The world may have just seen the first few images of the OnePlus One smartphone, as a series of photos claiming to be press renders was leaked out from an unidentified source and is currently making the rounds of the Internet.
The images show a supremely slim handset with minimalist design that looks very much like the Oppo Find 7, Oppo Electronics' flagship smartphone. This isn't surprising, since OnePlus founder Pete Lau and other executives were once part of the China-based electronics manufacturer.
The photos feature a phone that has a display that seems to float on the front of the phone, making technology enthusiasts wonder if this is to protect the screen from shattering should the user drop the phone.
The photos also feature a USB micro cable and an Apple-style Lightning charger cable in red.
Another photo from OnePlus' forum shows the removable StyleSwap back covers that OnePlus has previously confirmed it will use on its new smartphones. The photo features the swappable covers in denim, bamboo and Kevlar.
OnePlus has been frustratingly mum about its up-and-coming One smartphone, a new kid on the block that is rumored to bring down smartphone giants once it makes its much-hyped debut. Over the past few months, the company has offered nothing but bread crumbs when it comes to information about its first smartphone offering.
Still, the company keeps its mouth shut tight about the latest image leaks.
"There has been a lot of speculation and excitement about the operating system of the OnePlus One. As you know, we've been working with the Cyanogen team on this product for quite some time, starting from when OnePlus was just an idea. Both teams have been deeply involved in both the software and the hardware parts of the experience, and it's been an amazing ride so far," says Carl Pei, international relations representative of PlusOne on the PlusOne forums.
"Although we're still running pre-production versions of CyanogenMod 11S, I'd still like to share with you some of the things that the Cyanogen team has been working on," Pei added.
The OnePlus One smartphone burst onto the tech scene when the company announced that it was going to be the first smartphone from an OEM manufacturer built with and for CyanogenMod, an Android-based, free and open-source operating system for smartphones.
Although experts have little knowledge about the phone's actual performance, the little information available on the One's specs is promising. So far, OnePlus has announced the One will have the following:
- 2.3-Hz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 process
- 4G LTE
- 3GB of RAM
- 3100 mAh battery
- 13-megapixel camera
- Always-on voice commands
The One is set to retail at $400, an amazingly good value for a phone with impressive specs.
The countdown ends on Wednesday, April 23, the official launch date of OnePlus' highly anticipated smartphone.
