No-show OnePlus 8 Lite allegedly still on the way
The cheap OnePlus 8 phone may be real, only delayed
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There’s another new OnePlus phone on the way – in addition to theOnePlus 8andOnePlus 8 Pro– but it’s reportedly been delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The cheaperOnePlus 8 Litewas heavily rumored as a lower-spec version of the flagships at an affordable price. A previousrumorsuggested the 8 Lite would actually be called the ‘OnePlus Z’ and would be debuting later in the year.
The latest information came in atweetby noted leaker @OnLeaks: when asked why that ‘third phone’ hadn’t shown up at the OnePlus 8 line reveal event, the leaker wrote that its reveal been postponed due to ‘Coronavirus situation.’
According to my sources, that model was initially planned to be unveiled along with the #OnePlus8 series during yesterday’s event but has been postponed (at least to upcoming summer) due to #CoronaVirus situation…April 16, 2020
OnePlus declined to comment as part of its policy not to comment on rumors.
Presumably, by ‘Coronavirus situation,’ @OnLeaks is implying how much the viral outbreak has disrupted production in China, which has raised concerns over the release of phones and devices slated to come out later this year. While theiPhone 12andPS5andXbox Series Xaresupposedly safe, it’s unclear if that could change for either, or if other device releases could be affected.
Further speculation – take it with salt
The leak could also be suggesting that the market wouldn’t support a OnePlus 8 Lite, if that is indeed the version that nearly came out. February’sslumping phone saleswere likely caused by outbreak-related uncertainty, as some consumers tightened their belts and avoided big purchases in light of reduced incomes or layoffs. Launching three phones at once may have been overkill.
Or, as we learned with theiPhone XR, a cheaper model might have cannibalized sales of the pricier OnePlus phones. We don’t know much about the OnePlus 8 Lite, but given the standard OnePlus 8 price was $200 / £200 / around AU$400 cheaper than the OnePlus 8 Pro, it’s possible that the 8 Lite would have been proportionally cheaper than the standard OnePlus 8 – and siphoned consumer spending away from the higher-end versions.
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That’s all speculation, of course, so we’ll wait until we hear more about the OnePlus 8 Lite to make more educated guesses.
David is now a mobile reporter at Cnet. Formerly Mobile Editor, US for TechRadar, he covered phones, tablets, and wearables. He still thinks the iPhone 4 is the best-looking smartphone ever made. He’s most interested in technology, gaming and culture – and where they overlap and change our lives. His current beat explores how our on-the-go existence is affected by new gadgets, carrier coverage expansions, and corporate strategy shifts.
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