Everything that we know about OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro share most of the same design language; both are large phones with a curved glass design and multiple rear cameras. While the OnePlus 7 Pro and 7T Pro had fun pop up front cameras, and the OnePlus 7's selfie cam was contained within a notch, both upcoming phones have the front camera inside the screen.

Compared to the base OnePlus 8, the 8 Pro has a slightly larger screen and additional cameras. Unfortunately, the headphone jack has not made a comeback on either model. Keep those headphone dongles around.

Besides the above leaks, someone managed to take photos of the OnePlus 8 pro being used on a chinese subway, though the images don't reveal much.

Both the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will be available in three colors: Interstellar Glow, Onyx Black, and Glacial Green. An additional 'Ultramarine Blue' color has been confirmed for the OnePlus 8 Pro, but it's unclear if that option will be available for the regular OnePlus 8.

Specifications

Most of the leaked specifications come from a tweet by leaker Ishan Agarwal, and some of the details have been confirmed by other sources. That being said, as with all leaked information, there might be a few errors or details left out. For example, we still don't know the exact camera setup for the base OnePlus 8—the 16MP lens is presumably an ultra-wide lens, but we don't know for sure.

The key differences between the two phones are the camera setup (the 8 Pro has more cameras), the battery capacity, and the screen size. Furthermore, the 8 Pro has waterproofing and wireless charging, while the base 8 has neither.

Will they have 5G support?

Yes. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirmed in march that the OnePlus 8 series will offer 5G connectivity. Furthermore, leaks say both phones will use the Snapdragon 865 processor, which has non-optional 5G support.

How much they will cost?

Even though we know a great deal about the design and hardware of OnePlus' upcoming phones, pricing information remains a mystery. OnePlus typically raises the price of its phones by $20-50 each year, and since the OnePlus 7T started at $600 in United States, it's probably safe to assume the base OnePlus 8 will cost around $650.

The cost for the 8 Pro is a bit harder to guess, since OnePlus has made a few high-end devices in the past year. While the 7 Pro was priced at a reasonable $670 in the US for the base 128GB/6GB model, the 7T Pro never came to the United States at all, though a 5G variant of the 7T Pro released on T-Mobile that costs $900.

When will they come out?

April 14th. OnePlus has a launch event for the 8 series scheduled for April 14th, which you'll be able to watch live on YouTube.

iPhone 9 to launch after OnePlus 8: Should you wait for this budget iPhone?

It's been long since we have been discussing the iPhone 9. Slated to be Apple’s entry-level offering for most developing markets, including India, the iPhone 9 is set to spark some competition in the affordable segments after Apple managed to put on a good show with iPhone 11 in premium flagship space. Apple has kept mum about the iPhone 9 but look over to the world of leaks and rumours and there’s so much that can help you decide which colour iPhone 9 you want to buy this summer.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has cast doubts on the scheduled March launch but luckily, tipsters and analysts have been hard at work passing the updates regarding this. According to analyst Jon Prosser, the iPhone 9 is launching indeed and it may be unveiled soon after the OnePlus 8 series goes live. Yes, we can all expect apple’s website to reflect the iPhone 9 from April 15. If we are lucky enough, we might also see the iPhone 9 Plus at the same time.

This hints at Apple playing it tactfully, given that OnePlus will be taking over the affordable smartphone market with the OnePlus 8 this year. The iPhone 9 has always been expected to launch with a sub-Rs 30,000 pricing and taking into account what Apple has planned, it could be a killer deal for smartphone shoppers this summer. But so will the OnePlus 8 too, based on the leaks so far.

Hence, should you wait for the iPhone 9 and if yes, then what should be the reasons behind it?

iPhone 9: Why OnePlus 8 buyers should hold on

Based on the leaks we have had on the iPhone 9, there’s a lot for the iPhone 9 to offer over the OnePlus 8.

-The iPhone 9 will mark a return for Apple to compact smartphones after a long time. The iPhone 9 will be based on the same design as the iPhone 8 and that means, you will have a compact body that’s easy to use single-handedly. Compared to the OnePlus 8, it will be a boon for those who yearn compact phones.

