With 2021 looming, there are already many rumors circulating for upcoming devices from brands, including OnePlus. The manufacturer is expected to launch its OnePlus 9 series early in the year, which may include standard and Pro models. There have also been murmurs of a third model called the OnePlus 9E, but a new report now suggests the device may be branded as the OnePlus 9 Lite.

AndroidCentral detailed that the affordable premium model is set to run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, while the standard OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro models are slated to run the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip. While still high end, the older chip would allow the prospective OnePlus 9 Lite to garner a cheaper price while maintaining high-quality specs.

Rumors suggest the OnePlus 9 Lite will take a lot of inspiration from the OnePlus 8T, which released in October. Prospective specs include a high refresh rate (90Hz or 120Hz) AMOLED display and 65W fast wired charging. The OnePlus 9 Lite may also adopt the OnePlus 8T camera setup, which includes a 48-megapixel main lens, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth lens.

There are speculations that the OnePlus 9 Lite may feature a plastic build, which would make it more like the OnePlus Nord devices. While the manufacturer has confirmed that OnePlus Nord models are slated to release in the U.S., they may be marketed as even cheaper than the OnePlus 9 Lite upon release. The device could sell for approximately $599, which would put it in step with other affordable premium smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Google Pixel 5.

The OnePlus 9 Lite, along with the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro may be announced late in the first quarter of 2021.