You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone not agreeing with the assessment that the OnePlus 6 and the iPhone X are two of the best phones of the last 12 months – they're sleek, they're fast, and they show off some of the best of what Android and iOS are capable of doing. But which phone is the better phone? Maybe there's no definitive answer to that, but we're going to give it a go anyway, pitting these two excellent handsets against each other in every department that matters. Read on to find out which of these phones emerges on top. OnePlus 6 vs Apple iPhone X: design The OnePlus 6 They both feature notches on the front of the display, these two phones; they've both banished bezels right to the sides of the screen; they're both made from glass, front and back, with an aluminium frame. You can see why it might be said that the OnePlus 6 (May 2018) is following the design cues of the iPhone X (September 2017), but we prefer to give OnePlus a bit more credit than that. Whatever the ins and outs of the design process, we've got two fantastic-looking phones to compare here. The OnePlus 6 is the slightly bigger of the two: its 6.28-inch, 1080 x 2280 pixel display runs at an aspect ratio of 19:9, whereas the 5.8-inch, 1125 x 2436 pixel screen of the iPhone X goes for a slightly taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio. In our eyes the iPhone X has just a little more sleekness to it, and it's slightly thinner too, though of course your mileage may vary as you weigh up the aesthetics of these two phones. You can't have any complaints about how either of them look though. OnePlus 6 vs Apple iPhone X: specs The iPhone X The OnePlus 6 runs a Snapdragon 845 chipset together with your choice of 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, or 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage (availability may vary depending on region). Those are among the best specs you're likely to find on any smartphone in 2018. The iPhone X makes use of Apple's own Apple A11 Bionic chip and 3GB of RAM, together with 64GB or 256GB of internal storage. On paper that's inferior to the OnePlus rival, but as we know, Apple excels at making hardware and software work in tandem together, and the iPhone X absolutely screams along. We'd have to give the phones level pegging here overall – both are going to take whatever you throw at them and deal with it very capably indeed. Note that neither phone has a memory card slot for expanding the internal storage, so buy as much as you need when you get the phone. We reckon the iPhone X just edges it in the photography department – its dual-lens 12MP+12MP rear-facing snapper is hands-down one of the best in the business. The OnePlus 6 camera, a dual-lens 16MP+20MP model, is really good as well, and isn't far behind in most photo-taking scenarios. OnePlus 6 vs Apple iPhone X: features The OnePlus 6 If you're in the position of choosing between these phones then a big part of your decision is going to be deciding whether you want to go for Android or iOS, Google or Apple – it really depends which mobile OS you're most used to and which apps you're already most heavily invested in. Apple of course has made much of the Face ID required to unlock the iPhone X, while the OnePlus 6 sticks with the old traditional fingerprint scanner. The Apple phone also has the edge with IP67 waterproofing and wireless charging capabilities, two features that the OnePlus 6 can't match. What the OnePlus 6 does have is a 3.5mm audio port, so you can carry on using your existing wired headphones, no dongle required (the iPhone X comes with a Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle in the box). Both phones offer some variety of fast charging, though this is really becoming the norm on handsets now – it would seem the OnePlus 6 just has the slight edge when it comes to the time taken to juice up your phone, but both should charge up fairly rapidly. OnePlus 6 vs Apple iPhone X: verdict The iPhone X Anyone buying a smartphone in 2018 – at least at the premium end of the market – has to consider both the OnePlus 6 and the iPhone X. Both these phones have top-end specs, top-end style, and plenty of useful features, and they'll both serve you well for several years. Already heavily invested in Apple products? Taken with the look and feel of the iPhone X? Then it's possible that the iPhone X is the phone for you. On the downside, it does cost close to twice as much as its OnePlus rival, which immediately puts the comparison in a different light. The OnePlus 6 might not have wireless charging or waterproofing, but it has some mighty fine specs nevertheless – offering up to 8GB of RAM, more than double the amount inside the iPhone X, is incredible. If you're more of an Android fan, then OnePlus' own OxygenOS is a fantastic version of Android that's a pleasure to use. Considering the high specs and low (ish) price of the OnePlus 6, we'd be tempted to choose the Android phone as our favourite out of these two, though the right pick is going to be different for everyone. Let's see how Apple responds in September.