OnePlus 6 Handset to Sport iPhone X look, Qualcomm 845 Power: Reports

OnePlus is a small Chinese smartphone maker that for the last several years has offered high-end handsets as an alternative to Apple iPhones or Samsung’s Galaxy handsets. While the OnePlus phones haven’t grabbed much market share from the big players, they have impressed mobile industry watchers and buyers with their quality. Its latest model, the OnePlus 6, is expected to debut in the first half of 2018. The handset will reportedly run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 and will include a screen good enough rival some of its top competitors. This slide show will cover the features this smartphone is expected to delivery when it debuts in a few weeks.

According to several reports and even some leaked images, OnePlus will opt for an iPhone-like design in its OnePlus 6. That could mean that the device will have a screen that nearly entirely covers its face. Whether it will include the iPhone’s signature notch housing the earpiece and front-facing camera remains to be seen.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 has already been tipped for the OnePlus 6. In fact, Android-tracking site Android Central recently published benchmark information for the OnePlus 6 running on Qualcomm’s chip, although it’s impossible to verify the accuracy of this report.

According to reports, OnePlus is planning a dual-lens camera array in the OnePlus 6. Those cameras, which will be vertically aligned, could come with a 20-megapixel sensor, along with a 16-megapixel option. On the front, users will find a 20-megapixel sensor optimized for selfies, according to reports.

OnePlus could opt for a 6.3-inch screen in its next flagship smartphone, reports say. However, with a predicted resolution of 2,280-by-1,080 pixels, the smartphone might not offer the same visual quality that users would get in a Galaxy S9 or even iPhone X.

There have been no concrete reports of yet on exactly how long the OnePlus 6 battery will last. However, OnePlus is expected to bundle a large battery pack in the device, which should allow for at least all-day battery life. Additionally, the back panel is expected to be made of glass, which could enable fast wireless charging.

The OnePlus 6 will ship with two biometric functions, most reports say. The chief option, a fingerprint sensor, will be situated on the rear panel and allow users to unlock the handset and access safeguarded data. A face scanner on the front will also be available, but it will likely be a 2D version, which will make it less secure and less reliable than the 3D scanner in the iPhone X.

OnePlus is reportedly planning to bundle Android Oreo 8.1.1. The company’s Oxygen OS will also be bundled with the smartphone and run on top of Oreo. Historically, Oxygen OS has been a lightweight Android skin that generally makes it easier to find critical functions. As long as OnePlus hasn’t made any major changes to Oxygen OS, OnePlus 6 should deliver one of the better custom Android user interfaces.

Reports say the OnePlus 6 will contain a whopping 6GB of RAM, which should support outstanding performance across all apps. However, OnePlus might try to save some cash by putting just 64GB of storage inside the smartphone.

Like other previous OnePlus devices, the OnePlus 6 is expected to be available unlocked and available as a carrier-agnostic option that will run on GSM or CDMA networks enabling buyers to run it on the wireless service provider of their choice.

A slide deck that leaked recently showed OnePlus 6 pricing compared to competitors, such as the iPhone X and Galaxy S9. While it’s impossible to verify its authenticity, it suggested that OnePlus would sell the smartphone for just $749, making it substantially cheaper than its top competitors. The smartphone will launch in the first half of 2018, according to reports, but it could reach the market before the end of April.