OnePlus 10 Pro review

The OnePlus 10 Pro is a flagship device for 2022 that offers a new design and chipset, but also retains many similarities with last year's 9 Pro. The phone has a unique look with a square camera bump and Gorilla Glass 5 back, making it stand out from other devices. However, the matte texture on the frame provides limited grip and can be slippery. The display is identical to the 9 Pro, featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with QHD+ resolution and dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The panel has undergone dual color calibration for more accurate colors across different brightness levels. OnePlus' Oxygen OS has merged with Color OS, resulting in a less polished UI experience. However, the interface still features familiar options like Zen Mode, Shelf, and Always-On Display Canvas. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which provides excellent thermal management and minimal throttling during gaming sessions. The battery capacity has increased to 5,000mAh, resulting in a score of 107 hours overall endurance in our test. The camera system features a 2nd-gen Hasselblad setup with a 48MP main sensor, 8MP telephoto lens, and new 50MP ultra-wide camera. While the cameras perform well, the ultra-wide camera lacks autofocus, and macro photography capabilities have been removed. Overall, the OnePlus 10 Pro offers great performance, battery life, and charging speeds, but is let down by its inconsistent UI and lack of polish in certain areas.

Build Quality and Design

The OnePlus 10 Pro boasts an impressive build quality and design that sets it apart from its predecessor, the 9 Pro. The phone's less generic design is a notable improvement, with a bold square camera bump that seamlessly blends into the frame. The back of the device is made of Gorilla Glass 5, while the aluminum frame features a sleek matte black finish. The Volcanic Black option showcased here is stunning, but an Emerald Forest variant is also available. One notable design change is the placement of the fingerprint scanner further up the display, making it easier to reach with one hand. The phone's matte texture does an excellent job of repelling fingerprints but provides limited grip, making it somewhat slippery. OnePlus has opted not to officially IP-rate the 10 Pro, except for the T-Mobile variant in the US, which boasts IP68 water resistance. The phone's dimensions and weight make it comfortable to hold, despite its slightly larger size compared to the 9 Pro. The overall build quality is exceptional, with a premium feel that justifies its flagship status. However, one might argue that the design is not particularly innovative or groundbreaking, as some may have expected from OnePlus. Still, the phone's visual appeal and attention to detail are undeniable, making it a solid choice for those seeking a high-quality smartphone. While the 10 Pro's design may not revolutionize the market, its execution is top-notch, contributing significantly to the overall user experience. It will be interesting to see how this design influences future OnePlus devices.

Battery Life

The battery life of the OnePlus 10 Pro is a notable aspect of the device. With a larger 5,000mAh battery compared to its predecessor, the phone has shown impressive endurance in our testing. The phone scored 107 hours overall endurance, making it suitable for heavy users. Charging times are also noteworthy, with the included 65W Super Vooc charger capable of charging the phone from zero to 100% in just 32 minutes. This is a significant improvement over previous models and puts it on par with other flagship devices. The increased battery capacity and faster charging speeds make the OnePlus 10 Pro an excellent choice for those who need a device that can keep up with their daily activities. One of the notable features of the phone's battery life is its ability to sustain long periods of use without needing a recharge. Whether it's gaming, video streaming, or social media scrolling, the phone's battery life has been consistent and reliable in our testing. However, the lack of IP rating on some variants may raise concerns about water resistance and overall durability. Overall, the OnePlus 10 Pro offers an excellent balance of power and endurance, making it a great option for those who want a device that can keep up with their busy lives.

Display

The OnePlus 10 Pro boasts an impressive 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with QHD+ resolution and second-generation LTPO technology, offering a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The display has undergone dual color calibration to ensure accurate colors across various brightness levels. In our testing, we found the display to be remarkably color-accurate, making it ideal for content creation or consumption. The screen's protection has been upgraded to Gorilla Glass Victus, which provides improved durability against scratches and drops. With up to 1300 nits of brightness, the display offers great visibility outdoors, even in direct sunlight. The interface is powered by Oxygen OS 12.1 running over Android 12, but it's not the same Oxygen OS we've come to know from previous OnePlus devices. The new design language introduced with the 10 Pro gives the phone a distinct look, and the square camera bump blends nicely into the frame. However, this comes at the cost of limited grip, as the matte finish can make the phone slippery to hold. While there's no IP rating for the device (except for the T-Mobile variant in the US), the Gorilla Glass Victus does provide some protection against water and dust. The larger 5,000mAh battery also contributes to the phone's overall premium feel. The display is a highlight of the OnePlus 10 Pro, offering an immersive experience with its vibrant colors and crisp details. While there are some trade-offs in design language and software tweaks, the display remains one of the standout features of this flagship device.