<doc-sep>OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 3 – Is it time to upgrade? The OnePlus 6 has been in the hands of reviewers and consumers alike for over a month now. While it’s pretty clear that it’s currently one of the fastest phones around, many will be wondering whether it’s worth the upgrade. I myself came from the OnePlus 3, and I can say without a doubt that it is an upgrade (shocker! )… but is it a $529 upgrade? In this article, we’ll compare the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 6 so that you can decide whether you want to hold on to that OnePlus 3 for an extra while or not. Note: Both of these devices were purchased by me. These devices were not provided by OnePlus nor XDA, and this is not a sponsored post. Design and build quality OnePlus 6 The best way to describe the OnePlus 6 is simply “2018.” It’s nearly entirely glass, with a notch present and a dual camera setup. An aluminum frame between the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back creates a glass sandwich of sorts. What’s more, there are reportedly over 40 steps taken in creating the glass on this device, with different procedures taken for each color variant. For example, the company says that there are actually crushed pearls under the glass of the Silk White variant, though most certainly not the luxurious kind you’d expect to make the price shoot up beyond reach. Still, the result is definitely nice. I personally have the Silk White variant, so while I can’t talk about other designs, the overall layout is the same. It’s got a bit of a slippery grip, but that’s no problem thanks to the included silicone case. Buttons are tactile and firm. The device’s design screams premium, and the “Designed by OnePlus” insignia on the back signals that the company knows that. Sadly, there is a lack of wireless charging, so in a way, the glass on the back is actually a downside. I personally like the glass back, but that’s up to you to decide. It’s just another place your device could theoretically shatter, so if you have butterfingers then maybe it’s best to stay away. Or just use a case. One thing is for sure, this device does feel like a tank. The build quality is strong and the design is one of the most attractive we’ve seen from the company yet. In terms of haptics, it’s no contest – the OnePlus 6 wins hands down. OnePlus 3 The OnePlus 3 was characterized by its graphite aluminum body and sharp edges. This was the first truly “OnePlus” design that we know today, with many elements of its design language having continued to the OnePlus 6. The chamfered edges are much sharper here than on the OnePlus 6, and it still certainly looks like a flagship. The company’s logo hasn’t moved either, and even without it, you could probably guess what company designed it. The bottom layout of the device looks exactly the same as on the OnePlus 6, with the speaker, USB-C port, and headphone jack fixed in the same spots. The buttons remain tactile even after two years, and the alert slider is as rock-solid as ever. And speaking of wear and tear, the device is still nearly like-new. The metal is unscratched and the screen only has a few micro scratches. I never used the included screen protector, as I ordered one of the first batches of the OnePlus 3 and the included screen protector was really, really poor. The included screen protector improved in a later batch. I don’t necessarily see the OnePlus 6 lasting quite as long, and I see it falling victim to lots of scratches all over. Time will tell in that aspect. I’m a huge fan of the aluminum frame here too, and where the chamfered edges meet the glass is my favorite aspect of it. The OnePlus 3’s design remains elegant yet somewhat bold. Even the antennae on the top and bottom look natural and thoughtfully placed. I still personally prefer the OnePlus 6, but in terms of design, some may sway to the older device. But there is one problem, and that’s the display. I don’t necessarily dislike it, but the bezels suddenly seem a lot larger than they did back when it first launched. Obviously, that’s because of newer devices pushing the boundaries of what we once thought of as “bezel-less,” but it’s something to note. If you don’t mind the display, then you can pretty much overlook that. Talking about displays, after two years I haven’t noticed any burn-in on my screen. That’s a pretty good lifespan for an AMOLED panel, and I’d definitely feel comfortable squeezing another year out of it, if not more. Having said that, a 16:9 panel feels somewhat archaic in a sense. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with one, but an 18:9 panel just looks a whole lot nicer, in my opinion. This last point is something that one must really try and get used to in order to fully appreciate, though. Performance OnePlus 6 There should be no contest here. We already know just how much the OnePlus 6 outperforms even other flagships with the same processor. As a result, it will come as no surprise that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 is much, much more powerful than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. The Adreno 630 GPU does a great job in terms of gaming, and the OnePlus 6 is still pretty competitive in terms of smoothness. In terms of raw computational power, this is the fastest smartphone available currently, due to its copious amounts of speedy RAM, it’s top-of-the-line storage and the greatest from Qualcomm. That’s not to say the OnePlus 3 is a poor performer, but it simply can’t compete with the latest that Qualcomm has to offer. Take a look at this smoothness graph taken from a scrolling sample on the Play Store’s “Top Charts” entries. As you can see, the OnePlus 6 is very smooth when scrolling. Minimal frame drops, great gaming performance, and fast app launches. What’s not to love? OnePlus 3 As we’ve already said, there’s just no contest here. There is nothing wrong with the OnePlus 3 in its current state. It is still very much a top performer, and you’ll get perfectly acceptable performance. If the performance you have is enough, then you certainly don’t need to upgrade yet. Take a look at the smoothness graph of the exact same workload below. It’s not that the OnePlus 3 is slow or that it stutters a whole lot, it’s that the OnePlus 6 is just better. