Competing in the flagship smartphone space is no easy feat in 2022. Chinese smartphone makers like Oppo, RealMe, and Xiaomi have really been upping their game. The irony here is that OnePlus is facing significant competition from its sister brands, which incidentally include Oppo and RealMe. These two smartphone players have recently come out with some outstanding flagships in terms of design, and even in terms of value for the RealMe GT2 Pro.
That said, Oppo and RealMe devices aren’t available in the U.S. – but the OnePlus 10 Pro is. For $899 you get an attractive design, a powerful Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chipset, a top tier 6.7-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display, and the brilliant OxygenOS based on Android 12. But is the OnePlus 10 Pro the true flagship killer that it once was? We’re going to break down some key takeaways after having spent nearly a month living with the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Is OnePlus 10 Pro a gaming phone?
Absolutely. We have come to expect best-in-class performance from OnePlus flagships, and in this regard, the OnePlus 10 Pro doesn’t disappoint, especially when it comes to gaming. The OnePlus 10 Pro comes running on a Snapdragon 8 gen 1 and 8GB of RAM. It also comes running OnePlus’ buttery smooth OxygenOS. We’re somewhat surprised that there is no 12GB RAM option available, irregardless, the phone is still quite the speed demon.
To that effect, the device has been engineered and optimized for gaming, which includes everything from minimizing lag to optimizing frame rates. When it comes to benchmarks, the phone earned a Geekbench multi-score score of 3224 when running on High-Performance Mode, effectively beating out the likes of Samsung Galaxy S22+.
How long does the OnePlus 10 Pro last?
The OnePlus 10 Pro houses a 5,000mAh battery. During testing, the OnePlus 10 Pro lasts about a day on a full charge. Its all-day battery life is respectable, but not great – there are plenty of flagships out there that last over a day with regular use. Fortunately, it makes up for its so-so battery life with fast charging speeds.
How fast does the OnePlus 10 Pro charge?
The OnePlus 10 Pro is able to charge to full in just 34 minutes when using their proprietary 65W SUPERVOOC charger. When it comes to wireless charging, the OnePlus 10 Pro supports fast 50W, charging which is faster than what you’ll find from the likes of Apple and Samsung. It’s able to charge the device in 47 minutes using OnePlus’ own fast wireless charger. The device also supports reverse power-sharing.
Is the OnePlus 10 Pro waterproof?
Yes, and no. In the U.S., only the T-Mobile version of the OnePlus 10 Pro offers IP68 waterproof protection. IP68 means the phone can survive in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the other U.S. model, does not offer IP68 protection. This is a step down from the OnePlus 9 Pro, for which all models offered IP68 protection.
How good is the camera on the OnePlus 10 Pro?
We had high hopes for the new Hassleblad camera that launches on the OnePlus 10 Pro, especially since photography has always been an area where OnePlus has needed improvement the most. Unfortunately, the Hassleblad camera on the OnePlus 10 Pro has yet to really impress us.
The OnePlus 10 Pro packs in a 48MP f/1.8 main, 50MP f/2.2 ultrawide and 8MP f/2.4 telephoto (with 3.3x optical zoom) camera array. The main camera and super-wide lens are quite good, they’re able to take natural-looking, colorful everyday photos with balanced exposure and good detail.
When it comes to portrait photos taken with the main camera, they don’t often produce the DSLR-like level of photos that you’ll find from the likes of Apple and Samsung. To that effect, it seemed to take trial and error to get a really good portrait shot that pops.
Low-light performance is also middling, but night mode photos are solid. The selfie camera on the very average, to that effect, selfie snaps tend to produce somewhat muted colors.
To summarize, we’d say that the OnePlus 10 Pro offers a solid camera for a flagship, but it can’t begin to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple. We’re very much hoping that future software updates will improve photography on the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Is OnePlus a Chinese company?
Yes. OnePlus is a subsidiary of BKK Electronics, which also owns Oppo, Vivo and RealMe. However, OnePlus is the only BKK brand that is available to purchase in the U.S.
Does OnePlus 10 Pro have 5G?
Yes. The OnePlus 10 Pro supports 5G in the U.S. on T-Mobile. T-Mobile is currently the only wireless carrier in the U.S. to offer the device. Otherwise, you’ll have to purchase it unlocked, directly from OnePlus.
How expensive is the OnePlus 10 Pro?
The OnePlus 10 Pro retails for $899 unlocked. We appreciate the OnePlus has listened to feedback about the OnePlus 9 Pro’s pricing and has made pricing more affordable for the OnePlus 10 Pro. Considering its premium build, excellent display, and performance, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a pretty good value.
Is OnePlus worth buying in 2022?
Unfortunately, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a bit of a letdown for us. It wasn’t too long ago that OnePlus was a true “flagship killer”, so much so, that the last few generations have earned an Editor’s Choice award from GEEKSPIN. But this time around, while it’s a solid flagship, the OnePlus 10 Pro is still struggling in the photography department, and OnePlus also hasn’t innovated enough since the OnePlus 9 Pro to outshine other leading flagships in 2022. We’re hoping that more of Oppo’s innovations will trickle down to OnePlus devices soon.
Priced at $899, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a pretty good value for a flagship phone in 2022. If your priorities are gaming, performance, display, and fast charging, then you will be happy with the OnePlus 10 Pro. Unfortunately, its camera array currently can’t compete with most other leading flagship phones. So, if your priority is photography, you should probably look elsewhere.