Arguably one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2018, the OnePlus 6 has been in the news lately. It has garnered a lot of media attention for its iPhone X inspired design. While the company’s co-founder Carl Pei took it upon himself to justify the decision of putting a notch on the display, new information about the smartphone’s price and a launch date have surfaced.
According to a report, the OnePlus 6 will be slightly pricier than the OnePlus 5T. In China, the 64GB base variant will be priced at 2999 Yuan which translates to Rs 34000, while the 256GB variant will be priced at 4399 Yuan (Rs 45,000 approx). The 128GB storage model will retail for 3799 Yuan (Rs 39,500 approx.). This hike in price could be due to the presence of a notch and features like wireless charging. However, if true, it is still much more affordable than other flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. In China, the OnePlus 6 will launch by the end of April.
The OnePlus 6 will not have a design similar to the OPPO R15. Carl Pei’s confirmation means the initial leaked image could be our best look at the device so far. The “official case” of the OnePlus 6 also corroborates with the design in the leaked photo. The OnePlus 6 will have a vertically-placed dual camera setup along with a rear-facing fingerprint sensor that might have an oval shape.
The OnePlus 6 is the next big smartphone launch that we are all waiting for. Considering the company’s portfolio, the OnePlus 6 will have top of the line specifications with an industry-inspired design. So, the device will have a glass back, 19:9 aspect ratio display, and a notch. As a recent leak confirmed that, the phone will have a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Recently, there has been a collective outcry over the increasing trend of copying the iPhone X. Hence, OnePlus reached out to The Verge to clarify a few things. Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus told The Verge that the OnePlus 6 will indeed have a display notch. However, it has a purpose, which is not similar to the iPhone X’s notch.
Another criticism of Android smartphone makers has been the presence of a chin, despite keeping a notch. Carl Pei explained that the only reason the iPhone X doesn’t have a chin is that it has a curved display. At the bottom of each display is a ribbon for connecting it to the device’s logic board, which means a thin chin becomes necessary. Apple decided to curb that with a flexible OLED, which, even though is a great solution, it is also an expensive one.
OnePlus 6 Leaked Image
Another interesting piece of information shared by Carl was about the design of the smartphone. Apparently, it won’t look similar to the new OPPO phone, which is great. The OnePlus 6 will launch sooner than its expected June date and will have a 90% screen-to-body ratio.
OnePlus 6 Specs
The OnePlus 6 will have a 6.28 inch Optic OLED display with 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The notch will house the earpiece, front camera, and other sensors. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a much more advanced facial recognition technology which will require extra sensors. In such a case, not a lot of people should have an issue with the notch. Considering OnePlus’s previous devices, the OnePlus 6 will have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection on both the sides.
Carl Pei tweeted this after The Verge published their story. However, that did not bode well with many OnePlus fans and he, later on, deleted the tweet. It appears that not everyone is ready to love the notch yet.
Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Going by the previous leak, there might be a model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage as well. Additionally, there will be no support for SD card.
The device will have a dual camera setup with a 16MP sensor and a 20MP low light sensor with an f/1.7 aperture on both lenses. For the front-facing camera, the device will have a 20MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture with support for Face Unlock.
The OnePlus 6 will run on Android 8.1 Oreo with custom OxygenOS on top. The device might also support gesture-based navigation similar to the iPhone X. Finally, the smartphone will have a 3450 mAh Li-ion battery with Dash Charging and possibly, wireless charging capabilities as well.
Pete Lau, the CEO of OnePlus conceded that the company will launch a new smartphone in Q2 of 2018. As we are nearing a launch date, more leaks and rumours have started to surface about the OnePlus 6. We already know that the OnePlus 6will be powered the Snapdragon 845 chipset. And now, a Twitter tipster has shared a new image of the OnePlus 6 with a dbrand like skin on top.
This image corroborates previous leaks of the OnePlus 6. The smartphone has an oval-shaped fingerprint sensor at the back with a speaker grill and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. As per the previous leaks, the phone is expected to have a glass back, similar to the Oppo R15.
