The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) Review: A Bold Departure for OnePlus, But Is It a Good One?
OnePlus has made a name for itself by offering powerful and stylish smartphones at competitive prices. However, their latest release, the OnePlus 10R 5G (150W Endurance Edition), marks a departure from their previous design philosophy and could leave some longtime fans wondering if this is a step forward. While it’s undeniably unique and might appeal to newcomers, the 10R 5G also sacrifices some staple OnePlus features in exchange for top-of-the-line fast charging and a contemporary design. With a Rs. 43,999 price tag in India, does the OnePlus 10R 5G deliver enough to justify its cost?
Let’s dive into the details and find out.
OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) Pricing and Availability
The OnePlus 10R 5G is available in two distinct models: one with 80W charging and another with 150W charging. The 80W model comes in two storage configurations: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage priced at Rs. 38,999, and 12GB RAM with 256GB storage priced at Rs. 42,999. The 150W Endurance Edition, which I reviewed, is priced at Rs. 43,999 and comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. It’s worth noting that the 150W model features a smaller 4,500mAh battery compared to the 5,000mAh battery in the 80W model.
Personally, I believe the Endurance Edition makes more sense than the 12GB variant of the regular model, unless you prioritize a larger battery over faster charging. The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) is only available in a Sierra Black finish, unlike the regular model, which offers a Forest Green option.
OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) Design: A Striking Change
Both the 80W and 150W variants of the OnePlus 10R 5G share the same design, and even weigh the same at 186g, despite the slightly smaller battery in the Endurance Edition. This makes it a remarkably light phone for its size, mainly due to its polycarbonate frame and back panel. Notably, the 10R 5G series lacks wireless charging, which is increasingly common in this segment, and contributes to its slim 8.2mm profile. However, the absence of an official IP rating might be a dealbreaker for some, as competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) offer this crucial feature.
The design of the OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) is unmistakably contemporary: flat sides, straight lines, and sharp edges define its aesthetic. This unique design certainly stands out from the rest of OnePlus’ offerings, reminiscent only of the OnePlus X from 2015. The rear panel is matte with a pinstripe pattern on the left half, visible through the glass portion of the camera module. While the back and frame resist fingerprints well, the camera module unfortunately acts as a magnet for smudges and dust, quickly becoming messy.
While the OnePlus 10R 5G is undeniably unique and built with quality, its design is not particularly comfortable due to the sharp edges of the frame. Although the use of polycarbonate keeps it light, it lacks the premium feel of the OnePlus 9R and 9RT, which feature metal frames and glass backs. The Gorilla Glass 5 display is also prone to fingerprints. Lastly, the iconic Alert slider, a defining feature of OnePlus’ premium smartphones, is missing entirely.
The only familiar OnePlus design element is the logo in the bottom right corner of the back panel. Overall, the 10R 5G presents a radical departure from OnePlus’ previous design language.
OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) Specifications and Software: Tweaked Performance and Familiar OxygenOS
The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) shares the same specifications as the regular model, except for battery capacity and charging speed. Both models feature the MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max SoC. OnePlus has customized this processor, similar to the Dimensity 1200-AI SoC in the OnePlus Nord 2, with the ‘Max’ suffix indicating optimizations for AI performance, stable gaming, and improved Nightscape video. Connectivity options are comprehensive, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and standard satellite navigation systems.
The software is OxygenOS 12.1, based on Android 12. Although it retains OnePlus staples like Shelf, Canvas lockscreen, OnePlus Sans font, it bears a striking resemblance to RealmeUI found on the Realme GT Neo 3, especially the Settings app. This is primarily attributed to OnePlus’ new management structure and the merger of OxygenOS with ColorOS. Since RealmeUI is a derivative of ColorOS, the similarities are unsurprising.
OxygenOS 12.1 offers a theming engine that matches system accent colors, widgets, and keyboard to the selected wallpaper. With the new Android 12 widgets like conversations, screen time, etc., the OnePlus Shelf feature felt distracting, so I disabled it after accidentally activating it multiple times.
One positive aspect is the limited bloatware: only two preinstalled third-party apps – Netflix and Spotify – are included, both of which can be uninstalled. However, several OnePlus-branded apps such as Clone Phone, Community, Recorder, and Zen Mode cannot be uninstalled. Overall, OxygenOS remains clean and user-friendly despite the OnePlus customizations.
OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) Performance and Battery Life: A Smooth Multitasking Experience with Blazing Fast Charging
The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) delivers a smooth and fluid software experience with regular use. There was no lag when opening apps or multitasking. The 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED panel boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, showcasing vibrant colors and excellent readability even under direct sunlight. Streaming movies was a pleasant experience, though HDR streaming on Netflix was not supported. The stereo speakers delivered loud and well-balanced audio.
In benchmark testing, the customized MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max SoC performed competitively. The OnePlus 10R 5G achieved a score of 6,95,094 points in AnTuTu. In Geekbench, it scored 881 and 3,567 in single- and multi-core tests, respectively. The Endurance Edition also excelled in GFXBench’s graphics benchmarks, scoring 60fps and 44fps in the T-Rex and Car Chase scenes. However, these scores fall short compared to the Xiaomi 11T Pro or the iQoo 9 SE, both equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC and priced similarly.
