OnePlus might be developing a gaming beast, but don’t expect it in India

OnePlus, the brand that once disrupted flagship norms and now comfortably juggles budget, mid-range, and premium segments, may be preparing to unleash a new kind of device – a full-blown gaming smartphone.

While brands like ASUS, Nubia, iQOO, and others are deep in this space, OnePlus has never gone all in on a dedicated gaming phone, but that might soon change. However, before you start dreaming of RGB accents and vapour chambers, here’s the catch; it might never leave China. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming gaming venture from OnePlus.

A OnePlus gaming sub-series in the works?

According to well-known tipster Yogesh Brar, OnePlus is reportedly developing an experimental “sub-series” of smartphones aimed squarely at mobile gamers. Think shoulder triggers for tactile feedback, a flagship-tier chipset under the hood, and a battery big enough to handle hours of Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile without breaking into a sweat. Basically, everything you’d want in a hardcore gaming phone… minus the international release.

Details are sparse for now, which makes sense given the phone is said to still be in the research and development phase. But if OnePlus pulls the trigger (pun fully intended), this mystery machine would join the ranks of gaming juggernauts like the ASUS ROG Phone 9, ROG Phone 9 Pro, and Nubia’s Red Magic 10 series.

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And let’s not forget the timing. With the Nord 5 and Nord CE 5 scheduled to drop in India on July 8, and the recent launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered OnePlus 13s, the company is clearly not taking its foot off the gas. A gaming-centric offshoot could be the brand’s attempt to diversify its portfolio even further, or simply a passion project for its gaming-enthusiast home crowd in China.

Whether this gaming phone ends up a China-exclusive collector’s item or becomes the next ROG killer remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear, OnePlus isn’t just playing the smartphone game. It’s looking to level up.

Interested in knowing all about the latest tech developments and gadget launches? Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more.