OnePlus slated to launch third device alongside OnePlus 9/9 Pro
2021 is shaping to be quite the monster year for OnePlus if all of the incoming rumors turn out to be true. We have already seen a few leaks for the next smartphone launch, the OnePlus 9, which is to be released alongside the OnePlus 9 Pro. Then, CEO Pete Lau confirmed that the company is working on its first smartwatch which will be coming “early next year”.
Now, it seems that there will actually be three smartphones available as a part of the OnePlus 9 lineup. We already assumed and have seen leaks for the standard OnePlus 9 and the flagship-level OnePlus 9 Pro. However, a new rumor from Android Central claims that there could be a third device available, called the OnePlus 9 Lite.
While the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro will be powered by the latest Qualcomm chipset, the Snapdragon 888, the OnePlus 9 Lite is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 865. This is the same processor found in the recently-released OnePlus 8T, and it’s entirely possible that much of the hardware will remain the same. This means that we’ll get the SD865 processor, either a 90Hz or 120Hz AMOLED display, and 65W fast charging.
One major difference between the OnePlus 8T and rumored 9 Lite is with the casing design for the newer device. Instead of relying on a glass shell, the 9 Lite will sport a plastic back, similar to what we saw Samsung do with the Galaxy S20 FE.
Image credit – PhoneArena
It’s clear that OnePlus is looking to take on Samsung in the upper-mid-range market after seeing the success of the Galaxy S20 FE. As for the 9 Lite’s cost, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a retail price of around $600, while the OnePlus 9 will likely come in between $780 to $800.
The OnePlus 9 lineup is rumored to launch in Q1 2021, so we are likely only a few months away from the official unveiling. Are you intrigued by the OnePlus 9 Lite or are you going to swing for the OnePlus 9 or 9 Pro?