-A 4.7-inch IPS LCD retina display is supposed to be there on the iPhone 9, surrounded by the classic bezels and a Home button with the TouchID sensor mounted on it. The iPhone 9 Plus is said to get a bigger a 5.5-inch display. These displays won’t be as good as the high refresh rate AMOLED panels on the OnePlus 8 but they will do the job quite well.

-Apple is rumoured to offer support for wireless charging on the iPhone 9 -- something which the standard OnePlus 8 may not offer.

-Performance will be taken care of by the Apple A13 chip that’s said to be paired with 3GB RAM and storage potions of 64GB and 128GB. The A13 is miles ahead in terms of power over the Snapdragon 865 and it can chew through anything for the next three years easily. Moreover, the iOS ecosystem will offer better security and updates for up to five years. This is much better than Android that has its fair share of privacy-related concerns.

-Apple has led the scene when it concerns cameras and it is expected that the iPhone 9 will have a single camera at the back but it will rely on the same 12-megapixel camera from the iPhone 11. This should offer great photography power to users on a budget. The iPhone 9 Plus could even offer the same dual camera setup from the iPhone 11 or have an additional depth camera from the iPhone 8 Plus.

-Price is where Apple could take on OnePlus this time. The OnePlus 8 is speculated to start from Rs 40,000 in India and Apple will be looking to challenge it by possibly having a sub-Rs 30,000 starting price, similar to the iPhone SE from 2016.

OnePlus Concept One Smartphone Announced With McLaren-Inspired Design, Electrochromic Glass

OnePlus Concept One was unveiled after a bit of teasing at CES 2020. The first OnePlus concept phone, it has been developed in collaboration with McLaren. The OnePlus Concept One is claimed to be the first smartphone to feature an electrochromic glass panel, which can turn transparent or opaque to reveal or hide the rear cameras. OnePlus claims that it takes just 0.7 seconds to transition from solid black to fully clear, which is quicker than the camera itself takes to fully activate. Read on for all the details about the OnePlus Concept One smartphone.

OnePlus Concept One design

This was inspired by McLaren's 720S Spider sports car, which features a retractable hard-top with the same kind of electrochromic material that can be switched between tinted and transparent states. The phone also features a leather panel on the back, in McLaren's signature Papaya Orange shade. OnePlus hasn't revealed any details about specifications or when/if it plans to launch this device anytime soon.

This isn't the first time that OnePlus has experimented with different textures and materials on its phones. We've seen finishes such as bamboo, wood, Kevlar, Alcantara, frosted glass, and ceramic on OnePlus phones in the past. The Concept One's special glass only covers the camera section, while the rest is covered by leather, with exposed stitching.

OnePlus Concept One camera

The electrochromic glass on the OnePlus Concept One contains organic particles which react to current, to shift to the desired state. Besides this party trick, it also serves a practical purpose as the glass is said to double up as a polarising filter for the cameras when shooting under very harsh light. This is implemented in the camera app in pro mode, and allows for a lower ISO and longer shutter.

OnePlus claims what is used on the Concept One is the most advanced electrochromic glass ever made. Two glass panels sandwich the organic material between them and measure just 0.1mm each, for a combined thickness of just 0.35mm. OnePlus also claims that this glass panel uses “almost” no power to operate. OnePlus partnered with McLaren on the design of the Concept One.

The frame of the phone is made of an aluminium alloy treated with a new vapour deposition process so that the thin gold finish layer can be deposited precisely, resulting in what the company calls a subtle shine.

“This concept phone is a significant experiment into the future form of smartphones. OnePlus started this initiative with the goal of bringing the “burdenless” user experience to the next level. The invisible camera stands as a new form of camera design, one that spares the user from the compromises of current camera layouts,” said Pate Lau CEO and Founder of OnePlus, speaking about the OnePlus Concept One phone.

OnePlus is also very proud of showcasing its R&D efforts, saying that this now accounts for over 70 percent of the company's staff. There are seven OnePlus R&D centres around the world, including one recently launched in Hyderabad which already has over 200 people working on software for 5G.

