The OnePlus 5T is a pretty tough smartphone, able to withstand scratches from all but the sharpest edges and refuses to snap when bent.
Testing by serial flagship smartphone torturer YouTuber JerryRigEverything, the OnePlus 5T, the successor to the OnePlus 5, appears to be well made and more than tough enough to withstand the rigours of everyday life.
It took a good deal of effort to scratch the handset’s Corning Gorilla Glass 5 equipped AMOLED display. The lack of a home button, due to the OnePlus 5T accommodating a larger screen than its predecessor, means there’s less to be damaged at the front of handset, with the front-facing camera and earpiece standing up to solid probing with a Stanley knife like blade.
When exposed to a flame from a cigarette lighter, the OnePlus 5T’s display can hold its own for 20 seconds before a white spot appears that cannot be removed.
The phone’s rear is pretty tough as well thanks to its use of anodised aluminium with a coating of hard aluminium oxide that acts as an abrasive layer to objects that rub against it; the back panel is more likely to damage keys and similar metal objects than get scratched by them.
However, JerryRigEverything noted that the layer of oxide is quite thin, meaning it can be chipped off from drops or scraped off if you happen to take a razor blade to the phone; we don’t suggest you try that.
The rear fingerprint scanner and camera modules are tough as well, withstanding scratching from a razor blade edge, meaning the most important parts of the phone’s rear are tough enough to resist scratches and any detrimental damage.
When attempting to bend the handset, JerryRigEverything found that despite it having a little give, the phone didn’t bend permanently or break.
There’s no water resistance for the OnePlus 5T so that could be its weak spot when compared to other flagship phones. But the handset is significantly cheaper than the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Google’s Pixel 2, so for the money it appears to be a well-made, durable Android phone.
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Does the lack of water resistance put you off the OnePlus 5T? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
