Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the OnePlus 6 takes on the HTC U12 Plus. Here we have two flagship smartphones that are solidly built and easy on the eyes, although the U12 Plus is arguably the nicer looking of the two. The HTC U12 does have more features/options compared to the OnePlus 6, but when you consider the difference in pricing, you must decide whether you are willing to give up a little ‘bling’ to save a couple hundred of dollars. We will look at what these two devices have in common, and then after viewing the specifications, we will look at both devices in more depth to help determine the winner of this comparison.
The OnePlus 6 and the HTC U12 Plus do have many things in common. Their displays are almost identical in size and both use a newer aspect ratio, but use different display technologies and a different Gorilla Glass version for protection. Both of these devices use the same Snapdragon 845 processor and Adreno 630 GPU. They each have 6GB of base RAM and 64GB of internal storage, although only the U12 Plus’s storage is expandable. You will find dual cameras in each model, but each has a different amount of megapixels. The batteries are close in size, both offer a rapid charge option, although neither offer wireless charging. Even their physical size is quite close with the HTC U12 Plus weighing a mere 11 grams more. They both have the usual suspects including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, NFC, and a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. They both sport a rear fingerprint sensor, incorporate facial detection, support Google Pay, and offer Hi-Res sound, but only the HTC offers stereo speakers. Both devices come with Android Oreo and are sold unlocked.
Please take a careful look at the detailed specifications comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two high-end Android smartphones stack up against each other. Which one is the better purchase by offering the most technology for the least amount of money? Are you looking for a powerful phone, looks, or more features? We will attempt to answer these questions in this comparison.
Specifications
OnePlus 6
OnePlus designs, builds, and sells quality flagship smartphones at a reasonable price. The OnePlus 6 continues that tradition, but when comparing it to other smartphones costing hundreds of dollars more, you will find a few niceties missing. While it uses the better AMOLED display (albeit a notched one), and gives an ample amount of RAM, you will only get a FHD+ resolution, no storage expansion, and no IP68 rating. You get a great dual camera and front-facing camera (FFC), and the camera software allows you to use the Alert Slider to zoom in and out.
OnePlus has made the suggestion that any resolution greater than FHD is unnecessary, and due to this the OnePlus 6 sports a 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED display with a notch that can be hidden, along with a resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels, and 402 pixels-per-inch (PPI). It has the newer 19:9 aspect ratio for better entertainment viewing and multi-tasking which makes the phone slightly taller and slightly narrower. OnePlus uses Gorilla Glass 5 for the entire display and body on the OP6.
The OnePlus 6 is packing the latest Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor clocked at 2.8 GHz and the Adreno 630 GPU for dynamic graphics. The OnePlus 6 has a base of 6GB of RAM and 64GB of non-expandable storage. While the storage is not expandable, there is an option that packs 8GB of RAM with either 128GB or 256GB of storage – each upgrade only adds $50 to the price of the device. A nice sized 3,300 mAh capacity battery powers the OnePlus 6, and while it does offer Dash Charge (Quick Charge 3.0), it does not offer wireless charging even though it has an all-glass construction.
Most of the new flagships are using a dual camera setup and the OnePlus 6 is no exception. The primary camera is the larger of the two coming in with a 20-megapixel sensor, an aperture of f/1.7, as well as EIS and OIS to enhance stabilization. The other camera is a large 16-megapixel the same f/1.7 aperture. PDAF and a dual LED flash work for both cameras. The FFC is quite large, checking in at 16-megapixels, stabilized using OIS and comes equipped with Auto HDR. With that size camera and its components it should provide some great selfies and improve video chatting. The Alert Slider can now be used to zoom in/out when in the camera mode.
The main reason to consider an OnePlus 6 is value as you get the top processor, 6GB of RAM, a good rear camera experience, an excellent FFC, and a great looking smartphone overall – all for a reasonable price. Possible downsides for some will include the notch, an FHD+ resolution, and the lack of an option to expand the storage. The company’s user interface, OxygenOS, adds a light touch over Android 8.1 (Oreo) and is considered fast and smooth. The device measures 155.7 x 75.4 x 7.8 mm and weighs in at 177 grams. It comes in Midnight Black, Mirror Black, or Silk White. It will cost you $529 for the 6GB/64GB version, $579 for the 8GB/128GB version, and $629 for the 8GB/256GB version – a bargain for any of the configurations.
