OnePlus has officially teased the design of its upcoming OnePlus 8 series of phones, set to launch on April 14. The company has been revealing some of the key features in the build-up to the launch amidst the ongoing Coronavirus health crisis. But now, we also have our first official look at the upcoming OnePlus 8 phones in a new colour.
Courtesy of previous teasers, we know the OnePlus 8 series is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip with 5G support and the Pro variant most likely features a 120Hz refresh rate screen.
In a blog post, CEO Pete Lau revealed some of the design elements that have been adopted in making the design “beautiful to be(hold)”. Lau starts by pointing out how OnePlus was the first company to bring the industry-first matte-frosted glass back with the Midnight Black variant of the OnePlus 6. And now, the company is taking it forward with fifth-generation matte-frosted glass.
This latest generation of glass design features a higher degree of haze effect that Lau says varies between 64%-82%. As a measure of scale, he revealed that the first generation glass had 20%-30% haze while the second and third-gen glass design bumped that effect to 30%-40%. OnePlus 7 and 7T series glass back has between 40%-60% haze effect.
OnePlus has used a new crafting process to create a 3D curved glass for the OnePlus 8 phones with a smooth finish and “it feels just as warm and comfortable as our first-generation Silk White back covers on the OnePlus One,” Lau says.
The phones have a thinner profile and are lighter than the previous generation due to the use of CNC milled aluminium chassis. The haze effect allows the rear panel of the phone to reflect light in certain ways to produce a gradient effect that looks opaque and at times, transparent.
Lau says that the company’s design team explored “more than 300 colours and texture combinations” and that the phone will be offered in multiple colours including a new Glacial Green colour. Some of the previously leaked renders of the OnePlus 8 revealed that the phone will be available in three colours– Glacial Green, Onyx Black and Interstellar Glow.
“With this colour, we aim to invoke fresh, environmentally friendly, natural, and youthful feelings,” Lau said of the new Glacial Green colour.
Most of the key specifications about the OnePlus 8 series have been leaked along with a new Wireless Bullets earbuds and Warp Charge 30 wireless charger that’s launching on April 14. Just this past week, the prices of the phones were also leaked and you can read more about it here.