Skip to main content

OnePlus 8 to arrive April 15, but Robert Downey Jr. already has his hands on one

The OnePlus 8 could become the first phone to get a celebrity endorsement before it’s even been announced, as today has seen a double-whammy of OnePlus news. First came the (apparently) mistakenly posted images that show world-famous actor Robert Downey Jr. holding what looks a lot like the OnePlus 8 Pro — then, we got confirmation the new phone range’s launch date is likely to be Wednesday, April 15.

The release date news comes from noted leaker Max J., who mocked up a simple banner image proclaiming “15th April.” While he didn’t confirm this was the leaked announcement date, the style of the image echoes past event announcements, so it’s pretty clear what he was shooting for. Not to mention, the date itself is broadly in lone with rumors from last week OnePlus would aim for an early April reveal.

Credit: @MaxJmb

The second piece of news is just as exciting, even though it doesn’t reveal anything new about the new phone. Originally posted on photographer Sam Jones’s Instagram account, it shows the Avengers actor holding a device that looks an awful lot like the rumored OnePlus 8 Pro. Only the rear side of the device can be seen, but a centrally placed camera module is obvious, along with a series of sensors running parallel to the left of the module.

Credit: Sam Jones Pictures

The images were taken down from the Instagram account quickly, leading many to assume they had been mistakenly uploaded. However, the images had already been seized by a number of people, including a Robert Downey Jr. fan account. The hot money is on these being from an upcoming advertisement for the new phone, and having been uploaded accidentally — but there’s a lot to be said about this being an intentional leak by OnePlus itself.

A OnePlus prototype phone was shown in one of OnePlus’ own videos in January, most likely as an Easter egg of sorts. There’s no evidence that OnePlus is behind the release of this image — yet — but it certainly doesn’t hurt the hype surrounding the new phone to show RDJ holding it before a reveal.

If these leaks are correct, we’ll be seeing the OnePlus 8 range soon. Echoing other manufacturers, rumors say OnePlus will introduce three new models this year — a midrange OnePlus 8 Lite, a OnePlus 8, and a higher-powered OnePlus 8 Pro. We may even see OnePlus include wireless charging in the OnePlus 8 Pro, something it has previously insisted wasn’t necessary with the speed of its wired charging. Whatever happens, we’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date on the latest as it happens.

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 &…
Can the OnePlus 11 beat the Pixel 7 in a tough camera test? I found out
The OnePlus 11 and Pixel 7's camera modules.

The OnePlus 11 is the latest phone to feature camera maker Hasselblad’s color tuning and other software tweaks, and we were impressed with the photos the phone takes in our review.

But that’s when it’s viewed mostly in isolation -- how does it perform when it’s put up against the industry’s best? To find out, we gave the OnePlus 11 a seriously tough challenge by pitting it against the Google Pixel 7, one of our favorite camera phones.
OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 7: camera specs
Google Pixel 7 (left) and OnePlus 11 Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Read more
The OnePlus 11 Concept steals the Nothing Phone’s best trick
OnePlus shows off a OnePlus 11 with rear LED lighting.

OnePlus has teased a new special concept phone based on the OnePlus 11. The Oppo subbrand highlighted a slew of LEDs around the back of the phone as a standout feature. The LEDs were reminiscent of the approach used by Nothing, another phone brand built by former OnePlus CEO Pete Lau.

The company sent out a teaser of its concept phone showing off what appeared to be LED lightning around the back in a very striking image. “The images show the engineering breakthroughs of the OnePlus 11 Concept by highlighting the icy blue pipelines which run through the entire back of the phone, almost like OnePlus 11 Concept has its own series of blood vessels. OnePlus 11 Concept’s pipelines are housed inside a bold and futuristic unibody glass design inspired by the calm stillness and vast power of a glacial lake,” OnePlus said, as reported by The Verge.

Read more
How I learned to love the OnePlus 11’s controversial software
The OnePlus 11's screen.

When I picked up the OnePlus 10 Pro, I missed the old OxygenOS immediately. Gone was the fluid and feature-light software that made OnePlus phones such a great experience, replaced by the heavy, slower, and more annoying ColorOS-inspired software few liked as much. I liked it even less on the OnePlus 10T, and I wasn’t the only one.

I really like the OnePlus 11, but I wasn’t expecting to like OxygenOS 13 much. My early impression of ColorOS 13 was good, but I didn’t trust the newly Oppo-ified OnePlus enough to think it would carry over. But after using, and loving, the OnePlus 11 for several weeks, I no longer feel any animosity towards OxygenOS. Have I simply become used to it, or has the software actually got better?
What’s the problem with OxygenOS?

Read more