OnePlus 10 Pro: Ever since its debut in 2013, OnePlus has always made excellent smartphones, managing to win over a segment of tech lovers who are as attentive to specs and wallets as they are eager for an alternative to the usual manufacturers in terms of design and software. A combination that has worked, also thanks to a winning marketing strategy at a very tempting price for the first models. Over the past few years, as the brand’s loyal community of fans grew, OnePlus transformed itself into a premium phone company, ready to bet on a few innovations and increase the cost of its models. Entering a price bracket that included the various top-of-the-range Samsung and Huawei, as well as iPhones, OnePlus’ sales gradually declined, while remaining among the leaders in strategic Asian markets such as India.
The farewell of co-founder Carl Pei (now the brains behind the Nothing project) and the launch of the cheaper Nord range, much appreciated precisely for its mix of technical specifications and price, was the prelude to OnePlus’s change, which came under the aegis of Oppo in the second half of 2021. This is not a random move, far from it, as Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, and Realme are all part of the Chinese conglomerate BBK Electronics Corporation. Although OnePlus sales are included in Oppo’s market reports, group executives have confirmed that the two companies will remain independent in design and sales, although OnePlus will share Oppo’s technologies.
Brand’s Features
Integration with Oppo is a crucial point when talking about the OnePlus 10 Pro because if, unlike the version launched in China, the one in Europe features the proprietary OxygenOS 12.1 software, it is clear that OnePlus’s soul is being dissipated with the meeting of Oppo’s ColorOS. An inevitable step, but one that has disappointed many OnePlus followers, for whom the interface has always been a distinctive element of the company compared to others.
The brand’s typical features remain, such as Zen Mode for detoxing from the phone and Shelf for widgets, and the software remains fluid and responsive, partly still different from others but no longer as it was before. Overall, it has to be said that the OnePlus 10 Pro remains a complete and competitive phone, even if it is not immune to limitations, ranging from the camera to the lack of IP68 certification for the smartphone’s resistance to dust and water. Of course, one can live without it, but it remains a step back from the recent past.
Looking at the front, from the hole in the top left corner to the thin bezels, the phone is almost identical to the last generation. At the same time, at the back, the changes are stark, not so much the frosted glass that prevents fingerprints but the generous camera module that is a hallmark but can be misleading. To the untrained eye, it might appear to be four lenses. In reality, it is three plus a dual-tone flash.
OnePlus 10 Pro Features
A choice not appreciated by everyone, although aesthetically, it makes sense intending to find a more recognisable rear lens housing. Although it is only 8.55 millimeters thick, its dimensions (163 x 73.9 x 8.55 mm), the weight of just over 200 grams, and the size of the 6.7” Fluid Amoled display are not exactly ideal for one-handed handling. The screen is a Samsung E4 panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the only flaw, for those who like linearity, might be the curves on the sides. Otherwise, it wakes up to movement and works very well.
We mentioned earlier that there are three lenses on the rear, one less than its predecessor, as the monochrome camera present on the OnePlus 9 Pro has disappeared. There is a 48-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, with an 8-megapixel 3x telephoto lens. The most interesting and discussed is ultrawide, which allows you to shoot with a 150-degree field opening for fun shots. The photos are in the OnePlus tradition: fast focusing and generally very good results with a lot of details, although the ultrawide camera does seem to struggle a little at night and in poorly lit environments.
The 32-megapixel front camera is promoted, ensuring excellent selfies, while for video, there are some reservations more due to the limitations set by OnePlus than to the results obtained. This is another reason why the partnership with Hasselblad, which after last year’s first steps hinted at more noticeable improvements, is somewhat puzzling. We are likely to see a different story on future Oppo smartphones.
Battery Capability
Good audio and battery. The OnePlus 10 Pro has a 5000 mAh battery (on its predecessor, the module was 4500 mAh). The autonomy is sufficient to cope with the entire day, also thanks to fast charging: from 0 to 100 in just over 30 minutes via the 80W power supply provided in the box (which OnePlus guarantees, unlike Apple and Samsung), while the wireless one goes up to 50W and requires 50 minutes to recharge the battery fully. Perhaps OnePlus’s most outstanding merit, however, is its ability to handle the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1 SoC, the most powerful on the market but one that tends to overheat easily.
The OnePlus 10 Pro is available in Volcanic Black and Emerald Forest colours in two models: the version with 8GB of Ram and 128GB storage is on sale for 919 euros, and the other with 12GB of Ram and 256GB storage costs 999 euros. A small price difference considering that the smartphone’s memory is not expandable, is why the more powerful model is undoubtedly more suitable for purchase. Also because on many sites, the OnePlus 10 Pro can be found at reduced prices.
