The OnePlus 5 is gracing the Indian markets tomorrow, and the device has certainly got everyone's eyebrows raising in anticipation. However, if you’re not a fan of the OnePlus brand or simply don’t want to spend that much money on OnePlus 5 and are looking to buy a new smartphone, you have other options and a lot of good ones at that.
Because at the rumoured price of Rs. 37,999, the OnePlus 5 falls just a little bit on the other side of the upper mid-range smartphone label. The cheap-but-good alternatives cost fairly less, all while keeping compromises in check. If you are looking for a OnePlus 5 substitute, here are five competent phones that do the basics well – and often far more.
LG G6
The LG G6 steals a march over its other contenders specs-wise. The LG G6 adds that extra bit of display with an 18:9 aspect ratio while keeping similar dimensions to other conventional devices.
The smartphone is internally powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with LG’s UX 6.0 on top. The G6 comes with 64GB of internal storage and 4GB RAM, with up to 2TB of expandable storage through a microSD card. The smartphone is available in Astro Black, Ice Platinum and Mystic White variants.
Priced at Rs. 38,990, the LG G6 is slightly more expensive than the rumoured pricing of the OnePlus 5. However, with its 5.7-inch Full Vision Display and dual-camera setup, this phone is a true delight.
OnePlus 3T
If not the best, then you might as well go with better. The OnePlus 3T is a less expensive but nonetheless a powerful Android device, competing with the likes of Apple and Samsung. It's the 2016's best smartphone, except the camera performance.
It is equipped with a Snapdragon 821 chipset and comes in both 64GB and 128GB models, with 6GB of RAM. Compared to the OnePlus 5, it lacks the dual-camera setup, instead sporting a 16-megapixel rear camera. With a 5.5-inch full-HD AMOLED display, the 3T is an all metal device boasting a 13% big battery than its successor.
At Rs. 29,999 (64GB variant), the OnePlus 3T screams premium from every nook and corner. Even though the OnePlus 5 is the new standout in its category, the 3T is far from obsolete.
Motorola Moto Z
The Moto Z is an incredibly thin device running on Android Nougat, yet it still flaunts the specs of its rival with an added advantage of modular accessories. It is the first smartphone to pioneer modular connectivity in a much more robust way than its competitors- LG G6.
The Moto Z has a sleek design and is just 5.19mm thick and feels very light to hold. The smartphone’s aluminium frame not only adds to its durability but also adds a dash of premium look and feel to it. The device has a 13MP camera mounted on the back with a sorely obvious bump. The only thing that may throw you off about the Moto Z is the lack of a headphone jack, in favour of audio through the USB Type-C port. At the heart of the smartphone runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. The device comes with 64GB onboard storage.
With a price of Rs. 29,999 (discounted, typically Rs. 39,999), it is a great alternative to the OnePlus 5 what with the snap-on Mods that personalise the phone for you.
LG V20
The LG V20 is currently selling for around Rs. 33,000 and comes with a swappable battery which is a marquee feature in 2017. This smartphone takes the cake with its ability to record high-quality audio better than any other device. The V20 also lets you expand the storage with the help of a microSD card. Like its predecessor LG V10, the V20 has a secondary screen that sits on top of the regular display. This iteration is great of all the multi-taskers out there.
With its Snapdragon 820 processor, the handset has absolutely no problem keeping up with its rivals. The LG V20 is yet another dual-camera smartphone including a 16MP and an 8MP wide-angle lens.
Apple iPhone 6s
With the price dropping to Rs. 32,999 after almost 18 months from its launch, the iPhone 6s seems a whole lot more tempting and would be the best pick for iOS lovers, who can't be able to invest a Rs. 10,000 more for the iPhone 7.
Inside the handset is an A9 processor integrated with an M9 motion co-processor and packs a modest 2GB of RAM. However, the iPhone 6s truly flexes its muscles in the graphics department, which is a gift to gamers.
The iPhone 6s has a slightly smaller 4.7-inch screen with a 3D Touch technology beneath encased in a rounded aluminium frame. It is now available in Rose Gold, Slate Grey and Silver options.
