OnePlus Confirms 'More Affordable' Smartphones Coming Soon

OnePlus is working on a new line of “more affordable” smartphones that will be released soon, its CEO confirmed.

Pete Lau, OnePlus' chief executive officer, announced via a post in the OnePlus forums that the company is working on a new line of affordable smartphones designed to meet the needs of its users without emptying their wallets.

OnePlus is once known as a company that makes top-tier smartphones and sells them for low prices compared to the competition. The company gained a reputation for making top-of-the-line specs accessible for those who cannot afford to spend top dollar on other expensive devices, such as Apple's iPhone 11 Pro models and Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 series.

Its recent flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 8 Pro, however, sells for prices starting at $899, which effectively puts it in the same price range as that of the current iPhones and Galaxy Note models. This price tag places OnePlus' latest and greatest yet in a place far away from the average budget-conscious consumer's hands.

Thankfully, OnePlus noticed that and has committed to working on cheaper smartphones. Lau said in his post that the company knows that consumers are looking for affordable smartphones in the sea of expensive flagships and has announced that they will be “bringing the premium, flagship experience” to “a new, more affordable smartphone product line.”

“Never Settle has always been at the core of OnePlus. For more than 6 years, that has meant working hard to always deliver the best experience for flagship smartphone users. However, as we’ve grown together with our community, we know that there are many people who want a really solid smartphone that meets their everyday needs, and for a more accessible price,” Lau wrote.

Lau said the new product line will be created by a team led by Paul Yu, OnePlus' head of mobile development department. The team has been working on the new product line for a few months now. The new devices will be introduced first in Europe and India. The company will also look at bringing these new handsets to North America in the future.

The CEO didn't give any specific details regarding the new product line, but provided to a link to an Instagram account named “onepluslitezthing,” likely indicating the new devices' names.