OnePlus could compete with Xiaomi in a new area, is this another hint of the brand's direction?

When you say “cheap phone,” I dare say that one of the first brands that comes to mind is Xiaomi, or rather its sub-brand Redmi. Over the years on the market, basic Redmi models have earned a reputation as smartphones with a decent price/performance ratio and sufficient features for less demanding users. Of course, many brands focus on basic smartphones. However, Redmi’s dominance in cheap models has rarely been disrupted on a global scale. According to unconfirmed reports, OnePlus, which in recent years has positioned itself more as a manufacturer of mid-range and high-end smartphones, is now set to try to do so.

OnePlus for three thousand?

The brand, as part of its new strategy, is reportedly preparing its first truly cheap model, specifically in the price range of around 15,000 rupees, which translates to approximately 3,200 CZK. As you might have gathered, the phone is expected to arrive first on the Indian market. However, a potential expansion to other markets is not ruled out. If the brand truly offers such a cheap model, we will be very curious about its specifications. Especially considering the rising prices of (not only) memory, which have also affected smartphone prices.

Moreover, currently the brand’s cheapest smartphones are the Nord CE Lite models. In our country, it’s the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite for approximately 5 thousand CZK. However, this smartphone is already two years old. Globally, the cheapest representative is the Nord CE6 Lite, for which the manufacturer charges the equivalent of 7 thousand CZK in India. For OnePlus to be able to compete even among the cheapest smartphones, it will certainly have to make significant compromises. It is also obvious that a simple rebranding of a model from another brand within the conglomerate is a possibility here – in this case, perhaps one of the Realme models?

Can OnePlus succeed even among the cheapest smartphones?

Source: AH