What you can expect from soon-to-launch OnePlus 5T
With the OnePlus 5T launch merely hours away, excitement is building up for the device which could end up being the true flagship killer of the year. The device will be showcased at a glittering event (on November 16) in New York which will also be live streamed at select PVR cinemas across India. However, for those who don't want to make the late night trip to the PVR cinemas, the event can also be watched live from the comfort of their homes.
The 5T will go on sale in the US and Europe on November 21 and will also be available in India on the same day via a flash sale, with wider availability at offline stores starting November 28.
As was the case with the OnePlus 5 and the 3T earlier, we already have a good idea about the internals and design of the new phone. So let's see what we can expect from the event tonight.
What sets the OnePlus community apart? Excitement for new possibilities. Only a few hours left until the #OnePlus5T launch. https://t.co/Kg47lc8gnj pic.twitter.com/zPLMlhdwTY
— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) November 15, 2017
Display and design
So the major change that's going to be seen with the new phone will be in terms of design and display. Multiple leaks and reports point to how the device will feature a slightly tweaked design because of the completely revamped 18:9 edge-to-edge display.
As opposed to the current generation device, which comes with the same 5.5-inch 1080p panel found in the previous generation 3T, the new OnePlus 5T will come with a bigger and better display. The OnePlus 5T looks set to become the first device from the company to feature a Quad HD panel.
This switch to a bigger, edge-to-edge display, will be facilitated by a slightly tweaked design which could also see the phone's fingerprint scanner move to the back of the device. The 3.5mm audio jack, along with the USB Type C port will also find space on the new phone.
Get ready for #ANewView. Meet the #OnePlus5T on November 16. https://t.co/AuAAsRIg2i pic.twitter.com/RHsZuCT7Oe
— OnePlus (@oneplus) November 6, 2017
Specifications
In terms of specifications, do not expect any surprises from the launch. The current generation phone is already a very powerful device and this mid-cycle release will bring with it the same hardware configuration – 835 Snapdragon SoC paired 6/8GB RAM and 64/128GB storage options.
However, due to the move to a bigger display, reports suggest that the company could bump the modest 3300mAh battery pack on the phone to the slightly larger 3450mAh pack.
Camera
There are conflicting reports when it comes to the camera set-up of the phone. Though it is pretty much confirmed that the device will come with dual cameras at the back, confusion still remains over the specifications of the set-up.
Some reports claim that the phone could come with a bumped up set-up featuring two 20 megapixel sensors, instead of the 20 megapixel +16 megapixel set-up currently being used in the OnePlus 5. While a report by German publication Heise.de claims the camera set-up's megapixel count will remain the same, the telephoto lens will be ditched in favour of an Oppo R11s/R11s Plus like set-up where both camera lenses are programmed to gather depth information.
Price
The other big piece of information that is being eagerly awaited from the event is the pricing of the phone. As per reports, the OnePlus 5T could come to the market with a similar price tag – Rs 32,999 for the base model – as the current generation flagship.
The information has been leaked by TechRadar in the UK, which found confidential documents that reveal the OnePlus 5T will sell at OnePlus 5 prices in that country. If the report is indeed true, it will be safe to assume that the Indian arm of the company will also mirror the pricing decision and bring the phone to the domestic market at the same price its predecessor was launched.
Limited edition Star Wars OnePlus 5T variant
Reports also suggest that OnePlus may also announce a limited edition Star Wars variant of the OnePlus 5T at the event tonight. There is no official word on this, but expect this rumour to come through as it makes complete sense for the company to partner with the franchise to boost its sale ahead of the release of the hugely anticipated movie – Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Information about this special edition device first surfaced online when an XDA-Developers reader noticed a reference to a Star Wars accent colour in the leaked Oreo 8.0 build for the phone.