HIGHLIGHTS
OnePlus 5 global unveiling on June 20, India launch on June 22
The next OnePlus flagship is likely to come with 8GB of RAM
It also said to be the most expensive OnePlus smartphone yet
It's 2017, so I doubt OnePlus needs an introduction anymore, but let's do it one more time just for fun. OnePlus, an offshoot of big Chinese phone maker Oppo, has been garnering global hype and adulation for its "flagship killer" phones since its first device launched in 2014. Taking a minimalist approach to both price and Android augmentations, the company has been delivering some of the best-value smartphones in recent times, and last year's OnePlus 3 and 3T models were easily among my top recommendations. If your budget doesn't stretch as far as a Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S, or Apple iPhone, I'd point you in OnePlus' direction without hesitation.
The OnePlus 5 launch is little over a week away, so the company is trying to keep the hype going for the smartphone with teasers on social media. But thanks to a flurry of leaks, we already know what to expect from the next OnePlus flagship. The global unveiling of the smartphone is scheduled for June 20, while a separate OnePlus 5 India launch will happen on June 22. The upcoming OnePlus 5 is widely expected to sport dual cameras at the back, and come with iPhone 7 Plus-like setup which is likely to be the biggest highlight. Some of the other notable features rumoured include Snapdragon 835 processor, and 8GB of RAM. Let's look at what we know so far.
A GOOD FINGERPRINT READER
Table stakes for any smartphone since the latter half of 2015, the fingerprint reader has gone through many variations and iterations, and it has almost inevitably been spoiled by companies overthinking the whole thing.
OnePlus 5 design
There has been a lot of talk around the design of the new OnePlus 5 but most turned out to be false after the company gave everyone a glimpse of the phone in an official teaser recently. From the back, the smartphone looks like iPhone 7 Plus, with the dual rear camera setup to boot. Unlike rumours that claimed vertical dual-rear camera setup, the OnePlus 5 is confirmed to sport horizontally placed sensors at the back. The phone is also likely to sport a slim profile, and is said to be "slimmest flagship smartphone" from the company. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau on Weibo had teased that the OnePlus 5 will be the slimmest flagship smartphone yet though it wasn't clear whether he meant the slimmest among all the flagship smartphones out there or the slimmest among the OnePlus flagships.
A WINNING PRICE
This is where I'm starting to worry that OnePlus might perhaps give in to the same temptation as everyone else. The company's phones have always been about flagship quality at sub-flagship prices, but when I look at the leaked image of the new 5, with its dual cameras and iPhone-esque aesthetic, I'm starting to suspect OnePlus might be looking to enter the premium price range. And I think that would be a mistake.
