After skipping the OnePlus 8T Pro launch this year, OnePlus is reportedly planning on launching the OnePlus 9 earlier than usual in 2021. The company tends to launch its first phone of the year in April or early May but for 2021, it is planning to launch the OnePlus 9 in March - a month earlier than its usual timeframe.
As for specs, there are no details on that front but some of the features that should make their way to the OnePlus 9 include 65W Warp Charge, Snapdragon 875 chip, wireless charging, and improved cameras.
The move will allow OnePlus to better compete with flagship smartphones from Samsung, Xiaomi, and other Android OEMs which tend to launch their devices around the same timeframe. However, there are rumors of Samsung launching its 2021 flagship, the Galaxy S21 series, as early as January. It will also give OnePlus more time between its mid-cycle device refresh as the gap between the launch of the non-T and T refresh has barely been six months.
The report from Android Central also claims that the OnePlus 8 series has not really sold in "meaningful numbers" for the company, though it has met success with the mid-ranger OnePlus Nord in markets like India. Going forward, the company could focus more on such low-end and mid-range devices as it looks to expand its reach to new customers and sales.
Source: Android Central