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How many phones is too many to launch? Based on a recently tweeted rumor about the OnePlus 9 and its assorted models, OnePlus may be planning to try and find the answer to that question early next year.
We expect OnePlus to launch its new flagship sometime in the spring, as OnePlus tends to release a new top-of-the-line device every six months or so. That would be the OnePlus 9, and the upstart phone maker will introduce both standard and professional versions, as has been its custom in recent years.
But wait – leaked phone Max Jambor took to Twitter to declare that a third model will accompany the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. That would be the OnePlus 9E, which appears to be an entry-level model for anyone who finds the regular price of the OnePlus 9 too high.
https://t.co/9Vi2NdVy2r pic.twitter.com/7gDKJgf4O8November 30, 2020
Posting a follow-up explanation on the OnePlus 9e, Max Jambor says that the idea behind the new model is to take a page out of Samsung’s book with its flagship line and produce a model for every price.
You may recall that earlier this year, Samsung added the Galaxy S20 FE, which offers most of the features of the regular Galaxy lineup, but for $ 300 less.
The OnePlus 9E would theoretically take a similar approach, debuting at a lower price point and cutting back on a few features here and there. However, nobody knows what those characteristics would be.
While we’ve seen CAD drawings for the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9, we know very little about the features of these upcoming phones, other than that they are likely to have quick update screens and support 65W charging.
We’ve heard rumors that OnePlus will come out with a lower-cost flagship device before. Before the launch of the OnePlus 8, rumors suggested that a OnePlus 8 Lite was in the works. That phone never materialized, unless you want to count the OnePlus Nord.
But why a third OnePlus 9 model?
This is why we are a bit confused by the OnePlus 9E rumors. OnePlus already has a phone that has removed some features in exchange for a lower price: the OnePlus Nord. While that particular model never made it to the US, OnePlus has since announced the OnePlus Nord N10 5G and the OnePlus Nord N100, two more low-cost phones.
Add the three rumored OnePlus 9 models to the mix, and we’re looking at a line of phones with half a dozen models. That’s a far cry from the days when OnePlus put out only one phone every six months (although you could choose different amounts of RAM and storage).
Should the OnePlus 9E come to pass, the burden will fall on OnePlus to clearly differentiate all of its phones and explain how different priced models would offer their own unique feature sets.
If OnePlus can pull it off, consumers will likely appreciate the additional option. No one really complains that there are four iPhone 12 models to choose from.
We have a long way to go before the OnePlus 9E enters the scene, with a possible March launch date for the new OnePlus 9 lineup. Expect to hear lots of details about the new phones between now and then.
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