OnePlus 9R will launch in India alongside the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro on March 23, OnePlus Co-Founder and CEO Pete Lau confirmed in a media interview. The smartphone was initially rumoured as the OnePlus 9 Lite and later speculation was that it would be called the OnePlus 9E. Lau said that the OnePlus 9R will bring a “robust flagship experience at a more accessible price point.” Despite being more affordable than the other two OnePlus 9-series phones, the OnePlus 9R is expected to have a high screen refresh rate and 5G support.
The OnePlus 9R will feature “smooth scrolling, immersive gaming controls, and a superior viewing experience” to bring a flagship-like experience, Lau said in an interview with News18. Although the executive didn’t provide any clear details about the pricing part, he did suggest that the new phone would come under the mid-range price segment. It is also described as a “premium-tier device” in the company’s 2021 portfolio.
Lau said that the plan with the OnePlus 9R is to “go even further” than the company did with the OnePlus Nord last year, in terms of bringing out “a balanced handset with the latest technology and class-leading industrial design”. The smartphone appears to be targeted at mobile gamers. However, it isn’t likely to have advancements such as dedicated game controls, support for accessories to enhance your gameplay experience, or top-notch hardware. You’ll get all this on a traditional gaming phone, such as the recently launched Asus ROG Phone 5.