Editorial: Why The OnePlus 5T Won’t Exist

Whenever there’s a new OnePlus device coming in, the Media goes into a frenzy. We can’t complain though, it’s a fan favourite and gets everyone excited. However, more recently, rumours of a OnePlus 5T have started surfacing, as a successor to the OnePlus 5, which is hardly 5 months old. So here are some reasons (and facts) as to why I don’t think that the OnePlus 5T exists….

History lesson

Before we dive in the pool of OnePlus 5T stories, we should go back and understand why the OnePlus 3T was made, back in 2016. The OP3 was a very good phone and gave tough competition to the likes of the S7 and the G5. It was pretty much a winner for the first half of 2016. Things got even easier with the demise of the Note 7. However, towards the end of 2016, we had a new contender in the flagship space: The Google Pixel. Built with the latest Snapdragon 821, and software capabilities like no other, the Pixel was becoming the next best Android, coming in at around $800. The entry of the Pixel was a big hit to the perception of the OnePlus 3. So the OnePlus 3T was OnePlus’s answer as a Pixel-killer for just $440. It had the same specifications and improved camera optics and a 13% bigger battery, yet being almost $250 cheaper. Unsurprisingly, the 3T was a success! However, there was one small problem. OnePlus being a very fan-focussed company, the perception of its customers mattered a lot to them. After the surprise launch of the 3T, all OnePlus 3 owners felt betrayed as their device couldn’t be called the latest in just 4 months! In a bubble, the OnePlus 3T was an amazing phone, but sadly it left a bitter taste in the mouth of the OP3 users.

OnePlus 5T in 2017? No, Thanks

Fast forward 12 months, the OnePlus 5 is doing really well and is being loved by everyone. yes, there might be better phones around, like the Note 8 and the Pixel 2, but the distinction between them isn’t as easy, and they are vying for a totally different pie of the market.

If we go back, the OnePlus 3T offered the following over the OnePlus 3, with an increase of $40:

• Snapdragon 821, instead of Snapdragon 820
• 16MP front camera, up from 8MP
• 3,400mAh battery, from 3,000mAh
• A 128GB storage option (additional $40)

These made the OnePlus 3T a no-brainer over the 3. But, when you try to compare the alleged OnePlus 5T with the 5, the only major difference would be an 18:9 Display, as the industry trend for 2017 has been…. The core reason why the T series existed is absent.

• There is no new processor in the market after the Snapdragon 835. The flagship phones that came out in the start of 2017 had the same chip, as the phones coming out this month.
• There isn’t much room for camera improvement on the OnePlus 5, as the current crop of Dual cameras is pretty good.
• A bigger battery seems unlikely, as a bigger (taller) display would leave lesser space inside the body for a bigger power pack.
• Having a major change like an 18:9 Display on an incremental update phone would leave nothing to wait for, on the next flagship (OnePlus 6?). Every OnePlus flagship has had a 5.5″ 1080p display, so breaking that trend would take a lot

There’s very little the OnePlus 5 does wrong, leaving very little room for improvement on the 5T. Having a new phone would mean a diluted lineup, leading to issues with Customer service, availability of parts, and most importantly, Software updates. In return, they get very little in terms of higher sales or newer market segments. And of course, having to deal with disgruntled OP5 owners.

If we take a closer look at the rumours, then the renders seem to be a morphed Oppo F5, with the fingerprint scanner moving to the back. OnePlus has done enough customer survey that they know that there is a strong preference for the scanner to be on the front.

So that’s what I had to say, based on my knowledge of the company and the industry. And, OnePlus has already closed shut down the rumours of the existence of the 5T, making this debate a lot easier….. So what do you think? Do you agree with my rationale? Let’s discuss! Share this article with those who seem to be rather worried/excited for the OnePlus 5T!