Exciting OnePlus 8 Series Leaks

The OnePlus 8 series looks as though it will be a selection of some of the most exciting smartphones to be released in 2020. All you need to refer to is the OnePlus 7 Pro, which was last year’s flagship that wowed tech enthusiasts and set the bar for high refresh rates. It seems as though OnePlus will have something up their sleeve in 2020 as well.

When Is the OnePlus 8 Series Launch?

OnePlus have confirmed in a tweet that the unveiling of the OnePlus 8 series online will be held on Tuesday the 14th of April. You can follow the action from home by joining the livestream here. It will kick off at 4pm, so make sure you do not miss it.

What’s New in the OnePlus 8 Series?

There are rumours being spread that OnePlus are gathering to launch three devices, which are the OnePlus 8, the OnePlus 8 Pro and the OnePlus Z. The latter might be some sort of an iteration of a Lite model. It remains to be seen what features of the OnePlus Z will be sacrificed to achieve a more affordable price point.

Design

OnePlus 8 render. Image: Winfuture

Leaks and renders are flying around, and despite them not featuring any OnePlus Concept One looks, we still should expect a few slight changes to the design of the OnePlus Series 8.

Early renders suggest that the rear camera array is going to be located vertically in the centre, and that OnePlus opted in for a punch-hole selfie camera in the top left corner. This means no more pop-up cameras or waterdrop notches as was previously seen on the OnePlus 7 and 7T series.

Both the 8 and the 8 Pro are expected to have curved displays that will “wrap” around the edges. It is also likely that the budget version of the trio will have a flat screen instead.

A premium build quality is to be expected throughout. Waterproofing on OnePlus phones was not a feature in previous generations, but this year we believe it is going to change. Also, early renders hint at eye-catching finishes in Onyx Black, Galactic Green and Interstellar Glow.

Display

Image: OnePlus

There will be no going back to 60Hz, so 90Hz refresh rate is a minimum you should expect from the OnePlus 8 Series. OnePlus previously showed off 120Hz refresh rate technology, and based on a promotional video posted by OnePlus, it is safe to say that at least the OnePlus 8 Pro will have this feature.

The panel is likely to be HDR+ compatible and OnePlus say that the performance of the display panel will be boosted by TV tech.

Rumoured Camera and Hardware Specs

How Much Will the OnePlus 8 Series Cost?

OnePlus 8 display panel. Image: Winfuture

In an interview with Business Insider, Pete Lau, the CEO of OnePlus hinted that the OnePlus8 Series will not have a four-figure price tag. This is revealing as two of its rivals, Samsung and Huawei, crossed the £1000 line with their recent flagship lineups.

We expect a slight increase in prices for the OnePlus 8 series, with the cheapest model starting at around £499 and the Pro model to retail in the region of £800.

Our Early Verdict

If the OnePlus CEO says the OnePlus 8 Series will have the cheapest 5G phones on the market, then it might be the beginning of more sensible price points for 5G-ready smartphones from other manufacturers, which is a welcome change. It will be interesting to hear what other performance optimising features OnePlus have prepared for the new lineup. Make sure you tune in on Tuesday the 14th of April at 4pm to learn more about the trio.