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OnePlus to make smart TV (Update: 4K, LED, smart hub focus)

OnePlus has revealed that it's working on its first smart TV, tentatively set for 2019. Here's how the company plans to stand out...
By
September 17, 2018
The OnePlus logo.

Update, September 17, 2018 (02:20PM EST): Word broke earlier today that OnePlus plans to bring a OnePlus-branded television to market in 2019. Now, via an interview with Pete Lau conducted by PCMag, we have some more information on the upcoming TV.

In the interview, Lau makes it clear that the OnePlus TV will be a 4K LED model. It will also run an operating system from “a big, mainstream provider,” but Lau declined to elaborate.

Lau did clarify that the TV’s selling point will be its integration within the smart home. From what he describes, the TV will be less focused on entertainment and more on acting like a giant smart display akin to the Lenovo Smart Display or the JBL Link View.

You can read the full interview here.


Original Article, September 17, 2018 (02:53AM EST): OnePlus made a big splash after launching the OnePlus One back in 2014, showing us what an “affordable flagship” could look like. Now, founder Pete Lau has revealed the company will expand to the TV market.

The executive told Business Insider that it’s targeting a 2019 launch for its first TV, committing to updates for five years following its launch. Lau says the TV will need those updates because the experience “won’t be something that’s perfect” right away.

Read: OnePlus 6T — All the rumors in one place

So what can we expect from a OnePlus TV? Lau suggests better connectivity between your phone and TV. The founder also mooted AI capabilities, although he didn’t disclose which company’s AI solution will be used to power the experience.

The TV will have an integrated camera, although Lau told the outlet that it “will have a solution” for those concerned about privacy. Finally, the executive says it’ll turn to the OnePlus community for more feature ideas.

Are TVs the next frontier?

The Xiaomi Mi LED Smart TV 4.

It wouldn’t be the first time a Chinese smartphone brand gets into the TV space either, as Xiaomi has been releasing TVs for a while now. The company’s series of smart TVs are generally cheaper than big-name rivals, while offering solid designs (as seen in the image above). Xiaomi’s smart TVs also feature smartphone connectivity, and the Android-derived Patchwall platform.

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We might see similarly cheap pricing at first if OnePlus takes the Xiaomi route. After all, the BBK-owned brand is no stranger to undercutting rivals. Nevertheless, between the likes of LG, Samsung, Hisense, Vizio and other players, the TV space isn’t exactly a walk in the park for new entrants. But a fresh approach to the sector, combined with a commitment to updates and user feedback, might work in its favor.

Would you like to see a OnePlus TV? Let us know in the comments!

NEXT: Pocophone brings us the post-OnePlus era — Speed, value, and not much more