OnePlus 6 Leaked Image
OnePlus 6 Specs
The OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch Optic OLED display with 2280 x 1080 px resolution. Going by the Oppo R15 specs, this device will have a 19:9 display with a notch. The notch will house the earpiece, front camera, and other sensors. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a much more advanced facial recognition technology which will require extra sensors. In such a case, not a lot of people should have an issue with the notch. Considering OnePlus’s previous devices, the OnePlus 6 will have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection on both the sides.
Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Going by the previous leak, there might be a model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage as well. Additionally, there will be no support for SD card.
The device will have a dual camera setup with a 16MP sensor and a 20MP low light sensor with an f/1.7 aperture on both lenses. For the front-facing camera, the device will have a 20MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture with support for Face Unlock.
The OnePlus 6 will run on Android 8.1 Oreo with custom OxygenOS on top. The device might also support gesture-based navigation similar to the iPhone X. Finally, the smartphone will have a 3450 mAh Li-ion battery with Dash Charging and possibly, wireless charging capabilities as well.
So far, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are the most exciting Snapdragon 845-powered devices on the market right now. On the 27th of March, the Mi MIX 2s will join that list and in a couple of months, the OnePlus 6 will launch. While many have predicted the OnePlus 6 to launch in June 2018, things might be a bit different. The OnePlus 5T has gone out of stock in the US, similar to what happened with the OnePlus 5 before the 5T launch.
This means that OnePlus can, realistically, now buy only the 6, when it’s launched. OnePlus being a young company only makes one smartphone at a time. This means that the launch of the OnePlus 6 is nigh, and could happen sooner than expected. The new iteration in the OnePlus story could be a huge departure in terms of design and build quality from the previous device.
OPPO R15
If history is anything to go by, the OnePlus 6 could look very similar to the OPPO R15 Dream Mirror Edition. This means that the 6 could have a glass back, like the OnePlus X and an iPhone X-like notch. While we have seen a lot of iPhone X copycats so far, the OnePlus 6 could house TrueDepth-like sensors for an advanced facial recognition system. If not, then the criticism will be directed at the 6, just like the OnePlus 5.
The OnePlus 6, without a doubt, is one of the most anticipated Android smartphones of 2018. The Chinese smartphone maker has earned the reputation of launching flagship devices at a much more affordable price and the same is expected from the OnePlus 6. However, a recently leaked image has revealed that the OnePlus 6 could cost much more than its predecessor. And now, a sketchy looking specs sheet of the upcoming smartphone has surfaced online.
The smartphone, in all probability, will take key design cues from the recently launched OPPO R15 Dream Mirror Edition. This means that the OnePlus 6 could have “glass sandwich” design with a metal frame. Considering the presence of glass back panel, the smartphone might also support wireless charging. However, no leaks have backed this feature so far.
OnePlus 6 Specs
The OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch Optic OLED display with 2280 x 1080 px resolution. Going by the Oppo R15 specs, this device will have a 19:9 display with a notch. The notch will house the earpice, front camera and other sensors. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a much more advanced facial recognition technology which will require extra sensors. In such a case, not a lot of people should have an issue with the notch. Considering OnePlus’s previous devices, the OnePlus 6 will have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both sides.
Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Going by the previous leak, there might be a model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage as well. Additionally, there will be no support for SD card.
OnePlus 5T
The device will have a dual camera setup with a 16MP sensor and a 20MP low light sensor with an f/1.7 aperture on both lenses. For the front-facing camera, the device will have a 20MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture with support for Face Unlock.
The device will run on Android 8.1 Oreo with custom OxygenOS on top. The device might also support gesture-based navigation similar to the iPhone X. The smartphone will measure at 7.5 mm at its thinnest point and weigh at about 175 grams. Finally, the device will have a 3450 mAh Li-ion battery with Dash Charging and possibly, wireless charging capabilities as well.
OnePlus is known for introducing flagship smartphones at an affordable price. All this started with the OnePlus One, which was priced at US$ 350 or Rs 24999. Until now, the company has done a commendable job by launching latest hardware at a cheaper price than its competition. However, this might change soon. A leaked photo of a presentation suggests that the OnePlus 6 will retail for $749. It isn’t clear yet what currency the figures are in.
