The OnePlus 6T prices have been leaked ahead of the phone’s launch, and you are not going to like it. Yes, you guessed it correctly, the device is more expensive than its predecessor. This is going to be a long rant, brace yourselves.
If these rumoured prices are true, the OnePlus 6T is almost as expensive as the Samsung Galaxy S9. This isn’t something new though, OnePlus has been crawling to a higher price tag year after year.
OnePlus 6T prices
According to MySmartPrice, the OnePlus 6T prices starts at Rs. 37,999 for the 6GB RAM variant with 128GB of storage. There is an 8GB RAM variant which will cost Rs. 40,999. A 256GB storage variant exists, with 8GB of RAM, which will reportedly retail for Rs. 44,999. Expect the global prices to be about $20-30 more than the OnePlus 6’s.
OnePlus’ primary market is not China, or US or Europe. It is India. This is the reason why the launch event for the OnePlus 6T will be held India, simultaneously with one in the US (Global launch) and later in China. Do you think OnePlus’ prices are suitable for the Indian market?
Want to see how the disturbing trend of rising OnePlus phone prices year after year looks like? Take a look at this table.
| Device | Price in India in Rupees | Global Price in USD $ |
|---|---|---|
| OnePlus One | Rs. 21,999 | $299 |
| OnePlus 2 | Rs. 24,999 | $390 |
| OnePlus 3 | Rs. 27,999 | $399 |
| OnePlus 3T | Rs. 29,999 | $439 |
| OnePlus 5 | Rs. 32,999 | $479 |
| OnePlus 5T | Rs. 32,999 | $499 |
| OnePlus 6 | Rs. 34,999 | $529 |
| OnePlus 6T | Rs.37,999 (alleged price) | $549 |
The bigger issue: OnePlus phones never have price cuts
Carl Pei always insists that OnePlus never cuts the price of its phones, to make early buyers feel happy. Is there any other company which practices the same policy?
No, even Samsung offers price cuts for its flagships. For example, the Galaxy S9 was launched for Rs. 57,900 in India. Now, the phone is available for Rs. 49,000 (normal non-discount price), after several price cuts. During a sale, you can pick the phone for a few thousand bucks cheaper.
OnePlus never even slashes the price of its phones during sale events. The company only offers partial discounts/cashback for buyers with a specific bank’s credit/debit card. What makes the OnePlus devices so special?
Do you believe that OnePlus uses more premium materials than Samsung or other companies do? If so, then why do OnePlus phones don’t have a good exchange (trade-in) value or resell price?
Don’t tell me it is because “We’re a small company.” I’ve had enough of that. Ever since 2016, OnePlus has moved to a 2 phones per year model, with a new device being launched every 5 months (June and November). Can a small company do that? The company has long been known to be a “not-so-secret” subsidiary of BBK Electronics, which also owns OPPO and Vivo. So, they have no shortage of funds for marketing or selling the devices.
I’m not saying OnePlus phones are bad, they are pretty good, but not worth the inflated price tags. And with the OnePlus 6T not having a headphone jack (because the company wants to sell its own wireless earbuds), we have an extra incentive to not buy the device.
Better options are out there
The LG G7+ ThinQ was launched in India, for Rs. 39,990. The ASUS Zenfone 5Z was launched in India for Rs. 29,999. Both of these devices have something that no OnePlus device has ever offered, a microSD card slot. Want something even cheaper? The Xiaomi Poco F1 with flagship specs is available for a measly Rs. 20,999.
Do yourself and your wallet a favour, get one of these devices, which are solid alternatives for the OnePlus 6 (and the upcoming 6T), and cost significantly less (apart from the LG G7+), while offering similar or better after sales service.
