I know it’s time for an upgrade but I just can’t let go of my old OnePlus phone
Upgrading to a phone with a notch sure seems like a downgrade to me
The need to upgrade to the latest smartphone every year is now a thing of the past with people holding onto their devices longer than ever; I too am part of this trend. As a security editor though, I know all about the dangers of using an old phone too long but I just can’t bear to part with my aging OnePlus phone.
I first made the switch to OnePlus after Google canceled its Nexus line in favor of its more premium Pixel phones. With one of the best OnePlus phones, I knew I could get a device with excellent specs at a great price.
Unfortunately though, my OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren (a terribly long name I know) is no longer as capable of a device as when I first got it back in 2020. The battery doesn’t last as long as it used to, the USB-C charging port feels a bit loose and all of the devices in the OnePlus 7 lineup have now officially reached their End of Life date and won’t be getting any more updates.
Still, I’ve yet to find a suitable replacement as the OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T Pro and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren all have one feature that the Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and even the iPhone 14 Pro Max don’t have.
A truly notchless display
Sure, all of the phones I just listed are vastly more powerful and have better cameras but my OnePlus 7T Pro 5G lacks one thing they all have — a notch.
OnePlus tried something different with its OnePlus 7 Pro and T series phones that the company hasn’t revisited since, using a pop-up selfie camera instead of putting it above the screen like it did with older phones or inside the screen like with its latest devices. While a pop-up camera might not be for everyone — especially those who frequently take selfies or use their phone as a mirror — I absolutely love it.
With the front camera tucked safely in the top of the phone, the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G has an 88.1% screen-to-body ratio. This gives you more screen for your buck and when you play back a full-size video, nothing gets cut off. As we noted in our OnePlus 7 Pro review, the company says that this pop-up camera can open and close up to 300,000 times. I’ve been using my phone for three years now and I’ve yet to have an issue with the pop-up camera. I also like its design from a security perspective as you’re less likely to be spied on through your phone’s front camera.
Besides being notchless, the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G is truly a sight to behold since it takes inspiration from the McLaren racing team and the etchings on the back of the device resemble the oil swirls and skids you’d find on a race track. However, OnePlus has since ended this partnership so don’t expect a McLaren edition of the OnePlus 11 anytime soon.
The End of Life conundrum
As an Android user, when your smartphone reaches its End of Life date you have a decision to make. You can upgrade to a new phone or you can try downloading and flashing a custom rom to breathe new life into your current phone.
If you especially like your current device like I do, you might consider going the second route and flashing a custom rom. Our phones editor Jordan Palmer did just this when he installed /e/OS on a OnePlus 6. Lineage OS is another popular option that /e/OS is actually based on.
While I could flash a custom rom on my OnePlus 7T Pro 5G, a Reddit post discussing the OnePlus 7 Pro’s End of Life points out one of the worst aspects of doing so — banking apps don’t always work with custom roms. Sure, there are some workarounds to get them working but at the end of the day, you need to be able to use your smartphone instead of having to fiddle around with it for hours. Even then, you run the risk of wasting your time or even worse, bricking your phone. In that case, you’d have no choice but to upgrade to a newer device.
An Android problem that’s slowly getting better
As for whether or not I’m going to ditch my OnePlus 7T Pro 5G, I’m still undecided. By now, I figured under-display cameras would be readily available on the best Android phones and I wouldn’t have to ‘downgrade’ to a phone with a notch. However, only a handful of phones have them, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra and the RedMagic 7 Pro.
One thing’s for sure though, when I finally replace my OnePlus 7T Pro 5G with a new device, I’ll be able to use it for even longer. This is because OnePlus has a new update policy that promises select phones from this year will get four major Android updates. Meanwhile, the best Samsung phones — not just a select few — will get four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security patches.
Although I doubt I’ll ever make the switch from Android to iOS, these kinds of problems almost make me wish I was using one of the best iPhones instead. In fact, the iPhone 5s and other older Apple devices recently received a surprise security update to protect users from a number of different bugs that are being exploited in the wild.
Whatever device I choose for my next smartphone, one thing is for sure, it won’t look nearly as good as my OnePlus 7T Pro 5G does when the sun hits the etchings on the back of the device.
Have you recently upgraded your smartphone but are still holding onto your old one? Here's how I turned my old phone into a portable baby monitor.
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Anthony Spadafora is the managing editor for security and home office furniture at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. He also reviews standing desks, office chairs and other home office accessories with a penchant for building desk setups. Before joining the team, Anthony wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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tsytsa I've got the 7t Pro McLaren as well. Very hard to get replace for exactly that reason, no notch for front camera and no spying through it either. I'll probably never get rid of it but I do need a new phone that doesn't glitchReply -
WHTZMBE Looks like the OnePlus 7 series is back from the dead!Reply
One more update in coming, per usual it will hit India first.
