Review of new $749 OnePlus 8T: nice performance and 65W fast charging with a 120Hz display, but fourth camera feels unnecessary and there's no wireless charging
The 8T lands six months after The Verge's OnePlus 8 review, which already flagged the two gaps that persist here — no wireless charging and a mediocre camera story — while the display jumps from 90Hz to 120Hz and charging leaps to 65W. Between those flagships, the cheaper OnePlus Nord showed the same weakness: multiple lenses that don't add up to a good camera.
First-order effects
$749 buyers get flagship-class performance, 65W wired charging, and a 120Hz panel today, but must accept no wireless charging and pay for a fourth rear camera the review calls unnecessary.
Second-order effects
The formula hardens into house style: the later OnePlus 10T review repeats the exact pattern — class-leading wired speed alongside a pointless 2MP macro lens and a skipped feature (water resistance) rivals treat as table stakes.
Third-order effects
By the time of the OnePlus 15R, the trade has narrowed rather than resolved — faster screens and bigger batteries, one camera fewer than its predecessor, and only four years of support — suggesting OnePlus is structurally committed to speed-per-dollar over completeness at every price point.
The trend: OnePlus's review record shows a durable product philosophy: maximize refresh rate and charging speed per dollar by cutting convenience features and padding camera counts.
My thoughts on the newly announced OnePlus 8T. It's another capable phone, but most of the spec improvements feel incremental compared to the OnePlus 8 https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
This #oneplus launch event is a long list of firsts and some bold claims. Nobody can deny how focused they have been on delivering a great experience in a stylish design and more affordable price point but no need to take an Apple-like marketing approach #OnePlus8T https://twitte…
Specifically calling out Fortnite as a game for the @OnePlus 8. 8T supports Fortnite at 90 FPS. Remember that Apple is in a war against Fortnite's creators. https://twitter.com/...
The best inclusion is definitely 65W fast charging. I got a full charge in just 37 minutes, which means you can pretty much just charge this thing during your morning shower and have power to spare at the end of the day https://www.theverge.com/...
But don't be fooled by the addition of an extra rear camera. It's a 2MP monochrome sensor for black and white photos, and mostly I'm just bemused by why it got included. The black and white photography option is even buried real deep in the settings! https://www.theverge.com/...
What do you need for superior smartphone performance? ✅ Snapdragon 865 ✅ 12 GB RAM ✅ UFS 3.1 ✅ Dolby Atmos The #OnePlus8T has it all, and then some. https://twitter.com/...