OnePlus 3 review update: New software and a new colour, but at a higher price
Update 05/08/16: The best budget phone of year has seen a few updates since it’s introduction, and a new much pricier rival in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The first thing I should address is the price-rise, as the OnePlus now costs £329 in the UK as opposed to £309. You can thank Brexit for that. It’s still a bargain though, especially for what you get in return.
On to better news and OnePlus has been snappy in sending out updates to its flagship, the latest of which addresses some minor issues people had. OxygenOS version 3.2.1 tweaks the RAM management to take full advantage of that 6GB, keeping apps in memory longer and reducing the amount of reloads you have to do. I didn’t really have much issues with this previous, but it’s clear the update has made a positive difference.
An sRGB colour mode has been added too, for those who found the default view a little overcooked. To access this you need to enable developer options and then flick the sRBG toggle. Personally, I would rather have that extra oomph and colour it had originally but it does look much more accurate with this new mode switched on. It’s all down to personal preference though.
Finally, OnePlus has started shipping a new colour. It’s gold on the back, with a white front, and it looks good. It’s not as gaudy as other gold phones, and the white front is a nice contrast. I was disappointed OnePlus only had one colour option to begin with, so it’s nice to see another added so quickly after launch.
Buy Now: OnePlus 3 at Amazon.co.uk from £349 | Amazon.com from $492
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What is the OnePlus 3?
Original Review: After two near misses, the third iteration of OnePlus’ grand experiment to show that great phones shouldn’t cost over £500 hits the mark. The OnePlus 3 is a marvel – a stunning phone in almost every way that takes the game to the Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC 10 and even the iPhone 6S.Previous OnePlus devices compromised, but the OnePlus 3 doesn’t. It has a lovely design, fast-charging, NFC for mobile payments and you don’t need a silly invite to actually buy one.
If you want an Android phone off-contract, this might just be the perfect choice.
OnePlus 3 – Design
Each OnePlus phone to date has offered a marked improvement on what has gone before. The original OnePlus One was an all-plastic affair, with a somewhat strange "sandstone" finish. The OnePlus 2 enhanced the body with metal sides, but retained the plastic rear.The OnePlus 3 offers an upgrade once again, this time by way of a metal and glass design. It's available in "Graphite" – a muted grey – and its 7.4mm-thick aluminium frame makes this handset a delight to both look at and hold.
A 5.5-inch phone may still not be for everyone, but the OnePlus 3 is among the more manageable phones with such a screen size. The finish is excellent too: the aluminium rear is anodised sports the same type of non-shiny look you’ll find on an iPhone.
Related: 12 Best Smartphones
I’ve always been a fan of the quirky, instantly recognisable design of the previous OnePlus phones, but have met plenty of folk who weren't. Those people will be happy to discover that the OnePlus 3 has a far more conventional appearance.
The OnePlus 3 is plainer and prettier than its predecessors, but its quirks remain; they've just been relocated. It's possible to buy super-skinny rear covers with the classic OnePlus sandstone finish, a few different wood finishes or one with a carbon-fibre look. These aren’t ultra-rugged cases, but will protect the aluminium frame from scratches, without adding bulk to the phone.
As is the case with an iPhone, it almost seems a shame to cover up the OnePlus 3’s bare metal. The OnePlus 3 is similar to HTC’s One-series phones but slimmer and no less attractive.
Like the OnePlus 2, this phone has no memory card slot. This time round, however, it isn’t a ploy to make the expensive versions of the phone more attractive. The OnePlus 2 model was available in 16GB and 64GB versions; there's only one OnePlus 3 and it has 64GB of storage.
For some context, the 32GB Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge costs £639 SIM-free, and the iPhone 6S Plus will set you back £699. The OnePlus 3 is half the price of these phones and, as we’ll see, the hardware is directly comparable in several areas.
The OnePlus range is also more accessible than ever before. The OnePlus 3 can simply be ordered online at the OnePlus website – stock allowing – where in the past you had to wait for an invite to buy. In addition, unlike the OnePlus 2, the OnePlus 3 features NFC technology.
This was omitted from the spec in the past, seen as not important enough to warrant the additional cost. However, with the launch of Android Pay, OnePlus has relented. And the move doesn't appear to have significantly impacted the price.
The OnePlus 3 also has a great fingerprint scanner, which is located in the same position as it is on the OnePlus 2. It’s a non-clicky pad that sits below the screen.
It works whether or not the display is on, and is super-fast. It's possible to use it as a "Home" soft key, either on-screen or via the physical ones below the screen. The hardware back and "apps" soft keys are marked with tiny white LED dots, rather than full-on icons. This is because you can flip them around too.
A bargain price has always been the main draw of OnePlus handsets, but there's plenty of customisation on offer as well.
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