With the OnePlus 8 series, the company has finally hit it out of the park. The hardware is flagship grade and makes next-to-no omissions to reach that pinnacle of performance. The phone has the best display we’ve tested, the cameras finally match up to the competition, and yes, it even has an IP68 rating.
Read more: Camera shootout: OnePlus 8 Pro vs Galaxy S20 Plus vs Huawei P40 Pro
However, with all the improvements comes a justifiable increase in price. Touching almost $1,000, the OnePlus 8 series is a far cry from the flagship-killing, value-focused hardware OnePlus started off with. So, what are your options if you don’t want to empty out your wallet for a brand new, power-packed piece of kit?
Here are all the best OnePlus 8 alternatives to satisfy your flagship-killer needs.
1. Realme X50 Pro
Building its brand on the back of affordable mid-range hardware, Realme finally entered the high-end space with the Realme X2 Pro late last year. Now, the Realme X50 Pro takes on the flagship segment with top-tier hardware and a price that undercuts most of the competition.
The phone employs a tried-and-tested design and bolsters it with excellent build quality. The Snapdragon 865 chipset ensures that performance is as good as it gets, and the included 65W fast charger is one of the fastest solutions around.
We reviewed the phone earlier this year and rated it positively. That said, you might want to temper your expectations from the camera, as the software has a tendency to go overboard with noise reduction and sharpening.
Priced at Rs. 37,999/€599 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage and going all the way to Rs. 44,999/€749 for the top-end version with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, you can’t doubt the value quotient. If blazing-fast performance is what you crave, the Realme X50 Pro is an excellent OnePlus 8 alternative to consider.
2. Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
Unlike the OnePlus 8 series, Xiaomi’s Mi 10 makes a play for the premium segment while still trying to be affordable. The phone pairs a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 processor with a classy design, excellent stereo speakers, and fast 30W charging.
The star of the show here is the new 108MP primary camera that is paired with a 13MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, as well as a 2MP depth sensor. Elsewhere, you will find a large 4,780mAh battery that not only supports 30W wired charging but also 30W wireless charging, in addition to 10W reverse charging. Compared to the Mi 10 Pro, you do miss out on an optical zoom stack, but the cost savings make up for it.
Despite being a significant step up over the Mi 9, the Mi 10 5G remains an excellent, affordable alternative to 2020 flagships. Indeed, like the OnePlus 8, the Mi 10 Pro is a significant step up as far as specs go, but the phone manages to strike a balance between price, performance that is rather unmatched in today’s smartphone climate. Availability will vary depending on region, but the phone can be had for as little as $599 at Gearbest.
3. Red Magic 5G
Looking for performance on a budget? Look no further than the Red Magic 5G. Between the 144Hz display, active cooling, and gaming triggers, the phone is a mobile gamer’s fever dream. It’s the perfect OnePlus 8 alternative for the enthusiast crowd.
The Red Magic 5G gets a lot right. The 144Hz display, for one, is the smoothest available on a smartphone. If your favorite game includes unlocked frame rates, the Red Magic can enable the smoothest gaming experience around. Add to that programmable capacitive triggers, and you’ve got the hardware to truly elevate the experience.
The Red Magic 5G is everything you could want in a high-performance phone, and then some.
Further, the Red Magic includes improved haptic feedback similar to HD rumble on consoles like the Nintendo Switch. Once again, your game will need to support the feature, but popular titles like PUBG Mobile already do, so you should be covered. Finally, an active fan keeps everything cool. Yes, I’m not kidding. In addition to the standard liquid cooling solutions, the Red Magic has an honest-to-goodness fan built into it.
For all its features, the Red Magic 5G misses out on smartphone essentials like a good camera. Elsewhere, the default launcher can’t be switched out which is a bit of a bummer. Still, priced at $579/€579/£539 for the 8GB RAM variant with 128GB of storage, it is easy to overlook the shortcomings if the hardware package catches your eye.
