OnePlus has been known as the maker of budget, high spec smartphones. However, after longtime success, it looks like the company plans to expand its business into the TV industry. The China manufacturer introduces the OnePlus TV, a Smart TV which may launch as early as 2019.
According to CEO Pete Lau, the company intends to brave into this world whilst the era of connectivity is still blooming. The introduction of 5G and artificial intelligence makes perfect grounds for the company to look into a connective Smart TV. In a conversation with Business Insider, he also mentions that the current market of TVs haven’t quite embraced the internet as it could. The idea is to make the Smart TV more than just a display device. Instead, it will also control other devices and respond to queries within the smart home.
Excited to take the next step forward together! What would you like to see in the OnePlus TV? Have ideas for a name? ✍️Let us know here: https://t.co/IpSnDtPxkT
— Pete Lau (@PeteLau) September 17, 2018
The OnePlus TV is still in early development, and the company has not shared the operating software it intends to use. However, OnePlus has voiced an intent to support its TVs for about five years, longer than they do smartphones. This is because people buy TVs less frequently. Smartphone support is also in the works, and may possibly allow display of photos from the phone, which Lau notes as still difficult to achieve in the industry.
It’s certainly interesting that OnePlus is jumping in on this market. With the rise of smartphones as a convenient viewing tool in a connected world, the TV market has had trouble retaining its customer base, let alone expand it. Perhaps the company sees an opportunity in becoming a leader in the market through groundbreaking innovation. Only time will tell how this will pan out.
