OnePlus 6 versus OnePlus 6T: which should you buy?

• Nick Gray
• 6 years ago

When a brand releases a new smartphone, the newest device is typically the one you should buy. It usually features better specs, a new design, and features that the only one won’t have. But that’s not necessarily the case with the new OnePlus 6T. The new flagship smartphone from OnePlus is basically a OnePlus 6 with a few minor tweaks that’s accompanied by a higher base price. While the higher price is justified by the fact that the phone’s base model comes with 128GB of RAM, an in-display fingerprint sensor and a smaller notch at the top of the display, there are a few drawbacks.

Unlike the OnePlus 6, the new OnePlus 6T does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Over the years, OnePlus has used the 3.5mm headphone jack as a key selling point for its phones, mocking Apple for removing it from its iPhones and ridiculing every Android OEM that has followed in Apple’s footprints. Of course, OnePlus has justified the omission of the 3.5mm headphone jack by claiming that most users now rely on Bluetooth headphone to listen to their music and that the extra space was needed to fit a larger battery into the phone.

And then there’s the in-display fingerprint sensor which replaces the rear-mounter sensor of the OnePlus 6. While this technology is new and exciting, it also doesn’t perform as well as a regular fingerprint sensor does. Those who have used the new OnePlus 6T claim that the in-display sensor isn’t as reliable as the one on the OnePlus 6 and often forces users to scan their fingerprint 2-3 times before it unlocks the device.

So, is the OnePlus 6T the right device for you? In most cases, we typically suggest the newer device, but we’re not sure if that’s the right call this time around. While the new OnePlus 6T may have a cooler-looking notch and larger battery, the 3.5mm headphone jack and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor on the OnePlus 6 are compelling reasons why you might want to buy that phone instead.

Which of these two phones would you rather own?