- T-Mobile has outlined the differences between its OnePlus 8T Plus and the standard 8T.
- The Plus has an IP68 water resistance rating and expanded 5G support.
- It’s otherwise identical to the regular model.
Yes, there’s a T-Mobile version of the OnePlus 8T, the 8T Plus — but it turns out that you don’t need to worry too much about the differences between that and the unlocked model.
Android Police notes that T-Mobile has outlined the specs for the OnePlus 8T Plus, and the most conspicuous change is the official IP68 water and dust resistance rating. It’s not certain why T-Mobile obtained the rating, and you’re likely getting the same protection from the unrated standard version — this may just be reassurance that your phone can survive a fall in the water.
Apart from that, you’ll mainly get wider 5G support. The OnePlus 8T Plus unsurprisingly supports both T-Mobile’s longstanding 600MHz 5G network as well as the 2.5GHz service the company switched on after completing its merger with Sprint. It won’t be the fastest 5G you can get, but it should be relatively easy to access.
This is otherwise the OnePlus 8T you’ll see elsewhere. That’s not necessarily a bad thing between the 120Hz OLED screen, Snapdragon 865 chip, and superb battery life, although it also leaves you with the same mediocre cameras as the earlier OnePlus 8. The 8T is a spec bump to keep the 8 relevant, and the Plus doesn’t change that formula.
Read more: The best 5G phones you can buy
Thankfully, you’re also paying the same $750 total price as you would for an unlocked edition. If there’s a practical advantage to going with T-Mobile, it’s the option of paying instalments ($31.25 per month for two years) that may be easier to handle than a one-time outlay.
