OnePlus confirms that its next flagship won't support wireless charging

It was somewhat predictable, but OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed that the OnePlus 6T, the company's second smartphone release for 2018, won't offer wireless charging capabilities. In an interview with CNET, Lau justifies the decision with the limitations of wireless technology, particularly in regards to charging times.

Dash Charge, the proprietary fast-charging technology used in OnePlus' phones is one of the fastest options on the market, as the smartphone maker has demonstrated more than once. Lau believes that wireless charging can't offer the same experience, and that increasing wireless charging speeds would generate a lot of heat or require a much thicker device. The company is working to address this limitation, but, for now, it isn't ready to incorporate the technology into its devices.

The CEO and co-founder of OnePlus also confirmed the lack of IP certification for dust and water resistance, saying that there aren't that many users taking their phones underwater and that the official IP rating would be an unnecessary addition to the cost of the phone. Nonetheless, the 6T is the most water-resistant smartphone the company has ever made, according to Lau, and it should survive a drop in the sink.

These potentially controversial choices come in addition to the decision to ditch the headphone jack in the upcoming flagship, which hasn't resonated well with its customers. Previously, it's been said that the decision was made in favor of battery life, but it seems that the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor underneath the display is also a reason for this. Lau says that it wasn't an easy choice to make, but that the 'screen unlock' feature will be worth the sacrifice.

OnePlus should unveil the successor to the OnePlus 6 in the next few weeks, and it's expected to start at about $550, maintaining a trend of price increases over the past few smartphone releases from the company. Among the hardware changes that might make it a more tempting option over its predecessor, the OnePlus 6T could launch in partnership with T-Mobile, which would most likely increase its popularity in the United States.

Source: CNET