Okay, we were all thinking prior to the announcement that OnePlus would be heading into new territory based on the buzz around the OnePlus 7 Pro’s price. $670 for a smartphone will all the flagship trimmings is seriously unbelievable, especially when you consider how many other similarly spec’d phones easily start out at the $800 range. In an era when most top of the line phones can easily push close and past the $1000 threshold, the $670 price of the OnePlus 7 Pro is hard to wrap our heads around – partly because it should be priced significantly more!

Well, OnePlus has shown to us that they’re staying faithful to their philosophy of offering flagship caliber devices at the fraction of the cost. The OnePlus 7 Pro is no exception either, as it boasts all of today’s drool worthy features – like a triple camera system, a monstrous sized all-screen display, a beefy battery, fast charging technology, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a design to die for. Without question, the $670 price attached to the phone is its biggest attraction when you factor in all the goodies that are packed into it.

A triple camera that rivals the best

Hello pop-up selfie camera

Part of the phone’s beauty is mainly attributed to how it has a more seamless appearance with that all-screen, minimal bezel look that manufacturers have been trying to achieve. OnePlus is one of the few that forgoes the notch, in favor of a uniform bezel this time around achieved by going with a pop-up selfie camera. Now, for most of us here in the US, this is a brand-new experience that many will probably show off to people. When switching to the front-facing camera, a small compartment on the top left edge of the phone slides open to reveal the camera.

Certainly, this may be seen as a novelty to lure people in, but it’s the implementation that OnePlus opted to go with to achieve that bezel-less look with the display. Since it’s a physical thing that pops out, it makes you wonder if the phone offers any sort of water resistance rating. They didn’t specify during the announcement, but our guess is that doesn’t due to this pop-up camera. It’s the compromise we suppose that’s necessary to offer this unique characteristic – as well as lending a hand in giving it that all-screen look!

90Hz refresh rate for smoother animations

The seamless look of the display deserves adulation, but OnePlus isn’t settling for just another ordinary display. First of all, the 6.67-inch 3120 x 1440 QHD+ Fluid AMOLED display looks exquisite! All the hallmark traits of the display technology are in full showcase here, like its piercing looking colors, immaculate details, and exceptional wide viewing angles. Is it better looking than say the Super AMOLED display in the Galaxy S10+? That’s up to debate, of course, but there’s no denying that this Fluid AMOLED display can give it a good run for its money. However, OnePlus takes another step by introducing a 90Hz refresh rate.

While looking at the display and using the phone, it’s almost tough to discern this unique trait over other phones. In most instances, it doesn’t appear to be different, but we’re told by the representatives on hand from OnePlus that it’ll beneficial for those who use the phone for an extended period of time – by reducing eye fatigue. Although it would seem to us that the Snapdragon 855 in combination with OnePlus’ Oxygen OS are the two main drivers for the remarkably fluid look, we suppose that the 90Hz refresh rate contributes to this as well. Honestly, it helps in making the phone’s performance appear snappier than most things, but we’re looking forward to see if there’s really a noticeable difference with gaming.

Gorgeous looking design, but it’s not original

Again, we can’t stress about how the OnePlus 7 Pro features a premium design that warrants a price point that should be higher than what it is. Out of the three color options announced, we’re especially digging Nebula Blue the most because of it dazzling under the light. Depending on how it’s held, the glass surface shimmers with a piercing blue color. It’s hypnotic! Better yet, the phone feels solidly constructed all around – so you know that a lot of love and thought went into its design!

For those abroad, the design of the OnePlus 7 Pro may look familiar. In fact, you can argue that it takes some cues from phones out of Vivo and Oppo’s collection – more so when they too also feature phones with pop-up selfie cameras! We’ve played around with Oppo F11 Pro, which also features a bezel-less looking display because of its pop-up selfie camera. This shouldn’t be too much of a shock for some, given how previous OnePlus smartphones also followed after designs from Oppo’s collection. And if you don’t know, OnePlus, Oppo, and Vivo are all under Chinese conglomerate BKK – so it’s no surprise that designs are recycled. Despite this, the design is still going to be perceived as being uniquely OnePlus because those manufacturers aren’t in the US market.

Setting the standard for other phones

OnePlus has done it again! When it comes to being a balanced smartphone, the OnePlus 7 Pro has all the ingredients for an awesome recipe. Irresistibly priced at $670 starting, it’s setting the benchmark high for what we expect in smartphones in this price range. Knowing that, more stress will be placed on these manufacturers to compete in keeping up with what the OnePlus 7 Pro is doing.

It’s going to be an interesting second half of the year, but if there’s something to be excited about right now, it has to be for the OnePlus 7 Pro! They’re a tough act to follow, especially given the “Never Settle” they’ve taken on again with the phone’s pricing.