Minor changes, spiralling prices and an increasingly crowded market – the OnePlus 8 has a difficult road ahead

Colour accurate 90Hz screen; Second-best battery life we’ve tested; 5G for less

Lacks new standout features; No IP68 rating

OnePlus gets over the 5G upgrade hump in style. The camera’s no better, it’s worse in one way, but we get a style upgrade and an only slight jump in cost.

Excellent power and performance; 5G (and no massive price hike); 2020 curves

Camera not as versatile as last time around

OnePlus 8 review: OnePlus 8 is a no-nonsense flagship that ticks all the boxes when it comes to what users need. With it, OnePlus has a...

You need to appreciate the cost of 5G to “get” the OnePlus 8. It may seem like everyone has been blathering on about 5G for ages, but the phone hardware that makes it possible is still barely out of nappies. And that means it costs a bit to pack in. However, OnePlus has clearly tried its hardest to keep that extra cost to a minimum. £50 extra for 5G is a bit of a bargain. In other respects, outside a bit of curved glass here, a new processor there, the OnePlus 8 doesn’t seem a big improvement over the OnePlus 7T. But when many 5G phones are as effective wallet-drainers as Western Union email scams, we’re going to chalk this one up as a win.

Excellent power and performance; 5G (and no massive price hike) ; 2020 curves;

Camera not as versatile as last time around;

Excellent power and performance; 5G (and no massive price hike) ; 2020 curves;

Camera not as versatile as last time around;

OnePlus announced two new OnePlus phones in mid-April, the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. At a $699 starting price, the OnePlus 8 is the least expensive 5G phone available today and only gives up a few things seen in the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Support for low-band and mid-band 5G; 90 Hz display; Ample RAM and fast internal storage; Stunning color options; Responsive Oxygen OS UI

No wireless charging; No water/dust resistant rating

Sure, it's pricier than its predecessors, but this handset continues to deliver a flagship experience that costs hundreds less than an equivalent from most others. That's OnePlus' big selling point, delivered time and again.

Gorgeous finish - and not a fingerprint magent for once; Strong battery life easily lasts a day; Smooth software with useful gaming mode too; Top-drawer processor means oodles of power

Cameras aren't leading; Excessive contrast at low brightness; 90Hz of questionable benefit; No wireless charging; Would like a non-5G version to cut price down

There’s been little material advancement from the OnePlus 7T, however, with a camera that’s arguably a little worse, and all at a slightly more expensive price point. But with the addition of 5G and a slinky new design, the OnePlus 8 remains one of the very best phones you can buy for £600.

Excellent 90Hz screen; Great performance; Appealing design

Not as cheap as OnePlus phones used to be; Average camera

The OnePlus 8 doesn't tick every box, but at this price it doesn't need to. Find out why in our full review

Update OnePlus devices are no longer your conventional Flagship Killers — they come close to flagship prices themselves. That’s not necessarily bad if they can deliver. And honestly, we had no doubt that the OnePlus 8 would — it’s fast, it’s pretty, it’s got a smooth refresh rate, and it’s fun to...

Great; ergonomic design and feel; Fantastic display; Fast; solid performance; Meaningful feature set

Camera quality lags behind competing flagships; The storage-hungry might want larger options or microSD slot; No telephoto camera; macro camera is meaningless; Speakers are harsh