Launching OnePlus 5T months after OnePlus 5 is a terrible idea
Just five months after OnePlus 5 was launched in the market to rave reviews, the Chinese smartphone maker is likely to come up with an upgrade - OnePlus 5T. However, that may not be too good a news for buyers to get excited about.
When Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus announced the 3T at a launch event on November 15, 2016, the industry was taken by surprise at the "mid-cycle" upgrade of a phone already doing fairly well in the market. Faced with the threat of being left behind, the device maker decided to bring incremental upgrades to the already powerful hardware found in the previous flagship.
The decision saw the phone's design being left untouched and the 3T upgraded to the more powerful Snapdragon 821 SoC and also given a bump in terms of battery - by 400mAh - and the front camera, making the "mid-cycle" upgrade an interesting proposition for users who were unsure of switching to OnePlus 3 because of its ageing hardware. As expected, the strategy worked like a charm. This upgrade of the 3T which came hardly six months after the predecessor's launch sold like hot cakes.
By the time gains from the mid-cycle upgrade started to slow down, the smartphone manufacturer introduced its next flagship device, the OnePlus 5, in June 2017. The phone too did well. With a revamped design and upgraded internals to match the best in the business, it became OnePlus' new flagship, one that looked destined to remain the same for the year. But if reports are to be believed that may soon change, and arguably for no necessary reason.
According to Evan Blass, the latest device, unlike last year, may not bring any upgrade to the hardware but rather completely overhaul the phone's design.
The OnePlus 5T is reportedly in its final stages of development and may go official next month.
I take this back. Just heard from someone I consider reliable that they are indeed working on an 18:9 model for end of November release. https://t.co/8pc7Z51Xli
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 25, 2017
I take this back. Just heard from someone I consider reliable that they are indeed working on an 18:9 model for end of November release. https://t.co/8pc7Z51Xli
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 25, 2017
There has already been a lot of speculation regarding the device and it seems 5T is likely to sport a new design with a 6-inch (1080x2160) bezel-less display and an aspect ratio of 18:9. But apart from that not much will change and the phone is expected to bring with it the same 835 Snapdragon SoC, 6/8GB RAM and 64/128GB storage options. The camera module is also expected to stay the same.
Reports suggest the upcoming device may even stick to the same price point, thus raising a lot of questions over the rationale behind bringing a new device with the same specs and at the same price point hardly months after the previous flagship's launch.
OnePlus 5 has been the Chinese smartphone maker's most well-received device till date and unlike OnePlus 3, it does not look to be losing steam and remains capable of standing up to on the mighty competition that it faces around it.
As such, the decision to bring a new device that may not resemble a "mid-cycle" incremental upgrade, but rather poses as a new-generation phone altogether may not go down well with buyers who have only recently bought the OnePlus 5.
By bringing a 5T with a new design, OnePlus will virtually sound the death knell for its current generation flagship - a much popular device till date – and in the process anger many of its consumers.
Needless to say, it will also leave new-found fans feeling understandably angered and betrayed, many of whom may decide to stay away from the devices created by the smartphone maker in future.
Omg the rumors are pointing to be true. I feel kinda bad for oneplus 5 owners ???? https://t.co/UOB76esF3e
— Natalie Valbuena (@nat_valbuena) October 24, 2017
Additionally, the device makes little sense for the company too, as it will leave OnePlus with a difficult job in crafting a device – OnePlus 6 – that is worthy of being called a generational upgrade upon its reported launch in early 2018.
If the 5T does move to a bezel-less design that mimics the Galaxy S8's edge-to-edge feel, OnePlus will find it difficult to bring a new smartphone by early 2018 that looks and feels not just different, but also better than the OnePlus 5T. As things stand, failure to do so, may all but cast a shadow of doubt over the success of the OnePlus 6 which despite its expected bump in hardware, will find it extremely difficult to rise out of the shadow of its predecessor.
The decision to bring a new display and a subsequent design change with the OnePlus 5T may thus end up bringing more troubles than joy for Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus which has finally started to find its feet in the market.
Riding high on the success of the 3 and 3T, OnePlus looks all set to repeat 2017's strategy, but it should be wary of the decision it makes as it could easily backfire and end up ruining the gains that the company has made over a successful period.