HTC U12 Plus
HTC has always made a good-looking smartphone and the HTC U12 Plus is all-glass affair with a stunning design. It has many good features, but is missing a few perks of a flagship made from glass, such as no wireless charging, in addition to other missing features like a 3.5mm headphone jack. HTC is packing some unusual features, however, such as dual front and back cameras and instead of the usual ‘clicking’ rocker buttons the company opted for ‘digital’ response spots on the side. It also includes HTC’s infamous BoomSound, stereo speakers, and more. HTC also has improved its Edge Sense, which allows user to squeeze the edges of the phone to perform certain tasks. HTC is selling the phone unlocked, but it does not work on the Sprint network.
The HTC U12 Plus sports a 6.0-inch Super LCD6 display with a QHD+ resolution with no notch. It has a resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels, which gives it a 537 PPI. The U12 Plus uses the newer 18:9 aspect ratio, adding to the phone’s overall modern look. The taller and narrower display is perfectly suited for watching movies and videos, but also makes multi-tasking easier. HTC uses an Always On display called Smart Display, which saves battery life and provides easy access to notifications. Gorilla Glass 3 protects the display.
The HTC U12 Plus uses the best processor that Qualcomm currently manufactures – the Snapdragon 845 quad-core clocked at 2.8 GHz. It also packs the latest Adreno 630 GPU for graphics. The U12 Plus comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable base internal storage, but you also have an option of 128GB of expandable storage. A large 3,500 mAh capacity battery should keep the phone powered during a normal day, but if you need an additional charge, Quick Charge 3.0/4.0 is available. As with the OnePlus 6, there is no wireless charging even though the back is all-glass.
The HTC U12 Plus also uses a dual camera setup. HTC introduced us to its UltraPixel a few years back and now they are up to UltraPixel 4. The primary camera uses a 12-UltraPixel 4 sensor, an aperture of f/1.8 as well as OIS to enhance stabilization. It also sports both PDAF and laser autofocus. The other camera is a large 16-UltraPixel 4 affair with a f/2.6 aperture and 2x optical zoom, autofocus, and a dual-tone LED flash that works for both cameras. The FFC carries an unusual dual 8-megapixel sensor affair with an aperture of f/2.0 and allows users to add a bokeh effect to selfies.
HTC has never had a problem designing a well-built and beautiful smartphone and the U12 Plus looks especially good in Flame Red and Translucent Blue. The curved back makes it a breeze to hold. It has excellent cameras, a QHD+ display, stereo speakers, IP68 and an upgraded Edge Sense experience. It’s running Android 8.0 (Oreo) out of the box and is expected to see an upgrade to Android 9 Pie in due course. The device measures 156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7 mm and weighs in at 188 grams. It comes in Ceramic Black, Translucent Blue, or Flame Red. It will cost you $799 for the 6GB/64GB version and $849 for the 6GB/128GB version.
…The Winner Is…
The Final Word
The HTC U12 Plus may be better-looking and have a few more features, but the OnePlus 6’s beauty comes from its value. It may only have an FHD+ resolution, no expandable memory, and a notch in its display, but it does use the AMOLED technology, has the same processor/GPU as the U12 Plus, 6GB of RAM, dual cameras, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Oreo 8.1 – all of this for only $529 makes it the winner of this comparison.
The HTC U12 Plus does offer a more stylish phone, the QHD+ display, expandable memory, dual FFCs, stereo speakers, IP68 water resistance, and Edge Sense, but it also has an LCD display, and only uses Gorilla Glass 3 for protection, while also missing a 3.5mm headphone jack and wireless charging. This is in addition to a rather hefty $799 price tag.
Only you can decide if you want more bells and whistles for $270 more than the solid-performer that is the OnePlus 6.