The new OnePlus 6T is here and if you have read our review, you’ll know that it’s a fantastic buy for anyone looking for a great flagship smartphone. However, the phone does have its fair share of shortcomings which might turn some buyers away. The OnePlus 6T lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, has an in-display fingerprint scanner which isn’t as fast as traditional fingerprint scanners, and has a very inconsistent camera.
For these reasons and others such as software or UI, buyers might be forced to look at other alternatives in the market and we’re here to help you find the best OnePlus 6T alternatives that you can buy right now. So, lets take a look at some of the best smartphones (listed in no specific order) you can get in case the OnePlus 6T doesn’t manage to live up to your expectations:
Best OnePlus 6T Alternatives That You Can Buy
1. OnePlus 6
Lets kick off the list with the OnePlus 6, the predecessor to the OnePlus 6T which was launched earlier this year in May. Since there are barely any hardware differences between the two devices, the OnePlus 6 is still a great smartphone and it might really appeal to buyers who want a 3.5mm headphone jack on their device and prefer a faster fingerprint scanner. The OnePlus 6 has the same internal hardware as the OnePlus 6T, except for the smaller 3,300mAh battery and the smaller 6.28-inch display.
All the other software improvements that OnePlus released with the OnePlus 6T will make their way to the older OnePlus 6, so you won’t be losing out on a whole lot if you choose to go for the older device.
However, there’s a major problem. The OnePlus 6 is already unavailable on Amazon, so you might have to rely on the offline market or third-party sellers to get your hands on the device. Considering the fact that it’s an older device, you might also be able to save some money by getting it instead of the OnePlus 6T, provided you still manage to find one.
2. LG G7+ ThinQ
Next up we have the LG G7+ ThinQ which is a pretty compelling buy for a number of reasons. Unlike the OnePlus 6T, the device still retains a headphone jack which has a dedicated Hi-Fi Quad DAC, has an arguably better 1440p LCD display, IP68 dust and water resistance, and better camera performance. The LG G7+ ThinQ also offers better value for money than the OnePlus 6T and is often available at a significant discount.
On the downside, however, the LG G7+ ThinQ runs the company’s own custom Android skin which might not appeal to a whole lot of buyers. On top of that, the device offers a maximum of 6GB of RAM, which means that its performance won’t be as good as that of the OnePlus 6T. In case you wish to save even more money, you can also go for the lower-end LG G7 ThinQ which, priced starting at Rs. 29,999, offers a whole lot of features for the price.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 40,000)
3. Xiaomi Poco F1
The Xiaomi Poco F1 is another great budget alternative for the OnePlus 6T which will attract a lot of buyers who want top-of-the-line performance but don’t want to shell out the big bucks to get a premium flagship. The device packs in a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with up to 8GB RAM and all the way up to 256GB of internal storage. The device performs quite well for a smartphone in this price range and has already managed to attract a whole lot of buyers in the country.
What the Poco F1 doesn’t offer, however, is a premium look and feel, and compared to the OnePlus 6T, the device’s camera performance is also a bit inferior. The 6.18-inch display on the device isn’t as bright or vibrant as the one on the OnePlus 6T and the device runs MIUI, which might not be up everyone’s alley. Nonetheless, the Poco F1 is a pretty capable device for the price and would be the perfect buy if you’re not looking to spend as much money.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs 20,999)
4. Huawei Nova 3
In case you’re looking for a device that offers great camera performance, then you can also opt for the Huawei Nova 3 over the OnePlus 6T. The device has a pretty awesome 24MP+16MP dual camera setup with extensive AI capabilities which is capable of taking some really detailed shots in both good and low light scenarios. The device also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that the OnePlus 6T lacks, and it’s powered by Huawei’s Kirin 970 chipset which offers pretty decent performance.