The presentation slide has listed the Apple iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9+, Huawei P20 and the OnePlus 6. Do note that, the models listed on the presentation represent the costliest model of the respective devices. According to the presentation, the iPhone X retails for US$ 1517, Galaxy S9+ retails for US$ 1200, and the price of the Huawei P20 is yet to be revealed. The last product in the slide is the OnePlus 6, which is listed to be powered by the Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage. In fact, this could be the first OnePlus device to have 256GB storage.
The listing also reveals that the phone will have a dual camera setup (20MP + 16MP) similar to the one found on the OnePlus 5T. Finally, the last column talks about the pricing of the device. According to the listing, the OnePlus 6 with 256GB storage will retail for $749. However, similar to the iPhone X and Galaxy S9+, we might also see different RAM and storage models, priced near the US$ 500 mark.
The OnePlus 6 is expected to have a glass back and a display notch, similar to the recently launched Oppo R15. The use of a display with a notch and a glass panel will increase the manufacturing cost. Hence, this could explain the price surging.
OnePlus has been actively promoting its upcoming launch of the OnePlus 6. The company has already struck a deal Sony to release an exclusive OnePlus 6 Avengers Edition. On social media, OnePlus has slowly teased a few features of the OnePlus 6 which are a first for the company. The buzz around the OnePlus 6 is certainly palpable as we move closer to the official launch. So, with the launch a couple of weeks away, what do we know about it so far?
Price
The OnePlus 5, at the time of its launch, was criticised for its price tag. The smartphone was priced higher than the OnePlus 3T and still didn’t offer features like wireless charging or water resistance. However, with a revamped design, the OnePlus 5T sort of justified the price tag. Looking at the recent leaks, it appears that the OnePlus 6 might cost up to a whopping Rs 48999. The base variant, however, could be priced between Rs 34999 to Rs 36999.
Design
The design is where the OnePlus 6 is expected to take things a “notch” further. OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 6 will have a notch on the display while maintaining a thick chin at the bottom. Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus has revealed that getting rid of the chin meant that the company had to curve the display from the bottom, which Apple did. However, that would have increased the manufacturing of the smartphone a lot.
The company also confirmed that the OnePlus 6 will have an all-glass design, something the company has shied away from since the OnePlus X. Whether this means the device will also have wireless charging has not been confirmed yet. iGyaan received an exclusive image of the OnePlus 6 in a test case. The test case hides the bezels of the device but, the notch is visible in the image. If you zoom in on the top left corner of the image, the date on the desktop shows 23rd April, which is when our source sent this photo to us. A few people on Twitter thought the notch was photoshopped, but, if you zoom in, you can see the front camera and the earpiece, despite the image being clicked in dark.
Display
The OnePlus 6 will have a 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. This weird resolution is a result of the notch. OnePlus is expected to retain the Optic AMOLED display. The company has been adamant about its use of a 1080P panel over 1440P and it doesn’t seem like the stance will change anytime soon.
Under The Hood
As has been OnePlus’s strategy with the OnePlus 6, it has confirmed a few specifications of the smartphone as well. The OnePlus 6 will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and have up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This is the first time that a OnePlus device will have 256GB of storage. The limited edition OnePlus Avengers Edition will only be available in the 256GB storage model. As has been the history, the storage will not be expandable via a microSD card.
The OnePlus 6, again, as confirmed by the company, will be water resistant. This also a first for OnePlus. The exact ceritifcation of the smartphone has not been confirmed right now.
OnePlus 5
Camera
The device will have a dual-camera setup on the back and a single camera on the front. While the leaked image of the OnePlus 6 revealed a vertically placed setup, the OPPO R15 has a setup similar to the OnePlus 5T. Apart from that, the 6 is expected to retain the OnePlus 5T camera implementation. Going by the industry trend, it could have a few “AI capabilities,” similar to the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 6 will launch on the 16th of May in London followed by its India launch in Mumbai on the 17th of May. The smartphone will subsequently go on sale in India on the 21st of May via Amazon exclusively. If the price of the OnePlus 6 is not too expansive and is closer to the launch price of the OnePlus 5T, the 6 could be one of the best smartphones of 2018. However, a lot will depend on how the smartphone performs since specifications are not the only thing that matters.
