It’s no secret that OnePlus is working on a new smartphone set to land at some point this year.
New renders have emerged that allegedly show off this upcoming handset ahead of its official debut.
The images come courtesy of prolific leak site Mobile Dad, showing off a OnePlus-stamped handset.
While the device depicted in both images looks very familiar, it also departs from OnePlus design in a few notable ways.
For instance, the back appears to be flat – not curved – which isn’t in keeping with both the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2.
The phone also looks much slimmer than the OnePlus 2, and appears to have rounded edges.
What’s more, while there’s seemingly no front-facing camera, there are two cameras set alongside each other on the back.
It also looks like a fingerprint scanner is embedded into the rear of the device. That’s in contrast to the OnePlus 2, where the sensor is underneath the home button on the front.
The general shape of the handset, the speaker grilles, and USB-C port all bear resemblance to the OnePlus 2 however.
The rear of the device also has the distinctive OnePlus branding in its usual central position.
We should note that no specific source is given for these renders, so take this report with a pinch of salt.
While the renders may be official, they could equally have been created as a hoax.
Related: Best Android Smartphones 2015
Nevertheless, we know a handset is approaching, as back in August OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei revealed the company’s third handset would land in 2015.
Pei has also noted that the device will not be the OnePlus 3. That’s probably wise, as the OnePlus 2 has only recently launched.
Instead, most rumours point to the next handset being a ‘Mini’ spin-off, designed to cater for those for whom a 5.5-inch screen is simply too large.
Perhaps OnePlus will follow Apple’s strategy and use a 4.7-inch form factor – just like the new iPhone 6S.
Would you be interested in a smaller OnePlus device? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
