One of the great examples of such ‘limelight-hogging’ smartphones is the OnePlus 5T. Launched in the latter half of 2017, this phone grabbed quite a few eyeballs for its design, hardware specs and especially the price. However, the OnePlus 5T also has its share of competitors and one of the most prominent ones is the Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018). Launched with the same price bracket, the Galaxy A8+ boasts of many features similar to that of the OnePlus 5T such as 18:9 aspect ratio, dual camera, and a powerful processor. So, it seems only fair that we pit these two devices against each other and see which one has better worth for your money.
Design: Premium Looks
When it comes to the design, the OnePlus 5T boasts of quite a few revolutionary tweaks. At just 7.25mm, the OnePlus 5T sports svelte slim edges and rounded corners, coupled with 2.5D curved glass at the top. To make way for the full-screen display, the fingerprint sensor has been shifted to the back, giving the front a clean look. The back is broken only by the fingerprint sensor and the dual camera module. Interestingly, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ is the first non-flagship Samsung phone to sport the Infinity Display aka the 18:9 screen aspect ratio. Similar to the OnePlus 5T, the back is broken by the camera module and the fingerprint sensor. Both the elements are flush-fitted giving the rear a smooth finish.
1. Protection
Thankfully, both the phones come with Gorilla Glass coating, which means that the screen will be safe from scratches. However, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ goes an extra mile in protecting the device. It’s IP68 rated, meaning that the phone is safe from both dust and water. On the other hand, the OnePlus 5T is only splash-proof. You’ll be able to use it during light rain but a dip in a swimming pool will land you in a service center.
2. Dedicated Memory Card Slot
Keeping up with the latest trends, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ sports a dedicated slot for the microSD card. This ensures that you not only harness the power of two SIM cards but also of the extra memory space. On the other hand, the OnePlus 5T has ample storage to boasts of and thus, doesn’t have any support for external microSD card.
Display: Optic AMOLED vs Super AMOLED
While OnePlus has fitted an Optic AMOLED screen, Samsung went for their in-house Super AMOLED display panel. These FHD+ screens produce a rich, vibrant and crisp display with deep blacks and authentic color reproduction. In case you didn’t know, the Optic AMOLED screens are a variant of Samsung’s Super AMOLED display panels with additional hardware and software tuning done by OnePlus. These tweaks result in better contrast and color reproduction. Moreover, these screens lead to less battery drain. However, the main advantage of these screens for the Galaxy A8+ is the Always On Display feature, which takes the Android experience a notch higher. While OnePlus 5T also comes with the Glance feature, the AOD races ahead of it.
Software: Android Oreo vs Nougat
The Samsung Galaxy A8+ runs the now-dated Android Nougat on top of Samsung Experience version 8.5. In contrast, the OnePlus 5T runs Android Oreo on top of Oxygen OS version 5.
Feature or Stock?
OnePlus has always taken pride in the fact that Oxygen OS closely resembles the Stock Android interface. Staying true to it, the OnePlus 5T gives you a near-Stock experience. However, it’s not without its share of ‘extra’ features. For one, you can easily customize a number of lock screen gestures or choose from an array of vibrations for call patterns. On the other hand, Samsung phones are known for their impressive features and the Galaxy A8+ is no different. Apart from the regular features like Dual Messenger, Performance Booster or Always On Display, there’s an array of Samsung apps like Health, Pay, etc. that may help you get the most out of your device. Nevertheless, the showstopper features are Bixby Home and Bixby Vision. Again, the Galaxy A8+ is one of the first non-flagship models to come with Bixby Home. This feature gathers all important functions like notifications, weather information, calendar events under one roof, giving a boost to your productivity. In a nutshell, you have pretty much everything built-in in the Galaxy A8+.
Hardware Performance
When two smartphones are pitted against one another, hardware performance and battery are two of the most important comparison factors. The OnePlus 5T is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip with Adreno 540 graphics. ICYMI, the Snapdragon 835 has been used on most of the 2017 flagships, including the Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note8, Essential Ph1, and the Google Pixel 2. This chipset is built on the 10-nanometer fabrication process, which results in better power efficiency and buttery smooth performance. Interestingly, the phone, which Samsung has pitted against the OnePlus 5T is powered by the Exynos 7885 octa-core processor, a fairly new chip. While it’s considered one of the best chips in the mid-range line-up, it clearly can’t beat the 835 when it comes to performance. The AnTuTu benchmarking tool clocked a score around and 200140 and 118518 in the OnePlus 5T and Galaxy Samsung A8+, respectively.
Battery Life
The battery capacity of both the phones is almost similar — 3,500mAh (Galaxy A8+) vs 3,300mAh (OnePlus 5T). While both can easily see you through a day and sometimes more, it’s the charging type that spins the whole game. The OnePlus 5T comes with the super-fast Dash Charge technology, which can charge the device to full capacity in about 45 minutes flat. On the other hand, the Galaxy A8+ comes with the simple Fast Charging method. As you might already know, Fast Charge isn’t as fast as Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, and it takes around one and a half hour for the phone to charge fully.
Camera: The Duel of Dual Cameras
OnePlus has also made a major change in the OnePlus 5T’s camera tech. Instead of being a standard telephoto lens, the secondary 20-megapixel sensor of the OnePlus 5T is now a dedicated low-light shooter. Thanks to the wide f/1.7 aperture, the pictures appear colorful and contain less noise. Though the rear camera of the Galaxy A8+ captures great shots, it’s the Live Focus mode of the front shooter which changes the camera experience. This feature lets you adjust the background blur even after you’ve captured the shot. Apart from that, the OnePlus 5T captures amazing pictures in Bokeh mode. The background softly blurs away, while the object stands in sharp focus. If you were to ask me, the portrait mode or the bokeh mode seems more reasonable in the rear camera.
Which One Should You Buy?
These were some of the major pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy A8+ and the OnePlus 5T. Both the devices share some advanced features like Bluetooth 5.0, 18:9 screen aspect ratio, dual cameras, and an impressive battery life. However, if you prefer a feature-rich device with mediocre performance or a phone with jazzy design, stock Android feel and buttery smooth performance, then there’s a clear winner. If you ask me, I’d rather side with the OnePlus 5T. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