Camera

The camera department on the OnePlus 10 Pro is a mixed bag. The phone features the same Hasselblad-branded camera setup as its predecessor, with a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera, and a new 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. While some aspects of the camera performance are impressive, others leave room for improvement. In good lighting conditions, the main camera produces excellent shots with plenty of detail and accurate colors. However, there is some noticeable sharpening throughout all the shots, which may not be ideal for those who prefer a more natural look. The telephoto camera performs well in daylight, maintaining the same colors and resolved detail as the main camera, but with more pleasing contrast. One of the biggest disappointments is the ultra-wide-angle camera, which has lost its autofocus capabilities compared to last year's model. While it can still produce decent shots with reasonable detail levels, good color, and dynamic range performance, its lack of autofocus makes it less versatile. Furthermore, the macro photography feature that was present on the 9 Pro's ultra-wide camera is also missing from this iteration. Low-light performance is where the main camera truly shines. It captures scenes well with plenty of detail and without over-sharpening images. The night mode feature mostly makes a difference in situations with extremely low light or when there are light sources in the photo, retaining highlights very well and exposure balanced. The 32-megapixel selfie camera is also worth mentioning, producing great shots with good details and handling dynamic range well in backlit scenes. However, it lacks autofocus, which may be a drawback for some users. Overall, while the OnePlus 10 Pro's camera performance has its moments of brilliance, there are areas that need improvement to make it truly exceptional.

Price and Value

The OnePlus 10 Pro arrives as the brand's latest flagship for 2022, boasting a new design and chipset. However, it also shares many similarities with its predecessor, the OnePlus 9 Pro. At $900, is this device worth considering? OnePlus has made an effort to stand out from other sister brands with the 10 Pro's unique design. The phone features a less generic look, with a square camera bump that blends nicely into the frame. The back of the device is made of Gorilla Glass 5, while the frame is aluminum with a matte black finish. The display on the 10 Pro is identical to its predecessor, featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with QHD+ resolution and second-generation LTPo technology. However, the protection has been updated to Gorilla Glass Victus. The interface on the 10 Pro runs Oxygen OS 12.1 over Android 12, but it's a far cry from the clean UI we've come to expect from OnePlus. The phone also features non-expandable storage options of 128 or 256GB in Europe and India, while only 128GB is available at launch in North America. OnePlus has paired the 10 Pro with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, along with their new 3D passive cooling system. This results in excellent thermal management and minimal throttling, making it a great choice for gamers. In terms of value, the OnePlus 10 Pro offers a lot for its price. The phone's battery life is great, charging speeds are fast, and thermal management is top-notch. However, at $900, there are plenty of other options available that offer more polished and well-rounded experiences. Ultimately, whether or not the OnePlus 10 Pro is worth considering depends on individual priorities. While it offers a lot for its price, it's hard to ignore the compromises made in its design and interface.

Performance

The OnePlus 10 Pro is the latest flagship offering from the Chinese brand, and one of its standout features is its impressive performance capabilities. Under the hood, you'll find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, paired with OnePlus' new 3D passive cooling system. In our testing, the 10 Pro proved to be a powerhouse, delivering smooth performance in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The phone's thermal management is also noteworthy, with minimal throttling observed during prolonged usage. This makes it an excellent choice for gamers who demand raw power from their device. The 5,000mAh battery in the 10 Pro provides more than enough juice to last a day or longer, even with heavy use. We clocked an impressive 107 hours of overall endurance in our test, making it one of the most reliable devices we've seen in recent times. Charging speeds are also blazing fast, with OnePlus including a 65W Super VOOC charger in the box (80W for other markets). This allows you to top up your battery from 0-100% in just 32 minutes. While this is not unique to the 10 Pro, it's still a welcome feature that ensures you're never caught short. The camera performance on the 10 Pro is also worth mentioning. The second-gen Hasselblad camera setup delivers great results, with excellent detail capture and pleasing color profiles. However, we did notice some sharpening throughout all shots, which might not be to everyone's taste. Overall, the OnePlus 10 Pro's performance capabilities are undoubtedly impressive, making it a strong contender in the flagship market. With its powerful chipset, efficient cooling system, and fast charging speeds, this device is sure to satisfy even the most demanding users.

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