OnePlus the company that is already popular for its smartphones, is set to enter TV market by launching a smart TV that has beta name OnePlus TV. Company Founder and CEO, Pete Lau has said that he will take the lead in the new division alongside the existing smartphone division. Shenzhen-based company is leveraging the OnePlus community, covering over five million members from 196 countries across the globe to get a feedback on the official name of its first TV product. This move comes just after firm announced its first USB Type-C headphones that will be debuting alongside its next flagship handset with beta name OnePlus 6T (successor to OnePlus 6, launched earlier this year).
Lau wants the company to explore the total connected user experience in order to enhance the everyday life of the OnePlus customers.
As per a latest CyberMedia Research (CMR) report, firm holds second position in the premium smartphone segment in India with a 25 percent share, after Samsung with a 48 percent market share.
OnePlus hasn’t yet revealed any technical specifications about its upcoming smart TV model. However, company has suggested the introduction of newer technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the upcoming Smart TV model.
To began with the Smart TV development, company has named Stephen L. as its product manager. Executive is asking for OnePlus community help to name the company’s first TV launch.
Registration windows for entries is open until October 16, and best 10 of them will be chosen on October 31. Top 10 entries will receive a pair of OnePlus Bullets Wireless worth Rs. 3,990. Winners will be announced anytime before December 17, and the winning entry participant will be given a OnePlus TV along with a fully paid trip to its launch event. This TV will be company’s Flagship product when it comes to its foray into Smart TV market.
In an interview with BusinessInsider, Lau told the TV could debut anytime next year. It is not a surprise that OnePlus is not alone when it comes Chinese smartphone makers that have started focusing towards the smart TV market. Its rival Xiaomi is already present in the smart TV market for quite some time now. Xiaomi has its own range of affordable, entry-level LED TVs in-order to counter the competition, apart from the flagship Mi TV models.
As per recent IHS Markit report, the global unit-share of smart TVs rose from 45 percent of overall TV shipments in 2015 to 64 percent in 2017 and the trend shows no mood to take a hit. A projection tells that the segment will touch 70 percent of all TV shipments this year.
With the rise of streaming video availability worldwide, especially for globally popular events like World Cup and Olympics, clubbed with the continued growth for global streaming video services has lead to a strong growth in smart TV sales in past few years, Paul Gagnon, R&A, executive director, IHS Markit, stated in the report.
Just last week, OnePlus announced the development of its first USB Type-C headphones that will be available in the market alongside its flagship model, estimated to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2018. As per company claims, the headphones, named OnePlus Type C Bullets, will deliver “minimal loss of quality for a superior audio outcome” with the use of USB Type-C interface instead of the traditional 3.5mm connector for sound delivery.
This presence of the USB Type-C interface on OnePlus headphones strongly suggests that the company is ultimately going to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack from its next flagship product launch.
There is a whole lot of updates and information about the announced and yet to be announced OnePlus offerings that are due this year. Keeping visiting us for information about them.
