OnePlus 8T may not be joined by an 8T Pro, and we can take a good guess why

OnePlus 7T
OnePlus 7T (Image credit: Future)

The last few generations of OnePlus flagships have all been accompanied by Pro variants, but the OnePlus 8T might be the first since 2018 not to.

That's according to Twitter leaked Max J – and they have a fairly solid track record when it comes to leaks, so it's worth paying attention. In a tweet, Max J shared a picture of the word 'Kebab2', crossed out by a 'no entry' symbol – if you're confused at this point, bear with us. 

'Kebab' is rumored to be the codename for the OnePlus 8T – phones from the company always have snack food codenames – and OnePlus watchers replying to  Max J took the image to mean there won't be a OnePlus 8T Pro. Max J clarified that this was what he was suggesting in a subsequent tweet.

If this leaker is correct, the OnePlus 8T will arrive without a more powerful sibling, and if that's the case OnePlus phone fans might be disappointed – but we can think of a very simple reason why there might only be one 8T device.

Blame the OnePlus Nord

OnePlus upset its release schedule this year by bringing out the OnePlus Nord, an affordable 5G phone which harkens back to the days when OnePlus phones were considered 'flagship killers', rather than flagships themselves.

People looking for a lower-cost OnePlus phone, who in previous years might have opted for the non-Pro device, are now catered for by the Nord, so there's no need for the company to put out a flagship phone that cuts a few corners in order to keep the price down.

The OnePlus 8T can be a full-blown 'Pro' device in all but name, with all the top specs and features users would expect, and the company wouldn't need to put out a separate device for those looking for a more affordable option – and that would especially be the case if, as some think, a OnePlus Nord Lite is launched soon.

Still, this is all speculation and rumor, and it's likely that we'll need to wait until the OnePlus 8T launch before we know for certain that there won't be a Pro version. That launch is expected to take place some time in October, and stay tuned to TechRadar for any more leaks or information that surface.

Tom Bedford
Contributor

Tom Bedford joined TechRadar in early 2019 as a staff writer, and left the team as deputy phones editor in late 2022 to work for entertainment site (and TR sister-site) What To Watch. He continues to contribute on a freelance basis for several sections including phones, audio and fitness.

Latest in OnePlus Phones
OnePlus 13
OnePlus is ditching the Alert Slider for an iPhone-style customizable button - and I’ll be sad to see it go
OnePlus Open camera bump up close
Bad news: the OnePlus Open 2 won’t be released in 2025, OnePlus confirms
The Oppo Find N5 next to the Galaxy Z Fold 6
OnePlus Open 2 could make the Galaxy Fold 6 look old with invisible crease, according to new teaser
OnePlus 13R from the back
New OnePlus Mini 13 leak suggests its camera setup won't be as impressive as we thought
OnePlus Open
Oppo is launching the world's thinnest foldable in two weeks – and the OnePlus Open 2 should follow soon
OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open 2 rumored to get a camera upgrade even the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn't have
Latest in News
Robert Downey Jr reveals himself as Doctor Doom to a delighted crowd at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
Marvel is about to make a major announcement about the MCU, and nobody's sure what it'll be
Nintendo Switch Lite
Forget the Nintendo Switch 2, the original Switch is getting one last hurrah in a surprise Nintendo Direct tomorrow
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display the January 22, 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge colors seemingly revealed in new video, and there’s another sign of an imminent launch
Image of Naoe in AC Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows best graphics settings for PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X
Promotional image for Malcolm in the Middle featuring the original cast playing golf
Malcolm in the Middle's Disney+ revival gets underway as the series finds its cast – here's which characters are returning
Group of people meeting
Inflexible work policies are pushing tech workers to quit