OnePlus has finally lifted the curtains off of the OnePlus at an event in London. The OnePlus 6 will launch in India on May 17th where the pricing details will be announced. The OnePlus 6 follows up the successful OnePlus 5T, which was launched in November, about five months after the OnePlus 5 launch. Makes you wonder whether the OnePlus 6T is just around the corner!
The base model of the OnePlus 6 is priced at US$ 529 (Rs 35,800 approx.), the 8GB RAM/128GB model will retail for US$ 579 (Rs 39200 approx.) while the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant will cost you US$ 629 (Rs 42500).
OnePlus is expected to launch its new flagship, the OnePlus 6 in June. Going by the company’s recent track record, the OnePlus 6T will be launched by the end of the year. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and for now, concentrate on the OnePlus 6. The smartphone is expected to be one of the best affordable flagship devices of 2018.
The last two OnePlus devices have looked awfully similar to some OPPO smartphones. That is mainly because OnePlus’s parent company is OPPO Electronics. Since OnePlus is a very young company, it is possible that the R&D department is shared between the sister companies. Hence, the OnePlus had the exact design as the OPPO R11 and the OnePlus 5T looked like the OPPO R11S. With this in mind, it is possible that the new OPPO R15 could be the OnePlus 6.
OnePlus 6 Leaked Images
It is worth noting that OnePlus only has the design similar to its OPPO counterparts. All OnePlus devices are launched with flagship specifications and it won’t be any different for the OnePlus 6 either. Also, a recently leaked image of the OnePlus 6 resembles the OPPO R15 Dream Mirror Edition. The device has a glass back with a very reflective finish albeit, a horizontally placed dual-camera setup. The leaked image of the OnePlus 6 revealed a vertically placed dual-camera setup, which looks similar to the Galaxy S9+.
OPPO R15 Dream Mirror Edition
Another big change expected in the OnePlus 6 is wireless charging. The OPPO R15 Dream Mirror Edition doesn’t support wireless charging despite having a glass build.
OnePlus 6 Specs
The device will have a 6.2 inch 2160 x 1080 px Optic AMOLED display with a higher screen to body ratio. The device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB, similar to the OnePlus 5 and 5T.
OnePlus 5T
There will be a tiny notch up front, which will house the front-facing camera and the earpiece with an LED flash unit. In fact, the smartphone is expected to have a Face ID like feature, which uses the front-facing camera. Hence, we could see some extra sensors in that notch to enable a much more secure facial recognition system. That will also sort of justify the notch, just like on the iPhone X.
The device will have a dual primary camera setup, similar to the OnePlus 5T, were, the secondary sensor will be used for low light photography.
Over the past couple of years, OnePlus has gained a loyal fanbase in markets like India. One of the main reasons for that is its devices’ price and the specifications they provide at that price. However, there has been a steady increase in the prices of OnePlus devices. The OnePlus 5 received a lot of flak for a hike in its price.
In 2018, OnePlus will launch the OnePlus 6, and in all probability, the OnePlus 6T. While the OnePlus 6T is far away right now, the OnePlus 6 is expected to be launched in the next couple of months. So far, we know that it will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset and have up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
OPPO R15
Recently, a leaked image of the OnePlus 6 revealed that, like so many of new Android devices, it could also have an iPhone X-like notch. However, it won’t go all out Apple route as the back of the device doesn’t look anything like an iPhone X. However, it is expected to move away from the aluminium build and embrace the “glass sandwich” design. The image shows that the OnePlus 6 will have a shiny back made of glass which means it could support wireless charging.
However, we might get a better look at the possible OnePlus 6 when the OPPO R15 is launched in China. The R15 is tipped to have a design very similar to what is being speculated for the OnePlus 6. A trailer of the OPPO R15 has been leaked, which reveals a glass back with a shiny finish and a dual-camera setup.
OnePlus 6 Leaked Image
The OnePlus 5 was essentially the OPPO R11 with better hardware and the same was with the 5T and R11s. Similarly, we expect the OnePlus 6 to be almost identical to the OPPO R15 which is due to launch soon. If so, we could have an early look at what the OnePlus 6 might turn out to be, eventually. It is, however, worth noting that the shape of the fingerprint sensor on the OPPO R15 is different than the leaked image of the OnePlus 6.
