When it comes to premium Android smartphones that offer flagship performance without the flagship price, the OnePlus 8 remains a compelling choice—even in 2024. This device has carved its own niche, delivering smooth performance, a beautiful display, excellent cameras, and early 5G support, all tailored for users who don’t want to compromise on quality. In this article, we’ll dig deep into the phone’s design, screen, performance, camera, battery life, and software to give you a well-rounded review of how it stacks up in today’s competitive market.
Design & Display – A Refined Visual Experience
Build Quality and Materials
The OnePlus 8 carries a sleek and minimalist design with a glass back paired with an aluminum frame. Measuring just 8.0mm thick and weighing around 180 grams, it feels premium in hand without being too bulky. The smooth Gorilla Glass 6 on both the front and back not only adds durability but also helps with wireless charging compatibility in later models.
Available in classic colors like Glacial Green and Onyx Black, the OnePlus 8 reflects simplicity and class. The subtle curvature of the edges ensures a comfortable grip, even during extended use.
AMOLED Display – 90Hz Fluidity
At the heart of the OnePlus 8’s appeal is its 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED display, offering a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels at a 20:9 aspect ratio. It supports HDR10+ and delivers vibrant colors with excellent contrast, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming.
Equipped with a 90Hz refresh rate (upgradable to 90Hz in settings), the display feels incredibly responsive. Scrolling through apps or playing fast-paced games becomes noticeably smoother compared to traditional 60Hz screens. In fact, this feature single-handedly elevated the user experience at launch and set a new standard for affordable flagships.
Display Performance – Real-World Use
Brightness levels are solid, reaching up to 1100 nits under direct sunlight, ensuring content remains visible outdoors. The adaptive brightness system works intelligently across environments. Additionally, OnePlus’ proprietary Color Profiles allow users to tweak the color temperature to their liking, adding a personal touch to how content is displayed.
The lack of a punch-hole camera in early models was a key differentiator. However, OnePlus 8 shifted to a small top-center cutout, which minimally interrupts the viewing experience. Night mode dimming and readability remain consistent thanks to advanced display tuning.
Performance – Powerhouse Under the Hood
Snapdragon 865 – High-Octane Engine
At the core of OnePlus 8 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, built on a 7nm+ process. Paired with an octa-core CPU configuration (1x 2.84GHz Kryo 585 Prime core + 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 585 Gold cores + 4x 1.80GHz Kryo 585 Silver cores), the phone handles intensive apps and multitasking with ease.
This SoC also enables dual-mode 5G connectivity, allowing users to switch between NSA and SA networks seamlessly. Whether you’re downloading large files or streaming UHD videos on a 5G connection, the OnePlus 8 doesn’t break a sweat.
Graphics – Adreno 650 Boost
The integrated Adreno 650 GPU supports popular APIs such as Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL ES 3.2, and DirectX 12. This translates to stunning graphics rendering in mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact. Frame rates consistently hover around 50–60fps on medium to high settings, making it one of the best performers of its time.
In GFX Benchmarks, the OnePlus 8 scored impressively well—especially considering its price point. Gamers will find this a great alternative to pricier gaming phones, especially with minimal thermal throttling during long sessions.
RAM & Storage – Multitasking Marvel
Depending on the variant, the OnePlus 8 comes with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, offering ample space for heavy multitaskers. Even with 25 demanding apps open, switching between them is nearly instantaneous.
Storage options include 128GB and 256GB of UFS 3.0 internal memory, delivering ultra-fast read/write speeds. From loading videos to installing apps, every interaction feels snappy. For those needing more storage, OnePlus introduced a microSD expansion slot in certain markets, although this is region-dependent.
Software & Updates – OxygenOS Advantage
Powered by OxygenOS based on Android 10 at launch, the OnePlus 8 offers a clean, bloat-free interface with useful customizations. Features like Zen Mode, OnePlus Shelf, and Quick Launch gestures enhance usability without overwhelming users with unnecessary extras.
While updates have slowed since its initial years, OxygenOS still guarantees security patches and general system improvements. Many users appreciated the quick app launching, gesture navigation, and overall fluidity—a hallmark of OnePlus’ user-centric software philosophy.