OnePlus 7T With 90Hz Display to Launch on September 26 in India, OnePlus TV Teased to Launch Alongside

OnePlus 7T and the OnePlus 7T Pro duo has been visiting the leak arena for quite some time. Now, OnePlus has officially confirmed that the OnePlus 7T series will make its debut on September 26. The company has also revealed that the OnePlus 7T will pack a 90Hz display, confirming previous leaks and speculations. Aside from the OnePlus 7T series phones, OnePlus' teaser trailer also hints that the OnePlus TV will also make its debut later this month. The unveiling will happen on September 26 in New Delhi, while the OnePlus 7T series' launch event has been scheduled for October 10 in London.

The official OnePlus Twitter handle revealed that the OnePlus 7T series will debut soon, later confirming the September 26 unveiling in India via a press release. OnePlus' tweet makes it abundantly clear the devices being talked about are the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro, both of which have been leaked extensively in the past few weeks. The company has further revealed that the OnePlus 7T will pack a 90Hz display, just like the OnePlus 7 Pro.

OnePlus will showcase its upcoming products – including the OnePlusTV as hinted by the YouTube teaser trailer - at multiple venues starting with an event on September 26 in New Delhi, and later in London. The company will also host an online event that will be streamed on the company's website, as well as the official OnePlus Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube accounts for the US audience. The company will then host an event in London on October 10 for the OnePlus 7T series' global debut.

Talking about the OnePlus 7T, it is tipped to sport a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with HDR 10+ support and a 90Hz refresh rate. It will reportedly be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It might sport a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.6 aperture, assisted by a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2X optical zoom and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 120-degree field of view. It will reportedly come equipped with a 3,800mAh battery and will ship with a 30W Warp Charger.

The OnePlus 7T Pro, on the other hand, is rumoured to pack a 6.65-inch AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution and will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC ticking alongside 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Camera setup on this phone will reportedly include a 48-megapixel primary camera, paired with an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x zoom, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 120-degree field of view. Both the phones are tipped to hit the shelves on October 15.

Asus launches OnePlus 6 competitor Zenfone 5z at Rs 29,999

Asus has launched the Zenfone 5z here in India. The device will pose a direct threat to popular phones in the same segment. OnePlus 6 that comes with a base price of Rs 34,999 is expected to get a lot of competition from the new phone. The Asus Zenfone 5z was first unveiled at the MWC 2018. The device smartphone will be sold exclusively on Flipkart.

Flipkart had accidentally listed the smartphone one day before the official launch. The official price of the Zenfone 5z is the same as what was reported earlier. The device will be made available in three variants. The 6GB RAM, 64GB storage variant is priced at Rs 29,999. The second variant comes with 8GB RAM, 128GB of storage and is priced at Rs 32,999. The third variant comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at Rs 36,999.


The Asus Zenfone 5z will start selling from July 9. Launch offers include flat discounts, cheaper mobile protection and no-cost EMIs. ICICI Bank credit and debit card holders can get a flat Rs 3,000 discount on the device. Flipkart's 'Complete Mobile Protection' plan worth Rs 2,299 is being offered at Rs 499. For buyers interested in purchasing the smartphone on installments, Flipkart is offering no-cost EMIs starting at Rs 3,333 a month. Reliance Jio will offering a 2,200 cashback and 100GB data with the purchase of Zenfone 5z.

To enhance the after sales service of the device , Asus will be providing free pick and drop of faulty devices, a substitute phone and invoice free walk-in.
Coming to the specifications of the device, Asus Zenfone 5z comes with flagship features. The device features a Snapdragon 845 chipset assisted by Adreno 630. The device features a 6.2inch IPS LCD display with a FullHD+ Super IPS+ display covered by Corning Gorilla Glass. The phone boasts a screen to body ratio of 83.6 per cent. Like most flagships from this year, the Asus Zenfone 5z also sports a notch to house the front camera and all the necessary sensors.

The camera on the device is a dual lens setup with one 12megapixel unit and the other with an 8megapixel sensor. The camera also gets EIS for stable videos. The front camera is an 8megapixel unit which also gets gyro EIS for stable shots.

The phone runs on Android 8.0 Oreo with Asus' ZenUI 5.0 on top. The device has a dual SIM slot (nano). One of the slot doubles up as a memory card slot that can hold a card of up to 400GB. The phone comes with a 3300mAh battery  and comes equipped with a USB Type C port.