Following the confirmation that the OnePlus 3 has reached end-of-life status in the EU and U.S., OnePlus has also confirmed to Android Authority that both devices will share an update schedule going forward. Perhaps rather obviously, the company considers them “two versions of the same phone” so any fears of future software support for the OnePlus 3 being dropped can be forgotten.
According to OnePlus, both the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3 will receive the Android Nougat update by the end of the year. As you likely recall, the OnePlus 3 will be receiving a beta version of Nougat this month; it is currently unclear if the OnePlus 3T will also receive that beta. (We will update this article if OnePlus clarifies that point.)
The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T will share an update schedule going forward. However, it is not yet clear if the Nougat beta will also arrive for the OnePlus 3T this month.
Meanwhile, the OnePlus 3’s demise in Europe and America does open up a few possibilities for the future. For starters, it seems very likely that a six-month OnePlus flagship life cycle may now be the norm. Some of us also suspect that the OnePlus 3T price hike is not just about increased component costs but rather a clever way to slide in a general price increase.
Had the OnePlus 3T not appeared, the OnePlus 4 would have been expected to deliver the same specs (if not better) at the same $400 price point. Coming as the OnePlus 3T did so close after the OnePlus 3 – which obviously won’t be getting a price reduction – the OnePlus 3T “justifies” an increased price compared to the OnePlus 3, because how could they price it the same?
The OnePlus 3T “justifies” an increased price compared to the OnePlus 3 where the OnePlus 4 might not.
It’s important to note that increased component costs are already being predicted well into next year. Whether this means we’ll see an even more expensive OnePlus 4 next year we’ll just have to wait and see.
But it certainly seems like the days of OnePlus being the company that delivers top shelf specs at rock bottom prices are well and truly on the way out. If the OnePlus 4 arrives at close to the $500 mark, the “OnePlus bracket” will need redefining once again.
Are you happy to know the OnePlus 3 will continue getting updated? Do you think the OnePlus 4 will be more expensive again?
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