Renders show a comic book-inspired budget OnePlus phone that never happened
Alleged OnePlus Nord SE renders
OnePlus was earlier expected to launch a slightly upgraded version of the OnePlus Nord around the same time as the OnePlus 9 series. The phone would have been known as the OnePlus SE and even though the Chinese company has seemingly scrubbed the release, we now know how it would have looked, thanks to leaker Max Jambor.
The SE (Special Edition) version of the Nord was reportedly being made in collaboration with visual artist Joshua Vides, who has also previously worked with the likes of luxury fashion house Fendi and OnePlus' sister company Oppo. Reports had suggested that the phone would flaunt a new design, but Recalled says that the SE was in essence just the 12GB Gray Ash Nord with a few add ons.
It was to come in a special box from Vides' Reality to Idea design studio with a tote and back cover. Contrary to rumors, the handset wasn't going to feature custom wallpapers. Instead, the case package would have had a QR code for a stylized wallpaper.
Limited edition version of the Oppo Reno 5 Pro+ made in collaboration with designer Joshua Vides
Sketches of the retail box of the Nord SE leaked back in October 2020 and they had implied that the handset would have a comic book-inspired design, something Vides is known for. New images show that it was basically just a Nord with extravagant packaging.
Why was the Nord SE shelved?
The original Nord comes with a 6.44 inches 90Hz AMOLED screen, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip, a quad-camera array (48MP main shooter + 8MP ultrawide sensor + 5MP depth module + 2MP macro unit), and a 4,115mAh battery with 30W charging.
The SE would have featured lastly the same specs, with the exception of a larger 4,500mAh cell and 65W fast charging tech, if reports are to go by.
The phone was seemingly going to be offered in a 12GB/256GB configuration, and the company was looking at a slightly higher price tag (£499) than the Nord model with the same memory specs (£469).
The Nord SE was apparently ready to go and it may have been shelved because the Nord 2 is not too far off. The Snapdragon 765G is also a year old now and was recently succeeded by the Snapdragon 780G.
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