OnePlus One was a game changer in the mobile phone industry, as its release proved that top-of-the-line hardware and cutting-edge technology do not necessarily exact an outrageous price. Now that rumors start to cite that OnePlus 4 is already in development, expectations are understandably running high.
What we want to see in the next-generation OnePlus device is simple: it should be on par if not entirely superior to its rivals, which include the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8, HTC 11 and the LG G6.
Power
To this end, OnePlus 4 needs to adopt the latest and the greatest in mobile technologies so that it can offer a credible challenge. If rumors are to be believed, OnePlus is on track to realizing this because unconfirmed reports indicate that it will probably sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 830 processor. That bit of information has delighted fans who know that OnePlus 3 has been powered by the Snapdragon 820 processor, and this rumored chipset is therefore a big leap forward, skipping the Snapdragon 821 processor.
Display
On the display front, we will not raise any ruckus if OnePlus 4 remains within the 5.5-inch category, a form factor that OnePlus has consistently followed since the original device. We believe, however, that the display resolution should get a major bump in order to make an impact. This is a key issue especially since OnePlus 3 has been criticized for its display quality.
The device should at least sport 1,440 x 2,560 display resolution, and this is because that is the specification that can provide optimum virtual reality experience. One should remember that OnePlus has already signaled its interest in VR when OnePlus 3 was launched in virtual space.
Design
Now, while we do not expect OnePlus 4 to appear before us in a radically different form, we still expect a modicum of excellence there. The company has spoiled us in this area beginning with the iconic sandstone construction of the OnePlus One to the ultra-premium aluminum chassis of its latest iteration. It does not make sense, therefore, if OnePlus 4 will prove underwhelming in this department.
Camera
The camera in OnePlus 3 has disappointed some sectors because it did not perform as well as other flagships from Samsung, Apple, HTC and even Huawei. If a dual-lens camera is in the pipeline, it will be much better.
Other Features
We are also quite excited about what OnePlus will do to improve its Android OS. The company has been floating several ideas and teasers that seem to indicate a really radical OS update. In a Reddit Ask Me Anything event, for example, OnePlus just boasted of an OS version that will be better than stock Android.
Specs such as an 8 GB of RAM, 8-megapixel front-facing camera and long battery life should already be a given for OnePlus 4 since they would probably constitute the hardware convention for the major flagships rolling out next year.
So this early, we are crossing our fingers and certainly hoping for the best that OnePlus 4, on its 2017 release, will beat expectations and live up to its slogan that maintains it will never settle.
