While many manufacturers now offer premium models around 1000 dollars, the 700 to 800 dollars segment seems to have been neglected. But there are two smartphones compete for this high-end market, the OnePlus 8 and iPhone 11. Which is better? This is what we will see in this comparison.
In recent months, manufacturers have gradually upgraded the high-end segment to attack the premium market, around 1000 $. There are nevertheless very good smartphones around 700 to 800 $. This is the case in particular of the OnePlus 8 and the iPhone 11, two smartphones that we will compare today.
ONEPLUS 8 VS IPHONE 11 Specifications
| Model | OnePlus 8 | Apple iPhone 11 |
|---|---|---|
| OS version | Android 10 Q | iOS 13 |
| Manufacturer interface | OxygenOS | N/C |
| Screen size | 6.55 Inch | 6.1 Inch |
| Definition | 2400 x 1080 pixels | 1792 x 828 pixels |
| Pixel density | 402 ppp | 326 ppp |
| Technology | Super AMOLED | LCD |
| SoC | Snapdragon 865 | A13 Bionic |
| Graphics chip (GPU) | Adreno 650 | Apple GPU |
| Random-access memory (RAM) | 8G, 12G | 4G |
| Internal memory (flash) | 128G, 256G | 128G, 64G, 256G |
| Camera (back) | Sensor 1: 48 MP Sensor 2: 16 MP Sensor 3: 2 MP |
Sensor 1: 12 MP Sensor 2: 12 MP |
| Camera (front) | 16 Mp | 12 Mp |
| Video recording | 4K@60 IPS | N/C |
| Wi-Fi | use Wi-Fi 5 (ac), Wi-Fi 6 (ad) | With Wi-Fi 6 (ad) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Supported bands | 2100 MHz (B1), 800 MHz (B20), 1800 MHz (B3), 2600 MHz (B7), 700 MHz (B28) | 2100 MHz (B1), 800 MHz (B20), 1800 MHz (B3), 2600 MHz (B7), 700 MHz (B28) |
| NFC | YES | YES |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under the screen | None |
| Ports (inputs / outputs) | USB Type-C | N/C |
| Battery | 4300 mAh | 3110 mAh |
| Dimensions | 72.9 x 160.2 x 8mm | 75.7 x 150.9 x 8.3mm |
| Weight | 180 grams | 194 grams |
| Color | Black, Blue, Green | Black, White, Red, Green, Yellow |
| Price | 699€ | 809€ |
An ONEPLUS 8 WITH A MORE MODERN DESIGN
In terms of design, the two smartphones take very different approaches. As for OnePlus 8, it has a much more modern design, in tune with the times in 2020. It must be said that the smartphone of the Chinese manufacturer has a large screen of 6.55 inches diagonal which occupies a large from the front panel.
Still, on the front, the punch, positioned at the top left of the display, is fairly discreet in use. On the back, we will also find there a fairly classic positioning for the photo module, in the center vertically. If the back is covered with a smooth glass surface on the model that we were able to test, we appreciate that it does not capture many fingerprints.
Overall, we are entitled to an OnePlus 8 very well-finished. It has the advantage of holding easily in hand, especially thanks to its relatively light weight of 180 grams. We will always appreciate the alert slider to manage the vibrating or silent modes.
In addition, the smartphone has a USB-C socket and a dual SIM card drawer, but it does not benefit from either a microSD storage extension, a jack, or even waterproofing certification.
For its part, the iPhone 11 offers a much more dated design. It adopts the same features as the iPhone XR released in late 2018, with a large notch at the top of the screen. It must be said that this is where Apple hosts all the sensors necessary for the operation of Face ID.
Still, on the front, we can note significantly wider borders than on the OnePlus 8, due in particular to the flat screen and not curved. On the back, Apple has decided to position the photo module at the top left, with two lenses that we will come back to later.
As usual, Apple offers a smartphone with exemplary finishes. It also holds relatively well in hand thanks to its 6.1-inch screen but remains heavier than the OnePlus 8 with 194 grams on the scale. If the smartphone is IP68 certified, note however that you cannot expand the storage or connect a wired headset by jack. The iPhone 11 is compatible with e-SIM, but not the physical dual SIM.
Overall, we will tend to tune this sleeve to the OnePlus 8 due to its lighter weight and slightly more modern design.
LCD SCREEN OR OLED SCREEN
As we have seen, the two smartphones offer very different screen diagonals with 6.1 inches for the iPhone 11 and 6.55 inches for the OnePlus 8.
However, this is not the only difference.
Indeed, the OnePlus 8 is equipped with an Oled screen with a definition of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a ratio of 20:9 and a density of 402 pixels per inch. It should also be noted that the smartphone’s brightness can go up to 790 cd/m² and that its contrast, Oled requires, is close to infinity with very deep blacks.
For color management, the OnePlus smartphone offers 100% DCI P3 color space coverage with a delta E of 3.13 by default, indicating good color fidelity. We can however regret a default mode which draws too blue, with a temperature at 7500 K, but the display mode DCI-P3 allows us to correct the problem with a temperature at 6700K, close to 6500 K of white light from the sun. Finally, note also that the OnePlus 8 can go up to a refresh rate of 90 Hz.
For its part, the iPhone 11 is much less qualitative on paper. It must be said that the Apple phone only offers an LCD screen with a definition of 828 x 1782 pixels, a density of 322 pixels per inch.
The display of the iPhone 11 can go up to a maximum brightness of 650 cd/m² and offers a contrast of 1477: 1, far from infinity. But it is really on the colorimetry that Apple took care of its smartphone.