Also, the dual-camera setup of the R15 looks more like the OnePlus 5T. The leaked image of the OnePlus 6 tells us a different story about the dual cameras which are placed vertically. There is no denying that the OnePlus 5’s comparison to the iPhone 7 Plus was mainly due to the camera placement. However, OnePlus has no reason to tinker with that. After all, it is a leaked image and the end product could be different.
OnePlus 5
The most interesting aspect of the OnePlus 6 will be the apparent notch. The same notch is found on the OPPO R15, in fact, it is rumoured to sport a 19:9 aspect ratio. The Asus Zenfone 5Z also has the same aspect ratio and a notch, and similar design is expected from the OnePlus 6. However, what is yet to be seen is whether the notch on the OnePlus 6 will serve any purpose. Apple went with a notch to not only house a lot of sensors in it, but, to also keep the bezels uniform on the rest of the three sides.
However, what we have seen so far from Android smartphone makers is blatant copying without a cause. Even the Zenfone 5Z has a bigger chin which defeats the purpose of a protruded area. OnePlus has shown its keenness to Face Unlock with the OnePlus 5T. Hence, it won’t be surprising if the OnePlus 6 has an advanced facial recognition system to compete with Face ID. In that case, a notch would definitely serve a purpose and its existence will be justified.
OnePlus is expected to launch the OnePlus 6 in mid-2018. While the launch of the smartphone is still a few months away, leaks about it have been in full swing. Recently, an image of the OnePlus 6 revealing the shiny glass design was leaked. Similarly, it was leaked that the OnePlus 6, just like many other Android devices, would support a notch.
According to a leak, a new OnePlus smartphone with the model number A6000 has been leaked. In fact, the device was spotted on AnTuTu scoring 276510 points. The OnePlus 5 carried the model number A5000, hence, it makes sense for the OnePlus 6 to be A6000. The device has broken the previous record set by the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s. The device has a 19:9 aspect ratio display, which suggests the existence of the notch on the top similar to the Asus ZenFone 5z.
OnePlus 6 sporting a notch should not be that surprising. The OnePlus 5 looked uncannily similar to the iPhone 7 Plus at the time of its launch. However, the company did change things up a bit with the OnePlus 5T.
Credits: Android Central
OnePlus 6 Specifications
The device will have a 6.2 inch 2160 x 1080 px Optic AMOLED display with a higher screen to body ratio. The device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB, similar to the OnePlus 5 and 5T.
OnePlus 5T
There will be a tiny notch up front, which will house the front-facing camera and the earpiece with an LED flash unit. In fact, the smartphone is expected to have a Face ID like feature, which uses the front-facing camera. Hence, we could see some extra sensors in that notch to enable a much more secure facial recognition system. That will also sort of justify the notch, just like on the iPhone X.
The device will have a dual primary camera setup, similar to the OnePlus 5T, were, the secondary sensor will be used for low light photography.
Conclusion
In the last few years, the company didn’t have any contenders in the affordable flagship market. However, now the market has many interesting smartphones like the Asus ZenFone 5z and the Honor View10, which costs much less than the OnePlus 5T. Similarly, this year will be a real challenge for OnePlus and its devices.
Over the years, OnePlus devices have taken “inspiration” from OPPO devices. The OnePlus 5, for instance, looked similar to the OPPO R11 while the 5T looked uncannily similar to the R11s. With the OPPO R15 launch expected soon, it won’t be surprising if the OnePlus 6 turns out to be a more powerful R15.
OnePlus has had some of the most successful smartphones in India. From the OnePlus One to the OnePlus 5T, the price to performance ratio of OnePlus devices has more or less been spot-on. Even though the OnePlus 5 received some flak for a shaky camera and design too similar to the iPhone 7 Plus, it was a great smartphone for the price. With the OnePlus 5T, the company moved on to a modern design and introduced Face Unlock as well. However, greater things are expected from the OnePlus 6 and a new leak has revealed some interesting details.
