OnePlus 5: News and rumors

It seems like it was only yesterday that OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone maker with a dedicated following, released the latest flagship in its eponymous series: The OnePlus 3T. But rumor has it that a brand-new model is on the horizon, the OnePlus 5, and that it will have dual cameras and high-end specs.

Here is everything we think we know about the OnePlus 5 so far.

Specs and screen

OnePlus makes competitively priced, but powerful phones, so we have high hopes for the OnePlus 5. It has always made a point of having the latest Qualcomm processor power its phones, so which chip will be inside the OnePlus 5? Qualcomm has tweeted confirmation the phone will have the new Snapdragon 835 inside, news which was also shared on the OnePlus forums.

#OnePlus5 is coming soon and we couldn’t be more excited that it’s powered by #Snapdragon 835. ✋ https://t.co/Q4srf6LrqC pic.twitter.com/DP41b2jtcq

— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) May 24, 2017

OnePlus has also been tweaking aspects of the software to enhance performance. Its Oxygen user interface, placed over the Android operating system, will look at which apps you most use and prioritize them, so they open fastest. Those you rarely use will be pushed down the list. It has even used motion tracking cameras to measure scrolling performance on other phones, so it can create a lightning fast user experience on the OnePlus 5.The Snapdragon 835’s presence has been rumored for a while.

So where will the OnePlus 5 stand among other flagship handsets? Thanks to a Geekbench test provided to GSMArena from “a very credible source,” we may have our answer. A screenshot taken of the results shows the OnePlus 5 sliding into first place with a multi-core score of 6687. The next two devices on the list are the Exynos 8895 version of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Plus and the Kirin 960-powered Huawei Mate 9, with scores of 6375 and 6112, respectively. It’s worth noting here that not only are benchmark results easily faked, but OnePlus itself has been accused of making its phones perform especially well in these tests.

What about other specifications? A series of rumors published on the Chinese social network Weibo by Kumamoto Technology give us a few clues. In addition to the front-mounted fingerprint sensor we now know is coming, there’s a slightly larger 3,600mAh battery mentioned, along with the chance OnePlus may speed up its already excellent fast-charging system too, potentially by 25 percent.

Although some rumors have stated the next OnePlus phone may have 8GB of RAM, this rumor report isn’t so sure, saying 6GB is more likely, but adds a model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage space is possible in the future. The model with 6GB of RAM will likely have 128GB of storage space, although other reports have talked about 64GB as the base standard. There’s also some doubt over whether the OnePlus 5 will have a 3.5mm headphone socket, a feature on all other OnePlus phones, but becoming less common throughout the industry.

A report from Android Headlines states the next OnePlus phone will use an AMOLED screen with a curved edge, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Some reports suggest it’ll measure 5.5-inches and have a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. Rumors originating from China agree, and also mention a bezel-less screen, much like the new Galaxy S8. Leaked images since this report suggest this isn’t part of the final design.

Name, price, and availability

When will the OnePlus 5 arrive? The company hasn’t stuck to a traditional annual release schedule recently, upgrading from the OnePlus 3 to the OnePlus 3T after around six months. It now seems we should expect the OnePlus 5 in summer 2017. OnePlus teased the new phone and a summer launch through its Weibo account in China, posting an image with the words, “Hello 5” on it, and the phrase, “Hey summer! Give me five!” above it.

Another hint about the OnePlus 5’s impending arrival is OnePlus’s announcement the OnePlus 3T will be out of stock from June 1. “Only a few devices are left,” says the forum post, but doesn’t mention why. Not that it matters; we know why: It’s to make way for the OnePlus 5.

Why will it be called the OnePlus 5, and not the OnePlus 4? According to The Verge and India Today, OnePlus will name it this way because the number 4 is considered unlucky in China, where OnePlus is headquartered. It’s also the number of former NBA player Robert Horry, who a number of OnePlus employees reportedly are fans of.

Assuming the OnePlus 5’s pricing is in line with its predecessors, it will retail for between $400 and $500. The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T launched at $400 and $440, respectively.

