OnePlus typically announces a couple of smartphones a year but in 2019, it announced two options of the first smartphone - the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro, as well as two options of the "T" version in the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro.
It is therefore expected that the Chinese company will introduce the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro sometime in the first half of 2020.
Here is everything we have heard so far and what we expect to see.
Release date and price
- May 2020
- From around £549
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are expected to arrive sometime in the first half of 2020, likely May. The OnePlus 6 was revealed on 22 May and the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro were revealed on 14 May.
The OnePlus 7T series starts at £549, with the Pro model starting at £699. We would expect the OnePlus 8 series to stay around the same price point, possibly with a slight increase.
Design
- Full screen, punch-hole cameras
- Vertical rear camera systems
- Premium finishes
The OnePlus 7T has a waterdrop notch at the top of its display, like the 7, while the 7T Pro has a pop-up front camera, allowing for an uninterrupted display. Early renders of the OnePlus 8 series suggest OnePlus will opt for a punch-hole design for its next devices though.
We expect the alert slider to remain and we expect a premium build quality too. The OnePlus 7T has a circular camera housing on the rear, while the OnePlus 7T Pro has a vertical housing. Renders suggest both OnePlus 8 models will opt for a vertical camera housing design in the centre of the back.
Display
- Increased resolution
- 90Hz refresh rate
- In-display fingerprint sensor
What we do know for sure is the OnePlus 8 models will both come with 90Hz refresh rate displays, like the OnePlus 7 Pro and both OnePlus 7T devices, as OnePlus said all its future smartphones will offer the faster refresh rate - it may even increase it to 120Hz.
We also expect both OnePlus 8 models to be AMOLED panels with HDR10+ support and an under-display fingerprint sensor. It is likely the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a curved display, while the OnePlus 8 could have a flat display and the OnePlus 8 Pro is also likely to be slightly larger than the standard model.
Hardware
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
We'd expect the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro to offer the same processor as each other and it's likely to be the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 865.
We'd also expect the OnePlus 8 models - or at least the Pro model - to offer 5G capabilities. It might be that this is an option, or it might be that the Pro model only comes in a 5G model.
In terms of other hardware, we don't expect to see microSD support on either OnePlus 8 model but we do expect to see fast charging support.
Cameras
- Same setup as OnePlus 7 Pro
- Possible software improvements
It is not yet clear what camera capabilities the OnePlus 8 series might offer, but renders suggest the Pro model will offer an extra sensor alongside a triple rear camera - likely a 3D depth sensor - compared to the standard model.
We'd also expect some improvements on the OnePlus 7T series as camera quality is a huge topic in the smartphone world at the moment, with all manufacturers placing a big focus on the area in their latest devices.
Early images have also suggested that there will be a single front camera on the regular model, with the Pro getting two front cameras.
Software
- Android 10
The OnePlus 7T series launched on Android 10 out of the box so we're expecting the same treatment for the OnePlus 8 models. We'd also expect the 8 models to get a quick update to Android 11 when it arrives later in 2020.
OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro rumours: What's happened so far?
Here are all the rumours relating to the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro we have heard so far.
20 November 2019: Leaked OnePlus 8 sketches appear to confirm quad camera and hole punch display
Digital sketches of the OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro leaked supporting previous digital renders and indicating a four-camera system on the back, as well as a hole-punch cutout in the display.
11 November 2019: OnePlus 8 Pro prototype spotted in the wild, with hole-punch camera and purple finish
Images surfaced showing what looks to be a OnePlus 8 Pro being used in the wild. The photos show a device with curved glass on the display as well as a dual hole-punch camera, indicating a move away from from notches and pop-up camera mechanisms.
1 November 2019: OnePlus to continue its two phone strategy, suggesting OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro in future
OnePlus CEO Pete Lau told the Times of India in an interview: "I think moving forward we are going to - at least for now - stick with a current strategy by introducing two products; wherein one will be affordable and the other one be priced higher."
18 October 2019: OnePlus 8 Pro leaks, complete with quad camera and hole punch display
Renders of the OnePlus 8 Pro were published by @OnLeaks and 91 Mobiles, showing quite a few similarities to the OnePlus 8 render leak (below). There's a quad camera on the rear, and the report claims the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a 6.65-inch screen.
As with the OnePlus 8 render, there is a punch hole front camera in the top left of the screen - which would suggest the pop up camera of the OnePlus 7T Pro is no more.
4 October 2019: OnePlus 8 has already leaked, and it has a hole-punch camera
Renders of the OnePlus 8 were published by @OnLeaks and CashKaro showing a device with a triple rear camera in a vertical format, along with a punch hole front camera.
The report claimed the OnePlus 8 would be 8.1mm thin and offer a 6.5-inch display. It also looks like the display will be flat.
