New OnePlus 7 leak replaces sliding mechanism with pop-up selfie camera
A new trio of images showing renders of a phone with the OnePlus logo and general design language has surfaced. These pictures, which are attributed to OnLeaks and PriceBaba, show that this device's display stretches from one end of the panel to the other without the need for a bezel at any edge. This is apparently done by incorporating an increasingly familiar component: the pop-up selfie camera.
This kind of notch-alternative had been pioneered by vivo in their Nex S/Ultimate line. It has subsequently been adopted by the OPPO F11 Pro and by some of the upcoming Energizer phones showcased at MWC19. The images show that the "OnePlus 7" also has this feature, which, like the vivo original, is set off-center into the top edge of the phone. For contrast, the second-most recent renders associated with this phone involved a video suggesting that it would include a sliding mechanism; whether it would be motorized like that in the Find X or manual as in the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 was not clear.
Otherwise, the device is shown finished in a reflective material likely to be glass (again). The rear panel also exhibits a triple-camera set-up: a plausible step up from the dual shooter in the OnePlus 6 and 6T. On the other hand, the back does look like an elementary elaboration of that found on those 2018 phones. In addition, the pop-up camera is in exactly the same position as the vivo iteration. This is particularly apparent in the 360-degree video of the same render posted by PriceBaba.
Then again, OnePlus is a BBK Electronics subsidiary, as is OPPO and vivo. Therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that this company could have easy access to the pop-up technology, if this really is the direction in which it wants to go this year. However, by the same token, it could also copy the Find X's automatic slider from last year too.