Relatively shortly after the introduction of the OnePlus 10 Pro, a 10T will appear. Not a better model with a higher price, but a cheaper choice that compromises on some specifications. But strangely enough on other points it is better than the 10 Pro. In this OnePlus 10T review you can read for whom the smartphone is a good choice.
OnePlus 10T
Price From € 699,-
Colors black, green
OS Android 12 (Oxygen OS)
Screen 6.7 inch OLED (2412 x 1080, 120Hz)
Processor 3GHz octa-core (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
RAM 8GB or 16GB
Storage 128GB or 256GB (non-expandable)
Battery 4,800 mAh
Camera 50. 8.2 megapixel (rear), 16 megapixel (front)
Connectivity 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, GPS
Format 16.3 x 7.5 x 0.9 cm
Weight 203 grams
Other No wireless charging and no IP certification
Website www.oneplus.com 8 Score 80 
- Pros
- good screen
- Lightning fast and stays cool
- Super fast charging
- Negatives
- No IP certification
- No wireless charging
- Cameras are disappointing
OnePlus released the 10T at the end of August for a suggested retail price from 699 euros. For that amount you get the model with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage memory. There is also a more expensive model for 799 euros with no less than 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage memory. I tested the latter model for three weeks for this OnePlus 10T review.
Design: Flashy, but lacks features
The design of the 10T is very reminiscent of the OnePlus 10 Pro. That is not surprising and in my opinion not a bad thing, because the phone looks nice. Although the shiny finish should suit you. Less pleasant is that the smartphone is not as sturdy as many competitors. In a torture test by a well-known YouTuber, the OnePlus 10T breaks, where many other expensive smartphones remain intact. Although the test is more extreme than everyday use, it is a shame that the 10T falls short. Especially because the 10 Pro also broke at the beginning of this year.
Compared to the 10 Pro, the housing of the 10T has changed somewhat, but not in a positive sense for you as a user. For example, the 10T cannot charge wirelessly (the 10 Pro can) and the device lacks a finish that is guaranteed to keep water and dust out. The two functions seem to have been cut, but that would be crazy considering the suggested retail price. Almost all competing smartphones are water and dustproof and can also charge wirelessly.
The OnePlus 10T, like many alternative models (unfortunately), lacks a 3.5mm audio port and charges via a USB-C port. You can also connect suitable earplugs to it. The device weighs 203 grams; average for this type of smartphone. The thickness of 8.8 millimeters is also common.
It is remarkable that the OnePlus comes without Alert Slider. This slider lets you easily switch between volume, vibrate and silent and has been on expensive OnePlus phones for years. OnePlus says that the Alert Slider simply did not fit in the 10T, but at the same time promises to bring the slider back in new smartphones. The 10T is therefore a stranger in this area.
Nice screen
There is really nothing to complain about the screen of the OnePlus 10T. As you would expect in this price segment, the smartphone has a colorful and bright AMOLED screen that shows a sharp Full HD resolution. The maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz, good for a smooth image. You can also set the refresh rate lower.
Behind the screen is a fast and accurate fingerprint scanner. The position is only rather low; probably too low for some. The screen has a small notch for the selfie camera. A well-known and fine solution if you ask me.
Hardware for gamers
The specifications of the OnePlus 10T are impressive. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 processor, which is somewhat faster and more energy-efficient than the 8 Gen 1 chip from the OnePlus 10 Pro. The plus version is the fastest processor manufacturers can choose from at the time of writing. It’s nice that OnePlus does that.
Aided by a minimum of 8 GB smartphone, the smartphone is nice and smooth. The 16GB model I tested flies through apps and games, even if I have a lot of them open in the background. I do wonder what the added value is of 16 G compared to, for example, 12 GB – the maximum configuration in the 10 Pro. I also used that smartphone and I have the idea that most users will notice little or no difference between 12 and 16 GB.
Gamers perhaps, argues OnePlus. The smartphone should appeal to them extra with its fast processor, excessive working memory and advanced cooling. While playing heavy games, the 10T stays relatively cool in my hands.
The device also has all the specifications on board that you would expect from a top model in 2022. Think of support for WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and 5G internet. OnePlus promises an optimal Wi-Fi connection via a modified antenna system and although I can hardly test that without lab equipment, I can say that the 10T connects ‘just well’ to my Wi-Fi at home.
Fast charging steals the show
The OnePlus 10T has a 4800mAh battery. A usual size for this type of smartphone and the battery life is therefore – as expected – fine. I can do a long day with the 10T with my fairly intensive use. After that or else really the next morning, the smartphone has to be charged.
