OnePlus 5 specs, features and comparisons: Affordable flagship smartphone is great but not the best

There are quite a few noticeable upgrades in the OnePlus 5 smartphone from 2016’s OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T handset. However, the overall offering and package of the handset has been roughly similar to the predecessors. It’s a big step forward for the company. It will be interesting to see how it fares against the Samsung Galaxy S8.

The Midnight Black, with its 128GB storage configuration, has a 5.5-inch display that takes up much of the front of the handset. There are thinner bezels at the side and slightly wider top and bottom bezels. Many may confuse the handset as an Apple iPhone. The two capacitive buttons on either side of the smartphone are the main Android control keys. The company has decided to go forward with a combined physical Home button and fingerprint sensor. Users must maximise the screen real estate as the handset has a 1,920 X 1,080 pixels HD resolution.

According to Forbes, the colour depth of the screen demands praise. Colour reproduction and accuracy on the screen is a primary feature of the handset. This perfectly balances out the smaller resolution of the screen. OnePlus has saved money by going with an HD display as opposed to a QHD one. The design is twofold and thinner. There is little more surface area that makes the grip feel stronger. The long edges of the device have a more chamfered approach.

The inclusion of the dual camera is the big moment for the smartphone. The 16MP main camera has a 20MP telephoto. Both work together to offer more improved digital stabilisation and of course faster shutter speed. Users can also create a portrait-style depth of field effect.

There is also a Pro Mode that provides native app access to ISO, shutter-speed, white balance, exposure and focus settings. Despite such string specs, the camera may not match the expectations of some at the price point OnePlus is offering the handset. Some feel the entire camera package is set to be perfected for the OnePlus 6 scheduled for 2018.

Other specs included are pretty impressive, such as, the Adreno 540 GPU, SnapDragon 835 chipset, USB Type-C connectivity and dual-SIM support. The 64GB model comes with a 6GB RAM and the 128GB model with an 8GB RAM. At £449 (AU$570 approx) for the 64GB model, the handset is like an affordable flagship model. Stay tuned on IBT AU for more updates on the OnePlus 5 handset.