OnePlus 6T: Five things I want to see

The OnePlus 6T is expected to make its debut towards the end of the year and will likely be a minor upgrade over its predecessor. The company is doing a great job at keeping details under wraps for now, so there’s no word on exactly what it will bring to the table. However, I have a few features in mind that would make the device a worthy upgrade over the OnePlus 6 without raising its price by much — or at all.

OnePlus 6T wishlist: IP rating

Virtually every flagship released in 2018 is water and dust resistant, except the OnePlus 6. The phone can handle splashes of water, so it shouldn’t stop working if you get caught in the rain while using it, but it’s not officially IP rated.

I want to see this change with its successor. I want to see OnePlus make a step forward and add either an IP67 or IP68 rating to the 6T, which would be a first for the company. This would make the device a lot more appealing, as it would give users peace of mind in case they accidentally get it wet.

As a refresher, an IP67-rated smartphone can survive in up to 1 meter of water (3.3 feet) for no longer than 30 minutes, while an IP68 rated handset should typically continue working if submerged in up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) of water for 30 minutes or less. Both ratings also ensure a device is dust tight.

OnePlus 6T wishlist: Wireless charging

The OnePlus 6 doesn’t support wireless charging even though it has a glass back. In an interview with Business Insider, a OnePlus representative said, “We don’t really feel the need to add wireless charging. We’re not going to add a feature just for the sake of it.”

Hopefully, the company will change its mind about this and add wireless charging to the OnePlus 6T. Even though the manufacturer seems to be treating it as an unimportant feature, lots of OnePlus fans would love to see it on the upcoming device. Smartphones typically have to be charged every day or so depending on use, and it’s a lot more comfortable to place it on a pad instead of plugging it in manually.

Read next: Best phones with wireless charging in 2018

Even car manufacturers have started embracing the feature, with a lot of them installing wireless charging pads into their vehicles. I’ve also seen these charging pads in loads of restaurants and coffee shops across Europe, which shows how popular the feature is becoming.

OnePlus 6T wishlist: A larger battery

The battery life of the OnePlus 6 isn’t bad. In our review, our very own Andrew Grush and David Imel both got an average screen-on time of around 5.5 hours. I think there’s room for improvement.

The OnePlus 6’s battery size is average at best, coming in at 3,300mAh. The HUAWEI P20 Pro, for example, has roughly the same footprint but manages to pack a massive 4,000mAh battery under the hood. I want to see a larger battery in the 6T, and the P20 Pro is proof it can be done. OnePlus doesn’t have to go all out and opt for a 4,000mAh battery like Huawei’s flagship, but bumping the capacity up to at least 3,500mAh is the way to go.

This would put the OnePlus 6T on par with devices like the Galaxy S9 Plus and extend the already decent battery life of the OnePlus 6.

OnePlus 6T wishlist: A headphone jack

As most companies, OnePlus likes to follow the latest market trends. It ditched metal for glass on the OnePlus 6 and also opted for a notch. The next step could be the removal of the headphone jack, which is something I hope won’t happen.

The headphone jack is still an essential part of a smartphone for a lot of people — I wouldn’t buy one without it. I listen to music all the time and don’t want a pair of Bluetooth headphones because they don’t always offer the same audio quality as wired ones.

I also don’t want to use USB Type-C headphones (or a dongle) because I can’t listen to music and charge my phone at the same time. A lot of people feel the same way, which is why OnePlus should keep the headphone jack on the upcoming 6T.

OnePlus 6T wishlist: Same colors for all storage variants

The OnePlus 6 comes in Mirror Black, Silk White, Red, and Midnight Black. The mid-tier model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and can be yours in all four colors, but the other two storage variants are only available in one color option each. The OnePlus 6 with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage comes in Mirror Black, while the beefed-up 8GB/256GB version can be yours in Midnight Black.

Read next: Do smartphone colors matter?

Colors are important and can play a major role in consumers’ purchasing decisions. That’s why I want all storage variants of the OnePlus 6T to come in every color that will be available. There are a lot of consumers out there who are happy with the entry model of the OnePlus 6 but don’t like the color it comes in. They have to go for the mid-tier model to get the color they really want, which costs $50 more.

You also have people who are willing to buy the most expensive OnePlus 6 model with 256GB of storage but instead settle with the mid-tier offering because of the color. Offering all models in all colors would make things easier for consumers and might even slightly boost OnePlus’ sales.

These are the top five things I want to see on the OnePlus 6T, although a few others come to mind as well. Ditching Gorilla Glass 5 for the recently announced Gorilla Glass 6 would be a great idea, as that would make the device more durable. Using Corning’s Vibrant Ink Jet technology is something to consider as well, as it would allow OnePlus to make the phone stand out from the crowd in the design department. Additionally, I’d also love to see an in-display fingerprint scanner, but only if it works just as good as the one found on the back of the OnePlus 6.

I don’t want to see 3D facial recognition, a third camera on the back, or a higher resolution display because these features could increase the price for quite a bit — which is something OnePlus should avoid at all cost. Adding the five things I’ve mentioned to the OnePlus 6T could result in only a small price hike. It’s also possible pricing would remain exactly the same if the cost of components like the display, chipset, and cameras has gone done since the reveal of the OnePlus 6, which is what I’m hoping for.

What would you like to see on the OnePlus 6T? Let me know by posting a comment down below!