Our ranking of the best OnePlus phones has had a major update, as the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro have now launched and taken their places in our rankings below.
These followed the OnePlus 8T, and the company's new line - the more affordable OnePlus Nord, so between these phones and older but still excellent ones there should be a OnePlus handset for almost everyone.
And thanks to so many exciting developments from OnePlus, our list of the best OnePlus phones is regularly updated to reflect new additions, so it's worth checking back often to see what's changed if you want to keep on top of OnePlus phone choices.
As mentioned, our most recent additions are the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro – two high-end handsets that put a big focus on the camera, but don’t skimp on other areas either.
If your budget or needs don't stretch that far though, there are plenty of other OnePlus handsets to choose from. Read on as we provide you with a summary, specifications list, and a look at the key pros and cons behind each of them.
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The best OnePlus phones of 2021 at a glance
- OnePlus 9 Pro
- OnePlus 9
- OnePlus Nord 2
- OnePlus 8 Pro
- OnePlus Nord CE
- OnePlus 8T
- OnePlus 8
- OnePlus Nord
The best OnePlus phones
The OnePlus 9 Pro is a top-tier flagship and one that improves on the main weakness of previous OnePlus phones – their cameras.
Thanks to a new Hasselblad partnership and a ‘freeform’ ultra-wide lens, designed to reduce the distortion at the edge of images, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the best OnePlus camera phone.
But a fancy new camera isn’t all this has going for it. There’s also its top-tier pairing of a Snapdragon 888 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM, for enormous amounts of power, and its 6.7-inch 1440 x 3216 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+, ensuring visuals are among the best you’ll find on a phone.
With a typically premium design too, plus water resistance, and a respectable 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging and 50W wireless charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a phone with no obvious omissions or compromises, yet one that still costs less than the top rivals – although its price is certainly still on the high side.
Read our full OnePlus 9 Pro review
The OnePlus 9 has many of the best features of the OnePlus 9 Pro, including its Hasselblad camera partnership and freeform ultra-wide lens (designed to correct the distortion that ultra-wide images often suffer from). It lacks the Pro’s telephoto camera, but otherwise the photography performance is similar – and a lot better than previous OnePlus phones.
You also get just as much power here as on the Pro (or as on most 2021 flagships), thanks to a Snapdragon 888 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM. Plus the same size (4,500mAh) battery, with just as fast 65W charging – though the wireless charging is slower here, at 15W.
The 6.55-inch AMOLED screen isn’t quite as sharp at 1080 x 2400, but it still has a 120Hz refresh rate, and costs have been cut on the design of the phone, as it has a plastic rather than metal frame.
But these savings are passed on to the buyer, as the OnePlus 9 while not cheap is great value for what you get, and should be the perfect fit for anyone who doesn’t need the extra bells and whistles of the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Read our full OnePlus 9 review
The OnePlus Nord 2 doesn't have global availability and it lacks a certain amount of charm with its design, but it packs a punch where it counts.
With a 6.43-inch 1080 x 2400 resolution AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, it's smoother than some phones in its price point while also feeling just the right size to fit in your hand.
Alongside that is a dependable 50MP wide camera that's capable of some strong results, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera too. There's suitably strong performance as well from the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI chipset that should put you in good stead for a while to come. Best of all is its 5G support and 65W fast charging that works fantastically.
It's all suitably reassuring at this price.
Before the OnePlus 9 Pro launched, the OnePlus 8 Pro was the company's best handset, and it's still great now. It stands out both from previous OnePlus phones through having a 120Hz refresh rate, and that refresh rate is attached to an all-round superb screen.
The OnePlus 8 Pro also packs high-end power, 5G, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, water resistance, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, a quad-lens camera, and just about every other high-end feature you’d expect.
As a result of all this it’s also expensive, and was almost as pricey as big-name rivals at launch, but there’s no denying that you get plenty of phone for your money.
Read our full OnePlus 8 Pro review
It might not be available in the US but for everyone else, the OnePlus Nord CE is worth considering. Comfortable and light in your hand, the phone boasts a classy looking 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It looks great for streaming your favorite videos or simply browsing at speed.
It's not the fastest OnePlus out there and the camera performance is a little lacklustre for the price, but look past that and you'll be pleased to see a speedy charging time and a suitably well performing battery. For the non-photographer out there, you'll be happy with what's here.
Read our full OnePlus Nord CE review
While the OnePlus 8T is newer than the OnePlus 8 Pro, it doesn’t quite reach that phone’s heights, but with a lower price it doesn’t need to, and while it’s rather familiar, it’s also very good.
Highlights include a great 6.55-inch 1080 x 2400 AMOLED screen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a long-lasting 4,500mAh battery with super-speedy 65W charging, and plenty of power from its Snapdragon 865 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM.
The OnePlus 8T also has a quad-lens camera, 5G, and strong software. There’s no telephoto camera or wireless charging, but in most other ways this could almost be a flagship.
Read our full OnePlus 8T review
The OnePlus 8 is rather shown up by the OnePlus 8 Pro, but it’s still a great phone in its own right, thanks to its similarly high-end power (you’re getting the same Snapdragon 865 chipset) and lower price.
The OnePlus 8 also supports 5G as standard and has a 90Hz refresh rate on its 6.55-inch 1080 x 2400 screen – specs that aren’t quite a match for the OnePlus 8 Pro, but are still decent.
There’s a big 4,300mAh battery here too, with support for fast charging, plus an in-screen fingerprint scanner, a triple-lens camera, and up to 12GB of RAM. Unlike its Pro sibling this isn’t quite a rival to the best Samsung and Apple handsets, but at what it costs it doesn’t need to be.
Read our full OnePlus 8 review
While OnePlus claims it has not gone back to its roots with the Nord, it’s hard to believe the company. The £379 Nord is very well priced considering the specs, and undercuts the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro without sacrificing too much.
Its Snapdragon 765G processor is fine for all but the top end of mobile gamers, the cameras are pretty good, the 90Hz display is lovely and the design while not anything special stands out in the blue colour option.
It’s a shame it’s not available in the US but for the UK, Europe and India this is all the OnePlus phone many people will need at a price that drastically undercuts similar phones. The lack of IP rating and wireless charging will put some people off though, plus the frame is made of plastic.
Read our full OnePlus Nord review
Have you considered insuring your OnePlus phone?
Insuring your valuables means you have cover for if they're stolen, lost or accidentally damaged, so it's worth considering, especially with expensive smartphones. If you're in the UK then you can use GoCompare to compare contents insurance.
