OnePlus 9 leak shows why OnePlus is flailing in the smartphone wars

OnePlus ix leak shows why OnePlus is flailing in the smartphone wars

(Image credit: Lets Become Digital/Concept Creator)

If any company tin exist said to not care what the competition is doing, it'southward OnePlus. For years it'southward been content to do things its own mode, taking feedback from its loyal fanbase in the process, merely generally interim as though it doesn't matter what the rest of the smartphone industry is doing. Or so it seems from the outside.

Of class, this ways OnePlus phones don't always have the kind of features most people would consider standard. It took until the launch of the OnePlus 7 for OnePlus to include stereo speakers, and it'due south withal not clear what future there is for wireless charging and IP water resistance ratings. Both were included on the OnePlus eight Pro, but vanished when the OnePlus 8T rolled around.

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The latest rumor from long-time OnePlus leaker Max Jambor says that the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with an IP rating, though the regular OnePlus nine will not. If that's the example, it may well be that we see history repeat itself, with wireless charging similarly restricted to the more than expensive handset. The question is, why? Why can't OnePlus introduce a characteristic and stick with it beyond the whole lineup?

Of course, OnePlus has been asked these questions before, and the answers are always the aforementioned. While water resistance has been on their phones for years, the official line has been that IP ratings toll money, which would be passed onto the consumer. Furthermore while an IP rating alleviates the anxiety of water harm, it doesn't mean your warranty will cover it.

Why can't OnePlus introduce a feature and stick with it across the whole lineup?

As for wireless charging, the excuse has been that because it wasn't every bit good or efficient as wired charging, it wasn't fix for OnePlus phones. And in fairness, once it did debut on the OnePlus 8 Pro information technology was quite constructive. Information technology offered the aforementioned charging speed as Warp Charge 30 (50% in thirty minutes), and didn't pump out the excess heat other fast wireless charging standards are known for. It wasn't as fast as the OnePlus 8 Pro'due south wired charging (seventy% charge in xxx minutes), but it was pretty good.

Then the OnePlus 8T skipped them both, and the absenteeism of an 8T Pro meant they IP ratings and wireless charging have been missing since the 8 Pro launched dorsum in April.

The honest truth is that these features are not especially special. They're standard on every other flagship, and even a number of mid-range phones as well. They oasis't quite made information technology to the budget and lower-mid-range devices however, simply that's to be expected. The fact it took OnePlus and then long to introduce them is one thing, merely the fact they're being inconsistently implemented is totally dissimilar.

Only maybe I'thou being unfair with the word inconsistent, because nosotros've only seen one Pro model since IP and wireless charging arrived on a OnePlus device. The OnePlus 9 may have both, and so might the OnePlus 9T Pro and 10 Pro if they ever become made.

Just if that'due south the case information technology ways OnePlus is belongings those things back for the people who will pay for it. Even though, as we've mentioned, IP water resistance and wireless charging are available as standard on countless other devices. All the while OnePlus is championing other loftier-end features that, while nice, are non really necessary. Features like curved screens, high refresh rates and nether-display fingerprint scanners.

Those features can exist peachy additions to whatever telephone, but not at the expense of the nuts. Skipping the simple stuff is non cut it, and it seems contrary to OnePlus'south "Never Settle" mantra. After all, you tin can't give a client the all-time experience possible if you're deliberately withholding certain bones features.

But maybe, once OnePlus figures that out, it tin beginning focussing on bigger and amend things.

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Tom is the Tom's Guide's Automotive Editor, which ways he tin usually exist found genu deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It'southward long way from his days equally editor of Gizmodo U.k., when pretty much everything was on the table. He'south usually found trying to clasp another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very big cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he really needs online.