What you need to know
- OnePlus confirms the 10T will arrive without an alert slider.
- While it’s a useful feature, OnePlus saw it as an opportunity to improve the phone’s internal technology and keep it slim.
- The new OnePlus has also dropped the Hasselblad branding for its camera in favor of the Sony IMX766.
- The new device will come with a 6.7-inch display that will launch on August 3.
OnePlus leaks information about the upcoming 10T device and it will be missing its alert toggle feature.
Anyone who uses or has used a OnePlus will tell you how valuable this alert switch is to their phone. OnePlus (opens in new tab) acknowledged this in its post about the 10T’s design and the decision to remove the alert switch. The company clearly states that “the OnePlus 10T is our first global flagship device to ship without an alert slider.”
While this was a feature that people enjoyed and will now have to lose, OnePlus says it didn’t do it happily. According to OnePlus, removing the alert switch gave the company more room inside the phone to add new and improved technology for users. It also gave them the ability to keep the new OnePlus 10T sleek and slim.
The Verge held an email interview with OnePlus chief designer Hope Liu. They explained this decision a bit more, saying that the change allowed for “high power charging, large battery capacity and a better antenna signal.” Expanding on the design aspect, OnePlus’ chief designer informed The Verge that keeping the alert switch would have forced them to stack it and the motherboard internally. The choice would have resulted in a thicker phone that the company apparently doesn’t want.
The OnePlus 10T’s camera is also getting a noticeable change compared to the OnePlus 10 Pro. OnePlus’ CEO told The Verge that the 10T would come with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 camera, though OnePlus decided to drop the Hasselblad branding. Lui told The Verge that this omission essentially came down to pricing, with the company seeking a more attractive price point for consumers.
OnePlus confirmed that the new device will come in two colors: Moonstone Black and Jade Green. Liu also confirmed to The Verge that the 10T will have a 6.7-inch display at launch.
The OnePlus 10T will launch (opens in a new tab) on August 3, where we’ll learn more about specs, OxygenOS 13, and availability. Although even without the alert slider and Hasselblad branding, we could be looking at one of the best Android phones to launch this year, if OnePlus gets it priced right.