The phone's 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED panel features a full-HD+ resolution, 120Hz peak refresh rate, and an integrated fingerprint sensor.
Highlights
All variants of the OnePlus 10T 5G support 150W charging
The rear camera has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor with OIS.
It's quite thick at 8.75mm and quite heavy at 203.5 grams.
OnePlus isn't just a phone, it's a personality brand. With its "never settle" tagline and flexible software, the company has carved a niche for itself among Android fans. The company's growing popularity has brought it into the mainstream, and while phone prices are constantly rising, the company still manages to offer something unique to keep fans happy. However, all that is beginning to change. OnePlus is merging with its sister company, Oppo, merging their software efforts, and the distinct boundaries of OnePlus seem to be fading.
The company's new OnePlus 10T 5G is quite attractive. The company typically reserves "T" smartphones for a mid-year launch. However, there's no OnePlus 10. This phone is newer than the OnePlus 10 Pro and boasts some modern features, as it's launched as a successor to the OnePlus 10 Pro. The base variant of the phone comes for ₹49,999, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Above this, there's a model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at ₹54,999. If you want to go even higher, there's also a variant with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at ₹55,999.
So, what exactly are you getting from the company? Is this the same old phone, or has OnePlus found a new way to stand out? Here are our first impressions of the OnePlus 10T 5G.
Instead of OnePlus's bulky box, the company has now gone with a standard design. It includes a protective case, a Red Cable Club membership card, some stickers, and a large letter from the company. It also comes with a 160W charger and a red USB Type-C cable.
The smartphone's camera arrangement is similar to the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, but the rear panel protrudes significantly. You'll also notice how much more reflective it is. The volume buttons are on the left, and the power button is on the right. There's no alert slider. The top houses small speakers and a microphone hole. The bottom houses the dual SIM tray, USB Type-C port, and primary speaker.
The OnePlus 10T 5G didn't feel very premium to me, even though its rear panel is made of glass. At 8.75mm, it's quite thick and quite heavy at 203.5 grams. It comes in a lightly textured Moonstone Black finish, as well as a glossy Jade Green. We received the Jade Green variant.
All variants of the OnePlus 10T 5G support 150W charging. If you're concerned about safety, the company has provided a comprehensive list of safety measures, which we'll discuss in the full review. You can also charge other devices, including laptops, as it comes with USB-PD support up to 45W.
During the setup process, you'll find options for privacy and personalization. You can choose the system font, set up security, and even practice navigation gestures. It comes with pre-loaded apps like Netflix, OnePlus Community, and Game Manager. This unit comes with Android 12-based OxygenOS 12.1 with the July security patch. If you dig deep into the settings, you'll find some personalization options. The company has announced OxygenOS 13, but unfortunately, the 10T 5G doesn't come with it.
The company has described the phone's design as "weightless," suggesting it'll be more useful and accurate. The company has removed the alert slider, which was the most visible feature that set it apart from other Android players. That simple switch took up a lot of space on the body, and the company says it prioritized that space for battery capacity. Improved cooling and antennas are also included. It appears the company has tried to save some costs, but after removing the 3.5mm headphone jack a few years ago, I still don't see how things have improved for any user.
Furthermore, the company has omitted wireless charging, an official IP rating, or eSIM support, suggesting its fans will be able to live without these features. Even the Hasselblad camera branding has been removed. The company says the 10 Pro 5G remains a flagship option for those who want superior camera capabilities. While the 10T 5G will appeal more to those who prioritize gaming and fast charging.
The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC with an improved cooling system, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. For the top-end variant, the company claims you can run up to 30 apps simultaneously in the background so you can pick up where you left off.
The phone's 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED panel features a full-HD+ resolution, a 120Hz peak refresh rate, and an integrated fingerprint sensor. The edges are thin all around, and there's no thick chin. The display supports HDR 10+ and is made of Gorilla Glass 5. The OnePlus 10T 5G also features a 4800mAh battery, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and GPS.
Its main rear camera features a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture. There's also a basic 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The front camera is 16-megapixel. These specifications aren't great, but the company promises richly detailed photos and videos thanks to 10-bit color capture support and improved processing algorithms. Video recording is possible at up to 4K 60fps.
The company's most recent launch, the 10R, looks similar to the Realme GT Neo 3 and doesn't quite fit the OnePlus template. Now, the 10T 5G has been introduced in a similar vein, which raises the question: who is this phone for? Where does it fit in with the heavily discounted OnePlus 10 Pro 5G? Are the tradeoffs worth it? And most importantly, is OnePlus still OnePlus?
All of this aside, we're in the process of testing the 10T 5G to see how it balances processor power with camera quality, battery life, charging speed, design, and the OxygenOS experience. Stay tuned to Gadgets 360 for a detailed review coming soon.
