OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 6T McLaren: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The OnePlus 6T McLaren is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 845 chipset, faster charging, and improved display offer a significant upgrade over the 3T. While the 3T remains a capable device, the 6T McLaren's modern features and performance make it the better choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 3T | OnePlus 6T McLaren |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - North America | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 30 - North America | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global model | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2016, November. Released 2016, November | 2018, December 11. Released 2018, December 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4 mm (6.01 x 2.94 x 0.29 in) | 157.5 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 158 g (5.57 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~73.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.41 inches, 100.9 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Optic AMOLED | Optic AMOLED |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, OxygenOS 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 10GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS 20 MP (16 MP effective), f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, Auto HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | Dirac HD sound | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired, 50% in 20 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gunmetal, Soft Gold, Midnight Black | Speed Orange |
| Models | A3010, A3003 | - |
| Price | About 440 EUR | About 700 EUR |
| SAR | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.65 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise-94.3dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 83h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.232 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 61dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 78dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 171678 (v7) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 292716 (v7) GeekBench: 9005 (v4.4) |
OnePlus 3T
- Excellent value for money
- Compact design
- Good performance for its age
- OxygenOS software
- Outdated chipset
- Slower charging
- Camera not as good as newer phones
- No water resistance
OnePlus 6T McLaren
- Powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
- Fast Warp Charge 30W
- Improved camera performance
- Modern design with in-display fingerprint sensor
- Larger display
- Can be more expensive (depending on market)
- No headphone jack
- Glass back is prone to fingerprints
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 6T McLaren boasts a larger 6.41-inch AMOLED display with a more modern aspect ratio and in-display fingerprint sensor. While the 3T's display had a strong contrast ratio, the 6T McLaren's AMOLED technology delivers richer colors and deeper blacks. The 6T McLaren also has a slightly higher resolution.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the 6T McLaren generally produces better images, especially in low light. The 6T McLaren's image processing algorithms are more refined, resulting in more detailed and vibrant photos. The 3T's camera is still usable, but lacks the 6T McLaren's advancements.
Performance
The Snapdragon 845 in the 6T McLaren is a substantial upgrade over the 821 in the 3T. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the 6T McLaren. The 6T McLaren's Kryo 385 Gold and Silver cores offer improved efficiency and power.
Battery Life
While the 3T had an impressive endurance rating of 83h (likely a misprint, more realistically around 30-35h), the 6T McLaren's 3700mAh battery, combined with the more efficient Snapdragon 845, provides comparable or slightly better real-world battery life. The 6T McLaren's 30W Warp Charge is a significant advantage, charging 50% in just 20 minutes.
Buying Guide
The OnePlus 3T is a good option for budget-conscious users seeking a reliable, albeit older, smartphone. The OnePlus 6T McLaren is ideal for those prioritizing performance, faster charging, and a more modern design, willing to spend a bit more.