OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7

OnePlus just upped the stakes with a more expensive, upgraded version of its OnePlus 3. But should you buy a OnePlus 3T? Is it better than a Samsung Galaxy S7? We help you answer some of these questions by comparing their prices, specs and features in our OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7 comparison.

If you want a comparison between the new and old model, check out our OnePlus 3 vs 3T review 

The table below show how the two phones compare for their main specifications.

OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7: Screen

This is arguably where the phones differ most. You get a bigger AMOLED screen on the 3T, but a higher resolution on the Galaxy S7, so which is best depends on your preferences: neither is inherently better.

You could say Samsung’s 577ppi screen easily beats the 401ppi of the OnePlus, but once you’re at 400ppi, few people will notice the extra detail you get at higher pixel densities. And for some, the slightly larger screen will be preferable for watching videos or browsing the web.

OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7: Design and build

Again, style is a personal preference. We’re big fans of the S7, but the 3T is no ugly duckling. Both are built to high standards, with the OnePlus going for an aluminium unibody and Samsung opting for a smooth glass back.

The big difference is that the S7 is water resistant; the OnePlus is not. If you like the extra protection offered by a waterproof phone, or you’ll actually take advantage of the ability to take photos and videos underwater, the S7 could well be worth the extra money.

The OnePlus 3T uses a USB-C port for charging and synching, but both keep the much-loved 3.5mm analogue headphone jack

OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7: Cameras

We already know the S7 has one of the best cameras on any phone. Its 12Mp sensor is mated with an f/1.7 lens and is capable of stunning photos and videos.

We also know more megapixels doesn’t mean better photos, and the OnePlus 3 is no match for the S7. The 3T uses the same 16Mp camera, but adds sapphire glass protection and has improves the electronic stabilisation. It also has optical stabilisation and – on paper at least – pretty much matches the capabilities of the Samsung.

It can shoot 4K video at 30fps, and lets you shoot photos in RAW if you so desire. However, it’s limited to 120fps at 720p while the S7 has better slo-mo with 240fps.

Both, fortunately, give you the option to record in 60fps at 1080p.

We’ve not had time to properly test out the 3T’s cameras, but we’ve a feeling, given the similarities with the OnePlus 3, that the S7 will still have the edge overall.

Things aren’t as simple around the front, as OnePlus has put another 16Mp camera in the 3T for selfies. This should beat the Samsung’s 5Mp snapper, but we’ll have to reserve judgement until we’ve properly put them head to head.

OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7: Performance

In keeping with OnePlus’ Never Settle motto, the 3T has the latest Snapdragon 821 chip. This is said to be 10 percent quicker than the 820. The S7 (in some countries) has the 820, while in the UK we get the Exynos 8890 version, which is pretty much just as quick.

For most people, a 10 percent difference isn’t going to be noticeable, but don’t forget that the OnePlus 3T will be a better bet for gaming thanks to its lower resolution screen – you can go faster if you have fewer pixels to deal with.

Plus, the 3T has an extra 2GB of RAM to play with, which is great if you’re the type to leave loads of apps running the in the background or dozens of tabs open in Chrome.

Although we’re talking about performance, it’s worth noting that there’s no way to get more storage in the OnePlus 3T. Like a Google phone (or iPhone) you’re stuck with what you buy as there’s no microSD slot.

But instead, the 3T gives you an extra nano SIM slot so you can have two numbers, or work and personal SIMs running simultaneously.

Battery life does fall under performance, and the 3T crams in an extra 13 percent capacity over its predecessor while staying the same size and weight. The 3400mAh cell is larger than the 3000mAh battery in the S7, but we expect both phones will last roughly the same time under normal use.

Practically, both offer fast charging, but only the S7 has wireless charging (and fast wireless charging at that).

OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7: Software

Both phones provide their own take on Android with Samsung’s Touchwiz dividing opinions as ever, and OnePlus using its Oxygen interface. Both are based on Android 6 and each has its own tweaks and extras over stock Android.

OnePlus 3T vs Galaxy S7: Price

If you go by the RRP, the Galaxy S7 is a lot more expensive than the 3T at £569. But if you look online, you’ll pay around £100 less for an unlocked SIM-free model, narrowing the gap between the two phones considerably.

The 3T is £90 more than the OnePlus 3, which now sells for £309, and this makes the ‘old’ phone look even better value than ever. We certainly couldn’t recommend upgrading if you already own one.

But the Galaxy S7 better value for a lot of people: the benefits are real. A microSD slot, water resistance, VR capabilities and wireless charging will be worth the extra money for a lot of people, and that’s without taking the (probably) superior camera and higher resolution screen into account.

Related: Best OnePlus phones