The OnePlus 5 launched with benchmark scores that didn’t add up.
OEMs have been caught optimizing specifically for benchmark apps—detecting when Geekbench or AnTuTu is running and boosting clock speeds beyond what users ever see in normal use. The OnePlus 5 raised fresh questions about whether the numbers mean anything.
The episode title says it: benchmarks should help users make informed decisions. When manufacturers game them, they become marketing tools instead of measurement tools.
Also on the show: Sony’s Xperia XZ Premium with its 4K display, Firefox Focus bringing tracker blocking to mobile, the quirky YotaPhone 3 with its e-ink back panel, and what Bluetooth 5’s longer range and faster speeds actually mean for real-world use.
The full episode is on TWiT.