OnePlus promises another new smartphone for Christmas

This isn't the only OnePlus handset coming this year. Photo: OnePlus

This isn’t the only OnePlus handset coming this year. Photo: OnePlus

OnePlus just unveiled its long-awaited OnePlus 2, which will go on sale in select markets next week — and it won’t be the only handset the Chinese startup launches this year. Company CEO Carl Pei has confirmed that a second addition to its lineup will arrive in time for Christmas.

We’ve long heard rumors that OnePlus is planning a smaller, more affordable device to appeal to smartphone users who don’t like large “phablets,” and we’ve even seen leaked images of a supposed “OnePlus One Mini” with a 5-inch display.

When the OnePlus 2 was announced last week, however, it wasn’t accompanied by any other devices, but now it seems OnePlus is saving its second model for later this year — perhaps when it has finally caught up with demand for its latest flagship.

Pei did not confirm whether the upcoming device would be smaller than the OnePlus 2, however — nor did he spill any of its specifications. For now, then, all we know is that another OnePlus handset of some kind is being planned for late 2015.

“It may or may not be (higher spec’d than the OnePlus 2),” Pei told USA Today.

“When I saw the prototype for that phone I was like ‘holy s— that’s going to be my daily driver’ but then when the OnePlus 2 production version came out it’s also super nice, so its really hard to decide now what to use.”

In the meantime, the OnePlus 2 is already off to a promising start, with more than 1 million people registering their interest in an invite.