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1262372352432799752 -
Ostrove I was in the exact same Situation like you a few weeks ago. Had my Nebula Blue 7 Pro quite a while and didn't want to upgrade cause every newer Phone with a notch or punch hole would feel like a downgrade.Reply
Still had to do it because the battery didn't even last a single day anymore and the USB Port would disconnect itself over and over again.
Switched to a Google Pixel 7 Pro and gotta say I don't regret it. It feels way faster, the speakers are better and the camera jump for me is insane, especially in low light. Didn't realize they got this much better.
And the best part for me: The punch hole camera doesn't bother me nearly as much as I feared it would. -
Irishguy76 I have had my OnePlus 7 T pro McLaren edition since it was brand new January- February 2020 right after it came out. It is still my daily phone. I work in the Construction field and it is almost always in my pocket! So it has had some abuse over the years but I only have some small scratches on the screen and always had a case on it. I won't get another phone until these under display cameras come around or some company makes another pop up camera. I just don't understand why more companies wouldn't copy this design! For me it's perfect! My phone still works exactly like the day I bought it. Maybe a little slower but still smooth as hell and the 5 g still works even though it was the first generation still works flawlessly.Reply -
QuackManDoo I have "upgraded" but kept my OnePlus 7 pro for lounging around the house (I find I don't use my phone often enough outside to be bothered much by the hole punch)Reply
Pixel Experience is the ROM I usually stick with because Google infrastructure. Otherwise I recommend LineageOS because it is also clean stable and up to date. Or EvolutionX if you like to show off a little or like the extra flair -
pbergonzi
Thank you so much for that link!WHTZMBE said:Looks like the OnePlus 7 series is back from the dead!
One more update in coming, per usual it will hit India first.
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1262372352432799752
I posted it on the T-Mobile thread, "https://community.t-mobile.com/android-9/android-12-update-for-oneplus-7t-pro-5g-mclaren-40913/index4.html" -
pbergonzi Thanks for the timely article @Anthony Spadafora.Reply
Our OP7TPM's were stunning phones, are still great, and there's really no beating that design on the back cover.
One can always get the battery replaced if one must.
admin said:My OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren has reached its end of life but I can’t come to grips with using a phone with a notch after being spoiled by its pop-up selfie camera.
I know it’s time for an upgrade but I just can’t let go of my old OnePlus phone : Read more
I suggest everyone here follow @WHTZMBE link to the article containing the "SUBMIT THIS FORM", and fill it in.
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=sV6Q8VPDxUGVFmK0pUte5r_ou34gSi9AlQfZcWh2WDVUQ1NMTkpJRzFHT0FYOENXQTA2OUdSS1I2Ui4u
Also, there is interest and discussion at
https://community.t-mobile.com/android-9/android-12-update-for-oneplus-7t-pro-5g-mclaren-40913 -
mnordlund
I couldn't agree more. I'm holding onto my 7 Pro until it works no more! The punch hole is DEFINITELY a downgrade.Irishguy76 said:I have had my OnePlus 7 T pro McLaren edition since it was brand new January- February 2020 right after it came out. It is still my daily phone. I work in the Construction field and it is almost always in my pocket! So it has had some abuse over the years but I only have some small scratches on the screen and always had a case on it. I won't get another phone until these under display cameras come around or some company makes another pop up camera. I just don't understand why more companies wouldn't copy this design! For me it's perfect! My phone still works exactly like the day I bought it. Maybe a little slower but still smooth as hell and the 5 g still works even though it was the first generation still works flawlessly. -
BiggerBill Your USB C connector has almost certainly got fluff in it.Reply
Cut up a plastic blister pack to form a shard to scrape out the lint which has compacted at the bottom (bottom surface usually is shiny metal).
This lint stops the connector going in all the way. Some people use a safety pin if is really compacted - but obviously then need to be careful not to short the connectors.
5 very satisfying minutes will give you a connection as tight as new. -
GOOSE702 I'm the same as well can't give up my One Plus 7 Pro, it's too good to let go and upgrade to a phone with a notch or punch hole selfie camera is out of the question until One Plus decided to make another phone down the line then I will upgrade to that somewhat of a dream phone from them again.Reply
The whole no notch no punch hole selfie camera on the One Plus 7 Pro is the best! While it doesn't have 5g or have the latest camera it's still the best Full screen phone out there that's cheap, but since it's running on old security and old Android 11 it's time to upgrade and since the only Option for a notchless and no punch hole camera is a Gaming Phone it has all the features that a One Plus 7pro has no Notch no Punch hole camera, A Gaming Phone has the latest Chip and more ram and gigs on a phone but it's expensive to get,but there's is a cheaper older Gaming Phone that's has the same price as a 7pro, so I rather get a gaming phone with no front selfie camera and it's notchless, regardless I am going to use this phone until I get the phone I want.