Leaked images of the OnePlus 6 reveal that it will have some resemblance to the iPhone X. While the iPhone X and its notch was met with scepticism at the launch, it has, since then, become a feature a lot of other smartphone makers have imitated. The OnePlus 6 will also have a notch on top which will house the earpiece and camera. However, unlike other smartphone makers, OnePlus could use the notch to house extra hardware for a much safer Face Unlock system that could essentially replace the fingerprint sensor.
iPhone X Notch
To the back of the smartphone is where things get interesting. It looks like the OnePlus 6 will finally have a glass design which means it could introduce wireless charging as well. Although, OnePlus has conceded that DashCharge is much better than wireless charging. The dual-camera setup looks uncannily similar to the recently launched Galaxy S9+ as well.
The leaked image shows that the smartphone is running on Oxygen OS 5.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo.
Specifications and speculations:
The smartphone has 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, which looks like the base variant of the OnePlus 6. OnePlus has been using similar RAM and storage combinations from the launch of OnePlus 3.
The smartphone might have a 6.2-inch display with a higher screen to body proportion. Similarly, the notch houses the main earpiece, front-facing camera and a LED flash unit. Similar to the OnePlus 5T, the company might implement the face unlock using the front-facing camera.
Conclusion:
Applying OnePlus’s two smartphones a year philosophy, the OnePlus 6 is expected to launch in June. However, this might just be a prototype, which may not make into the final production stage.
2017 was a great year for smartphones. The bezels shrunk, dual cameras became a norm, and AI gained a few strides. 2018 promises to be another great year for a smartphone enthusiast and the early leaks and rumours are very promising. Let’s take a look at the top five upcoming smartphones of 2018:
Samsung Galaxy S9/Galaxy S9+
The first big launch of 2018 will be that of the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+. The smartphones will be launched at MWC 2018 and will possibly be the first to run on the Snapdragon 845 chipset. After weeks of renders and leaks, Samsung will finally unveil two of the most anticipated smartphones of 2018.
Design wise, the two phones won’t look different than their predecessors which is not a bad thing. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are still two of the most stunning devices on the market. The top and bottom bezels will be slightly thinner and the fingerprint sensor will be repositioned. Unlike last year’s, the fingerprint sensor will now be placed below the camera module instead of next to it. That is a great design change which was called for by many Galaxy S8 and Note8 users.
To compete with Apple’s Face ID, Samsung is rumoured to introduce Smart Scan as well. Apparently, the new feature is a combination of face and iris scanning. This extra layer will improve accuracy and security of the system in extremely dark or lit up environments. These are the situations where iris scanning and facial recognition systems fail. There have been reports that suggest the Samsung Galaxy S9 devices might have a 3D sensor equipped front-camera for improved biometrics.
There are no rumours or leaks about an upcoming Xiaomi Mi A2 or Mi A1(2018). However, considering the popularity of the Mi A1 in India, the company will be hard-pressed to launch a successor in 2018. The Mi A1 had a more 2016 design with thick bezels but, with budget smartphones also moving on to an 18:9 aspect ratio, the Mi A2 will also have a modern design.
The Xiaomi Mi A1 was launched as the Mi 5X in China and the Mi 6X could be the Mi A2 in India. So far, there have been a few leaks pertaining to the Xiaomi Mi 6X. According to leaked images, the Mi 6X will have an iPhone X-like vertically placed dual-camera setup along with fingerprint sensor and an aluminium unibody build.
Up until the Xiaomi Mi A1 was launched, Motorola’s Moto G5 Plus and G5s Plus had the best cameras in the segment. However, the Xiaomi Mi A1 had a great dual-camera setup as well and the Mi A2, in order to sway customers will have to have a great camera performance as well. The Xiaomi Mi A2 is expected to have the same “wide-angle and telephoto lens” combination for the primary cameras. The dual-camera setup on the front is becoming popular as well, meaning the Xiaomi Mi A2 could also have a dual-camera setup on the front as well.
If Xiaomi does launch the Mi A2 or Mi A1 (2018) in India, it is expected to do well, considering budget smartphones from Honor will have EMUI and a lot of consumers still prefer stock Android OS.
The OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T saw a rise in price which many people weren’t happy about. There was also no water resistance even though OnePlus decided to increase the price of its new flagship considerably. However, early rumours of the OnePlus 6 are in and it appears that the company will be refreshing its smartphone lineup earlier than expected. A report from Android Marvel claims that the OnePlus 6 will be launched in March of 2018 and have a few new features which the OnePlus 5T is missing.
Inspired by Face ID, the OnePlus 6 will also have its own version of facial recognition. The OnePlus 6 is expected to have a camera hardware setup similar to the iPhone X, complete with a 3D camera module that will use infrared light to measure depth. However, the OnePlus 6 will not have an iPhone X-like notch. Instead, the handset is expected to have a full top bezel where the extra sensors should be found.
The OnePlus 6 is expected to have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood along with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Storage options will most probably be the same with 64GB or 128Gb variants of the phone. OnePlus has shown its tendency to launch limited edition variants of its devices and it is fair to assume that the company will do something similar with the OnePlus 6 and possibly, the OnePlus 6T.
Apple iPhone X Plus
2018 Apple iPhone lineup
It’s tentative but, we might see a bigger version of the iPhone X in September of 2018. The iPhone X, launched in September 2017 saw a radical shift from the traditional iPhone design we were accustomed to, since the launch of the iPhone 6. While the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were similar to their predecessors, the iPhone X was the special 10th-anniversary device, billed as the true successor to the original iPhone which was launched back in 2007.
Early reports claim that Apple will continue the trend and launch three new iPhones in 2018. While two of them will continue to have an OLED display, the smallest of the three iPhones will be cheaper thanks to the LCD display. However, the design of all the three iPhones will be similar to the iPhone X with the notch at the top of the display and vertically placed dual cameras.
Under the hood, an upgraded A12 (tentatively named) chipset is expected which will, as always, perform better than the previous generation and go toe-to-toe with the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
Apple made it clear that it will emphasise a lot on the use of AI and machine learning with the introduction of ARKit. This is expected to be taken a notch higher with the next generation iPhones. What will be interesting to see is the nomenclature of all the three iPhones.
Google Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL
The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL launched amidst a lot of anticipation. Google was expected to deliver two of the best Android phones of the year and while the software and AI integration of the two phones was commendable, Google lost the race in the hardware department.
In 2018, especially after having the HTC smartphone personnel on board, Google will be expected to rectify those mistakes and deliver great Android devices which will compete with the likes of the Galaxy S9 and the OnePlus 6.
Similar to the Pixel 2, the Pixel 3 and its bigger sibling will focus a lot on AI and machine learning, and deliver smooth software experience thanks to the stock Android OS. 2018 will see the launch of Android P and the Pixel 3 devices will be the first Android phones on the planet to run o the new Android OS.
The Pixel 2 smartphones had the best camera on smartphones and achieved dual-camera capable features on their single camera setup thanks to Google’s incredible machine learning and AI implementation. We expect similar results from the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
A new leaked image has revealed that the OnePlus 6 could have a mirror finish on the back and an iPhone X-like notch on top. More details will follow, as we move closer to the launch.
OnePlus is a new Chinese smartphone company that burst on to the scene in 2014. In the era of a clear divide between budget and premium smartphones, the OnePlus One was a breath of fresh air. It provided flagship phone-like specifications with very little compromises at almost half the price of top premium smartphones at that point.
OnePlus One
The company followed up the OnePlus One with the OnePlus Two and even launched the OnePlus X, an even more inexpensive device with a glass build. However, they weren’t received too well by the consumers and in 2016, the company launched the OnePlus 3 and a few months later, the OnePlus 3T. While many OnePlus 3 owners were disappointed with the launch of a better phone just a few months later, the difference between the 3 and 3T was just in the chipset.
The OnePlus 5 was launched in June of 2017, and the company received some flak from consumers for considerably increasing the price of the OnePlus 5. While it was still much cheaper than other flagship devices, the price when compared to its predecessors was a bit too much for the consumers. The company stuck with its release policy and in November of 2017, launched the OnePlus 5T. The OnePlus 5T had a much better design than the OnePlus 5 and according to the company, improved dual-camera setup as well.