Design

The OnePlus 3T is a great looking phone, especially in beautiful midnight black, so how will OnePlus manage the design of its next phone? The rumors are inconclusive so far, but it’s shaping up to be relatively similar in over all style. We do know the location of the fingerprint sensor won’t change, after OnePlus CEO Pete Lau said on the Chinese social networking site Weibo, and reported by GizmoChina, said as much. He indicated the OnePlus 5’s fingerprint sensor  will be on the front of the device.

And while we may not know exactly what the OnePlus 5 looks like, but we have a pretty good idea of what colors it will come in. That is thanks to a sly tweet by the OnePlus marketing team:

What 5hould the color of your next phone be?pic.twitter.com/5FevP1VSq5

— OnePlus (@oneplus) May 22, 2017

The promo image shows four color configurations: Black, a blue-and-pink gradient, red, and gold.

Another image of what is purported to be the back of the OnePlus 5, above left, has leaked on Chinese social network Weibo. While it reaffirms a long-running rumor the phone will have a dual-camera, the design appears to be different from the rendering we saw in late April. That picture, above right, was published by India Today, based on eyewitness reports from those who claim to have seen the device. The most recent leaked render shows a chrome ring enclosing the vertically stacked camera housing, prominent antenna stripes at the top and bottom, and a gold/beige finish.

It’s not a huge surprise we’re seeing a different look. A post made to Weibo recently said any images of the OnePlus 5 leaked before the end of April 2017 no longer apply. No reason is provided, but it may be we have seen now-abandoned prototypes, and the final design has not been leaked so far.

GizBot reports that the OnePlus 5 will be more durable than its predecessor. It is said to be IP68-rated against water and dust exposure, or safe in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

Camera

The OnePlus 5 reportedly won’t disappoint in the camera department, and it may differ from previous models with the addition of a dual-lens camera setup, one of the hottest smartphone trends around. To make sure the OnePlus 5’s camera delivers the best images possible, regardless of how many lenses it has, OnePlus will work with imaging experts at DxO. Announced on the company’s forum, it’s not giving away much about the phone’s camera, only saying the partnership will “enhance the photography experience on our upcoming flagship, the OnePlus 5.” DxO is best known for its extensive camera benchmarking tests, and clearly understands what makes a good photo. It recently crowned the HTC U11 the best smartphone camera out there, so we’ll have to wait to find out how it enhances the OnePlus 5’s photographic ability, and if it can beat HTC.

What about the camera itself? The latest rumors indicate that the phone will feature a 16-megapixel Sony IMX398 sensor, which is the same sensor used in the Oppo R9s. The rumor comes from a post on Reddit and was picked up by Android Headlines, and while the poster does claim the information is correct, they note that they cannot provide proof. Anther recent leak comes in the form of a photo from Android Authority, which shows off a dual camera setup on what’s apparently a prototype of the phone. Don’t read too much into the design though, as other rumors have warned prototypes don’t represent the OnePlus 5’s final look.

This rumor does contradict some previous rumors, namely one that asserted the device would sport a 23-megapixel main camera (up from 16 megapixels on the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3) with an LED flash and 16-megapixel front camera for selfies. This isn’t certain though, and a Chinese rumor report mentions a dual-lens camera mounted vertically on the back of the phone, again with 23 megapixels. A more recent Weibo rumor also mentions a dual-lens camera, with a horizontal arrangement like the recently announced Xiaomi Mi 6.

The leaked images seen below were reportedly taken by the OnePlus 5, or at least a device with the model number OnePlus A5000. The images do not show all that much, but the EXIF data indicates that they were taken in Shenzhen, China, which makes sense considering OnePlus is based there. Of course, it is possible to fake EXIF data.

A 3,000mAh or 4,000mAh battery may be used to power the phone. It’s highly likely to support the company’s Dash Charge technology, which can charge the battery to 60 percent capacity in just 30 minutes. The base OnePlus 5 will reportedly pack 64GB of storage and have a USB Type-C port.

Article originally published in April 2017. Updated on 05-26-2017 by Andy Boxall: Added confirmation of a Snapdragon 835 processor, and news the OnePlus 3T will be out of stock soon.