INQUISITR.COM / Science & Tech

OnePlus 4 News: Huge OnePlus 3T Flaws That Must Be Addressed In Mid-2017 Flagship

By Simon Alvarez
Published on: 05:00 PST, Dec 2, 2016

It is already undeniable at this point that OnePlus has been a huge success in the smartphone industry. While a newcomer compared to its veteran competitors, its devices, such as the recently-released OnePlus 3T flagship, have garnered immense acclaim and support, with its newest device selling out in numerous areas quickly after launch. As the smartphone maker gears up for the release of its next flagship smartphone, the rumored OnePlus 4, the upstart tech firm would be wise to address some issues that users of its previous devices have been pointing out for some time now.

The OnePlus 3, as well as the recently-released OnePlus 3T, are near-perfect devices. Combining true flagship performance and specs with a midrange price, the OnePlus 3 and 3T have proven extremely popular among smartphone users. This is not to say that the devices are without their flaws, however, as OnePlus users have noted that some of the main issues present in the OnePlus 3 have carried over to the OnePlus 3T. Here is a brief rundown of the most notable issues that OnePlus’ flagships have had recently.

The SD Card Dilemma

SD card support is among the things that Android users have over those using iOS. Flagship Android phones such as Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note devices have mostly included SD card slots in their designs, and users have been very grateful for them. The OnePlus 3 and its immediate successor, the 3T, however, are absent of any SD card support. Doing this essentially limits the amount of data that users could place on the device, and despite the 3 and 3T shipping with storage options starting from 64GB, the presence of an SD card slot on the OnePlus 4 would be very welcome.

It is not as if OnePlus is unable to include SD card support on their devices, either. As noted by longtime OnePlus users, the company had already tried including the feature on a handset before, in the form of the all-glass and now discontinued OnePlus X. While the OnePlus X had its own fair share of issues after its launch, its inclusion of a micro-SD card slot was unanimously welcomed by the smartphone’s users.

Good Waterproofing Capabilities

If there is one feature that OnePlus’ flagships definitely lack, it would be waterproofing capabilities. Since the launch of its first device, the OnePlus One, the upstart smartphone maker has not rolled out a device that could resist a good old accidental dip in the water. This is true for the OnePlus 3 and the 3T. Considering that OnePlus advertises its devices as smartphones that could stand toe-to-toe with the best in the industry, such as the iPhone and the Galaxy S line, waterproofing features would definitely make the firm’s smartphones even more competitive.

Midrange phones with waterproofing features have already existed in the past, too, with Japanese tech firm Sony releasing devices that are both affordable and resistant to water. A very good example of this would be the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua, a phone that boasts a pretty decent camera and capable specs, coupled with full waterproofing features and a reasonable price. Considering OnePlus’ reputation of being able to include premium features for midrange prices, the addition of waterproofing capabilities is something that the company is almost certainly capable of doing.

The Price Pitfall

One of the most notable attractions for OnePlus’ devices is their affordability. The OnePlus 3 is arguably the upstart smartphone maker’s most well-rounded device to date, boasting comparable specs and features to Samsung’s premium handsets for a fraction of the price. However, the pricing of OnePlus’ handsets changed somewhat with the release of the OnePlus 3T, which was priced significantly higher than its predecessor. This was not all, either, as the OnePlus 3 was also officially discontinued upon the release of the 3T, giving buyers few options other than to purchase a more expensive device.

Hopefully, OnePlus is not slowly moving towards a premium pricing scheme for its devices. After all, one of the biggest factors that make OnePlus’ devices so great is the fact that they are generously-specced and paired with a killer price. If OnePlus smartphones start getting more expensive, the upstart phone manufacturer might be in danger of losing one of its most defining aspects. Fans of the highly-acclaimed smartphone have called on OnePlus to assure them that the pricing of the OnePlus 4 would be reasonable and competitive. The upstart manufacturer would be wise to heed the call.

OnePlus 4 Conclusions

The OnePlus 4 is arguably one of the most anticipated flagship devices of 2017, with the device already making waves even though its release date is speculated for the middle of next year. In the hyper-competitive world of smartphones, OnePlus has been able to continuously grow in prominence thanks to well-crafted products and a very aggressive pricing strategy. The firm has been able to do this excellently with the OnePlus 3, and a little bit more so with the OnePlus 3T.

The OnePlus 4 has some pretty big shoes to fill, considering that its predecessors have been extremely successful. Despite this, however, the company’s previous smartphones have always had some pretty good areas for improvement. If the upstart smartphone maker does manage to address the flaws that were spotted on the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus 3, the OnePlus 4 might very well end up as a perfect device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDfXV2CgQ2c&t=2s

[Featured Image by Santeri Viinamäki|Wikimedia Commons|Cropped and Resized|CC BY-SA 4.0]

Share this article: OnePlus 4 News: Huge OnePlus 3T Flaws That Must Be Addressed In Mid-2017 Flagship
smartphones
More from Inquisitr