OnePlus 5
The next in line for the company is the OnePlus 6. While there is no confirmation or even a hint from OnePlus on what the devices will be called, the company’s naming policy dictates that it would be the OnePlus 6 indeed. So, what can we expect from the OnePlus 6 in 2018? Let’s find out:
Price
After the launch of the OnePlus 5, the company faced a mini-backlash from consumers for its inflated price. However, the performance of the smartphone and then the OnePlus 5T’s modern design took away the spotlight from its price. The OnePlus 6 could be priced a bit higher especially if the company introduces radically new features in the smartphone. With the history of OnePlus device’s performance, the OnePlus 6 will have no problem justifying its price tag.
Display
6-inch displays are what 5.5-inch displays were in 2016. With thinner bezels and 18:9 aspect ratio becoming the norm, a lot of smartphones will stick to the 6-inch screen size, and the OnePlus 6 could do the same with the Optic AMOLED display. Ever since the OnePlus One was launched, the company has maintained its stance over the Full HD resolution. The OnePlus 6 could continue having the same 2160 x 1080 px resolution.
OnePlus 5T
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor?
Vivo, along with Synaptics, recently announced the first-ever smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Ever since that announcement, there have been rumours of more smartphone makers launching devices with a similar technology, called Clear ID. There was a recent report that claimed that the OnePlus 6 will have an in-display fingerprint sensor and launch in March 2018. While Pete Lau has confirmed the OnePlus 6 will launch in June, it could be possible that OnePlus introduces an in-display fingerprint sensor in its latest flagship device.
However, it won’t be surprising if the OnePlus 6T is introduced in late-November with an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Under The Hood
Pete Lau also confirmed that the OnePlus 6 be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset since it is the latest flagship chip available. Similar to the OnePlus 5 and 5T, the OnePlus 6 will also have 6GB or 8GB of RAM along with 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage. There will be no option for expanding the onboard storage via a microSD card. With AI expected to be huge in 2018 smartphones, it will be interesting to see OnePlus’s approach towards this particular feature.
OnePlus 5T
Face Unlock will, in all probability, be present in the OnePlus 6 and be better than the one found on the OnePlus 5T.
Camera
The OnePlus 5 and the 5T had two different implementations of the dual-camera setup. For the OnePlus 5T, the company focussed on low-light photography and relied on software to create bokeh effect images. The OnePlus 6 will also have a dual-camera setup and after what Google did with one camera on its Pixel devices, smartphone makers will be inspired to make better performing camera smartphones.
Conclusion
While the OnePlus 6 might come with a slightly heftier price tag than its predecessor, it will be another exciting offering from a young smartphone maker. If the OnePlus 6 does come with an in-display fingerprint sensor, it could be the most exciting mid-year smartphone launch and have an advantage over the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and LG G7.
The OnePlus 5T was recently launched in November and since then, there have been three variants of the device launched in different part of the world. The OnePlus 6 widely expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2018 and the company’s CEO, Pete Lau has just confirmed that.
In an interview with CNET, Pete conceded that the company has no other option but to use the Snapdragon 835 chipset for its upcoming device in the second quarter of 2018. While he did not confirm the name of the smartphone, logic dictates that the company will name it OnePlus 6.
He also said that there is no confirmation of a second device (OnePlus 6T) that could be launched in late-2018. However, the company’s recent launch activity certainly hints toward a refreshed version of its mid-year flagship. Perhaps, the OnePlus 6T could have an in-display fingerprint sensor as by the time the 6T launches, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 would’ve implemented the technology as it is expected to be launched in August.
OnePlus smartphones are known to have the latest and greatest specifications at a much more affordable price and that is what the OnePlus 6 is expected to deliver as well. Moreover, there have been a few reports that suggest that the OnePlus 6 will have a few exciting features such as Face ID-like technology and even an under display fingerprint sensor.
While the chances of an in-display fingerprint sensor may seem thin, OnePlus has made its stance clear on facial recognition technology. The OnePlus 5T has one of the fastest facial recognition technology but, it isn’t secure enough for bank transactions, unlike Face ID. The company could implement better hardware and make its Face Unlock much more secure than it already is.
As far as features and specifications are concerned, these are all mere speculations. More leaks and renders will be leaked as we move closer to the launch of the OnePlus 6 in June of 2018.
