iPhone, Galaxy S8 challenger? Flagship OnePlus 5 hits the streets this summer
Smartphone maker OnePlus says it will launch its next flagship, the OnePlus 5, this summer.
The OnePlus 5 will succeed last year's popular OnePlus 3 and the recently launched OnePlus 3T, which offered fans high-end specs well below the cost of flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Google.
OnePlus offered The Verge the summer release details and an explanation for why the next phone won't be called the OnePlus 4.
For one, the number four sounds like the word for death in Mandarin, which wouldn't go down well in its home market. The other reason is that several OnePlus employees are fans of former NBA star Robert Horry. To back up the claim, OnePlus tweeted this picture of its staff and office.
Rumored OnePlus 5 features include a dual rear camera to match the iPhone 7 Plus, Snapdragon 835 system on chip, and 3,600mAh battery. Fans also want a better display and for the device to be waterproof.
Despite purported leaks claiming to show what the OnePlus 5 will look like, there's no official information beyond the release data. However, OnePlus has carved out a reputation for delivering excellent phones at mid-range prices since its launch in 2013 with the OnePlus One, which started at $299.
However, with higher-end specs, the starting price has been creeping up by around $50 with each new release to the 3T's starting price of $439. Still, it's an attractive price for a phone with FullHD display, 6GB RAM, and 64 GB onboard storage.
One reason the next OnePlus smartphone is the OnePlus 5, rather than 4, is because of OnePlus employees' affection for former NBA star Robert Horry, who wore that number.