The iPhone 11 can indeed display 106% of the colors of the RGB color space – note that iOS does not allow the display of DCI-P3 on the calibration application that we used – with a particularly low delta E, at 0.9. The same goes for the color temperature, measured at 6582K by default, which is very close to perfection.
Overall, despite very good results from the iPhone 11 in terms of colorimetry, we will nevertheless give the point to OnePlus 8. It must be said that the smartphone allows much greater contrast, as does the brightness. It also has the merit of having a denser screen in terms of pixels, not to mention the 90 Hz mode, where the iPhone 11 is limited to 60 Hz.
ANDROID AND OXYGEN OS FACING IOS
WIDE ANGLE AND ULTRA WIDE ANGLE
For cameras, we are entitled to different configurations from one phone to another. If the OnePlus 8 has three cameras, the iPhone 11 only has two modules.
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48-megapixel wide-angle camera (f/1.75).
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16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera (f/2.2).
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2 megapixel (f/2.4) macro camera.
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12-megapixel (f/1.8) wide-angle camera.
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12-megapixel (f/2.4) ultra-wide-angle camera.
Despite these few differences, we will, therefore, find the same versatility in photos between the two smartphones, since none takes advantage of a telephoto lens and we will, therefore, find in both cases a main wide-angle and an ultra-wide-angle.
With optimal conditions, outdoors, and with good brightness, the two smartphones logically get away with it. Note, however, that colorimetry is much better managed on the iPhone 11, both when moving from wide-angle to ultra-wide-angle and for overall color compliance. Where the OnePlus 8 tends to offer photos with a lot of saturation, the iPhone 11 offers a more neutral colorimetry.
Obviously, in both cases we will also find a night mode:
OnePlus 8 pictures:
Overall, the two nighttime snapshot modes are quite convincing and allow you to retrieve some additional information compared to the automatic mode. Note that the iPhone 11 has a little trouble with the ultra-wide-angle module in this mode, while the OnePlus 8 tends, once again to embellish reality.
Overall, the iPhone 11 tends to offer more accurate photos with excellent dynamic range management, when the OnePlus 8 tends to offer shots with slightly more saturated colors, especially in broad daylight. We have here two very good smartphones for the photo, but it is the iPhone 11 which will win this round in particular for its more efficient HDR.
TWO POWER MONSTERS
The two smartphones are equipped with the best processors of each ecosystem: the Snapdragon 865 for the OnePlus 8, and the A13 Bionic for the iPhone 11.
In addition to these chips, we will find 4 GB of RAM on the iPhone 11, with 64, 128 or 256 GB of storage depending on the model, and 8 or 12 GB of RAM, with 128 or 256 GB of storage, on the OnePlus 8.
Note however that if the iPhone 11 offers less RAM, Apple has to optimize iOS so that the smartphone does not need more.
In both cases, we have some of the most powerful smartphones of the moment and which do not experience the slightest slowdown, even in complicated situations like 3D games which are particularly greedy in graphic resources.
During his test of the iPhone 11, Cassim described its fluidity as “impeccable”, while Manuel said about the OnePlus 8 that “the performance is excellent and the GPU manages to constantly keep the most demanding games at 60 frames per second without flinching »
So there is a draw between the two smartphones in terms of performance and power. However, note that the OnePlus 8 offers better basic storage, at 128 GB, against 64 GB on the iPhone 11.
A MUCH FASTER CHARGE AT ONEPLUS
On the battery side, there too the two smartphones that have very different characteristics on paper with a theoretical advantage for the OnePlus 8.
OnePlus’s smartphone has a 4,300 mAh battery. Enough to keep the day going without problems, even by activating the 90 Hz refresh rate of the screen. In total, over this period, the screen will have been able to stay on for 6 to 8 hours without problem even if confinement requires, the 4G has been little used. For fast charging, the OnePlus 8 is equipped with a 30 W charger allowing it to recover 100% battery in just under an hour.
For its part, the iPhone 11 incorporates a much trickier battery, with a capacity of 3110 mAh. Nevertheless, it will be enough to last a whole day there without any problem. It’s much better than in previous years’ iPhones and it feels like Apple has made progress. Nevertheless, it is on the charge that the iPhone 11 catches since it is only supplied with a 5W charger.
It will, therefore, need 3:20 to switch to 100% battery. It’s long, very long. Fortunately, it is compatible with 18 W fast charging provided you have a compatible charger on hand and also offers wireless charging.
Overall, the two phones offer a correct autonomy which should be enough to comfortably last a whole day. It is nevertheless on the fast charge that the two models stand out with an OnePlus 8 which recharges 3 times faster. Although it is not compatible with wireless charging, the point is therefore awarded to the OnePlus 8.
WHICH TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE ONEPLUS 8 AND THE IPHONE 11
At the end of this comparison comes the time to count the points and celebrate the victory of the OnePlus 8 against the iPhone 11. It must be said that the smartphone of the Chinese manufacturer wins three rounds (autonomy, screen, and design), against a for the iPhone (photo). It should be noted, however, that smartphones arrive on a par with performance and software.
Overall, it’s a close match, however, between the two planes. However, the more accessible price of the OnePlus 8 further strengthens its lead, especially since it offers better storage with its basic configuration. The iPhone 11 remains however obviously an excellent smartphone and remains to be considered especially if you like very good cameras with a neutral rendering.
ONEPLUS 8 AND IPHONE 11 PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
The OnePlus 8 is available from April 21 at a price of 781 dollars for the 8/128 GB version, onyx black, and 893 dollars for the 12/256 GB model, with the glacial green color.
The iPhone 11 is marketed since September 20, 2019. It is offered at a price of 905 dollars in 64 GB version, 960 dollars for the 128 GB version, and 1095 dollars for the 256 GB model. Six colors are available: white, black, green, yellow, purple, and red.