So after a week and a bit with the phone, its boxed up ready to go back.
I thought I could live with it but these past couple of days it has just bugged me to the point where I can't say I'd enjoy it for 2 years, here are my reasons;
1- the screen as good as reviewers make it out to be, the 1080p resolution just irritates me and I don't know why but once I see some jagged lines and pixels I can't un-see them. A lot of you will call me an ***** and that the panel is just fine but the screen is what you interact with on a daily basis and if its detracting from the enjoyment of using the phone then that's not cool.
2- The lack of HD support on Netflix and that Youtube is defaulted to 480p. Now I watch a lot of Netflix on the go and seeing that the OP5t had a HD screen I thought it would be perfect for consuming content however it was only till after I had recevied the phone that I came across this issue. Not only that in order to watch Youtuve in HD you need to manually select this every time, talk about annoying. To me the fact OnePlus are raving about the screen while lacking this simple software feature baffles. I'm more surprised that none of the reviewers picked up on this but I am aware they only test the device for a short period of time so they won't be able to test everything.
3- The headphone jack is quite compared to the devices I've used in the past. I was expecting to hear some loud and punchy tones to come from my headphones but this doesnt appear to the case as I have to turn the volume way up in order to get just a decent volume. I have tested with other headphones and I've plugged the phone into my car stereo, all were disappointing again.
4- The camera. Now I thought I'd be able to get away with the camera in the OP5t, reviews said it was just 'okay' and I was full aware of this upon purchase. After doing testing, light and dark shots, HDR on/off etc etc I've come to the conclusion that I just can't live with it. The shots I've taken have this weird watercolour effect to them when HDR is on and the secondary sensor is just a massive waste of time and not even worth the money, not to mention the mind-boggling omission of OIS on even just the main sensor. I know they will most likely send out software updates but I just want a camera I can safe for certain will work brilliantly 100% of the time. When i need to take those all important shots, the OP5t just doesn't fill me with confidence and I just doubt it's ability every time I take it out of my pocket. Software can only do so much to improve the sensor (Google are pros at this) but you need a decent base to start from and I can't wait or hope that OnePlus brings out changes that will turn the camera into a dependable one, well for me at least.
5- Size. Well this isn't much of an issue as I get on fine with it but like any other 6" 18:9 phone it is just awkward in jacket pockets and especially in jeans. This is not a con on the OP5t's part its just a con of big phones in general. I know this kinda argument kinda contradicts my desire to have a good video consumption device but coming from a much smaller phone (Nexus 4) I've tried to accept its size but I just struggling. I know with time this could change but I'd rather keep using the N4 to wait and see what comes out in the near future, I'm a patient guy.
6- Software. Does not support treble and is still running 7.1.1, unacceptable for a late 2017 device, even if it is coming in early 2018. Actually using the phone was a delight with speed and fluidity being top notch, I can't knock it that department.
7- Finally...the speaker. This is in the completely the opposite location to where it should be in that it should have been on the side where the hpj currently resides. I cover the damn thing every time I hold the phone, does not matter if it is landscape or portrait. Again this links with my Netflix/consumption points, if I can't hear the damn audio then whats the point of the big screen?? This is one of the biggest pet hates I have with the device and no amount of time is able to fix this issue.
I had massive hopes the OP5t was going to be my saviour with its clean build of android, lower cost, flat screen, HPJ, metal body, rear fps. I really did want to love this phone but even the relative cost cannot make up for the shortcomings i have with this phone.
My N4 is dead/no longer with us and I'm now using my brothers old iphone 5 which is not what I wanted but is my only option. To all of those who say that the iphone is worse than the OP5t, it most definitely is but I want my next phone be something that fills all my needs and is something I enjoy on a day to day and it will be able to last me another 3 years, the OP5t will not do this.
My search continues........