Camera System – Photography for Everyone
Main Camera – 48MP with OIS
The primary camera is a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor with an f/1.75 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and phase detection autofocus. Photos taken in daylight are sharp, with accurate color representation, while night modes bring out details in low-light conditions.
OIS proves especially valuable when shooting handheld—reducing blur and offering steady footage for video recording. The camera excels in capturing landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes with impressive depth and clarity.
Ultra-Wide Lens – 16MP, f/2.2
The secondary ultra-wide lens covers a 116° field of view, delivering distortion-free panoramic shots. Whether capturing architectural marvels or sweeping skies, this lens adds versatility to your camera toolkit. The sharpness and detail are consistent, even at the edges of the frame.
Macro Lens – 2MP Close-ups
Though modest in specs, the 2MP macro lens does its job well for close-up photography. While not a standout performer, it allows amateur photographers to experiment with texture-focused shots, adding some creative flair to the lineup.
Selfie Camera – 16MP, f/2.4
The front-facing camera sits within a small punch-hole slot on the display. At 16MP, selfies are bright and detailed, especially in well-lit environments. Beauty modes and portrait features enhance results further, making it suitable for social media posts and video calls.
Video Capabilities – UHD Recording
Recording capabilities extend to 4K video at 30fps or 60fps, with stabilization for smoother footage. HDR recording support enhances dynamic range in both indoor and outdoor environments. While 8K isn’t natively supported, 4K at higher frame rates holds up well for most creators.
Battery Life & Charging Speed – All-Day Stamina
The OnePlus 8 features a substantial 4300mAh battery, easily lasting a full day with moderate usage. Users can comfortably browse, stream, and game for hours without worrying about recharging mid-day.
Warp Charge 30T Support
One of the strongest selling points is its Warp Charge 30T technology—which charges the battery from 0% to 100% in just 30 minutes. This rapid-charging capability outperforms many of its contemporaries, significantly reducing downtime.
Charging efficiency is high, reaching 50% in under 15 minutes. The included charger and cable work seamlessly with the phone’s hardware, and there’s minimal heating even during fast charging sessions.
Wireless Charging Limitation
However, the OnePlus 8 notably lacks built-in wireless charging—an omission that drew criticism from some users. Later revisions and newer models rectified this, but the base model remains tethered to wired charging only.
Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying in 2024?
- ✅ Pros:
- Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 865 chip
- Beautiful 90Hz AMOLED display
- Excellent battery life and 30W fast charging
- Strong dual-camera setup (especially the main lens)
- Pure Android experience with timely updates
- Affordable pricing compared to competitors
- Excellent 5G support
- ❌ Cons:
- No wireless charging
- Limited macro lens capability
- No headphone jack
- Fewer post-purchase software updates now
- Some bloatware in third-party skins (region-specific)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does the OnePlus 8 support 5G?
Yes, it supports both Sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks depending on the carrier and region.
Q: What version of Android does it run?
Launched with Android 10, most units have received updates up to Android 13 through OxygenOS 13.
Q: Is the OnePlus 8 waterproof?
It has IP68 dust and water resistance, protecting against immersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Q: Can it record 8K video?
No, but the OnePlus 8T and newer variants support 8K recording. The OnePlus 8 tops out at 4K UHD.
Q: Does it have a headphone jack?
No, OnePlus removed the 3.5mm audio port starting with this generation. USB-C and Bluetooth are the alternatives.
Q: Is this model still relevant in 2024?
Yes, thanks to its powerful hardware, smooth UI, and solid camera performance. However, newer phones may offer better cameras and faster charging options.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 8 continues to hold its ground as a value-packed flagship option even in 2024. With its premium build, stunning display, lightning-fast performance, and reliable camera system, it remains a favorite among tech-savvy users looking for a no-nonsense smartphone experience.
Despite some minor trade-offs like the lack of wireless charging and the aging software update cycle, its strengths far outweigh these limitations. If you’re someone on the hunt for a dependable, fast, and stylish Android phone without spending top dollar, the OnePlus 8 could be just what you need—and still deserves a spot on your shortlist.
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