OnePlus 6T McLaren vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: A Clash of Generations

The OnePlus 6T McLaren, a beloved flagship from years past, faces off against the modern powerhouse, the Samsung Galaxy S23+. This comparison explores how these phones stack up in terms of design, performance, camera capabilities, and overall value. Can the McLaren's legacy hold up against the S23+'s cutting-edge technology?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is the clear winner, offering a vastly superior chipset, camera system, display, and battery life. While the OnePlus 6T McLaren still holds some appeal for budget-conscious users, the S23+ represents a significant leap forward in smartphone technology and user experience.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 6T McLaren Samsung Galaxy S23+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE-A (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2018, December 11. Released 2018, December 132023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions157.5 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm (6.21 x 3.00 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size6.41 inches, 100.9 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOptic AMOLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 630Adreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, OxygenOS 10Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 10GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Dual16 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-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRDual video call, Auto-HDR, HDR10+
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 Dirac HD sound32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging30W wired, 50% in 20 min45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 3700 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSpeed OrangePhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
Models-SM-S916B, SM-S916B/DS, SM-S916U, SM-S916U1, SM-S916W, SM-S916N, SM-S9160, SM-S916E, SM-S916E/DS
PriceAbout 700 EUR$ 780.00 / C$ 1,399.99 / £ 919.08 / € 1,185.89 / ₹ 94,999
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.77 W/kg (head)     1.45 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 111h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 292716 (v7) GeekBench: 9005 (v4.4)AnTuTu: 1234077 (v9) GeekBench: 5073 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus 6T McLaren

  • Fast Charging (30W)
  • Compact Design
  • Relatively Affordable

  • Outdated Chipset
  • Older Software
  • Less Capable Camera
  • Shorter Battery Life

Samsung Galaxy S23+

  • Cutting-Edge Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Excellent Camera System
  • Long Battery Life
  • Stunning Display
  • Wireless Charging (15W)
  • Reverse Wireless Charging (4.5W)

  • Higher Price
  • Larger Size

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S23+ boasts a significantly superior display with vibrant colors, excellent brightness, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The OnePlus 6T McLaren's AMOLED display is still decent, but lacks the S23+'s advanced features and overall visual fidelity. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio of the S23+ is a major advantage.

Camera Comparison

Samsung's Galaxy S23+ camera system is a clear winner. It offers improved image quality, better low-light performance, and more versatile shooting options. The OnePlus 6T McLaren's camera is adequate for basic photography, but it can't compete with the S23+'s advanced features and image processing.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23+ utterly dominates the Snapdragon 845 in the OnePlus 6T McLaren. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S23+. The S23+'s newer architecture and fabrication process provide a massive performance boost.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S23+ offers significantly longer battery life and faster charging speeds. Its 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging provide a convenient and efficient charging experience. The OnePlus 6T McLaren's 30W charging is still respectable, but the S23+’s endurance rating of 111h is a substantial advantage.

Buying Guide

The OnePlus 6T McLaren is a good option for users on a very tight budget who prioritize a fast charging speed and a relatively compact design. The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is ideal for anyone seeking a premium smartphone experience with top-tier performance, a stunning display, a versatile camera, and long-lasting battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the OnePlus 6T McLaren still worth buying?
Only if you're on a very tight budget and don't need the latest features. It's showing its age.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ will receive significantly longer software and security updates compared to the OnePlus 6T McLaren.
❓ Can the OnePlus 6T McLaren be upgraded?
Software updates are limited. While custom ROMs are an option, they require technical expertise.