Tetraphobia is the technical term for a superstitious fear of the number 4, which is taken particularly seriously in China.

Do not look for the fourth level in a lift and do not be surprised if 50 follows directly after 39. The same goes for smartphones by the Chinese manufacturer OnePlus as after models One, 2, 3, and 3t, we now have the OnePlus 5 seem superior compared to other top-end devices in performance tests. Separate from the load and performance of the four stronger processor cores, which clock up to 2.45 GHz, the OnePlus also solidly brings the four weaker cores up their maximum 1.9 GHz. This split of work between the different-strength processor cores ensures that the stronger cores perform more CPU-intensive work, while the weaker, resource-saving cores take on the less demanding jobs. According to OnePlus, they do not push the weaker cores for superior benchmark results, but generally for games and to let apps start quicker.

The bad aftertaste lingers. In practice, the Qualcomm SoC is currently the fastest on the market, even without any manipulation. The OnePlus 5 works lightening fast without getting excessively hot, which is also a plus. This means numerous apps can run smoothly, alone and simultaneously, because the 8GB of RAM in the test device makes them easier to manage than with the 4 GB that is common with good smartphones at the moment. Only a few currently have even 6 GB, including the cheaper version of the OnePlus 5, which has a smaller UFS 2.1 data storage with 64 GB compared with 128 GB. Both versions are still not upgradable. Also on the wishlist is inductive charging as an addition to the Dash Charge quick-charge function.
 

Technically up-to-date and high-grade

“Who needs a headphone jack anyway? That’s why Bluetooth exists, right?” With this sideswipe at Cupertino, Senior Designer Diego Heinz managed to unnerve the online community during the online presentation of the OnePlus 5. In line with this, he presented a manipulated product photo without an audio output, but quickly resolved the issue: “Just kidding, of course the OnePlus 5 has a headphone jack.” But with Bluetooth 5.0, it is also ready to use with compatible headsets, which are meant to maintain a connection up to 200 metres away.

User aids and in-house OS

The fingerprint sensor works reliably and quickly. However, OnePlus has not given it any additional actions like Huawei, for example. That said, the Oxygen OS, which was developed by OnePlus and is a derivative of Android, brings with it numerous user aids, like showing screenshots below in snippets. Another new function to Version 4.5 of Oxygen, based on Android 7.1, include an app block, page screenshot for long app or browser pages, an automatic night mode, which orients itself to sunrise and sunset, and a monochrome reading mode. The DCI-P3 colour space, which the OnePlus 3t could be upgraded with given you knew how, is now a fixed option for the 5. The colour rendering was pleasant and natural in the test as a result.

However, the screen opens another chapter in terms of eccentricity. To start with, scrolling reveals the so-called jelly effect: optically the sides slightly wobble when scrolling up and down, as if they were being pulled on elastic, which is an acquired taste. Secondly, it does not usually matter if you turn your phone right or left to bring it horizontal to record videos. If you were filming a chamber concert on the OnePlus 5 and turned it left then the first violin would sit on the left in the picture, but you would hear it on the right. It would only work with the orchestra if you turned the OnePlus 5 to the right for horizontal mode, which is less common in our experience.
 

Cheap alternative

Gorilla Glass 5 forms the protective finish over the screen. The famous wood cases are available on www.oneplus.net for €21.95, while a new, early bumper version of the carbon case is available for €31.95. The smartphone itself costs €499 for 6 GB RAM and 64 GB of user storage and €559 for 8 GB RAM and 128 GB. The latter is currently the smartphone with the lowest RRP to score a “very good” from connect. Naturally the lab results add up too: the battery life is very good and reception for all three networks is good.

DUAL CAMERA

With a wide-angle and telephoto lens plus good software, the Oneplus finds its way into the top team even amongst the camera smartphones.

he wide-angle (f/1.7) shoots with 15 megapixels and the telephoto (f/2.6) with 20. That makes the Oneplus 5 currently the smartphone with the highest-resolution lens combination. In “Tele” mode, a real 1.6x enhancement is made to double enhacement using software, so not totally loss-free. Both lenses together allow for portrait shots with soft bokeh. Different to a DSLR, the software has to recognise here which picture elements belong to the subject and which to the background. Blurring of the transitions between subject and background are not completely unavoidable, but at least minor with the Oneplus 5, as shown by the zooming. A comprehensive pro mode belongs to any good software: in addition to settings options for ISO, white balance, shutter speed, and a manual focus, a histogram and gyroscope are blended into the screen. You can also activate the RAW format in pro mode. Photographers will notice on the light table at the latest: the telephoto lens is not used in RAW mode, but when you activate it the wide-angle shot is cut back and stretched using software! An optical image stabilisation is not available.

Good selfie camera

The front camera provides the Oneplus with a subtly working beautification filter and a brightening via the display – Flash and HDR – better showcasing little clouds or your destination in the background.

INGE SCHWABE