With all the different kinds of phones out there these days, it is crucial for consumers to do their research before making their selections. The Android OnePlus 5 smartphone is an example of a phone that is a good choice for a lot of people, but may not be right for others. Released to consumers in summer 2017, this phone has a wide range of features and is in the medium price range. But while it may be easy to take a glance and say “this is the phone for me!,” all shoppers in search of a new phone should take a step back and ask the following questions about the phone’s features in order to come to the right decision.
The OnePlus 5 has a 5.5-inch screen that is 1080 x 1920 pixels. It runs on Android 7.1.1 OS, but can be upgraded to Android 8, and most models have 8GB of RAM (also known as Snapdragon 835). The phone also comes with a non-removable LiPo battery.
The OnePlus 5 comes with between 64 and 128 GB of storage space for apps, photos, software, etc. The unfortunate thing here is that this phone does not come with a microSD slot, making it challenging to easily expand storage. However, purchasing a USB-C adapter makes it possible.
The truth is that the OnePlus 5 has been discontinued, but it is still possible to purchase it new and used at cell phone stores across the country. New and used models can also be found on Amazon, eBay and various tech websites, but consumers should make sure they are only making purchases from reputable sellers and that used versions still come with all the features they want.
The OnePlus 5 was released in two different colors, though each are technically different versions of the phone. The standard version comes in Slate Gray, while the “upscale”,128 GB version comes in Midnight Black. Various color cases can be purchased for either version, although the phone was also later released in a Soft Gold color option.
Reviews vary on this, although the general consensus is that the camera quality is very much improved from its predecessors, although perhaps not quite as good as its iPhone counterparts. There are actually two lenses on this phone, one 16-megapixel standard lens and one 20-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x zooming capabilities.
As with most smartphones released in the past few years, the OnePlus 5 is a fairly sturdy phone when put to the test. The body is aluminum, which can take in some scratching depending on the situation but will only dent if the force and angle is strong enough (comparable to other major smartphone models of 2017). The screen consists of Gorilla Glass 5, which is scratch resistant but still not impervious to cracking. Customers are still advised to get extra screen and case protection.
There’s nothing really unique here. This phone has the same password access and fingerprint recognition technology as other smartphones on the market. Purchasing apps and setting up access to email and other features will also require password login. Android itself received a security patch from Google just prior to releasing this phone, making it harder for viruses and malware to get a foothold.
Tests have shown that the battery will last around 24 hours with auto brightness on, with heavy use decreasing the life. The non-removable Li-PO 3300 mAh battery also has an endurance rating of 83 hours (ratings are conducted on low power settings and very minimal use). Like most smartphones, the battery will wear out over longterm use.