OnePlus tipped to release a new compact flagship phone with Snapdragon 8 Elite

OnePlus is reportedly gearing up to launch a new compact smartphone, which, according to Digital Chat Station, will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite. This isn't the first time the Weibo tipster has reported about such a device. A report from last month also suggested the same, but the prominent leaker didn't share much information about the phone back then.

Now, Digital Chat Station reports that the compact OnePlus phone will have a 6.3X-inch screen, which suggests that it would go against the Vivo X200 Pro Mini. However, like that compact flagship phone from Vivo, OnePlus' upcoming offering will see a compromise in the camera hardware.

More specifically, the Weibo tipster reports that there won't be a periscope sensor, something that's present in the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered OnePlus 13. The good part is that it will reportedly sport a capable primary camera, which is said to be the 50 MP Sony IMX906 sensor. 

In the same report, a Digital Chat Station tipster says that it won't have the same off-centered circular camera island on the back. Instead, the rumored compact phone will feature a "horizontal" island, similar to what the Google Pixel phones have (128 GB Pixel 9 curr. $637.98 on Amazon).

Digital Chat Station adds that OnePlus has an engineering sample ready for the compact smartphone. With this prototype unit, the company is said to be testing whether to use a single-point ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Previously, the prominent leaker reported that this compact phone would launch in China under the Ace brand, possibly as the Ace 5 Mini.

However, it may not debut alongside the other Ace 5 phones, which will launch in China later this month. Instead, the compact OnePlus phone is expected to debut in the second quarter of 2025 in China.