The Huawei Nova 3 runs EMUI 8.2 based on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, which definitely isn’t as good as OnePlus’ OxygenOS ROM, but it can get the job done once you get used to it. Packing a substantial 3,750mAh battery, the Huawei Nova 3 is no slouch in the battery life department and it comes with a 9V/2A fast charger, so charging won’t be an issue either. The Nova 3’s 6.3-inch LCD display looks pretty great on its own, but it doesn’t match the quality of OnePlus’ Optic AMOLED display.
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 34,999)
5. Asus ZenFone 5Z
The Asus ZenFone 5Z is also a great smartphone to consider if you’re interested in a flagship device but don’t want to spend the big bucks. Compared to the new OnePlus 6T, the ZenFone 5Z is a whole lot more affordable and it gets as cheap as a high-end Poco F1 during sales. At such an affordable price, the device offers a very premium build quality, along with a decent LCD display and loud speakers.
However, the ZenFone 5Z’s camera performance is no better than that of the Poco F1 and nowhere near as good as that of the OnePlus 6T. Another issue that may put off some buyers is that the device runs ZenUI, Asus’ custom Android skin which isn’t as great as stock Android or OnePlus’ OxygenOS. The ZenFone 5Z is a great option for buyers looking for a premium feeling flagship device at a relatively lower cost.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 24,999)
6. LG V30+
In case you’re looking for a very premium device, but don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, then you can also consider the LG V30+. Even though the device packs an older Snapdragon 835 chipset, it’s still a compelling buy for a couple of reasons, including its impressive camera performance, its stunning QHD+ OLED display and its 3.5mm headphone jack which has a Hi-Fi Quad DAC.
The LG V30+ will also appeal to all the notch haters out there as the device doesn’t have a notch and instead has minimal bezels on the top and bottom. On top of that, the LG V30+ is IP68 dust and water resistant, and it has an amazing sounding speaker. The 4GB RAM and LG’s software might turn away some buyers, but if you can deal with it, then the LG V30+ is still quite a decent buy in late 2018.
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 32,900)
7. Google Pixel 2
You might be wondering why the Pixel 2, which is a fairly expensive device, has made its way to this list. Well, there’s a simple reason why – sales. The Pixel 2, which is now a generation old, is being made available in India at attractive discounts during sales which makes it a worthy alternative to the OnePlus 6T. The device offers a premium build quality, great performance, a comfortable form factor and an absolutely amazing camera, which is enough to attract a lot of buyers.
On the downside, however, the device packs an older Snapdragon 835 chipset, just 4GB of RAM and brings no customization whatsoever, which means that it won’t perform as well as the OnePlus 6T. But if you’re someone who uses their smartphone’s camera a whole lot, there’s no better option than the Pixel 2 in this price range. Just make sure you purchase it during a sale.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 61,000)
8. Samsung Galaxy S9
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is also a great flagship device which is available at heavy discounts during sales, making it a worth alternative for the OnePlus 6T. The device packs in one of the absolute best displays in the smartphone market, offers great performance and exceptional imaging chops. On top of that, the Galaxy S9 is a great option for users who dislike the notch and prefer a 3.5mm headphone jack over using Bluetooth earphones.
While the Galaxy S9 is a great device in its own accord, it isn’t absolutely perfect. Samsung’s Experience UI, even though it has improved quite a bit, might still not appeal to a lot of buyers and Samsung devices are known to slow down over time. On top of that, even during a sale, the device will cost significantly more than the top-end OnePlus 6T, so it might be out of reach for a number of buyers. Nonetheless, for those of you looking for a great screen, amazing camera performance and a premium build quality in a compact form fact, the Galaxy S9 is a great alternative to the OnePlus 6T.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 57,900)
Best OnePlus 6T Alternatives You Can Buy
Well, that rounds up our list of the best OnePlus 6T alternatives you can buy right now. In case you think we’ve missed out on a compelling device, do let us know in the comments section below and make sure you stay tuned to our coverage of the OnePlus 6T to know how it stacks up against other flagship-level smartphones in the market today.