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 is leaps and bounds ahead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, and it shows. If you’re finding performance is good enough on the OnePlus 3, then you don’t have much reason to upgrade in this department. I personally am very happy with the upgrade thanks to the performance alone, but it depends entirely on what you value in a smartphone. If you don’t value gaming and you aren’t using your phone for any intensive tasks, then maybe you can hold off on the upgrade for now. I think it goes without saying that we all expected the OnePlus 6 to best the OnePlus 3 in performance. Newsflash, 2018 flagship is faster than 2016 flagship. There’s not really a huge amount to compare here, and to spend ages talking about benchmarks in particular would be rather useless. The OnePlus 6 beats the OnePlus 3 in basically every performance metric imaginable, and that’s to be expected. As we’ve already mentioned, the OnePlus 6 fares quite a bit better in gaming. PUBG on the OnePlus 3 runs pretty terribly, but the OnePlus 6 handles it without a hitch. Having said that, you’ll have no issues with most games on the OnePlus 3. The OnePlus 3 is still very much a powerful device and was one of the best of its time when it launched. As such, it does still best other flagship devices that launched around the same time.<doc-sep>With the rise of affordable flagships, there really isn't a compelling reason to shell out over $800 for a phone. The OnePlus 6 reinforces that belief by combining top-notch specs with a clean software interface, making it a great option over the likes of the Galaxy S9. Vivo isn't a household name in Western markets, but its latest device has the potential to change that. The Vivo NEX is the brand's most ambitious device yet, featuring a motorized slider for the front camera and an in-display fingerprint sensor. The Chinese manufacturer rose up the ranks in China and India on the back of aggressive marketing and a robust distribution network, and is now looking to make its foray into global markets. VPN Deals: Lifetime license for $16, monthly plans at $1 & more The OnePlus 6 is a fan favorite in this segment, and the Vivo NEX packs far more interesting tech and costs just $70 more. Let's see how it fares next to the OnePlus 6 in everyday usage. Where they're equal Both the Vivo NEX and OnePlus 6 are evenly matched when it comes to the hardware side of things. You get the Snapdragon 845 on both phones, and you can pick up a variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. They also share a similar design language with a curving back that makes it easier to hold either device. Both devices have glass backs, and while the OnePlus 6 looks particularly stunning in red, the Vivo NEX isn't far behind. The NEX has an array of geometric patterns underneath the glass panel that change hues based on the angle of the light reflecting off the phone's surface. It may not be as bold as the OnePlus 6, but it definitely stands out. The OnePlus 6 features a 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED panel, whereas the NEX has a larger 6.59-inch Super AMOLED display. There isn't much to differentiate between either device in this regard, as both have displays that offer vibrant colors and excellent contrast levels. The one downside on the NEX is that the sheer size of the display makes it hard to use the phone one-handed. There really isn't much missing when you look at the basics — Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and the 3.5mm jack — and the OnePlus 6 builds on that by offering water resistance. There's no IP rating (OnePlus says it's good against "everyday use"), but it should withstand the splash of water. The NEX misses out on that as it's hard to prevent ingress of water when there's a retractable camera involved. Onto the battery side of things, the NEX has a 4000mAh battery, with the OnePlus 6 sporting a 3300mAh battery. The 6.59-inch display evens out the larger battery, and both phones offer a day's worth of usage comfortably. If you need to top up in a jiffy, Vivo's fast charging standard works at 22W, while Dash Charge's 20W delivers up to a 60% charge in just over 35 minutes. Vivo NEX to the left, OnePlus 6 to the right. Like most of the hardware, the camera quality is also on the same level. The NEX does a better job in daylight conditions — managing to capture an impressive amount of detail. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 6 taking better photos in low-light scenarios. The resultant low-light images from the NEX have a lot of noise, and as cool as the front camera is to use, it doesn't do as great a job as the sensor on the OnePlus 6. What the Vivo NEX does better The Vivo NEX offers a glimpse into the future of smartphone design. Vivo solved the notch problem quite elegantly by moving the front camera to a motorized slider that only activates when needed, leading to a device that is truly bezel-less. In fact, the only other phone that currently manages to achieve the same effect is OPPO's Find X, which has a mechanical slider for the front and back cameras. The slider is my favorite thing about the phone. I lost count of the number of times I pulled up the front camera just to see the camera pop up from the top of the phone. The motor doesn't make any sound itself, but you can set one up to add to the occasion — the default sci-fi option is wonderful. The NEX's retracting camera is just plain cool. With the camera tucked away underneath the chassis, the front of the device is dominated by a large slab of glass, one that's not marred by any cutouts. The 91.24% screen-to-body ratio and the razor-thin bezels make it a