OnePlus Nord Lite coming? Why it's unlikely to be an entirely different phone

OnePlus X
The OnePlus X - the company's last cheap phone (Image credit: TechRadar)

The upcoming OnePlus Nord will mark the company’s return to the mid-range segment. We might be in for a surprise though, as a new version of the smartphone with different specifications has been spotted for the first time.

The OnePlus Nord is confirmed to launch on July 21 in AR with the Snapdragon 765G chipset. It is the current best SoC available for Android OEMs after the Snapdragon 8 series and is one of the key factors for why the Nord will be priced lower than the flagships. 

However, it seems like the plot won’t be as straightforward as it first appeared to be. Another OnePlus smartphone has now been spotted on benchmarking software Geekbench with even lower specifications.

The unnamed OnePlus device, which has the model number ‘BE2028’, is listed on Geekbench with a single-core score of 609 and a multi-core score of 1,728. What’s more interesting is that it has a base frequency of 1.71GHz which isn’t quite up to Snapdragon 765G standards, but is instead closer to the Snapdragon 690 levels. The RAM on this specific variant is 6GB.

This could mean a couple of things. Firstly, it could be another OnePlus mid-ranger is in the works, presumably at an even lower price point, which may launch alongside the Nord or later. However, we think that it is the most unlikely scenario.

Secondly, it could be an underclocked or binned variant of the Snapdragon 765G for better battery efficiency or lower costs. The chipset codename ‘Lito’ is primarily associated with the 765, which could be an indication of a different variant of the same family of processors. 

Having said that, the source code suggests that the GPU in tow is the Adreno 619, which is the one inside the Snapdragon 690 5G.

There’s even a small possibility that it is another OnePlus device that was once in development but was later canned in favor of the better Snapdragon 765G. The Snapdragon 690 is also a 5G chipset.

Lastly, it could be an  elaborate prank from OnePlus where it has floated testing devices in the market which are never meant to be a retail unit. Though, it remains to be seen what the effort required to create an entirely new smartphone on a different platform is.

Things should get clearer at the OnePlus Nord launch on July 21.

Via GSMArena

Aakash Jhaveri

Aakash is the engine that keeps TechRadar India running, using his experience and ideas to help consumers get to the right products via reviews, buying guides and explainers. Apart from phones, computers and cameras, he is obsessed with electric vehicles.

Latest in OnePlus Phones
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
OnePlus 12 in black and emerald green on cyan background with TechRadar big savings sign
Not interested in the Galaxy S25? The "coolest phone you can buy" is now $200 off
Latest in News
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
New iPhone 17 Air leak may have revealed some key specs – and how it compares to the iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16 Review
Three iPhone 17 model dummy units appear in a hands-on video leak
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display the January 22, 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event.
New Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge may have revealed some key details – including its price
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 10 (game #1141)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 10 (game #372)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 10 (game #638)