And that’s where OnePlus starts the show. The box of the 10T contains a very powerful 150-watt charger. A large adapter with a thick, detachable, USB-C cable that charges the battery from 0 to 100 percent in about twenty minutes. That is very fast. After ten minutes of charging, you have enough power to last another working day. OnePlus promises that the fast charger has very little impact on battery wear compared to a slower charger. That is difficult to test in three weeks and will have to become apparent from user experiences after a year or two.
The difference in charging with the OnePlus 10 Pro is also limited. That phone comes with an 80-watt charger that fully charges the 5000mAh battery in thirty minutes. The fact that the 10T is a bit faster is of course nice, but how much value do you attach to those few minutes difference?
Charging Restrictions
As mentioned, the 10T cannot charge wirelessly. Some will make little difference, others – like me – think it is a pity and a lack in view of the selling price of the smartphone. What I also regret is that the 150-watt charger is limited in options. For example, it can charge other USB-C devices with a maximum of 45 watts via built-in PD support. That’s enough for many Apple MacBooks and lightweight Windows laptops, but not enough for my Dell laptop, for example, which requires at least 65 watts to charge. I hope OnePlus gives its next 150-watt (or more) charger also higher PD support.
Cameras are nothing special
The camera island on the back of the OnePlus 10T looks impressive, but does not house any special camera lenses. You can draw that simple conclusion based on the specifications and practical experience. The camera setup includes a primary camera (50 megapixels), a wide-angle lens (8 megapixels) and a meager 2 megapixel macro camera. That macro lens does what it promises, but doesn’t deliver very nice photos. Below you will find a few examples.
The main camera is fine during the day without standing out. In this price segment, smartphones from Google (such as the Pixel 6) and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE take better photos. Those devices also have a better wide-angle camera. That of the OnePlus 10T regularly shoots overexposed pictures, for example with a practically white background. A shame, especially considering the price.
So don’t buy the OnePlus 10T for its cameras. And that’s not just because of the lack of the Hasselblad logo. OnePlus and Hasselblad worked together for the 10 Pro, for example, on a camera level, but in terms of photography and videography, the 10 Pro also has to compete with the Apple iPhone 13 and the aforementioned Google Pixel 6. The Hasselblad logo has also been omitted on the 10T for financial reasons.
Below you will find some photos of the main camera and wide-angle camera of the OnePlus 10T, with a digital zoom photo on the right.
Software: more Oppo than OnePlus
Invariably the last item in smartphone reviews is the software. An interesting point when I test OnePlus phones these days, because the software has changed a lot compared to four years ago. Back then, OnePlus still used its own OxygenOS shell over Android. OxygenOS was hardly modified from the standard Android version from Google and only contained some useful functions to personalize the software.
Due to the merger with sister company Oppo, OnePlus now uses other software about Android. Although it is still called OxygenOS (version 12 now), in practice the software is almost a copy of Oppo’s ColorOS shell. Which means that OxygenOS is visually very present with colorful menus, many included apps and all kinds of settings that are intended to increase the ease of use of the smartphone.
Although it is difficult to assess objectively, I myself strongly feel that the majority of (longer) OnePlus users long for OxygenOS from a few years ago.
That doesn’t seem to be going to happen, so it’s just a matter of taking it or choosing another brand. I would also choose another brand if you want to receive updates as long as possible. OnePlus promises that the 10T, now with Android 12, will receive three version updates and will receive four years of security updates. Google promises five years of security updates. Apple will roll out version and security updates to iPhones for at least five years. Premium Samsung smartphones get four version updates and five years of security updates.
OnePlus can – if it wants – improve its update policy. The question is whether that will happen. If you’re considering the 10T, you should rely on the current update policy.
Conclusion: Buy OnePlus 10T?
The OnePlus 10T is a smartphone that makes clear compromises to arrive at a lower sales price than the OnePlus 10 Pro. For example, the smartphone cannot charge wirelessly, the housing is not waterproof and dustproof and the cameras are less good. In a few areas, however, the 10T is better than its more expensive brother. It can charge faster and has a newer processor. Bottom line, the 10T will – I think – appeal to more people than the 10 Pro because it’s cheaper and still offers a lot of features.
Compared to competition from other brands, the 10T is not the best all-rounder. A Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, for example, is more versatile and gets updates for much longer. And Google’s Pixel 6 offers much better cameras and also gets significantly longer updates. Apple’s iPhone 13 is also an interesting option because of its more complete features and longer update support.
These smartphones seem to me to be better choices for the general public, where the OnePlus 10T is especially interesting for those looking for a phone that is very fast and also charges very quickly. Gamers, for example – not surprisingly, a target group that OnePlus also strongly focuses on.
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