OnePlus burst onto the scene back in 2014 with the OnePlus One – a “flagship killer” that undercut top-tier phones on price, while still delivering on premium features and performance.
Since then, the company’s success and expansion has meant that its latest smartphones have grown to embody the very devices it once set out to “kill”.
More competitive hardware has come with an understandable price increase but in 2020, OnePlus returned to the mid-range swinging with the superb OnePlus Nord, along with the even-more affordable Nord N10 5G and the first true budget OnePlus phone, the Nord N100 – the only current OnePlus phone we haven’t reviewed, so you won’t find it on this list.
Pair this with an already-capable premium phone lineup in devices like the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8T and you’ve got a selection of superb smartphones, backed by a vibrant community and delivering against some of the biggest players in the industry – and that’s before you even get to the OnePlus 9 series, due early in 2021.
Here’s our rundown of the best OnePlus phones you can buy right now.
Best OnePlus phones 2021
1. OnePlus Nord – Best overall
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If you’ve kept an eye on the smartphone scene of late, the OnePlus Nord has proven to be a formidable smartphone in the mid-range market; delivering a premium experience typically found on devices at around twice the price, including great performance, 5G, versatile cameras, fast charging and a slick user experience.
Sure, other mid-range phones offer even more for less, but few can match the Nord’s sense of style and OnePlus’s superb OxygenOS user experience.
Even though this may not be the most powerful OnePlus phone, we think it’s the best for most people thanks to the sheer bang for your buck it provides – there’s really little reason to spend more.
Read our full OnePlus Nord review
2. OnePlus 8 Pro – Best for specs
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The OnePlus 8 Pro is arguably the company’s first full flagship, finally incorporating long-requested features like wireless charging and IP68 water resistance to make it a genuine contender with Samsung‘s finest.
Understandably the price has gone up accordingly, but even the base model – no slouch at 8GB RAM and 128GB storage – still represents serious value by flagship standards; meaning you will save at least some money by opting for OnePlus over most other manufacturers.
The 8 Pro’s camera is OnePlus’ best yet, and while it still lags behind rivals slightly in some areas, software the hardware is among the best around, which has helped to close the gap considerably. Throw in 5G, a great design, and the best Android skin around and the OnePlus 8 Pro is easy to recommend to anyone who can afford it.
Read our full OnePlus 8 Pro review
3. OnePlus 8T – Best value flagship
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Bigger numbers in all things except price renders the OnePlus 8T a great buy over the standard 8. It’s cheaper than the OnePlus 8’s original RRP and yet sports a smoother 120Hz refresh rate display and is the first of the company’s phone’s to integrate blisteringly fast 65W fast charging.
It was also one of the first phones outside of Google’s own Pixel 5 to boast the latest and greatest Android 11; in this instance, covered by OnePlus’s new OxygenOS 11 user experience on top.
Read our full OnePlus 8T review
4. OnePlus 8 – Still got it
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Minor quirks aside, the OnePlus 8 is a fantastic flagship-class smartphone at an amazing price. You rarely get this quality level of design, features and performance at such good value.
When the biggest let down is that the main camera can do a better job of close-ups than the macro lens, you know you have an excellent device on your hands.
The main problem is that the newer, better 8T outperforms the standard 8 but has a lower asking price – though given its age you might be able to find the 8 for less, which suddenly makes it a very compelling option.
Read our full OnePlus 8 review
5. OnePlus Nord N10 – Best for budget
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While the OnePlus Nord line is forging a path that stands out in a cluttered mid-range market, the N10 5G doesn’t pack quite the same punch as the original Nord or the fierce competition from rivals such as Realme.
The highlight has to be the Oxygen OS user experience, which despite running on more modest hardware than almost any other OnePlus phone you can buy right now still feels wonderfully responsive and is unquestionably easy to use.
You also get respectable battery life paired to 30W Warp Charge 30T fast charging, expandable storage (unheard of on pretty much all other OnePlus phones) and a 90Hz high-refresh-rate display – all for less than the original Nord.
Read our full OnePlus Nord N10 5G review
6. OnePlus 7T – Bargain buy
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The OnePlus 7T is a phenomenal smartphone that offers quite the upgrade over 2019’s standard OnePlus 7, featuring a large 6.55in AMOLED display with speedy 90Hz refresh rate, an upgraded triple-camera setup on the rear consisting of a wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens and rapid 30W charging that boosts your phone by just under 50 percent in 20 minutes.
The design is eye-catching without being too in-your-face, thanks mainly to the frosted glass finish and the lightweight form factor makes it feel great in the hand.
Admittedly this is now one of the older OnePlus phones on the market, which dents its appeal. But it’s aged well, making it a great choice if you can find it at a discount.
Read our full OnePlus 7T review
7. OnePlus 7T Pro – Big screen at a bargain
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The OnePlus 7T Pro is still a phenomenal smartphone with a gorgeous design, powerful internals and great camera performance at a pleasing price.
The 90Hz refresh rate display really makes all the difference when using this smartphone, but this is no longer a feature exclusive to the Pro variant – and it’s the same with the triple-camera setup too.
Buy this if you want the larger screen of the Pro models, and can find it for cheaper than the more recent 8 Pro.
Read our full OnePlus 7T Pro review