OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro Renders Surface Online; OnePlus 9E Reportedly in the Works

OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro fresh renders have surfaced online just days after some initial renders showing the design of OnePlus 9 Pro emerged on the Web. The new renders provide a more realistic view of the next-generation OnePlus phones that are speculated to arrive in the first quarter of 2021. Alongside the renders suggesting the design of OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, a new report has claimed that the Chinese company is in plans to bring a third model to the OnePlus 9 series that could be called OnePlus 9E.

Tipster Waqar Khan tweeted some high-quality renders that give us an idea of OnePlus 9. The renders show a flat display with a hole-punch design and a camera hump on the back that has a rectangular module — similar to the one featured on the OnePlus 8T — carrying triple rear cameras.

OnePlus 9 render suggests its flat display with a hole-punch design
Photo Credit: Waqar Khan

Comparing with OnePlus 8, the renders suggest that there could be a list of changes in OnePlus 9. The new phone, however, appears to have similar kind of hues and shades to arrive as the successor to this year's vanilla OnePlus model.

Separately, LetsGoDigital collaborated with designer Jermaine Smit aka Concept Creator to bring some fresh renders of OnePlus 9 Pro. The new visualisations highlight the quad rear camera setup that has two prominent sensors — along with two secondary ones.

You can expect a wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and a telephoto shooter on OnePlus 9. However, the fourth sensor may just be for some macro shots, or it could be a new version of the IR camera that gained negative publicity on OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus 9 Pro render suggests its two prominent camera sensors at the back
Photo Credit: Concept Creator/ LetsGoDigital

Aside from the rear camera, OnePlus 9 Pro appears to have a curved display featuring a hole-punch design. The curvature on the new OnePlus phone also seems to be more noticeable than the one available on OnePlus 8 Pro.

Overall, the new renders of OnePlus 9 Pro provide a clearer look over what we saw last week. The new OnePlus phone is also said to have Dolby Atmos sound and an improved haptic vibration engine. The smartphone is also expected to include the next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC.

OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are both speculated to arrive sometime in March next year. This is unlike the OnePlus 8 series launch that took place in April. The early launch may help OnePlus give a tough fight to the Samsung Galaxy S21 series and Xiaomi Mi 11 series that are likely to debut early next year.

In addition to OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus has another device in its new series that will be dubbed the OnePlus 9E, according to tipster Max Jambor. The new model could sit between the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus Nord lineup to give consumers another option.

Companies including Samsung and Xiaomi have offered watered-down variants of their flagships in the past. However, instead of following a similar approach, OnePlus brought its Nord series this year to the mid-range price segment. The company may now take another step and experiment with a new variant in the OnePlus 9 series.

Some past reports did hint at a third model in the OnePlus 9 series. However, the moniker was unclear up until now.

OnePlus may unveil OnePlus 9E alongside OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro in March. The company is yet to provide official details about its new launch.

Is OnePlus 8T the best 'value flagship' of 2020? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.