OnePlus 9T release date, price, features, and news

The OnePlus 9T is expected to be the second OnePlus flagship for 2021 and will most likely arrive this fall. This follows in line the company's policy of two flagships per year that kicked off with the OnePlus 6T in late 2016 and is unlikely to be changed anytime soon. So, how do you follow up something as good as the OnePlus 9T and OnePlus 9T Pro? As good as these were, they still had some minor issues that definitely can be addressed in the near future. The 'never-settling' company tried to reinvent its flagship phone with the OnePlus 9 Pro, but it's certainly intriguing to see how the OnePlus 9T will improve the recipe.

While there aren't any leaks about the next generation of OnePlus phones just yet, this doesn't mean we can't come up with a wishlist of sorts summarizing what we want to see changed in the OnePlus 9T/9T Pro.

Of course, this space will be updated timely with any new leaks and rumors that pop up as the time goes by.

Given that the OnePlus 9 Pro sells for a smidgen below $1,000, it's pretty logical to assume that the OnePlus 9T will generally be priced in the same ballpark as its predecessor. That's why a $979 - $999 will most likely be attached to the OnePlus 9T. An announcement in October and a release shortly after are most certainly in the cards for OnePlus.

If you've read our review, you have noticed that the OnePlus 9 Pro didn't suffer from any serious weaknesses. When it comes to the design, there isn't anything inherently wrong with the OnePlus 9 Pro, and "T" models are hardly ever changing the design over the regular device. Personally, I would have loved a bolder design, but let's face it, it's unlikely that a "T" model will introduce any significant design changes. Instead, what's definitely more likely, are more color options available, because let's face it, the color options in which the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro launched are quite boring and fail to excite. Hopefully, the OnePlus 9T will right that wrong.

Update June 1: Rumors suggest that OnePlus will most probably end up using a Samsung-made display for the OnePlus 9T once again. In particular, the panel will be a LTPO one with variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, like the one found on the OnePlus 9 Pro. The panel is flexible, which hints that the OnePlus 9T will follow in the footsteps of the OnePlus 9 Pro and come with a display curved to the sides. However, unlike the QHD+ OnePlus 9 Pro, the OnePlus 9T will reportedly sport a lowly FHD+ display that should spell good news for its energy efficiency.

Provided that the OnePlus 9 Pro and the OnePlus 9 comes along with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 888 chipset, it is unlikely that the next phones will come along with newer chips. Qualcomm doesn't usually announce more than a single flagship chipset per year. That, and the current chip crisis don't really bode well for the successor to the Snapdragon 888. Surely, we will see the next-gen silicon sometime in December when Qualcomm hosts its annual events, but the OnePlus 9T certainly won't come with it on deck.

When it comes to the camera, the only mildly-annoying feature that prevents the phone from being the best of the best is the lack of a ultra-long telephoto zoom camera that will bring it on par with the other Galaxy S21 Ultra, which is arguably the most advanced Android phone available right now. I'd have loved for OnePlus to have employed a, say, 5X or longer, but hopefully, this will be addressed in the upcoming OnePlus 9T. Even if a longer zoom doesn't appear this fall, it will be okay - OnePlus made more than enough camera changes recently to warrant a pass. As far as the software side of things goes, OnePlus did a good job with the tweaking of the image color reproduction thanks to the partnership with Hasselblad.

So far, we don't know if OnePlus will introduce new colors with the upcoming flagship release or stick to the classy, albeit boring roster of the OnePlus 9.