OnePlus 7 Pro Review in 2020
The OnePlus 7 Pro remains an excellent smartphone choice in 2020 and even 2021. As the best phone launched in 2019, it will age well over the next several years.
I've spent 1 full year with my sim card in the OnePlus 7 Pro and I wanted to share my experience with you guys. The OnePlus 7 Pro launched in May of 2019 and was Oneplus's first device that could really compete head to head with most flagship phones on the market. It received many accolades from tech publications and reviewers, with many of them rating it as the best overall phone in 2019.
One year later, this phone is still very powerful, and very relevant. When you consider its price has dropped to less than 50% of what most current flagships from Apple and Samsung cost, it's a very attractive option for anyone who hasn't upgraded in a few years.
Aesthetic (Color + Size)
First, I still love the way this phone looks. Oneplus did an amazing job with the colors. I'll admit I usually prefer a plain black or gray phone, but I went for the Nebula Blue because it's the only color that has the option for 12 gigs of RAM. I haven't been disappointed in the slightest, as you can see the Nebula Blue's gradient looks amazing in the light. It's also available in both Almond and Mirror Gray.
With a 6.67 inch screen size, it is definitely a large phone, not crazy big like the Galaxy S20 Ultra, but a large phone nonetheless. I found myself able to adapt to the larger size fairly quickly, and I would say I have slightly above average sized hands. When using it one handed I never have issues getting false presses from my palm.
Build Quality (Frame + Screen)
The OnePlus 7 Pro's build quality is top notch and on par with the premium flagship grade. I am a serial phone dropper and the anodized aluminum frame has held up to quite a few drops without denting. I generally use the thin OnePlus sandstone case, though occasionally I'll live dangerously and use it completely naked. Likewise, the 3D Corning Gorilla Glass has not shattered when dropped and has only suffered two minor scratches from my negligence of letting it share a pocket with my car keys.
Display (Resolution + Frame Rate)
The display is absolutely fantastic. With a 3120 x 1440 QHD+ resolution that comes in at 516 ppi and a 90hz refresh rate it still rivals, if not beats, most 2020 flagships. Scrolling through apps is very noticeably smoother at 90hz, and the QHD+ display makes consuming videos and other media and absolute pleasure. Colors are vivid and rich with just the right amount of contrast.
The in-display finger-print sensor is fast and very reliable, even when my hands are wet and even when I don't get a full thumb press.
Other Features (Motorized Front-facing Camera, Battery, Quick Charge)
My absolute favorite part about this phone that in my opinion makes it the best phone in the world is the motorized pop-up camera. You get nothing but display! I am an absolute fiend for high screen-to-body ratio, the 7 Pro has an 88.3% screen-to-body ratio, and the total lack of any notch or hole punch cutout is an incredible feature for someone like me who hates both.
I was pretty devastated when the OnePlus 8 Pro changed to hole punch camera and it's what has kept me from upgrading. I'll take having the motorized camera over wireless charging any day. Especially when the 4,000 mAH battery lasts me almost 2 full days even after a year.
I understand not everyone feels this way and that some people actually dislike the motorized camera, but to each their own.
Camera and Video
I find both the camera and video quality to be really quite good and more than adequate for my needs.
There are 3 rear-cameras on the back of the phone. The main 48 megapixel camera has a Sony Sensor and is complemented by 2 more cameras, an 8 megapixel telephoto lens capable of 3x zoom , and a 16 megapixel ultra wide angle lens camera.
Here are a few pictures I was able to capture with the OnePlus 7 Pro - I didn't use any fancy advanced settings, these are all just point and shoot photos.
The nightscape mode is quite good as well - here's a nice picture of my dog taking a dump.
And here's a video sample. The video intro was shot using my Oneplus 7 Pro.
As a sidenote if you don't have The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant then go buy it on Amazon right now.
One last note about the camera is that the camera bump on the back of the phone is nice and centered which keeps the phone from tilting to one side when it's not in a case. Obviously no camera bump would be ideal, but we've now entered a time where there are no flagships without camera bumps, and I find that centering the camera on the back is the least offensive place to put it.
Operating System
OxygenOS is an absolute pleasure to use and there are virtually no intrusive pre-installed apps with the exception of the OnePlus community forum app, which can easily be uninstalled in a matter of 5 seconds if you don't like it. If you're interested in seeing how I personally setup my OnePlus 7 Pro as well as some tips and tricks for Oxygen OS, then check out my video or article on it which I'll link in the description.
A Few Complaints
Lastly, no phone is perfect and I do have a few small complaints about the phone.
- Infinity Display - this is more of a personal taste thing - some people love it, though I still prefer a completely flat screen and hope to see the inifnity screen trend die out.
- Mute button - The mute button is backwards guys. You would think that flipping it up turns the volume on and flipping it down turns the volume off. Not the case here. I wish OnePlus would release a software update to let users change this, but at the end of the day it's really not that big of a deal.
- Lack of wireless charging - this was addressed and implemented in the OnePlus 8 Pro, but of course is still missing from the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Worth it in 2020?
Absolutely! The OnePlus 7 Pro is still a very relevant and powerful phone in 2020, and, as arguably the best phone released in 2019, should provide an excellent smartphone experience for several more years.
Where to Buy the OnePlus 7 Pro?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HJrQV
Swappa: https://swappa.com/buy/oneplus-7-pro
Oneplus Website: https://www.oneplus.com/
That's it for this review, if you enjoyed this article please do feel free ot share it!
Watch the video: