The OnePlus 5 may be a ‘wallet killer’

What you see below is our first look at the OnePlus 5.

Android Authority, the publication that first obtained the photo, notes that the device pictured below is a prototype; it is not final hardware. However, the photo does give some insight into what the OnePlus 5 will look like when it launches later this year. Specifically, it confirms that the upcoming smartphone will, in fact, feature a dual-lens rear-facing camera. Moreover, it appears the OnePlus 5 will feature a similar design to the OnePlus 3/3T — though that could have changed with subsequent prototypes.

Android Authority was not able to obtain an image of the front of the smartphone. So it’s hard to say whether the OnePlus 5 will feature a bezel-less display, as has been rumoured in the past. Notably, however, OnePlus has not moved the fingerprint sensor to the back of device. Moreover, the prototype pictured below doesn’t look particularly tall. Both of those points suggest the OnePlus 5’s side bezels might not be as thin as those found on the G6 and Galaxy S8.

According to the source that provided Android Authority with the image, the OnePlus 5 will use “more costly components,” leading to a price tag that could climb as high as $650 USD (approximately $885 CAD) when all is said and done.

The same source also told the website that part of the company’s thinking when it comes to charging more for its next smartphone comes from a desire to “signal competitiveness with the biggest brands.” The publication did note that OnePlus hasn’t decided on a final price, but what is certain is that the OnePlus 5 will cost more than the OnePlus 3T.

Longtime OnePlus fans will likely be upset by this news, but if you’ve been following the company for the past several years, none of this should come as a surprise. Each subsequent OnePlus smartphone has cost more than the previous one and it’s clear the company wants to be considered a tier one smartphone OEM.

[source]Android Authority[/source]