{"id":72,"date":"2022-04-04T22:57:33","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T02:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zacharyperumal.com\/nmc\/production\/project-three\/news\/?p=72"},"modified":"2022-04-05T00:51:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T04:51:10","slug":"oneplus-10-pro-review-a-lukewarm-response-to-blazing-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zacharyperumal.com\/nmc\/production\/project-three\/news\/oneplus-10-pro-review-a-lukewarm-response-to-blazing-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"OnePlus 10 Pro review: A lukewarm response to blazing competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

OnePlus 10 Pro review: A lukewarm response to blazing competition<\/h2>\n\n\n

by Druv Bhutani | Android Authority | March 31, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"OnePlus
Image by Trusted Reviews<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
What we like<\/th>What we don’t like<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Solid Performance<\/td>T-Mobile exclusive IP rating<\/td><\/tr>
Capable primary camera<\/td>Unpolished fit and finish<\/td><\/tr>
Gorgeous display<\/td>Downgraded ultrawide camera<\/td><\/tr>
Strong battery life<\/td>Inconsistent software<\/td><\/tr>
Rapidcharging<\/td>Imbalanced speakers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The OnePlus 10 Pro is representative of a new era at OnePlus, for better and for worse. It looks to challenge the best flagships but curious omissions and a lack of attention to detail leave it feeling like a lukewarm alternative to heavy hitters like the Galaxy S22 Plus and Pixel 6 Pro.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The OnePlus 10 Pro<\/a> is the Shenzhen-based company\u2019s 2022 flagship, and the first to be born amidst the deepening relationship between Oppo and OnePlus. The device brings a new design to the table and some interesting camera features, backed with a top-of-the-line spec sheet to woo performance enthusiasts looking for value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a price cut over the previous year, the OnePlus 10 Pro sees the brand taking a modest step back towards the affordable flagship space, but still remains perilously close to the premium tier. The landscape, however, has changed a lot in the last few years, and OnePlus is far from the only option in the segment. Can OnePlus succeed in winning over a new generation of budget-minded thrill-seekers? Find out in the Android Authority <\/em>OnePlus 10 Pro review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this OnePlus 10 review:<\/strong> I tested the OnePlus 10 over a period of ten days. It was running Oxygen OS 12.1 on the February 2022 security patch. The unit was provided by OnePlus for this review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know about the OnePlus 10 Pro<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The OnePlus 10 Pro marks the first flagship launch from a team working under the united banner of OnePlus and Oppo. However, you won\u2019t be seeing much of Oppo in the design language \u2014 it has its own unique style that differs greatly from the flagship phones we\u2019ve seen from its BBK sister company<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like every year, OnePlus has left no stone unturned to give it a power-packed spec sheet. The key tenets of OnePlus hardware are all here with a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a healthy amount of RAM, and most importantly, blazing fast charging speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phone is shipping in two variants that offer a combination of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, though the latter hasn\u2019t been confirmed for the US market as yet. Buyers also get a choice of two colors: Volcanic Black or Emerald Forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the phone is competing against very strong options like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus<\/a>, Pixel 6 Pro<\/a>, and the iPhone 13 Pro<\/a>. OnePlus\u2019 goal here doesn\u2019t seem to be offering better specs than the alternatives. Instead, OnePlus is hoping to win users over with a clean Android experience, a \u201cburdenless\u201d design, and a price tag that undercuts all but Google\u2019s top dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prices start at $899 in the US where it will be available at OnePlus.com or via T-Mobile, as well as retailers Amazon and Best Buy. Pre-orders open on March 31 with general sales starting on April 14. There are a few pre-order bonuses thrown into the mix, too: OnePlus.com nets you a pair of OnePlus Buds Z2, Best Buy is giving away a $100 gift card, and Amazon pre-orders include an Echo Show 8 smart display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the UK, the phone goes on sale starting April 5 and will be available to buy from OnePlus.com, John Lewis, Amazon, and Three (8GB\/128GB only). Finally, in India, the OnePlus 10 Pro will be available from Amazon and OnePlus.