OnePlus" next smartphone, the OnePlus 8, will reportedly be available on Verizon"s network in the United States. It will also feature support for the carrier"s mmWave 5G network.
So far, OnePlus has officially only tied up with T-Mobile and more recently Sprint to sell its smartphones through carrier channels in the U.S. T-Mobile currently sells the OnePlus 7T and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren edition to its customers while Sprint only carries the 5G variant of the OnePlus 7 Pro. However, OnePlus smartphones starting from the OnePlus 6T have also been compatible with Verizon"s network, though users are required to purchase the device unlocked and then activate it on the network.
The report from Android Police does not mention whether the "pro" variant of the OnePlus 8 will also make its way to Verizon"s network or not. It does, however, make it clear that Verizon"s variant of the OnePlus 8 will be pre-loaded with all of the carrier"s bloatware and pack features like VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling. Software updates for Verizon"s OnePlus 8 will also be delayed as it would have to go through the carrier"s additional testing and certification process which is time-consuming.
The OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro have already leaked in detailed renders.
A OnePlus smartphone being sold by Verizon in the U.S. will be a big deal for the smartphone maker as it opens the gate for a wider user base for the company to reach to. The majority of the U.S. consumers still purchase their phone directly from a carrier"s retail store and the OnePlus 8 sitting side-by-side Samsung"s flagship smartphones, Pixels, and iPhones should help increase awareness about the company.