Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com has the details about the newest phones in the market -- the OnePlus 8 Pro and the OnePlus 8.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese phone maker OnePlus believes the show must go on and has launched the OnePlus 8 series phones online.
The launch was streamed live on YouTube on April 14.
While this may not be the ideal time to launch a new product, OnePlus has decided to be optimistic.
Let's find out what is under the hood of the 8 and 8 Pro phones.
Design and display
The design is similar to the previous generation OnePlus 7T Pro and OnePlus 8, except for the mole (the punch-hole camera) at the top right corner on the phone's display screen.
As far as the OnePlus 8 Pro is concerned, the mole, the fourth camera placement in the rear and the elongated Laser autofocus sensor (used for faster focusing on the object) differentiate it from OnePlus 7T Pro.
OnePlus has dropped the popup selfie camera, either to improve the phone's dust and water resistance or to lower the price.
Both variants have a curved AMOLED display.
The OnePlus 8 is the smaller model -- it's 6.31" tall x 2.87" wide x 0.31" thick with 6.55" display. The Pro version is 6.51" tall x 2.93" wide x 0.33" thick and has a 6.78" display.
The back of both phones are adorned with a colour shifting glass panel protected by 3D Corning Gorilla glass.
They are available in Glacial Green and Onyx Black. In addition, the 8 is also available in Interstellar Glow while the Pro offers an Ultramarine Blue option.
Hardware
Both the phones run on Qualcomm's latest flagship Snapdragon 865 SoC, which comes with a 5G chip.
While that is great for those who travel internationally, don't expect to see the 5G facility in India any time soon.
The Pro is priced at $899 (approximately Rs 68,355) and $999 (approximately Rs 75,959) for 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM and 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM respectively.
The 8 is priced at $699 (approximately Rs 53,148) and $799 (approximately Rs 60,752) for 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM and 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM respectively.
Camera
The OnePlus 8 Pro has a superior quad camera setup at the rear.
This includes the main 48MP with an aperture of f/1.78, an 8MP telephoto lens with an aperture of f/2.44 and a 48MP ultra wide lens having 120 degrees FOV (Field of View) with an aperture of f/2.2. The OnePlus 8 also offers a 5MP colour filter lens with aperture of f/2.4.
The OnePlus 8, on the other hand, has a triple camera setup in the rear.
It offers the main 48MP camera with an aperture of f/1.75, a 16MP ultra wide lens with a 120 degree FOV and an aperture of f/2.2, and a 2MP macro camera with an aperture of f/2.4.
Both phones support OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser) and EIS (Electronic Image Stabiliser) for better low-light photography and shake-free videos.
Sound
Both phones offer a dual stereo speaker setup with Dolby Atmos for a surround sound experience.
Battery
The OnePlus 8 is embedded with a 4300 mAh battery, while the Pro has a 4510 mAh battery that can be fast-charged using 30W wired Warp Charge 30T charger.
The charger is bundled in the box; a 30W wireless charger can be purchased separately.
Verdict
The OnePlus 8 Pro would be a good deal if you are planning to buy a flagship phone with top-notch features like an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, wireless fast charging, 120 Hz display, 5G and the latest SoC Snapdragon 865.
But, if you are on a lighter budget, the OnePlus 8 -- with its 90Hz display and almost the same hardware configuration as the Pro -- won't disappoint.
The launch date for India is yet to be announced.
