The OnePlus 5 was announced Tuesday and is already a web favorite, despite developer accusations of benchmark cheating. The device will be officially available next Tuesday and is releasing during a very interesting time for the mobile industry.
While the OnePlus 5 features massive memory and storage specs and a dual-camera it’s highlight features, it may be lacking in the design department. Meanwhile, many rival manufacturers are following the trends for super-premium looks and usability improvements.
We will compare the OnePlus 5 to one of the top smartphones currently on the market, the Samsung Galaxy S8. With the OnePlus 5 selling for a much cheaper price than the Galaxy S8, Samsung may have a true Android rival in 2017.
Display And Design
OnePlus 5
It’s well known that Chinese smartphone manufacturers have a penchant for “borrowing” from iPhone designs and one Plus is no different. If it weren’t for the branding, it would likely be very difficult to differentiate the OnePlus 5 from the iPhone 7; however, the device does look much different than the Galaxy S8.
Available in Midnight Black and Slate Gray color options, the OnePlus 5 has a minimalist metal unibody design and retains its capacitive keys, while many rivals have or are rumored to be moving on to virtual on-screen home and navigation buttons. The OnePlus 5 also retains heavy bezels at a time when several flagships are expanding screen real estate to the maximum extent.
The device is phablet sized with a 5.5-inch Full HD display and 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25 mm dimensions. The OnePlus 5 still features a 3.5mm audio jack.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung has been working hard to stand out on the market in terms of design and the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are proof of its efforts. The devices introduce the infinity display to Samsung’s lineup, with a thin-bezel screen that has no capacitive keys. All buttons are virtual and on screen.
Samsung has also made its dual-edge curved display a staple for its flagship phones and both the standard and Plus models. The Galaxy S8 features a 5.8-inch Quad HD display, while the Galaxy S8 Plus features a 6.2-inch display. The screen curvature allows the devices to appear much smaller than their display size would indicate. The Galaxy S8 has dimensions of 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm and the Galaxy S8 Plus has dimensions of 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm.
The Galaxy S8 features an all-glass unibody design, which has proven extremely fragile and extremely hard to repair. The device also retains its 3.5mm audio jack and is available in Orchid Grey, Midnight Black, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold color options.
Hardware
OnePlus 5
Android smartphones can seem identical in terms of hardware specifications, but this is where OnePlus aims to break away from the pack. Aside from the staple Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, the OnePlus 5 is available in 6GB and 8GB RAM options and 64GB and 128GB internal storage options.
There are questions as to whether smartphones need up to 8GB of RAM. So far, one of the primary use cases for high storage has been VR. While OnePlus does offer its own VR headset, the manufacturer hasn’t yet gotten deep into the virtual reality space. Full HD resolution displays may help keep handset prices low, but they may not be ideal for VR experiences, especially when many rival Android flagships tout Quad HD and some even 4K screens.
The OnePlus 5 also houses all of the cellular bands to allow for a singular model to serve the global market. In the U.S., the OnePlus 5 is compatible with GSM networks T-Mobile and AT&T.
Samsung Galaxy S8
In comparison, the Galaxy S8 is much more subdued in terms of hardware. It also runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage options. While there is an updated version of the device, featuring 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, it has extremely limited availability.
There are several Galaxy S8 models available for specific markets and carriers. In markets, such as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the Galaxy S8 runs the Exynos 8895 chip. There are carrier-specific Galaxy S8 models in the U.S., in addition to an unlocked version, which is not tied to a carrier but is compatible ideally with GSM networks.
Camera
OnePlus 5
The OnePlus 5 dual-camera setup has been advertised as one of its staple features. The system includes a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens with f/1.7 aperture and a 20-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.6 aperture. The latter camera offers 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom and OnePlus markets its own Fast Autofocus system for the lenses. The device’s front camera features a 16-megapixel lens and f/2.0 aperture.
Samsung Galaxy S8
A bit behind the curve of the dual-camera trend, the Galaxy S8 features a single 12-megapixel camera. Instead of a dual-camera, the lens features larger “dual-pixels” in addition to a with f/1.7 aperture. A highlighted feature on the Galaxy S8 camera is its Auto HDR mode, which can be easily accessed from the main area in the camera application. The device’s front camera features an 8-megapixel lens with f/1.7 aperture.
Battery
OnePlus 5
The OnePlus 5 features a 3,300mAh battery with a Dash Charge feature, which promises an approximate 63 percent power increase in about 30 minutes. The OnePlus 5 features a USB-C port.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 features a 3,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S8 Plus features a 3,5000. Both devices include wireless charging and fast charging via Quick Charge 2.0, which promises about a 50 percent power increase in 30 minutes. The Galaxy S8 features also a USB-C port.
Operating System
OnePlus 5
The OnePlus 5 runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with the OxygenOS overlay. The system includes a new Reading Mode as well as a new screenshot shortcut, which allows users to capture a screenshot by swiping three fingers across the screen.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 runs Android 7.0 Nougat with the Samsung Experience overlay. The system includes a more refined look with a setting, which pulls up the app tray by swiping up on the screen. The Galaxy S8 also introduced Samsung’s Bixby AI assistant, which includes aspects such as Bixby Home, a hub for all of a user’s important information, Bixby Vision, which allows users to execute contextual functions through the camera app, and Bixby Voice, which serves as an AI aspect of the system. The beta version of Bixby Voice is currently available to U.S. Galaxy S8 users.
Biometrics
OnePlus 5
The OnePlus 5 includes a front-facing fingerprint scanner as its sole biometric feature. The sensor is embedded within the device’s home button, making it a fairly typical feature.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 features a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner, and a facial recognition biometrics options. The Galaxy S8 fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel of the device, to the right of the fingerprint scanner. This placement has been a source of criticism for the Galaxy S8 as other devices with rear fingerprint scanners typically have the sensor in a centered location for easy access. The Galaxy s8 iris scanner and facial recognition are forward facing.
Release Date
OnePlus 5
The OnePlus 5 is currently available for preorder at the OnePlus website in the U.S. and will go on sale June 27. The device will sell for $479.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 is currently on the market, selling for $749, while the Galaxy S8 Plus sells for $849. The device is available at major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile and retailers including Best Buy and Amazon.
