WolkyTech

OnePlus9Lite May Not come to the US — What you Need to Know

Smartphones

We've been hearing rumors of the OnePlus 9 Lite for a while now, and while we like the idea of a cheaper version of the upcoming OnePlus 9, it may not be all good news.

According to Twitter leaker TechDroider, the OnePlus 9 Lite will launch in China, India, and possibly the EU; TechDroider notes that the OnePlus 9 Lite is currently listed under two model numbers: LE2100 and LE2101. It is not clear which one is headed to which country, although it suggests that there are minor differences between the two. It is likely due to differences in what is and is not allowed in China and India, but it is equally unclear what those differences are.

It is not clear why the OnePlus 9 Lite will not be released in the U.S. and will likely be compared to the original OnePlus Nord. This mid-range smartphone was launched last August in select markets including India, the UK, and the EU.

However, American buyers were left behind. We suspect this was because the combination of the US carrier-based sales system and tight profit margins meant that it just didn't work. Instead we were forced to wait several months for the cheaper but clearly underperforming OnePlus Nord N10 5G and N100.

A similar situation may be happening with the OnePlus 9 Lite, given its positioning as a "cheaper" version of the OnePlus 9 series. Even if it were powered by last year's Snapdragon 865 (which is still a very powerful chip), OnePlus may end up selling this phone at a similarly tight profit margin. In other words, it may not be sold by carriers and may not be sold in the US. But that idea does not explain why this phone might miss the European market.

Of course, this is pure speculation based on the assumption that TechDroider's information is accurate. At this stage we don't know for sure and will have to wait for OnePlus to set the record straight; the OnePlus 9 is scheduled to launch in March, so we shouldn't have to wait too long.

Thankfully, the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro should arrive in the US and Europe as usual. We will pass along more information as it becomes available.