OnePlus is launching a ridiculously affordable new handset with crazy good battery life
The OnePlus N6x is even cheaper than the "regular" N6, packing a gargantuan 7,000mAh battery and also shining in the build quality department.
For the handset's ultra-low price point, these two color options are almost surprisingly eye-catching. | Image by OnePlus
Just in case you needed one more reason to be sad that all the apocalyptic OnePlus rumors of the last few months have become a reality a couple of weeks ago, the brand that's getting ready to exit both the US and Europe is also gearing up for the Indian release of yet another super-cheap Android mid-ranger with epic battery life.
Believe it or not, the brand-new OnePlus N6x is even cheaper than the recently released N6, Nord 6, Nord CE6, and Nord CE6 Lite, which obviously means it's also humbler in almost every way that matters, and for what it's worth, I highly doubt this kind of product would have ever made its way to the Western Hemisphere even if the company remained committed to those major European and North American markets.
This is... not the most impressive spec sheet in the world
- 6.8-inch LCD screen with 1570 x 720 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate technology;
- MediaTek Dimensity 6360 Apex processor;
- 4GB RAM;
- 64 and 128GB storage variants;
- microSD card slot for up to 2TB external storage expansion;
- Android 16 with OxygenOS 16;
- 13MP rear-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture;
- 5MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture;
- 7,000mAh battery;
- 15W charging support;
- IP64 water and dust resistance;
- MIL-STD-810H durability;
- 166.38 x 78.13 x 8.65mm dimensions;
- 214 grams weight;
- Burgundy Red and Ice Blue color options.
A notch, a 13MP camera, and 4GB RAM in 2026?!
It's true, the OnePlus N6x is a blast from the past in a number of key ways. And as hard as its manufacturer might be trying to conceal its most obvious design compromise in most official marketing materials, there's no fooling an experienced tech writer like myself and a well-informed customer like yourself.
The infamous notch is somehow still alive. | Image by OnePlus
Yes, the N6x brings back the waterdrop-style screen cutout colloquially known as a notch, although if it makes you feel any better, that doesn't make the new 6.8-inch phone any taller or wider than the 6.8-inch N6. As such, I believe the bigger and more bothersome compromises might actually be the modest 5MP selfie snapper housed in said notch and the single 13MP camera slapped on the N6x's back.
What do you think about the N6x value proposition?
Under the hood, the ultra-affordable device also packs a disappointing 4 gigs of memory... you can't actually upgrade to 6 or 8GB no matter how much money you're willing to pay.
The key selling point is crystal clear
"Power for days." The advertising label leaves no room for doubt as far as the N6x's biggest strength is concerned, and because the screen is pretty frugal and the processor very energy-efficient, the 7,000mAh battery promises to deliver a mind-blowing 2.5 days of life between charges in "normal" use.
That's quite a number for such a dirt-cheap handset. | Image by OnePlus
We're talking more than 20 hours of uninterrupted video streaming, around 25 hours of "social scrolling", 11+ hours of video recording, or no less than 133 hours (!!!) of music playing without having to hug a wall. Unfortunately, the charging speeds are nowhere near as impressive, but on the bright side, OnePlus also promises "segment-leading" battery health, as well as "segment-leading" smooth experience and cooling.
On top of all that, the OnePlus N6x doesn't look half bad at first glance either (as long as you can live with its outdated notch), and the undeniably eye-catching Burgundy Red and Ice Blue paint jobs are complemented by an almost surprisingly durable construction guaranteed to survive not just water immersion and things like extreme temperatures, dust storms, and salt corrosion, but also 25 "consecutive drops onto marble surfaces" (weirdly specific number but okay, I guess).
Just how affordable is the OnePlus N6x?
Technically, the official OnePlus India website lists the handset at a starting price of Rs. 18,999 ($199), which is already remarkably low for that battery capacity, the silky smooth (albeit low-res) display, and the ultra-robust design. But over on Amazon.in, the phone will apparently cost 17,499 rupees ($183) and up starting August 4.
The design is overall not bad for the N6x's price bracket. | Image by OnePlus
That's obviously for an entry-level configuration with only 64GB internal storage space in addition to 4GB RAM, but it's still an incredible price at a time when most phones are getting costlier than their predecessors and "cousins."
The N6x doesn't technically have a forerunner, but it does have the aforementioned "standard" OnePlus N6 relative available at Rs. 22,999 and up in India, as well as a key rival in Samsung's notched Galaxy A17 5G, which normally starts at Rs. 22,449... with a much smaller battery on deck. In short, this might be an unbeatable value proposition likely to create even more envy towards the Indian market among cash-strapped Android fans in the US and on the old continent.
If you liked this story, be sure to also check these out:
- Here's what we know about the curious case of the OnePlus 16 and its rumored specs
- OnePlus is pushing you toward a different brand now
- Follow me on X and Threads for more tech insights and industry analysis.
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