Skip to main content

OnePlus might cave to pressure and add wireless charging to the OnePlus 8 Pro

Whip out your charging pads, because the OnePlus 8 Pro may have support for wireless charging. According to a cryptic tweet from leaker Max J., OnePlus’ historical criticism of wireless charging is weakening, and the Chinese smartphone manufacturer may be adding wireless charging in its next major phone release.

Details in the tweet are sparse, and it chiefly consists of a single image of a phone on a charging pad and the caption “Charge like a pro.”

Credit: @Samsung_News_

You can easily be forgiven for not immediately recognizing the device as the rumored OnePlus 8 Pro. After all, how many phones these days have a hole-punch display and a bezel-less design? Max lays a small clue in the caption with the mention of “pro,” but the design similarities to past Samsung phones and the addition of Samsung’s own wireless charging indicator confuse the matter somewhat.

As Max himself says, the image is for illustrative purposes only, but it’s still a rather confusing choice. Still, the design matches past leaks of the OnePlus 8, lending some strength to the idea this could a feature on the OnePlus 8 Pro at the very least.

OnePlus’ next phone range is expected to jump on the hole-punch bandwagon with a new design that also includes a quad-lens rear camera. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 is also expected, as are the usual bumps in specifications. It’s always worth keeping an eye on OnePlus’ RAM numbers, as the manufacturer has often leaned toward the upper edge, being among the first to ship phones with 10GB of RAM and above. Interestingly, OnePlus may ship three phones this year, with rumors describing a OnePlus 8 Lite.

OnePlus has traditionally avoided wireless charging, with CEO Pete Lau having previously defended the position by pointing out that OnePlus’ proprietary Warp Charge is fast enough to make wireless charging pointless. But of course, it’s worth pointing out wireless charging isn’t about speed — it’s about convenience. Popping a phone down on a pad is much easier than searching for a charging cable, and it’s the preferred method of charging for many. With OnePlus continuing to court the flagship market by offering high specs for lower prices, adopting wireless charging is an inevitability.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Jansen
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
The OnePlus Watch 2 is the Wear OS smartwatch I’ve been waiting for
Person wearing OnePlus Watch 2 with a green strap on their left wrist.

The OnePlus Watch 2 -- the company's first Wear OS watch -- has entered a market that Samsung dominates. However, OnePlus' popularity as a smartphone brand can be expected to bring small, yet meaningful changes that benefit not only OnePlus users, but all of the Wear OS segment in general.

For almost a decade, Samsung and Apple have predominantly been the default options if you want a smartwatch that is actually useful and goes beyond flashy features. With Samsung shifting gears and migrating from its own Tizen OS to the (relatively) more universal Wear OS platform and Google releasing its own Pixel Watch after struggling with an identity crisis in the smartwatch world, the platform has much more traction than it did a few years ago. As OnePlus carves its way into the segment, it has the opportunity to entice people who don't wish to live within Samsung's limitations when using a Galaxy Watch with another brand's phone.

Read more
5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max lying on the ground surrounded by leaves.

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the top choices for a premium smartphone. It offers the latest and greatest from Apple, including the new A17 Pro chip, a fantastic camera system, a lightweight titanium body, the Action button, and USB-C charging. It's a great package.

But there’s no doubt about it — the iPhone 15 Pro Max is also quite expensive, with a starting price of $1,200. It’s also not the only option out there if you want the best smartphone on the market, especially if you aren’t particularly invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Read more
Don’t buy the OnePlus 12 — 6 reasons to wait for the OnePlus 13
OnePlus 12 in hand with OnePlus 12R in the background.

OnePlus 12 Prakhar Khanna / Digital Trends

OnePlus has made a significant name for itself in recent years with some of the best Android phones out there. Its most recent endeavor, the OnePlus 12, is a fantastic flagship for anyone who wants something that's not just another Samsung Galaxy or Apple iPhone.

Read more