The OnePlus 7T
isn't even shipping yet, but that isn't stopping leaks about its
inevitable sequel. Well-known tipster OnLeaks and CashKaro have posted
what they say are renders of the OnePlus 8 based on schematics from a
"company insider." The design suggests OnePlus is going back to a more
conventional design on the back, but that it'll make some potentially
welcome changes everywhere else. The 8 would have a roughly 6.5-inch
curved display with a hole-punch spot for the camera, rather than the
notch of the 7T or the pop-up selfie cam of the 7 Pro. It certainly wouldn't be the most original design, but it might represent an aesthetic upgrade from the 'plain' 7T.
The leak doesn't say much about the phone's purported innards, but
there would be one major and arguably overdue addition: wireless
charging. OnePlus has skipped the technology so far in favor of its
speedy wired solution, but competitive pressure might have forced its
hand. It's also reasonable to suspect that the 8 will have
up-to-the-minute specs, such as the newest available Snapdragon chip
(865, perhaps?).
It's far too early to know the release date for
the OnePlus 8, but history suggests you'll see it about half a year from
now. Given the 6.5-inch size, we also wouldn't be surprised to see a
larger, more powerful 8 Pro around the same time. The question is
whether or not OnePlus will have more than wireless charging and a speed
bump to reel in buyers. There are still a few key shortcomings in the 7
series, particularly in camera performance, and many people will likely
be waiting to see if OnePlus can finally go toe-to-toe with the better
camera phones on the market.
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