OnePlus seems to realize that the price of the OnePlus 7T Pro (and OnePlus 7T) may be a major point of interest as its release date approaches.
The company’s CEO, Pete Lau recently told CNET that its upcoming smartphone will be “more affordable” than its current budget flagship, the OnePlus 7 Pro. While the executive has not shared any further details on what we can expect from the upcoming OnePlus device in terms of pricing, his comment ultimately addresses an interesting aspect of the brand’s recent level up.
With Lau’s comment, we can assume that the 7T Pro may be on an equal playing field with the OnePlus 7 Pro in terms of specs and price. It is virtually unheard of for a manufacturer to decrease the price of an upcoming product after a well-received predecessor.
However, it is possible the OnePlus 7T Pro may retain pricing similar to the OnePlus 7 Pro. The base model of the upcoming device is rumored to feature 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, which is similar to the mid-level model of the older smartphone.
While unorthodox, this could be a strategic move for OnePlus. Stuffing the OnePlus 7 Pro full of new specs has created a new standard that fans may not want to see quickly overthrown by a significantly more expensive model. The OnePlus 7 Pro launched for $669 in May with a host of feature upgrades. Introducing major camera and hardware improvements, the OnePlus 7 Pro wowed fans, despite its $120 price increase.
By the time OnePlus does increase its prices once again, a future model may have enough upgrades to warrant a significant price boost that continues to lag behind the premium flagship sector. Meanwhile, consumers will have solid product options, between the still cost-effective OnePlus 7T Pro and the event cheaper OnePlus 7 Pro.
Lau has also confirmed that the 7T Pro will feature a QHD Plus 90Hz AMOLED display, much like the OnePlus 7 Pro. There is also expected to be a McLaren Edition for 7T Pro, which is a nod to the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition of 2018.