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design: Bold, yet unrefined<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The OnePlus 10 Pro represents a bold new step for the company, and with it comes a fresh design. Now, it\u2019s not an entirely unique take on hardware design. The phone pays clear homage to the wrap-around camera module we saw on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra<\/a>. However, OnePlus has given it its own spin as the module envelopes much of the upper half of the phone\u2019s rear. The end result is a handset that looks distinctive and, for the most part, visually appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Emerald Forest variant we tested pairs a deep matte green back panel with a glossy black camera finish. The use of ceramic in the camera module is a nice touch, but you\u2019ll have a tough time keeping it free of smudges. I really warmed up to the green shade over my time with the phone. It has a sheen to it that gleams under the right light and gives the phone an air of sophistication. The Volcanic Black (pictured below) has a similarly smooth satin finish, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The haphazard branding all over the design is like placing decals on a Lamborghini \u2013 don’t do it!<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, the assortment of branding all over the back panel really pulls the phone back from reaching the heights of industrial design. The camera module has an enormous Hasselblad logo emblazoned along the edge. The cryptic-sounding \u201cP2D 50T\u201d inscription in the LED flash is equally jarring. Standing for \u201cPhone, 2nd generation Hasselblad camera, and 50MP triple-lens set up,\u201d the nomenclature is completely meaningless and detracts from the visual appeal of the OnePlus 10 Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere, a matching polished frame (which matches the colorway) runs along the middle of the phone to bind the Gorilla Glass 5 back with the Gorilla Glass Victus front. OnePlus skimped a bit on material costs here as obvious competitors like the Galaxy S22 Plus and Pixel 6 Pro both have Victus glass on both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m also not a fan of the finish at the seams of the mid-frame and the glass panels. There\u2019s a very distinct transition between the two elements. Similarly, the volume and power buttons are cut too sharp and I got an unpleasant jab on more than one occasion. It\u2019s a minor nitpick, but you expect better from a phone at this price. It does, however, have an alert slider, which continues to be a welcome signature feature on OnePlus flagships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The OnePlus 10 Pro looks distinctive, but a lot of questionable concessions were made to hit the price point.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cost-cutting doesn\u2019t end there. OnePlus has made the bizarre decision to drop an IP rating<\/a> altogether in all but the T-Mobile variant. The company claims that water resistance and durability testing was done on all variants of the phone, but you\u2019re on your own if you decide to take the phone anywhere near water. This isn\u2019t the first time we\u2019re seeing such a move from OnePlus either as the OnePlus 9 also only had an IP rating if bought from T-Mobile. The difference here is this is the \u201cPro\u201d model, and the OnePlus 10 Pro\u2019s previous two direct predecessors both had an IP rating regardless of where you bought it. This is a baffling regression at a time when sub-$500 budget phones have official waterproofing certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere, the stereo speakers on the OnePlus 10 Pro aren\u2019t particularly impressive. Peak volume levels fall shy of competing phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus. However, what truly irks me is the unbalanced sound. The distinct difference in volume levels takes away from the immersive experience instead of adding to it. At low volume levels, the speakers sound adequate with an emphasis on treble and little to no bass to speak of. They\u2019ll suffice in a pinch for catching up with a quick YouTube video but I wouldn\u2019t recommend using them for listening to music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, talking about the fingerprint scanner, OnePlus has clearly listened to feedback. The in-display fingerprint reader has been moved up a notch and is much easier to access compared to its predecessors. Unlocking the phone is consistently quick and accurate and I found the fingerprint reader to be perfectly comfortable to reach out to during my time with the phone. If you prefer face unlock, that\u2019s included too but since it only uses the selfie camera and no specialist hardware, don\u2019t expect it to be very secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Display: All around excellent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n