OnePlus phones have always had a core selling point: they are as powerful as the latest flagship Android phones, but they cost hundreds of dollars. This winning combination makes OnePlus 6 and 5T one of the best phones we have recommended in the past year. The new OnePlus 6T mostly continues this trend, but this time it brings some cutting-edge innovations.
Instead of placing your finger on the fingerprint button or pad on the back or edge of the phone (or possibly below the screen), the OnePlus 6T has a biometric scanner built into the bottom third of its display. If you move your phone, a fingerprint icon will pop up, you put your thumb on it, the logo lights up under the thumb, and the screen is unlocked. It's much slower than the standard Touch ID fingerprint sensor, just like the iPhone on the old iPhone (and all other Android phones).
It does require some practice. At first, unlocking my 6T was a nightmare. I scanned my two thumbs, which took me nearly two seconds to unlock my phone. I do not understand why. After about a day, I decided to rescan my thumb but keep their angles (from the side) for the entire time. After the adjustment, the unlocking speed is very fast.
I attributed the early troubles to new sensors. Instead of using a capacitive touch like a normal fingerprint reader, OnePlus secures the optical fingerprint reader to the AMOLED screen. It is invisible to the naked eye, but since it is a visual reader, I may scan my thumb from different angles to have a negative impact on my unlocking speed.
I do need to adapt the technology, the instructions provided by OnePlus can be clearer, but once it gets your print, the 6T is convenient and easy to unlock. So far, I prefer the location of the sensor to most other locations I use on my phone. Although the OnePlus representative did say that if the almost invisible screensaver remains intact, it still seems to remain motionless, despite swiping and tapping on the screen.
The new fingerprint sensor is located under the powerful HD AMOLED display. OnePlus has found a way to stretch it by 6.4 inches, and its bezel is almost as thin as the surface on Apple's X-series iPhone, all the time. There is a notch at the top, but it is small and more like a cockroach. It didn't bother me at all.
Like every OnePlus phone, the 6T design incorporates the hottest smartphone trends. The frame is made of metal and feels durable – except for the back of the glass. I often hate the glass back, although I like the midnight black version of the soft, brushed (extra $30), matte finish on the glass, which can reject fingerprints. Not that I always enjoy it all. Usually it is locked in the rubber case that comes with each OnePlus 6T. This is not the best case, but like a bicycle helmet, it will save you at some point. Put it on!
Sadly, the new fingerprint sensor occupies a lot of space in the phone, and OnePlus has to say good things about its beloved 3.5mm headphone jack (if you don't have your own wireless headset, then you should consider it). As a comfort, you can install a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter dongle in the box (and a quick charger, but the phone does not have a wireless charging function). The useful ring/vibration/mute switch on the OnePlus phone has also survived the latest redesign. Although the port is small, the 6T does not have an official waterproof rating, but OnePlus claims it is a little splash-proof.
Thanks to OnePlus's impressive and up-to-date update of Android 9 (Pie), the software has also been subtly improved. Almost no Android phones other than Google Pixels have the latest version of the software, but within a few weeks I already have 6T and it got two security updates. Reps told me that OnePlus upgraded many of its devices to Android Pie within 45 days of the release of the operating system and is committed to keeping its phones updated with bimonthly security and software updates. Older OnePlus phones have been back to 3 and 3T (both from 2016) and will soon get Android Pie updates if they haven't.
Pie's power optimization features helped me extend the battery life of 6T. By reducing the functionality of apps that I don't use very much, I've been able to keep my phone for more than a full day before I need to charge. OnePlus's reachability gestures are also useful. You can swipe down from anywhere on the home screen to open the notifications menu, or swipe up from anywhere to display a full list of installed apps. These are just two of the many custom gestures you can use. Honestly, I'm not sure why every Android manufacturer won't copy them.
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