OnePlus is releasing a better phone, 5 months after the OnePlus 3

In a somewhat odd move, Chinese phone maker OnePlus is releasing a high-end handset called the OnePlus 3T -- just five months after launching its OnePlus 3 flagship in June.

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Though the device looks the same (save for a darker coat of paint called "gunmetal"), it's packed with a bigger battery, a faster processor and a better camera. It also costs a bit more: the 64GB variant is $439, £399 and a new 128GB storage option is $479, £439. (Australia pricing is currently unknown, but that converts to about AU$580 and AU$630.) A gold finish will be available later too, but only for the 64GB model.

The 3T is seen as an "evolution of the 3," according to the company's head of marketing Kyle Kiang, and OnePlus did not want to "withhold some of the improvements" it could make for a whole year, when the next flagship is expected to launch. Kiang also said that the software updates in the 3T (more on that later), will roll out to 3 owners as well.

For OnePlus 3 owners though, this still has to sting. The 3 remains a great device and you're not "stuck" with a lemon (in fact, we gave the phone an Editors' Choice). But buying a great phone only to learn that the same company is selling an even better version for $40 more isn't a great feeling.

The OnePlus 3T will be available in the US starting November 22, and will roll out to Europe on the 28th. The 3T will be OnePlus' marquee handset, and the company will discontinue selling the 3 after the 3T's launch. To see how these phone's differ, read on for more info.

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More battery and processing power

Compared to the OnePlus 3, the 3T has both a higher battery capacity and a faster processor. Its battery is still physically the same size, and it will still employ OnePlus' fast Dash Charging technology, but it will go from 3,000mAh to 3,400mAh. During our lab tests for continuous video playback on Airplane mode, the OnePlus 3 lasted 14 hours and 17 minutes, so we expect the 3T to last longer than that.

Likewise, the 3 had a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor. This time around, the 3T has a 2.35GHz Snapdragon 821 chipset. The 821 is the same processor you see in the Google Pixels and the LeEco LePro 3, and OnePlus 3 claims that despite the higher clock speed, the processor will run with the same power efficiency and won't take a huge hit on battery life.

Cameras get an upgrade

The phone's front-facing shooter jumps from 8 to 16 megapixels, and OnePlus claims it can take better low-light photos than its predecessor. The rear will remain a 16-megapixel camera, but its lens is made of a sturdier glass. Its image stabilization algorithm has also been updated so videos will appear more stable.

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Software tweaks (for everybody)

Like the OnePlus 3, the 3T will launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. OnePlus does promise that a 7.0 Nougat update is in the near future for both the 3 and 3T, and that the software updates featured in the 3T will roll out to the 3 as well. That's one bit of good news for 3 owners, at least.

The software updates include more system gestures (like flipping the device upside down to mute a call and taking screenshots by sliding three fingers downward), resizable icons and a more user-friendly file manager. The shelf home screen page, which gives you fast access to your favorite contacts and email, will also get a minor facelift. You'll be able to assign passwords for individual apps for extra security too. Extended screenshots, which allows users to take screenshots beyond what appears on the display (think webpages or files that you need to scroll down and see) will also be available in a future update.