delight to use the screen for gaming or reading text on a daily basis. Then there's the in-display fingerprint sensor. Vivo claims it is faster, and that has held up in just under a week's worth of usage. It's nowhere as fast as the standard rear-mounted sensor on the OnePlus 6, but it is immeasurably cooler to use. What the OnePlus 6 does better OnePlus phones have always featured high-end hardware, but in recent years the company's efforts on the software front with OxygenOS have been just as notable. OxygenOS delivers a clean user interface that stays true to Google's vision of Android, while providing thoughtful customization options in the form of navigation gestures, a reading mode that makes it conducive to read long-form content on the device, and so much more. OxygenOS is one of the best manufacturer skins around. The fact that the OnePlus 6 is available as a single SKU makes it easier for the company to manage updates. OnePlus has gotten much better in terms of rolling out timely updates, and the latest OxygenOS 5.1.9 build integrated Google Lens into the main camera app — OnePlus is one of very few companies that offer this particular feature. On the other hand, Vivo's Funtouch OS is about as close as you can get to an iPhone that's running Android. Most of the interface elements are a faithful imitation of iOS, including the Control Center, multitasking pane, and even the design of the stock apps and icons. Unlike every other Android device, the quick toggles are accessible with a swipe up gesture from the bottom of the phone, which means you'll essentially have to retrain years of muscle memory.<doc-sep>
OnePlus has branded itself the flagship killer, and for good reason. At $530, its latest phone, the OnePlus 6, boasts a lot of the same premium features its pricier competitors like the iPhone X have, including cameras. We put the cameras on the OnePlus 6 up against the iPhone X's cameras to see if they could keep up. OnePlus 6 and iPhone X Specs OnePlus 6 iPhone X Wide-angle resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels Second lens 20 megapixels 12 megapixels Aperture f/1.7 and f/1.7 f/1.8 and f/2.4 Optical image stabilization On the main lens Both lenses Other stabilization Electronic at 30fps Cinematic at 1,080p, 720p Optical zoom No 2x Digital zoom 10x 10x 4K video fps 24, 30, 60 24, 30, 60 1080p video fps 30, 60, 120, 240 30, 60, 120, 240 Slow motion 1,080P (240 fps), 720P (420 fps) 1,080P (240 fps) Front camera resolution 16 megapixels 7 megapixels Front camera aperture f/2.0 f/2.2 64GB price $529 $999 We took the OnePlus 6 and the iPhone X out to San Francisco's colorful Mission district to test them out in the real world. We placed them on a dual phone rig for most video shots and stills, but some shots were also taken separately from the same angle. On paper it seems like the OnePlus 6 can definitely compete at the same level. Both phones have a dual camera setup on the rear with similar megapixels and aperture. In fact, if anything, the OnePlus 6 may have the advantage, with a slightly narrower aperture on both lenses and higher megapixel count on the front camera. We know from previous comparisons, though, that specs alone don't equal a better shot. General shots Even though the phones were placed on a side-by-side rig (most of the time), shots look like they were taken from a different angle. That's because the OnePlus has a slightly wider field of view, which means you get more in the shot. The wider-angle lens also means you'll get a bit of distortion around the edges of the shot. In the shot below you can see the trees and buildings are warped on either side. General shots of landscapes and scenery on the iPhone X tend to look brighter, with richer colors, while images on the OnePlus 6 seem duller, with less color saturation. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. In this photo, the slightly duller shot on the OnePlus 6 was able to capture the foggy San Francisco day more accurately than the iPhone X, which made the scene seem less dreary than it actually was. The same thing happens in this mural shot. The iPhone X's shot is more pleasing and vibrant, but the OnePlus 6 was more realistic. The OnePlus also has a Pro-mode in the default camera app, which gives you more control over things like ISO, focus, and color temperature. To get this on the iPhone X you'd have to download a third-party app. Winner: General shots look better on the iPhone X, but the OnePlus 6 gives you more control over the shot, as well as editing options if you're willing to put in a bit of work. Video The differences between the two phones are more pronounced when it comes to recording video. The OnePlus 6 has a lot more contrast and shake, while video on the iPhone X looks smoother and the transitions in light are more subtle. When shooting at 60 frames per second, either at 1,080P or 4K, the OnePlus 6 relies on optical stabilization (OIS), and at other frame rates it's using electronic image stabilization (EIS). The iPhone X also has OIS, but when recording at 1,080P and 720P it uses what Apple calls "cinematic video stabilization" to help keep the shot steady. They both record slow motion at 240 fps in full HD. The iPhone X's shot looks a bit clearer and smoother, but only the OnePlus has a super-slow-motion option of 480 fps at 720P, which can look more dramatic. Winner: Video on the iPhone X looks smoother and cleaner, but the OnePlus will help you get a more dramatic slow-motion effect. You can take a look for yourself by clicking on the video below. Now playing: Watch this: Camera showdown: iPhone X vs OnePlus 6 Zoom If you're planning to zoom in while shooting video, the iPhone X is the obvious choice.