OnePlus Is Reportedly Working on an Even Cheaper Phone

OnePlus has spent the past few years pushing its phones further upmarket, but it looks like the company isn't giving up on cheaper models. A new leak claims OnePlus is working on another budget phone for India, with the device expected to sit below its current Nord lineup. If the price is right, this could be OnePlus going back to a part of the market it once did very well in.

The details come from tipster Yogesh Brar, although OnePlus has not confirmed the phone yet.

The new device is said to be aimed at India's crowded budget smartphone market. We don't have a final name yet, and the full spec sheet is still missing.

What matters more is where it could sit in the lineup.

OnePlus already has phones such as the Nord 6 and cheaper N-series models in India. Its current range starts around the ₹20,000 mark, so a new budget model could give the company something to fight Xiaomi, Realme and other brands at a lower price. OnePlus' official Indian store currently lists phones starting from ₹20,999.

Here's the thing, though. This wouldn't be a completely new direction for OnePlus.

The company has already been linked to a bigger push into affordable phones in India. Earlier reports claimed that a new OnePlus N series would target prices below ₹20,000, giving the brand a cheaper option outside its regular Nord range.

To be honest, the timing makes sense.

OnePlus has changed a lot since the days when it sold one "flagship killer" each year. Its best phones now compete much closer to Samsung and Apple on price, while the Nord family handles the mid-range market.

But India is different. Price still matters a lot there, and OnePlus already has a strong name. A good phone below ₹20,000 could bring in buyers who like OxygenOS but don't want to pay Nord 6 money.

Of course, making a cheap OnePlus phone is the easy part. Making one that still feels like a OnePlus is harder.

We still don't know which chip the phone will use, how large its battery will be or whether OnePlus will give it an AMOLED display. There is also no confirmed launch date.

And I wouldn't trust any detailed spec lists floating around yet. Until we get a certification, benchmark or official teaser, there simply isn't enough evidence.

Still, I like the idea. Budget OnePlus phones have often been more interesting when they focus on a few important things instead of trying to win every spec battle.

Give me a smooth display, good battery life, clean OxygenOS and decent performance at the right price, and I can live without four cameras on the back.

If OnePlus can bring that below ₹20,000, this new budget phone could make a lot of sense.