ONEPLUS 3 RUMORS AND NEW LEAKS
Carl Pei confirms the OnePlus 3 will launch by June
OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone startup, had a very busy 2015, releasing two new phones and a selection of accessories, including a case for the iPhone 6S (yes, really). However, in keeping with its Never Settle motto, the company is already putting together the OnePlus 3 smartphone, which will release later this year.
OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei told Cnet en Español that he hopes the OnePlus 3 will “captivate” users as much as the OnePlus One did in 2014. We’re still a few months away from when it gets released, but here’s everything we think we know about it so far.
Release date information, as well as comments from Carl Pei.
Release date and pricing
In a late-February interview with Cnet en Español, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei confirmed the OnePlus 3 will launch “at the end of the second quarter.” A good bet would be the month of June since it’s the last month of the quarter. The phone is expected to launch as an unlocked device in the U.S. and other markets.
Pei also said the OnePlus 3 would be sold directly by the company just like in the past, but he promises a “better buying process.” Unfortunately we don’t know if the invitation system will remain in play or not, but he did say that the company would accept credit cards in addition to PayPal.
As far as pricing goes, Pei didn’t offer up any information other than that shipping will continue to be free.
Design
OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei sat down with Cnet en Español in late February and said the OnePlus 3 will feature a “new design.” Unfortunately he didn’t get into specifics, but it’s probably safe to assume that it won’t resemble the OnePlus 2.
The first leak came in December 2015 from MobileDad.com, and is an image of what’s claimed to be a rendered prototype of the device, viewed from the front and rear. It appears to be a mashup of the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X designs, with the squared-off sides and gently curved corners from the X, and the central camera lens from the 2 catching the eye. This is also a warning that these images are little more than fakes, and like every rumor, should be treated as such for now.
Examining them more closely, it doesn’t look like the phone has the textured rear panel used on the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2 in this image, but that could change if the phone becomes a reality, and is something of a OnePlus trademark. There’s a hint the phone may have forward-facing speakers in one of the images, and there are unusual grey sections along the sides, which may be related to SIM or MicroSD card slots, or the volume rocker.
The potential specification is unknown, but the report does mention the possibility of a Snapdragon 820 being used, and another 1080p touchscreen. Neither sound impossible, although some may be disappointed if OnePlus doesn’t adopt a 1440p screen for its next major phone release. The only spec hint we get from the leaked image is the possible inclusion of a dual-LED flash to accompany the camera.
OnePlus released the OnePlus 2 in August 2015, so it’s unlikely we’ll see the sequel much before August 2016. In the meantime, we’ll keep you updated with all the OnePlus 3 news here.
Read more: Tech Crunch
