The Next OnePlus Flagship Could Be Available at a US Carrier

It’s not been too long since OnePlus launched the OnePlus 6. The company is, obviously, working on its next flagship already. At MWC Shanghai, OnePlus CEO and founder Pete Lau revealed some of the company’s plans in an interview with PCMag.

Lau revealed that OnePlus is working to produce its first 5G smartphone next year. The firm is apparently working with US carriers and Qualcomm to make its first 5G phone, which will come out at around the same time as 5G being available for the first time in the United States. Details about the next OnePlus flagship isn’t known as of yet as you would expect, but 5G support could be a huge step forward for the company.

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Not only will it mean that the phone will get 5G support, but it could also mean the next OnePlus flagship being compatible with more carriers because of Qualcomm’s chip — right now, it only works with AT&T and T-Mobile. More importantly, 5G support could pave the way for OnePlus phones at US carriers. The company has been selling its phones online for years in the United States, although it started selling some of its recent flagships through carriers in Europe like O2 in the UK.

By bringing 5G support in the United States and partnering with a carrier, the company’s brand has a huge opportunity to go mainstream in the United States. Lau isn’t saying if the company has started talking with US carriers for a potential partnership, but he’s confident about a consistent, bloatware-free experience will continue to be available on its phones even if carriers try pre-install bloatware.

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Conversation 4 comments

  • shortwb31417

    29 June, 2018 - 11:41 am

    <p>Should we read anything into the fact that the OnePlus 6 included LTE Bands 66 and 71, which might suggest T-Mobile is in the discussion? </p>

  • UbelhorJ

    Premium Member
    29 June, 2018 - 12:57 pm

    <p>As long as they keep selling them directly (as if they wouldn't). No one knows how to ruin a good phone quite like US carriers.</p>

  • ponsaelius

    29 June, 2018 - 7:14 pm

    <p>OnePlus is currently a global phone. Works on all global carriers. For the last couple of decades the USA has stood out with their largest carriers not using global standards. It has been the way that US carriers keep control and stop direct sales of mobile devices. From their perspective it is a great idea. </p><p><br></p><p>The emergence of 5G may break that hold. They know that. Right now they will be working hard to make sure they keep a grip on the US consumer and prevent people buying phones they have not approved. </p>

    • evox81

      Premium Member
      01 July, 2018 - 4:08 am

      <p><a href="#287140"><em>In reply to ponsaelius:</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">I suppose this depends on how you define "global standards". If you're talking about technology, AT&amp;T &amp; T-Mobile use GSM/HSPA/LTE, which is decidedly a global standard. If you're talking about spectrum, that's not really something the carriers control. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"><span class="ql-cursor"></span>The factors that affect available spectrum really don't have anything to do with the carriers themselves.</span> US carriers had to work with the spectrum available to them, which happened to be different than what was available in other regions. Plus the US is hardly alone in this problem.</p>

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