Gaming performance was generally good. The phone didn’t overheat even with demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile or Asphalt 9 Legends at the highest graphics settings. Though not quite as smooth as competing devices, performance was adequate. Asphalt 9 Legends’ 60fps mode, available on devices with the Snapdragon 888 SoC, was missing. The 120Hz touch sampling rate (up to 720Hz) was sufficient after adjusting settings in the Games app.
The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) ships with a 160W charger, which charged the device from 0% to 100% in an astounding 19 minutes, very close to OnePlus’ claimed 17 minutes. The rapid charging mode has to be enabled in the battery settings, as it’s off by default. Enabling it triggers a warning about the device heating up during charging, which was noticeable but not overly hot.
The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) has a Battery Health Engine feature exclusive to the 150W model, designed to extend battery lifespan by maintaining charge levels over time.
With gaming-heavy usage, the OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) lasted about a day and a half. It scored 18 hours and 9 minutes in our HD video loop test, impressive for a premium smartphone.
OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) Cameras: Familiar Sensors with Varied Performance
The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W)‘s primary camera features Sony’s renowned 50-megapixel IMX766 sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). This sensor is the same one found in the OnePlus 9RT, and was also used in the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9 for their ultra-wide-angle cameras. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera on the OnePlus 10R 5G is a downgrade in resolution compared to the 16-megapixel camera in the 9RT. The 2-megapixel macro camera is unchanged from the previous model. Selfies are handled by a 16-megapixel camera.
The camera interface adheres to the familiar OnePlus design, with vital controls on the left side and a three-dot button that reveals additional options.
In daylight, the OnePlus 10R 5G’s primary camera captured crisp and clear photos with good dynamic range and detail. Close-ups were sharp and slightly saturated. The ultra-wide-angle camera produced decent images, but dynamic range and color tones differed noticeably from the primary camera. There was a noticeable loss of detail towards the edges, along with barrel distortion.
Selfies appeared slightly overexposed with a "dream-like" effect in daylight. They lacked the sharpness and detail I expected. Portrait mode on the selfie camera provided similar detail levels with good edge detection. The macro camera proved tricky, with results being average at best.
In low light, the camera automatically adjusted to take longer exposure shots when necessary. Photos taken with the primary camera were quite good. Noise was well-controlled, but some minor highlights near strong light sources were not exposed correctly. Nightscape mode captured brighter images with greater detail and dynamic range, effectively managing brighter areas. The ultra-wide-angle camera produced blurry and unusable photos with unusual color tones in low light. Selfies in low light had average quality, with Portrait mode capturing noisy images.
Videos captured with the main camera at 1080p looked decent in daylight, with good dynamic range but lower detail levels. The AI Highlight feature, which only works at 1080p 30fps, demonstrated significant flickering in brighter scenes, rendering the footage unusable. Videos recorded at 60fps (1080p or 4K) appeared smoother but lacked stabilization. Selfie videos were sharp at 1080p 30fps (maximum resolution) but had blown-out backgrounds when shooting against the light.
In low light, video quality was impressive with low noise, but the stabilization issues from daylight shooting persisted. The AI Highlight feature did brighten night video, but added a significant amount of noise. The regular video mode was preferable.
Verdict: Unique Design and 150W Charging, But Compromises Leave Room for Improvement
The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W Endurance Edition) has a lot to offer, provided you’re not a die-hard OnePlus enthusiast. Newcomers or first-time OnePlus users might not miss the Alert slider. The phone features a sharp 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display, sufficient processing power for demanding games, a capable primary camera in low light, good battery life, and a 150W charging system that delivers as advertised.
However, for loyal OnePlus users, the missing Alert slider and the unfamiliar hand-feel will be noticeable changes. The design’s appeal is subjective, but I found the sharp edges uncomfortable. The OnePlus 10R 5G also lacks the premium feel one would expect from a Rs. 43,999 smartphone, indicating some cost-cutting measures by OnePlus.
The competition is fierce, offering compelling alternatives. The iQoo 9 SE offers better performance with a Snapdragon 888 SoC and equally competent cameras, starting at Rs. 33,990. The Xiaomi 11T Pro boasts a Snapdragon 888 SoC, capable cameras with a 108-megapixel sensor, a larger 5,000mAh battery with 120W charging, and Dolby Vision playback for streaming video, all for Rs. 38,999. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G provides exceptional value with wireless charging and an IP68 rating for Rs. 39,999. And then there’s the Realme GT Neo 3, offering almost identical hardware to the OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) for Rs. 1,000 less.
Ultimately, the OnePlus 10R 5G (150W Endurance Edition) is a phone with some intriguing features, specifically its fast charging capabilities. However, its compromises, particularly in the design and some core OnePlus features, might not be worth the price unless you’re willing to make those sacrifices for the unique design and blazing speed.
