The OnePlus Z might be the phone maker’s second-ever mid-ranger, following on from 2015’s OnePlus X. Here’s everything we know so far
There are growing signs that OnePlus is preparing to unveil a new mid-range phone called the ‘OnePlus Z’, something the company hasn’t really done since 2015’s OnePlus X. Here’s everything we know so far.
As mentioned, OnePlus has previously dabbled in the mid-range market, but only once. The OnePlus X aimed to instil some of that distinct Oxygen OS-goodness (OnePlus’ Android-based user experience) into a more affordable package than its sole flagship offering at the time, the OnePlus 2.
The standout inclusions were the use of an older flagship-class chipset (the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801), in place of a dedicated mid-range chip and the offering of more exotic materials in its design, with a ceramic-bodied special edition.
The OnePlus X didn’t shake up the market the way the company had hoped but its existence has left OnePlus fans wondering whether the company would ever re-tread the mid-range sector while continuing to release its bread-and-butter flagship devices.
Rumours swell every time the Chinese phone maker preps another device launch, but with the arrival of the new OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro, there’s a greater sense than ever that a new mid-ranger might actually come to pass.
Firstly, there’s was talk of a ‘OnePlus 8 Lite’, which gave rise to the possibility of its mid-range standing. Then the name shifted to the OnePlus Z, which complements the company’s existing naming convention, based on the ‘letters instead of numbers’ approach seen with the OnePlus X.
The firm’s CEO, Pete Lau, has since confirmed that OnePlus will get back to its roots with more affordable phones.
