OnePlus 7T Pro and 7T Pro McLaren Edition are here: Everything you need to know

OnePlus fans waited years for the brand to unleash a true premium flagship, but the Shenzhen-based company has wasted no time introducing us to its successor. Say hello to the OnePlus 7T Pro and OnePlus 7 McLaren Edition.

With less than five months between them, what upgrades does the OnePlus 7T Pro bring over the regular OnePlus 7 Pro? What’s the difference between the OnePlus 7T Pro and the OnePlus 7T launched in September? Can you really not buy it in the US? (Spoilers: nope).

Here are all the answers and everything else you need to know about the OnePlus 7T Pro and OnePlus 7 McLaren Edition.

Read our verdict: OnePlus 7T Pro review: Very good, but too similar?

Putting the T in tock

OnePlus has been releasing iterative updates for its flagship phones for close to three years now, and the OnePlus 7T Pro very much fits this strategy — perhaps too much, as there aren’t many new or exciting things over the OnePlus 7 Pro.

The only really juicy hardware upgrade is the move from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 to the Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, which ups the phone’s credentials as a strong gaming phone (in addition to the new Game Space app), but based on our testing is unlikely to provide any major performance for day-to-day use.

Like its direct predecessor, the OnePlus 7T Pro is packed with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage (still no MicroSD slot) as standard. There’s no option for a stupidly large 12GB RAM this time around, however. That configuration is exclusive to the McLaren Edition (more on that later).

The 7T Pro does get a minor battery bump, rising very slightly from 4,000mAh to 4,085mAh. There’s also Warp Charge 30T which we saw debut on the OnePlus 7T in October and represents a 23% improvement over the already lightning-fast charging speeds on the original 7 Pro. As this is baked into the phone’s hardware — not the plug — this is exclusive to the 2019 T-series phones.

Read more: OnePlus 7T Pro specs: Nominal upgrades

Elsewhere, though, the OnePlus 7T Pro’s hardware is essentially unchanged. There’s a new laser autofocus sensor next to the triple camera and an additional motor for Super Macro shots, but the main three sensors — not to mention the curved, Fluid AMOLED display with that gorgeous 90Hz refresh rate — are identical to those found on the 7 Pro.

Déjà vu

If the OnePlus 7T Pro is lacking in major hardware upgrades it must make up for it in design and software updates, right? Not really.

In addition to the aforementioned Super Macro mode, the 7T Pro’s camera also benefits from all the new features found on the OnePlus 7T such as Super Stable video, telephoto portrait mode support, and Nightscape for the ultra-wide lens.

These features come bundled out of the box with the latest version of OxygenOS based on Android 10.

One of the best Android skins in the business continues to get better, and the 7T Pro enjoys all the new Android 10 features as well as OnePlus-exclusive tweaks to Zen Mode, the new Game Space app, custom gestures, and more.

As for the design, the OnePlus 7T Pro has the same pop-up camera, same divisive waterfall edges, and the same overall look as the OnePlus 7 Pro. The only significant change is the shift from Nebula Blue to a slightly more muted, but still beautiful looking Haze Blue colorway.

OnePlus 7T Pro vs OnePlus 7T: What’s the difference?

There actually isn’t a whole lot that separates the OnePlus 7T Pro and the cheaper OnePlus 7T. The most immediate difference is the waterfall display, which didn’t carry over to the non-Pro model. The 7T Pro also has a higher resolution panel which maxes out at QHD+ over the 1080p panel on the 7T.

OnePlus decided to stick with a small waterdrop notch on the 7T, while continuing to offer a pop-up selfie shooter on the Pro family.

As for the actual camera hardware, the OnePlus 7T Pro offers improved zoom — 3x vs the 7T’s 2x zoom — and has OIS on the telephoto lens. The rear camera setup on the 7T is also housed in a sizable round module, whereas the 7T Pro’s sensors are stuffed into a vertical row.

OnePlus says it worked hard on improved the haptics for the OnePlus 7T, but also noted that the motor in the 7T Pro is still more advanced. Likewise, while both phones share Warp Charge 30T support, the 7T Pro edges out the 7T in terms of battery size, offering a 4,085mAh battery over the 7T’s 3,800mAh cell.

The most notable difference, however, is how much the 7T Pro costs and where you can (and can’t) buy it.

OnePlus 7T Pro price and availability

The OnePlus 7T Pro is coming to Europe and parts of Asia. In the UK, the OnePlus 7T Pro will cost £699 (~$865) starting October 17, while in India it’ll cost Rs. 53,999 and go on sale on October 11.

Here’s the big kicker, though: The OnePlus 7T Pro won’t be available to buy in the US.

For more detail on the OnePlus 7T Pro availability, check out our dedicated post here.

In addition, OnePlus has confirmed that there won’t be a 5G version of the 7T Pro.

OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition

OnePlus’ ongoing love affair with the McLaren racing brand continues with the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition.

Just like the McLaren-ified OnePlus 6T, the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition has an exclusive black finish, this time inspired by TPT carbon fiber and designed after the McLaren Speedtail. I can’t see the resemblance personally, but your mileage (pun intended) may vary.

The special edition 7T Pro also has bright Papaya Orange accents and markings on the back around the camera module that looks a bit like an oil spill, which I suppose is fitting. The phone also comes with custom McLaren plugs and cables and a unique alcantara case.

The OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition is also the only 7T series phone that comes with 12GB of RAM. It also has 256GB of internal storage as standard. It will go on sale from November 5 priced at £799 ($989) in the UK and Rs. 58,999 in India.

That’s everything you need to know about the OnePlus 7T Pro and OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition. Want to learn more about the 7T in audio form? Check out our podcast review linked below.