OnePlus takes on Apple and Samsung with new low-priced flagship phone
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has unveiled its latest flagship phone to challenge Apple and Samsung - one that is priced significantly lower than its rivals.
The new OnePlus 6 features many of the key features found in premium smartphones such as the £999 iPhone X and Samsung's £869 Galaxy S9+, including dual cameras and slow-motion video capabilities, but will start at £469.
Apple and Samsung's dominance in the premium smartphone market has come under increased pressure in recent years from the likes of OnePlus and fellow Chinese manufacturer Huawei, both of which have regularly release devices with similar specifications to the market leaders, but at reduced prices.
OnePlus chief executive Pete Lau said the company's goal with its latest phone was to compete with the industry's established names in how it looks as well as how it performs.
"With the OnePlus 6, we challenged ourselves to deliver an external design as smooth and elegant as the work we've done inside the device," he said.
"We're proud of what we've accomplished, and we hope our users are too."
The new phone features the largest screen OnePlus has ever placed on a device at 6.28in and is also the first OnePlus handset to have glass as both the front and back panel - a common feature of modern flagship phones.
Smartphone expert Ru Bhikha from uSwitch.com said the Chinese firm was now a viable alternative to the established names.
"OnePlus has always boasted an irresistible combination of punchy specs at a competitive price point," he said.
"Over the last four years OnePlus has worked hard to take bites out of the ingrained Apple and Samsung duopoly - and as a reward has consistently shifted millions of handsets with every new launch."
Mr Bhikha added that the price could sway some smartphone users, despite being a slight increase on last year's OnePlus 5T.
"For a top-end phone able to deliver on the promise of its premium features this is still reasonable - especially compared to new Apple devices - but only time will tell if this dents the manufacturer's more price-aware heartland," he said.
