The new OnePlus 6T is here and if you have read our review, you’ll know that it’s a fantastic buy for anyone looking for a great flagship smartphone. However, the phone does have its fair share of shortcomings which might turn some buyers away. The OnePlus 6T lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, has an in-display fingerprint scanner which isn’t as fast as traditional fingerprint scanners, and has a very inconsistent camera.
1. OnePlus 6
Lets kick off the list with the OnePlus 6, the predecessor to the OnePlus 6T which was launched earlier this year in May. Since there are barely any hardware differences between the two devices, the OnePlus 6 is still a great smartphone and it might really appeal to buyers who want a 3.5mm headphone jack on their device and prefer a faster fingerprint scanner. The OnePlus 6 has the same internal hardware as the OnePlus 6T, except for the smaller 3,300mAh battery and the smaller 6.28-inch display.
All the other software improvements that OnePlus released with the OnePlus 6T will make their way to the older OnePlus 6, so you won’t be losing out on a whole lot if you choose to go for the older device.
Next up we have the LG G7+ ThinQ which is a pretty compelling buy for a number of reasons. Unlike the OnePlus 6T, the device still retains a headphone jack which has a dedicated Hi-Fi Quad DAC, has an arguably better 1440p LCD display, IP68 dust and water resistance, and better camera performance. The LG G7+ ThinQ also offers better value for money than the OnePlus 6T and is often available at a significant discount.
On the downside, however, the LG G7+ ThinQ runs the company’s own custom Android skin which might not appeal to a whole lot of buyers. On top of that, the device offers a maximum of 6GB of RAM, which means that its performance won’t be as good as that of the OnePlus 6T. In case you wish to save even more money, you can also go for the lower-end LG G7 ThinQ which, priced starting at Rs. 29,999, offers a whole lot of features for the price.
The Xiaomi Poco F1 is another great budget alternative for the OnePlus 6T which will attract a lot of buyers who want top-of-the-line performance but don’t want to shell out the big bucks to get a premium flagship. The device packs in a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with up to 8GB RAM and all the way up to 256GB of internal storage. The device performs quite well for a smartphone in this price range and has already managed to attract a whole lot of buyers in the country.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs 20,999)
In case you’re looking for a device that offers great camera performance, then you can also opt for the Huawei Nova 3 over the OnePlus 6T. The device has a pretty awesome 24MP+16MP dual camera setup with extensive AI capabilities which is capable of taking some really detailed shots in both good and low light scenarios. The device also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that the OnePlus 6T lacks, and it’s powered by Huawei’s Kirin 970 chipset which offers pretty decent performance.
5. Asus ZenFone 5Z
The Asus ZenFone 5Z is also a great smartphone to consider if you’re interested in a flagship device but don’t want to spend the big bucks. Compared to the new OnePlus 6T, the ZenFone 5Z is a whole lot more affordable and it gets as cheap as a high-end Poco F1 during sales. At such an affordable price, the device offers a very premium build quality, along with a decent LCD display and loud speakers.
In case you’re looking for a very premium device, but don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, then you can also consider the LG V30+. Even though the device packs an older Snapdragon 835 chipset, it’s still a compelling buy for a couple of reasons, including its impressive camera performance, its stunning QHD+ OLED display and its 3.5mm headphone jack which has a Hi-Fi Quad DAC.
You might be wondering why the Pixel 2, which is a fairly expensive device, has made its way to this list. Well, there’s a simple reason why – sales. The Pixel 2, which is now a generation old, is being made available in India at attractive discounts during sales which makes it a worthy alternative to the OnePlus 6T. The device offers a premium build quality, great performance, a comfortable form factor and an absolutely amazing camera, which is enough to attract a lot of buyers.
On the downside, however, the device packs an older Snapdragon 835 chipset, just 4GB of RAM and brings no customization whatsoever, which means that it won’t perform as well as the OnePlus 6T. But if you’re someone who uses their smartphone’s camera a whole lot, there’s no better option than the Pixel 2 in this price range. Just make sure you purchase it during a sale.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is also a great flagship device which is available at heavy discounts during sales, making it a worth alternative for the OnePlus 6T. The device packs in one of the absolute best displays in the smartphone market, offers great performance and exceptional imaging chops. On top of that, the Galaxy S9 is a great option for users who dislike the notch and prefer a 3.5mm headphone jack over using Bluetooth earphones.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 57,900)