4. OnePlus 7T or OnePlus 7T Pro
Okay, I know what you are thinking. This isn’t the freshest hardware around. I hear ya. However, the Snapdragon 855 Plus-toting OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro are still some of the top-performing phones around. Both phones are more than capable of maxing out any game you throw at them. And, with OnePlus’ excellent software update record, they should be well supported for the years to come.
Additionally, there are quite a few features that work out in favor of the older hardware. The camera setup on the OnePlus 7T, for one, is more versatile than the one on the OnePlus 8. The latest model eschews the telephoto lens for a 2MP macro sensor. The OnePlus 7T, on the other hand, gives you a proper 12MP 2x optical zoom lens.
Related: Umm, is the $499 OnePlus 7T a better choice than the OnePlus 8 series?
Meanwhile, OnePlus has dropped the motorized selfie camera for a punch-hole camera on the OnePlus 8 Pro. If you, like me, prefer the pop-up solution, the OnePlus 7T Pro remains an excellent OnePlus 8 alternative.
Finally, OnePlus has already dropped prices for the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro in certain markets, making the phones an even better deal. It might not be the latest hardware around and you miss out on features like wireless charging and an IP rating. However, it’s hard to look past the sheer value on offer.
The OnePlus 7T is priced at just $499 in the US or £549 in the UK. In India, the phone is available for Rs. 34,999 which makes it an incredible deal. The OnePlus 7T Pro is equally affordable and can be had starting at £699 in the UK. The phone got a price drop in India bringing it down as low as Rs. 47,999.
5. LG G8X
As Bluetooth headphones get ever more common, smartphone audio has become an afterthought at best. LG, however, has long championed the cause and this continues with the LG G8X.
The phone not only includes a headphone jack but also a high-quality 32-bit Quad DAC solution that is more than capable of driving even high-end headphones. Coupled with user-adjustable audio presets and DTS:X, the LG G8X is one of the best phones you can buy if audio is a priority.
Elsewhere, the phone delivers serviceable cameras, a last-gen, but still great Snapdragon 855 processor, classic design, and a unique party trick: The LG G8X is the most affordable foldable phone around. Well, kinda.
You can pair up a second-screen accessory with the phone in a form-fitting case. The app support is somewhat limited but what’s there is solid. If you can overlook the large bezels between the two displays, the solution gets pretty close to what the Surface Duo promises. The phone can be had for a mere $699 unlocked over at Amazon, with the dual-screen accessory included!
6. iPhone SE (2020)
With the new second-generation iPhone SE, Apple has built the flagship killer that everyone has been clamoring for. There, I said it.
The latest “affordable” iPhone has a laser focus on acquiring the aspirational audience. People who want the best of the best without spending top-dollar. Not only is the iPhone SE significantly more affordable than any other device in our list, it potentially outperforms them too.
The iPhone SE (2020) is the flagship killer everyone has been asking for.
Apple’s optimized approach towards the hardware package is no secret and as such, the company is able to eke out the best possible performance out of the hardware. With the same processor as the latest iPhone 11 Pro, the SE is capable of delivering class-leading performance which makes it a near-perfect OnePlus 8 alternative.
On the imaging front, the iPhone SE ships with a single 12MP camera that does pretty well as long as there is good lighting. Additionally, like most current iPhones, the second-generation iPhone SE also excels at capturing stunning 4K 60FPS video that has extended dynamic range and amazing color science.
Read more: Imagine, for a second, if Android OEMs released an iPhone SE-style phone
Elsewhere, there’s good and bad. The design is straight out of 2016 and anything but fresh. Massive bezels flank the 4.7-inch display and you will also have to contend with less than exemplary battery life.
It might be a controversial opinion, but for once, Apple has a product that delivers the features people want at a price that is approachable. The absolute best performance, a very good camera, and one of the largest app ecosystems, all for $399 leaves you very little to complain about.
We think these are your best alternative options in case you aren’t interested in buying a OnePlus 8, but what about you? What are your favorite OnePlus 8 alternatives? Let us know in the comments.
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