Forget the OnePlus 6: OnePlus 7 may be the first smartphone with 5G; expected to launch in 2019July 1 (AZINS) While the OnePlus 6 launched just a few weeks ago, rumours about the OnePlus 7 have already surfaced online. And it looks like it will be the first 5G-compatible smartphone, possibly in the world. It is expected to launch in May/June 2019.

The company is already in talks with telecom companies in the US to be part of the 5G service launch. MWC Shanghai 2018 took place June 27-29, welcoming the “Entire Mobile and Technology Ecosystem” to its show floor and providing industry leaders a stage to discuss their visions for the future, 5G in particular, as it is designed to provide a solution to the hard-pressed 4G networks that are struggling to meet user demands for fast connections.

The future of 5G was also the dominant topic at MWC Shanghai 2018, with Huawei, HTC, Ericsson and OnePlus all vowing to participate in the growth of the infrastructure and introduce 5G devices.

OnePlus CEO and founder Pete Lau also outlined that the Chinese tech company aims to produce a 5G smartphone next year, according to a report by PCMag, which notes that the “announcements came as part of a conversation about OnePlus' product and community philosophy.” Furthermore, Lau reportedly also said that the company, which has until now focused on direct sales in the US, may be coming to a US carrier, or carriers. Lau didn't specify who.

Huawei also confirmed a 5G smartphone as early as June 2019, “allowing consumers that want higher speeds to enjoy an incredible 5G experience as soon as possible.” The brand will also deliver a 5G-ready Kirin chip next year.

The OnePlus 6 is the company’s fastest-selling device to date, with the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T each selling one million units, within three months of launch. In North America alone, OnePlus increased its sales by 139% from 2016 to 2017. The company looks to continue its pattern of steady growth in 2018.

In terms of specifications, the device features a 6.28-inch FullHD+ Optic AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. It is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, paired with 6GB/8GB RAM option. It is available in 64GB/128GB/256GB storage variants as well.

It comes equipped with a dual-camera setup – 16MP + 20MP cameras. It also includes a 16MP front-facing camera for selfies. Connectivity features include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0 with aptX and aptX HD support, NFC, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C (v2.0) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Running Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top, the device is backed up by a 3,300mAh battery.