OnePlus 5 review roundup: The observations of those who got their hands on the device

The OnePlus has just been **launched globally** , and there is a day left for the India launch. The latest flagship from the Chinese company has a top of the line Snapdragon 835 processor clocked at 2.4 GHz. The phone has a 64 GB variant with 6 GB of RAM and a 128 GB variant with 8 GB of RAM.  The display is a 5.5 inch screen protected by Gorilla Glass 5.  The fingerprint scanner unlocks the device in 0.2 seconds. There are dual cameras on the back. The main camera is 20 MP with an aperture of F/2.6, and the other is 16 MP with an aperture of F/1.7. The device has a 16 MP front camera. The battery is rated at 3300 mAh, and the device is available in Midnight Black and Slate Gray. The device will retail for $479 in the US and €499 in Europe. This is what those who got their hands on the device had to say. Wired calls the device “ power-user catnip” considering specifications sported by the smartphone. Wired complements the design of the phone, which looks a lot like the iPhone 7. While the performance was impressive, the 1080p resolution on the display was considered somewhat of a disappointment. The cameras did not perform as well as expected though, with a fast but inaccurate focus, and less detail than expected even in good lighting conditions. Forbes calls it the “ best Android-powered iPhone the world has seen.” Forbes points out that the biggest cost saving measure is going for an HD screen instead of a QHD scren. However, the accurate representation of colours apparently adequately compensates for the lower resolution. The UI on the device is a little cramped, according to the review. The Forbes review also points out that the camera does not perform as well as expected for the price point, and a shortcoming is the use of digital image stablisation. The CNet review focused on the camera, and pointed out that the iPhone was marginally better with the pictures having the bokeh effect. The OnePlus flagship however outperformed the Pixel at times in low light conditions. The superior image processing and the wider aperture could have contributed to the better performance of the OnePlus. The review points out that the OnePlus 5 offers the best bang for buck at its price range. The Verge calls the device a “ me-too phone”. The review points out that the resemblance to the iPhone is more than passing, and the device looks like a OnePlus 3 with an iPhone skin. The similarity could be off-putting to those who do not want to be seen as using an iPhone clone. The review points out that the OnePlus 5 failed to differentiate its camera offerings enough to stand out. However, the phone was snappy, and the high specifications are a strong point. According to Engadget, the onePlus 5 is “ an excellent phone and an excellent value”. The finicky performance of the bokeh effect is noted. According to the review, the support for both GSM and LTE makes the OnePlus 5 an excellent device to travel with. The reading mode is easier on the eyes, but not a replacement for dedicated ebook readers. The review points out that the device performed worse on the battery test than the OnePlus 3T. As for OnePlus claims of “a day’s power in half an hour,” the device actually lasts for a day in just fifteen minutes. According to Ars Technica, the OnePlus 5 is the best sub-$500 phone you can buy. The review points out that a lack of clarity on how long the phone will be supported may not allow potential consumers to know exactly what they will be paying for. The device also does not have a “seamless update” feature in the latest version of the Android OS, and that the device cannot be used when being updated. The camera was a disappointment and can potentially turn photos into “watercolour paintings.” The reviews agree on a few aspects. The specifications are great, the phone is fast, but the camera and screen resolution are not up to the mark.