Chinese mobile giants OnePlus are known for producing high-end yet affordable android devices. With the release of their latest flagship mobile phone the OnePlus 10 Pro, many are wondering how they could have improved upon last year's solidly performing 9 Pro?
One Plus merged with fellow Chinese tech giant Oppo last year allowing some great advancements in OnePlus’s tech but it has made some users fear the loss of some of OnePlus’s signature style.
The device has already been launched in China but finally, the UK and the rest of the world will get to experience OnePlus’s latest cutting-edge device.
It’s available in just two colours Volcanic Black and Emerald Green, I looked at the black version.
It features a large, curved display and a matte, textured back making it resistant to fingerprints while still looking sleek.
The biggest visual change is the larger, reconfigured camera module which clearly shows OnePlus’s focus on photography with the camera module raising slightly off the body.
With a height of 163mm, a width of 73mm and a thickness of 8.55mm it feels substantial but never bulky, difficult to hold or use with just one hand.
The phone has a decent amount of heft to it, weighing 200g, which isn’t unheard of for a flagship phone however, it doesn’t feel like a brick even when compared to my featherweight Samsung S20 ’s 163g.
Despite the weight, it is well balanced throughout the device giving it a premium but not clunky feel. That extra weight certainly makes it feel more durable and premium and has felt rugged in my day-to-day use.
Thankfully it still includes the alert slider on the top right-hand side which is textured, so it’s easy to find without looking and it’s stiff enough to not be turned on or off by accident.
Right out of the gate the screen on the OnePlus 10 Pro is a beauty, with a 6.7” AMOLED display, its very sharp with a maximum resolution of QHD+ or 3216 x 1440, and a 20:9 aspect ratio, making it perfect for watching videos, gaming, swiping through social media or looking your photographs.
The screen was bright and colourful at around 1300 nits and while it looks great, don’t expect the same kind of colour pop or excessive brightness that you see on an Apple or Samsung device.
It includes a Variable Refresh Rate that can go as high as 120Hz, which will make your gaming and even just your scrolling experience buttery smooth but can also be set to 60Hz to conserve battery.
The LTPO 2.0 technology allows the phone to switch the framerate quickly and efficiently to save battery life without you needing to change it.
That gorgeous screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus making it the toughest and most scratch resistant OnePlus device ever and it is also supported by Gorilla Glass 5 on the back for added protection.
While the outside may not look shockingly different the internals has received an overhaul.
Featuring the new, top of the line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8.1 processor and integrated Adreno 730 GPU, these are are incredibly fast and powerful, really delivering that flagship performance I usually only expect from high-end devices.
OnePlus claim it to be 20% faster than the previous Snapdragon 888 and it certainly feels more responsive, but it still can’t quite match up to the mighty Apple A15 chip.
It’s most noticeable when carrying out advanced tasks such as handling 8K and 4K videos and graphics-heavy games without causing as much of a drain on the battery due to its improved efficiency.
It easily ran everything I could throw at it without even blinking, including Call of Duty, Genshin Impact and PUBG and Minecraft with mostly no stutters and its CPU scored an impressive 3433 multi-core, on Geekbench.
There are two different versions of the OnePlus 10 Pro, one with 8Gb of RAM while the second has 12Gb, I got to look at the 8Gb version.
Both use LPDDR5 which is more powerful and uses less power than ever before which adds to that lighting fast performance, especially for repeated tasks like going through your picture gallery.
The two versions also have different storage options 128GB or 256GB I received the 128Gb option, but it’s important to note that the 256 version has the higher RAM capacity and neither has expandable memory options.
The OnePlus 10 Pro uses the OxygenOS 12 operating system, based on Android 12, and it seems to be slowly turning into Oppo's ColorOS looking near indistinguishable, which isn't surprising considering their merger. It will receive 3 major Android updates and 4 major security updates.
There are some apps included but not many thankfully and most are actually quite useful like Zen Mode which is great for when you want a moment's peace from your notifications for a specific amount of time like a more customisable 'Do Not Disturb'.
There is also HyperBoost Gaming to optimize your phone’s processing power which really helps push your device's gaming performance and can help give you the edge in competitive online games.
Connection options include Bluetooth 5.2 and Bluetooth LE audio is supported, Wi-Fi 6 & 6E to get you fast connections at home as well as 5G for when you’re out and about.
The camera has been redesigned, has seen some improvements, it’s the second camera system to be Co-developed with legendary camera experts Hasselblad, giving it incredibly accurate colour calibration.
It contains 3 sensors including a 48 Mega Pixel and f1.8 main senor, it claims to pick up over 1 billion colours allowing you to pick up a larger range of colours, and I did notice it was able to pick up more subtleties, especially when photographing nature with colours transitioning gradually into another.
An 8 MP, f2.4 telephoto or zoom which also features optical image stabilisation to prevent blurs shots, which is especially useful in low light or when zoomed into a subject.
It also houses a 50Mp, f2.2 Ultra-wide sensor if you are feeling a little creative you can capture images in 150°, ultra-wide angle which gives a fun fisheye effect, that’s a fun addition but also reminded me of skateboard photography.
And for the more serious photographers, you can also capture 10bit RAW files, so all the shot information is preserved allowing you to really enhanced your pictures with image editing software like Photoshop.
You can also shoot in the compressed HEIF file type (High-Efficiency Image Format) giving you further improvements in colour range.
A 32 MP selfie camera is also included, giving you lots of detail for striking self-portraits.
There is a decent number of video options here, you can shoot up to massive 8k video at 24 frames per second or 4k at either 30,60 or 120 fps allowing you to really capture motion perfectly.
You can also capture 1080 video at 240 fps for super slow-motion footage and the more standard 60 and 30 fps.
And for those who like to perfect their footage, you can also film in LOG format, which gives you more data and provides you with more flexibility for post-processing.
The OnePlus features a 5000mAh battery that uses 80-watt Warp Charge which allows you to go from zero to fully charged in just over 30 minutes.
50-watt wireless charging is also included which is handy if you don’t like cables but still want that snappy charging time getting you fully juiced in 45 mins.
It charges via the iconic OnePlus red cable USB-C to USB-A and the fast-charging brick is included, unlike some brands.
The phone does support dual SIM but sadly there is no inclusion of expandable memory via a Micro SD Slot.
Another addition is its "3D cooling" system that mitigates some of the known issues of Snapdragon handsets getting uncomfortably warm, especially when charging while doing demanding tasks like gaming.
It is rated IPX68 which means it can withstand dirt, dust and is resistant to full submersion up to a maximum depth of 1.5 metres underwater for up to thirty minutes, meaning it’s easily handled getting caught in the rain or an accidental drop in the sink.
A simple case is included which while it may not be everyone's style it’s a nice touch to keep your device looking fresh for longer.
Pricing is surprising given its advanced specs and impressive features the 8Gb RAM/128Gb storage model going for only £799 and the 12Gb RAM/256Gb storage model £899, when compared to Samsung and Apple that is remarkable and is enough to make me rethink my Samsung device.
Verdict 4/5
The OnePlus 10 is probably one of the best android phones out there, taking on the already impressive 9 Pro with some worthwhile upgrades that make it more powerful and versatile. It feels like a flagship that could hold its own against Apple and Android flagships.
The screen and processing upgrade really steal the show here but the new camera offering didn't quite rival its competitors. The incredibly fast charging could make this the perfect phone for those who want pro-level performance at a moment’s notice or while on the go.
There’s probably not quite enough to make the average OnePlus 9Pro user part with their hard-earned cash but the 10 Pro is clearly a step ahead of most of the Androids on the market.
