OnePlus set to enter smart TV market, intents to bring 'intelligent connectivity'

Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has announced to enter smart TV business. The new segment will be controlled by company’s CEO and founder Pete Lau. The smart TV business announcement comes after OnePlus announced its first USB Type-C headphones that will debut alongside its next flagship handset that is so far rumoured as the OnePlus 6T. The new model will be the successor to the OnePlus 6 that was launched earlier this year. OnePlus TV is expected to debut sometime in 2019.

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“It is a natural extension for OnePlus to address gaps in the television industry, which it tackled in the smartphone market - balancing high-quality hardware with the latest in technology, developing a seamless user experience, and crafting hardware that is minimalistic and timeliness in design,” said Pete Lau.

Users can expect “premium flagship design, image quality and audio experience” from its new device. OnePlus is expected to add Artificial Intelligence and next-generation 5G connectivity to drive its new business.

“For most of us, there are four major environments we experience each day: the home, the workplace, the commute, and being on-the-move. The home - perhaps the most important environment experience - is just starting to enjoy the benefits of intelligent connectivity. Something that seems as simple as displaying the photos from your mobile phone to a television is still difficult to achieve. With the development of AI technology, our imagination is endless – and we are looking forward to the future,” said Pete Lau.

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The smart TV has internally been called the OnePlus TV by the company. OnePlus has called its followers across globe to help name the upcoming smart TV before October 17. The company will later announce the top 10 names on October 31. OnePlus will be giving away free OnePlus Bullets Wireless to the finalists. Name of the winner will be announced before December 31.  OnePlus said it is taking feedback from its users on what should be included in its new smart TV.

OnePlus is not the first company to ask its fans to name the product. In 2006, Android Nougat by Google was also named by its users. 

The ‘Never Settle’ company offers a variety of headphones, mobile phone accessories, backpacks apart from its smartphones in India.