OnePlus who is known for its smartphones will foray into the TV market with the goal to create the “Smart TV of the future”. The first product will be called ‘OnePlus TV’, the company has announced.
OnePlus is developing a Smart TV
OnePlus will for the first time venture into a new consumer electronics segment but it is not one of the mobile segments. The Chinese company will instead focus on connected TVs.
The new TV division will be led by Pete Lau, founder and CEO of OnePlus. He will continue to be responsible for the smartphone division, too.
- “I dream about a time when technology is truly seamless, an effortless part of your life without being the focus. As other consumer electronics have evolved and improved our lives, televisions have remained conventional and cumbersome," said Pete Lau, founder of OnePlus. "We bring inherent advantages to the industry, and with this new division, we’re excited to explore the total connected user experience that can enhance everyday life."
OnePlus has not revealed details but said that it will focus on solving the same challenges in the area of TVs that they have focused on solving for smartphones. Specifically this means “striking the right balance between premium hardware and the latest technology as well as creating a seamless user experience in a minimalistic and timeless design”, the company said.
- "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 Lau.
Will be called OnePlus TV
The TV market is dominated by the two South Korean manufacturers. The Japanese companies are still in the game but have lost strength and market share over the last decade. Besides OnePlus, TCL, Hisense, and other Chinese companies are also trying to enter the US and Europe.
So what can we expect? Is this yet another Android-based TV or something entirely else? Will it have tuners or will the company focus on streaming? All we know right now is that it will be called the 'OnePlus TV' and that it may launch in 2019.
- Source: OnePlus, press release
