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OnePlus might be returning to a mid-range smartphone segment as early as 2020. Renders published by OneLeaks and 91 Mobiles show that the Shenzen-based smartphone maker could be working on the OnePlus 8 Lite, a mid-range smartphone that’s scheduled to launch alongside the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro in the first half of next year. This will the second time OnePlus will launch a mid-range smartphone in the market. The company’s first and only mid-range smartphone, OnePlus X, was a commercial dud.
OnePlus claim to fame has always been its ability to sell smartphones with top specifications at aggressive prices. This, in fact, has helped OnePlus to become the most sought after smartphone player. However, in the past few years, OnePlus is steadily increasing the prices of its flagship devices. The OnePlus 7 Pro was launched at a starting price of Rs 48,999, making its most expensive premium smartphone. During the launch of the OnePlus 7 Pro, many argued that the brand was moving away from its core philosophy. There is a belief that OnePlus is now charging a bit more for its phones, leaving its core user base with no option but to shift to other brands.
Given the high prices of flagship smartphones these days, OnePlus 8 Lite could be targeting those people who are not willing to Rs 38,000 on a smartphone. While we do not know how much does the OnePlus 8 Lite might cost, it should be plenty powerful. You could drop $100 less on a smartphone with a powerful chipset and a decent camera, so why spend that money on a phone with incremental upgrades?
