Skip to main content

OnePlus 8 rumored to launch in early April, with new Lite version possible

The OnePlus 8 may be here sooner than you think, according to a new rumor. The next OnePlus phone will launch during the second week of April, putting the date somewhere between April 6 to April 10, as it’s unlikely the phone would be unveiled over the weekend, according to an anonymous source speaking to TechRadar India.

Although the exact source is not known, the date wouldn’t be that unlikely, but would definitely be earlier than OnePlus’ previous release schedules. The OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro were shown off for the first time on May 14, 2019, before going on sale at the beginning of June. The OnePlus 6 came along on May 22, 2018, making the possibility of an April 2020 launch much earlier than most would have predicted based on previous experience.

It would also only be barely six months into the life cycle of the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro, with the latter being available to buy since mid-October 2019. A six-month refresh cycle is common for OnePlus, which prefers to incrementally update its new phones every year to ensure you always have the latest available technology available. It’s a strategy that has worked very well for OnePlus, and we doubt it will change for 2020, meaning a OnePlus 8T will likely be along before the end of the year too.

The earlier launch date may not be the only thing different about the OnePlus 8’s introduction. There are rumors the company has three different phones to launch at the event — the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and a new OnePlus 8 Lite. While OnePlus has released three versions of its phones before, if you count the McLaren Edition; this would be the first true new product line for the brand. We’ve seen some leaked images of the OnePlus 8 already, and hints it may include wireless charging.

Introducing a Lite version makes some sense too. OnePlus phones have become more expensive than they once were, and although still tremendous value comparatively, they don’t compete price-wise with the growing competition from Xiaomi, Realme, and others including Honor. The OnePlus 8 Lite may also signal a new partnership with MediaTek, as rumors have stated it will use the chip company’s new 5G Dimensity 1000 chipset, which will help the price remain even more competitive.

OnePlus has not officially confirmed the launch event date for the OnePlus 8, and for now, the April prediction and presence of a OnePlus 8 Lite remain speculation.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
OnePlus is about to put the Google Pixel 8 Pro to shame
The Home Screen on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Two of the brightest smartphone displays on the market are featured on the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the OnePlus Open. However, in the ever-changing world of technology, there is always something better on the horizon.

On Tuesday, October 24, Chinese-based OnePlus and its parent company, Oppo, will announce "a new dawn" for smartphone screens. According to messages posted on Weibo by OnePlus and Digital Chat Station, the announcement is that BOE will manufacture a 3,000-nit panel for smartphones, which could be a game changer for the smartphone market. The soon-to-be-revealed display will offer 1440p resolution and support 2160Hz pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming.

Read more
I tried Android 14 on my OnePlus 11 — and I’m not impressed
OxygenOS with Android 14 beta on OnePlus 11.

Android 14 is in the final stages of development, and its first stable version is set to release later this month. As a result, Android phone brands are starting to unleash previews of their upcoming software upgrades based on the Android 14 beta, allowing select users to try out forthcoming features before other people. After Samsung opened up One UI 6 beta for a limited number of devices earlier this month, OnePlus is giving us a peek at its upcoming OxygenOS 14 beta based on Android 14.

OnePlus' custom Android skin, OxygenOS, received a major overhaul last year after merging the codebase with the ColorOS interface offered by its parent company, Oppo. Our worst fears came true when OxygenOS 13, based on Android 13, was released last year. It received a radical design overhaul that most OnePlus purists deemed a downgrade that made it nearly indistinguishable from Oppo's ColorOS.

Read more
This is OnePlus’ next Android tablet — the OnePlus Pad Go
OnePlus Pad Go official imagery.

OnePlus Pad Go OnePlus

OnePlus started its journey making fast phones that didn't cost an outrageous amount of money — a strategy that soon trickled down to earbuds and subsequently made its way to the tablet segment. The OnePlus Pad arrived in April, serving a sleek slate with a high-resolution 144Hz screen and a top-tier chip for a price lower than Apple’s entry-level iPad.

Read more