In an interview with CNET, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei stated that the phone will launch “at the end of the second quarter,” which means we should see it by June 30. OnePlus doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to hitting deadlines, but at least we have confirmation that the company is planning a successor to the relatively-good OnePlus 2.
Pei also hinted there will be some type of “new design” that departs from the consistent look found in its predecessors—the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2—and the budget-friendly OnePlus X. While he didn’t outright declare that OnePlus would ditch its unusual invite system for preorders, he hinted at a “better buying process.” The company is also going to try and embrace more traditional marketing methods, though he didn’t specify what that effort would look like.
The phone will be sold unlocked for use on any carrier, just as it has done with its current and previous offerings, Pei said.
The story behind the story: OnePlus is an interesting animal. The company has shown it can make some solid smartphones at an impulse-buy price, but the invite system has probably turned away some who would rather act on that sudden urge to enter their credit card number. Since the OnePlus X is now available for purchase without an invite, there’s a chance the company may use that experience to open its doors a little wider for new buyers.