied by OnePlus, or
  • Embrace the new world order and purchase a set of wireless headphones

Although you won’t want to presume anything about their listening preferences, a set of wireless headphones would make an easy stocking stuffer.

2. And hello bigger display

Anyone glued to their screen during late night scrolls through Instagram will appreciate the next design upgrade. The 6T comes with a bigger than ever display thanks to a smaller chin and bezels. The OLED screen measures a cool 6.4-inches, and it comes with a 2340×1080 resolution and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, making it a great screen to browse or binge-watch with.

It also has a smaller top notch in the shape of a teardrop — just big enough to house a notification LED. Like its predecessor, users have the option to hide this notch if it’s not up to their style.

3. A new fingerprint reader

The 6T arrives on the scene with a new fingerprint reader found under the display. It made the leap from the back, where the fingerprint scanner can be found in the previous 6, as well as many other popular handsets.

So far, it’s performing better than other phones with an in-display fingerprint authentication — or, what OnePlus is calling “Screen Unlock”. However, the process is still not as quick as you would expect from the Pixel or S9. Luckily, it comes equipped with the Face Unlock for anyone who doesn’t like the in-display reader.

4. A bigger battery

Although the 6T doesn’t look much bigger than the OnePlus 6, it’s managed to pack away a much larger battery. The upgrade added some weight and thickness, but nothing too obvious.

Moving from a 3,300 to 3,700 mAh battery, the 6T comes with a better battery endurance. Preliminary reviews suggest it can last more than five hours with the screen on before it needs to charge. Meanwhile, recharging is a cinch with the new fast charge capabilities.

5. And better storage

In a world of selfies, personalized playlists, and constant content consumption, a good phone is a phone with enough storage for photos, music files, and downloads. The 6T is that phone at no extra cost. Its starting model of 128GB offers twice the amount of storage of the basic OnePlus 6 for the same price. This is great competitive pricing for a generous amount of storage.

Although very similar to the OnePlus 6, the 6T is obviously its own phone. It’s more of a family resemblance, sharing the same genes — like the same Oxygen 6 OS and Android Pie, the same Snapdragon 845 processor, and the same colors.

With just two options of midnight black and mirror black, you may want to add OnePlus 6T skins to their stocking. Each OnePlus 6T skin shows off a unique design that makes scratches and fingerprints less noticeable. You can personalize your OnePlus 6T before you wrap it up by playing around with an online skin builder. Companies like dbrand offer an easy way to see what your favorite texture looks like on the handset in real time before you order it, so you know exactly if it matches your loved one’s style.

And isn’t that the whole point of this deep dive into the 6T? You want to make sure this latest release is something worthy of wrapping up for the holidays. Let us know if its lack of a headphone jack won’t deter you from ordering one for your special someone this year. We want to hear why you think the new 6T deserves a spot under the tree this year.