OnePlus’ next flagship phone will get a feature that’s new to the company: the backing of a major US carrier.
T-Mobile will be the exclusive US carrier partner for the OnePlus 6T when it launches in October, according to several people familiar with the launch plans. That includes a specific version of the OnePlus 6T optimized for T-Mobile’s network, the people said.
The company, however, will still sell its standard global version that’s unlocked and able to run on either AT&T or T-Mobile, as well as networks overseas. The price of the OnePlus 6T is tentatively set at $550, although that hasn’t been finalized.
For the phone-savvy, OnePlus represents an alternative to the $1,000 super premium smartphones offered by Samsung (Galaxy Note 9) and Apple (iPhone X). Its rise in popularity coincides with the decline of older stalwarts like HTC and LG.
The partnership underscores the progress that OnePlus has made in the US. The Chinese phone maker isn’t a household name, but has long attracted diehard Android fans for its mix of high-end specs and affordable prices. Having a place at T-Mobile stores means it’ll attract more mainstream awareness through a physical presence in thousands of retail stores.
“Getting carrier shelf space is a prerequisite to volume sales in the US,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Global Data.