Top 10: Alternatives to the OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 3 has finally and officially been announced at long last, and while there were no surprises in what the OnePlus 3 is all about, it’s been another great launch from the Chinese upstart. With the world of Android being as it is however, there are always plenty of other options out there. Maybe you’re not keen on the idea of a 5.5-inch Full HD display in 2016, or maybe you just want something similar that isn’t from OnePlus. Well, no matter what the case is, we have a list of Top 10 Alternatives to the OnePlus 3. Some of them are cheaper, some are more expensive, and while many of them offer similar experiences to each other, there are some standouts in the below list.

Motorola Moto G4

The Moto G4 is the latest in a long line of quality, yet affordable devices, and if you’ve been eyeing up the OnePlus 3, it’s likely the value-for-money aspect is important to you. The Moto G4 and its Snapdragon 617 octa-core CPU isn’t as fast as the OnePlus 3’s Snapdragon 820, but with the same 1080p resolution and the same 5.5-inch display they share some key similarities. The Moto G4 also features a fingerprint sensor, just like the OnePlus 3, and there’s a good chance it’ll be cheaper and more readily available where you are.

OnePlus X

The OnePlus X is even cheaper than the Moto G4 and will be a perfect device for those that want something more affordable, but also want to stick with the OnePlus brand. Besides, its glass and metal design is something a little different to the OnePlus 3 anyway. With its 5.0-inch Full HD AMOLED display it’s a little more compact than the OnePlus 3 while sporting the same resolution. The only thing to be aware of here is that the Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM here does make the OnePlus X something of an older device overall, and it might not stay updated for more than a year or so.

Huawei P9 Plus

So, you like the look and feel of devices from China, but want to go with something a little more established? In that case, the Huawei P9 Plus is what you want, with its 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display and great Leica cameras – two of them at 12-megapixel apiece – it shares many of the same specs but has an excellent camera and overall shooting experience. The Emotion UI on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow here is a little out there, but with its own HiSilicon Kirin 955 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage it really does get the job done. It’s a little more pricey than the OnePlus 3, but if you’re in the market for a high-end device with an excellent fingerprint sensor as well as some superb optics, the P9 Plus is the one to look out for.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

While this might be the option that most people will consider “fitting in”, it’s no less a great option to consider. A lot more expensive than the OnePlus 3 without a doubt, the Galaxy S7 Edge does make up for it. For one thing the 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display here is a Quad HD panel, which makes virtual reality look much better, which brings us to the Gear VR. OnePlus might have launched the OnePlus 3 in VR, but they don’t have much in the way of virtual reality offerings, whereas Samsung has partnered with Oculus for one of the best on Android right now. The 12-megapixel camera here is great as well, and there’s a hell of a lot on offer with the extra software and the overall look and feel is something a lot of people will argue is much nicer than the OnePlus 3’s look and feel.

Meizu Pro 6

The Meizu Pro 6 is currently the latest and greatest from Meizu, and if you’re a fan of Chinese devices, you’ll know about Meizu. If not, this is a brand that’s been around for just as long – if not longer – as Xiaomi have and they produce some of the greatest devices out of China. The Pro 6 might look a little like an iPhone, but with a MT6797T Helio X25 from MediaTek under-the-hood it forges its own path in the world of Android. A device with FlymeOS on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this offering from Meizu will give users a fresh experience to have fun with. It’s got a great camera and while the design isn’t for everyone, its 5.2-inch Full HD AMOLED display makes for a good-looking and compact device.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe

The ZenFone line from ASUS has become something people relate to good value as well as great specs, and this year was no different. In particular the ZenFone 3 Deluxe is an excellent device to look out for. With a 5.7-inch Full HD AMOLED display, it trades blows with the OnePlus 3 by offering the same Snapdragon 820 CPU as well as 6GB of RAM and an insane 256GB of built-in internal storage. It’s more expensive than you’d expect from a ZenFone device, but it’s “Deluxe” for a reason and the 23-megapixel rear-facing camera is the sort of thing that big camera fans will enjoy and the slightly larger screen gives OnePlus fans looking for something a little larger another solid alternative.

Motorola Moto Z

The Moto Z – as well as the Moto Z DROID Edition, pictured above – is a device that takes customization to a whole new level. While the Moto Z doesn’t officially go on sale until this Fall – unless you’re a Verizon customer – the Moto Z could well be worth waiting for. Not only is the 5.5-inch display much easier to handle than last year’s Moto X Pure, but the Moto Mods that are available, as well as new ones being made by other manufacturers, will make your Moto Z truly your own. With speakers, battery packs, projectors and more just a simple snap away from becoming part of your device, the Moto Z sounds more and more attractive. It’s also not that expensive, either.

Xiaomi Mi 5

Again, the Mi 5 is yet another Chinese device, but as a result it punches well above its weight, just as the OnePlus 3 does. With a 5.15-inch Full HD display and a Snapdragon 820 running the show, this is one device that you might not want to miss, especially if you’re okay with importing a smartphone. Great value for money and a slick user interface are all part of the Xiaomi experience and with a glass build, it has a different look to the OnePlus 3 as well. Available fairly easily in both China as well as India, the Mi 5 might be tricky to get hold of, but it’ll always be good value for money no matter where you get it from.

Lenovo PHAB2 Plus

At 6.4-inches, the Lenovo PHAB2 Plus is always going to be a bit of a handful, but the OnePlus 3 isn’t exactly pocket-friendly either. With a Full HD display that huge screen might appear to be all that sharp, but with a quality build and decent software experience, the PHAB2 Plus makes up for this elsewhere. It has not one, but two rear-facing 13-megapixel cameras and the MediaTek MT8783 under-the-hood is a different processor that should hold its own. There’s dual SIM support here as well, and for the most part this is a device that’s all about being larger than life without having to break the bank.

LeEco LeMax 2 

The LeMax 2 is a device from a Chinese company, formerly known as LeTV, which specializes in well, practically everything. This device offers a standard 4GB option as well as a 6GB version to go toe-to-toe with the OnePlus 3. Elsewhere, a 5.7-inch Quad HD display is present, and it also features an Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a 21-megapixel Sony sensor to make sure the camera experience is as good as it can be. A little pricey, the LeMax 2 still offers good value for money, and will no doubt make for a great contender to the OnePlus 3 when it goes on sale later this Summer.