Rumors about the OnePlus 6 are beginning to hit the interwebs, and why wouldn’t they. The next smartphone from OnePlus will be coming out in the first half of next year, possibly between April-June 2018, according to their yearly release cycle (not considering the ‘T’ editions like 3T and 5T, which makes it a 6-monthly routine).
The company released the OnePlus 5T recently with a bigger display, thinner bezels, and improved cameras. However, it still lacks a few features such as a higher resolution QHD display, water resistance, and more — which matter, because we are looking up to OnePlus 6 to bridge these gaps.
We’re easily in the begin stages of the whole OnePlus 6 rumors thing, but it will definitely only get better from here. That’s not to say we haven’t got anything interesting yet, as you would soon find out below.
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So, let’s see what features OnePlus could give us with the 6.
Design
- An under-the-glass fingerprint sensor could be awesome, but isn’t likely!
- Face ID possible? Nope. Face Unlock is the answer.
As per the rumors, the OnePlus 6 would have a similar design as the OnePlus 5T, with a taller bezel-less display. And it is possible that the company might include either some facial recognition tech like that on the iPhone X or they may have an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Expect some bezel on the top of the device, where all the cameras and sensors would go. OnePlus CEO had asked Reddit users on the preferred place for a fingerprint sensor, which is why we believe that there could be an under-the-display sensor as not only it looks amply exciting, and man, totally futuristic, but also easily the best place for a fingerprint sensor.
As regards something like Face ID, because that’s a huge feature now. Well, OnePlus already has something similar, and it’s your old good Face unlock. We have seen this on OnePlus 5T, where it works solidly well, and it is expected to be given to OnePlus 5 users too as an OTA. So, yes, it’s definitely on for the OnePlus 6, although we won’t be surprised if this thing is only enhanced to next level by the OnePlus. But it won’t feature extra sensors that Apple’s Face ID needs. Which is fine, because it doesn’t need one.
Even though the under-the-glass is real, and is expected to soon hit the market, it hasn’t yet. So it kinda feels too-much-too-soon for a OnePlus device, but we wouldn’t want to rule it out for something like Galaxy S9 where device’s pricing and Samsung’s expertise could make it happen. Even though there doubts about that, too. on the same lines, nope for a Face ID, too.
Display
- About time for that Quad HD display, OnePlus!
The display is bound to get an upgrade, hopefully. Yep, it’s surely the most long-time wanted feature users have asked from OnePlus.
The company has kept the full HD 1080p display on all its flagship for the past two years, even when it looked they might offer the Quad HD display that their competitors offer. We expect the OnePlus 6 — at least the higher variant — to sport a 2K screen so that it supports VR better because that’s where you really need that kind of high-res display panel.
Hardware (Processor, RAM, and storage)
- Snapdragon 845 chipset seems a given.
- 64/128GB or 64/256GB storage?
- 6/8GB or standard 8GB RAM?
As for hardware, you can expect the OnePlus 6 to come with the Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6/8GB of RAM, 64/128/256GB of storage. It will retain the dual camera setup and also the headphone jack, we guess.
As 6GB RAM and 64GB are not inferior components of a specsheet of a base model, even for a flagship-killer device OnePlus 6 would be, we hope OnePlus avoids an 8GBRAM/128GB storage model here, and thus keeps the pricing lower. Also tag along full HD display, only for the sake of lower price.
However, give us a pricier model, as always, that sports 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and Quad HD display, and it’s easily the best variant combo ever, with Snapdragon 845 powered both variants. No? What do you think?
Camera
- Give us OIS, OnePlus!
- f/1.6 aperture, too, please!
- Dual-pixel tech (as in Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8)
In the camera department, you can expect the same dual-camera setup but with one important added features. And that’s optical image stabilization. The OnePlus 5 and 5T have really good cameras, but lack of OIS or even EIS makes them average in low-light conditions. A recent update did bring EIS to the phone, but only for video recording.
Even though the OnePlus 5T had better lenses, the photos still didn’t come out as good as we hoped. So that’s definitely something to be improved upon.
We also hope OnePlus could utilize the dual pixel tech that Google’s Pixel 2 and Samsung’s Galaxy S8 feature. The whole reason behind the Pixel 2 snapping best Portrait pics compared to any other smartphone is because they use dual pixel tech and Google’s super-duper algorithm with that — although the latter has more say in this, it’s the former that makes it possible.
Battery
- Wireless charging? Probably not.
- Slightly bigger battery, probably yes.
The battery performance of the OnePlus 5T is great, and it will likely remain the same or get a little better. We don’t expect the OnePlus 6 to have wireless charging either, as their Dash Charge technology can charge the phone much faster than wireless.
As OnePlus has to keep pricing lower, we don’t see this happening for that reason, too. And you’re that eager for wireless charging either, right? OnePlus’s customers mind budget, it’s not a brainer, so when you think of the extra investment in a Wireless charger by users, it becomes a lot less appealing.
A larger battery will help in improving the battery life of the smartphone, but it may not go up by that much. The current 5T has a 3300 mAh battery, so we can expect a 3400-3500mAh battery.
Software
- Android 8.1 is a given
- OxygenOS 6.0, too, probably
- Update to Android P November 2018 (based on Android Oreo for OnePlus 3/3T/5)
In terms of software, the OnePlus phones have always given users an almost stock Android feel with the OxygenOS. And that will continue, with the OnePlus 6 coming with Android 8.1 Oreo most likely.
The phone will not support Project Treble, as OnePlus has already made that clear.
Though, OnePlus would surely add a few more of its own features to OxygenOS. Speaking of which, we could see OxygenOS 6.0 on OnePlus 6. What features OnePlus 6 gives us would very interesting to see.
Rest of the stuff
- IP68 water/dust resistance could arrive, finally!
- Front-facing dual speakers, probably
We also would want OnePlus to include front-facing stereo speakers, and water/dust resistance (another big-time missing feature on OnePlus devices). Oh, and not to forget, a microSD slot for expandable storage.
OnePlus 6 release date
- Announcement in March followed by release in April is being reported
As we’ve mentioned earlier, if OnePlus decides to follow their normal release cycle, then the new OnePlus 6 should arrive somewhere between April and June 2018. Recent rumors have pointed to March release, but we that’s about the unveiling, followed by April release. Even April release would be two months earlier than OnePlus 5’s June release.
Now, the pricing, which is pretty important to OnePlus. Ever since the beginning, the best selling point of the phone is its competitive pricing. Over the years, OnePlus has increased the pricing, but the latest OnePlus 5T is still half the price of the Galaxy Note 8, and still pretty good.
OnePlus 6 price
- Current $499 for base model looks likely to stay, but shouldn’t be increased
- Premium model could be about $579-ish
At $499 starting price, the OnePlus 5T doesn’t exactly look like the budget flagship its predecessors were. But we don’t see it coming down. In fact, if OnePlus is able to add a few features like IP68/IP67 water resistance, slightly bigger battery, better camera, etc. besides the SD845 chipset, 6GB RAM, full HD display and 64GB storage, it’s a win!
Though, we would like a full-flagship sort-of device too, a premium handset that gets us Quad HD display, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and all other addition the to base model that we discussed right above, for $579 approx., it’s still good.