5 reasons why OnePlus 5 may be worth buying
The launch of one of the most anticipated phones of 2017, OnePlus 5 has been confirmed by Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus. It will be unveiled in New York on June 20, but India will have to wait longer as the phone will find its way into the country's market two days later.
OnePlus' latest comes less than a year after the 3T's launch and is expected to carry forward the legacy of being a flagship killer. Much like the 3T, which packed high-end specs including a Full-HD AMOLED display, 6GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB of internal storage and a 16-megapixel OIS camera, the OnePlus 5 should be a great smartphone at an affordable price.
Ahead of the phone's launch, we take a look at why the upcoming smartphone could well be worth the hype.
What's under the hood?
The Chinese smartphone maker is known for leaking news updates about its upcoming phones. Its CEO Pete Lau often takes to social media to tease users with information about new releases. As such there is enough news already about what the phone will be packing under its sleek hood.
The OnePlus 5 will be equipped with Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line 64-bit Octa-core SoC – the Snapdragon 835. It is the chipmaker's current flagship and is found in phones like Sony Xperia XZ and the US variant of the Samsung S8.
#OnePlus5 is coming soon and we couldn't be more excited that it's powered by #Snapdragon 835. ✋ https://t.co/Q4srf6LrqC pic.twitter.com/DP41b2jtcq
— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) May 24, 2017
The dragon will be paired with at least 6GB of RAM with 64/128GB of storage memory. The company might even release a third premium variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage memory. The battery is also rumoured to get a slight bump from the one found inside the 3T.
Reports suggest a 3600mAh or 4000mAh pack could power the upcoming phone.
The display conundrum
Coming to the display, the device is also expected to sport a 5.5-inch panel at the front. However, its exact resolution still remains a matter of debate. Most leaks suggest a Quad-HD (2560 x 1440) panel for the phone, but Android Headlines claims the OnePlus 5 will come with the same 1080p display found on the 3T.
What about the camera?
OnePlus has already announced its plans to partner with DxO to bring substantially-improved cameras to its upcoming flagship. It is also upgrading the hardware on the upcoming flagship to improve the camera's performance. If reports are to be believed, the new phone will feature an impressive dual camera setup at the back, similar to the ones found on phones like the iPhone 7 Plus, the LG G6 and the Micromax Dual 5.
However, what will set it apart is the rumoured addition of a dual camera set-up in the front.
OnePlus 5's dual camera may have been leaked by OnePlus themselves https://t.co/kHNfNajycT pic.twitter.com/Ow9ARSbEg5
— Phandroid (@Phandroid) June 7, 2017
The dual camera setups at the front and the back will help the phone click pictures to rival other flagships in the market.
Design
In terms of the design, leaks and renders point towards a phone that draws inspiration from the earlier phones of the OnePlus family. The phone is expected to bring a metal unibody design with the fingerprint scanner in the front. As per a report published in India Today, the OnePlus 5 will have a metal frame made of brushed aluminium with round edges.
Price
With market leading specs, and dual camera setups on the front and the back, the OnePlus 5 could be launched at a significantly higher price point than the 3T. This will also make sense since OnePlus has consistently increased the price of their flagships every year. The OnePlus One was launched at Rs 21,999 in India. This went up to Rs 29,999 for 64GB and Rs 34,999 for the 128GB variant of the OnePlus 3T.
Taking into consideration the increased cost of components and the company's pricing strategy for its previous phones, it is safe to assume that the OnePlus 5 will retail for a price higher than the 3T. As such, the phone could see itself being priced closer to the Rs 40,000-mark come June 22.
At the first glance, the price might look a bit steep, but compare it to competition in the market, the OnePlus 5 at the price and specs on offer would still represent a fantastic bargain.