OnePlus may be expanding its reach into the U.S. market next year. The brand currently sells the OnePlus 6T and OnePlus 7 Pro in the States, but the OnePlus 6T and 4G 7 Pro are only sold through the OnePlus Store online or through T-Mobile, while the 5G 7 Pro is now carried by Sprint. Next year, however, we're hearing that Verizon Wireless may carry OnePlus smartphones, and it could either be an entirely new device or a special "McLaren Edition" of the upcoming 5G OnePlus 7T Pro.
First, according to a source speaking to AndroidPolice, Verizon has reportedly signed a partnership with OnePlus to start selling the latter's smartphones in 2020. What's unclear, however, is when exactly the phone will hit retail shelves and whether or not the phone will support Verizon's mmWave 5G network. Both the OnePlus 6T and OnePlus 7 Pro are compatible with Verizon's LTE network, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see OnePlus phones in Verizon stores.
What is a surprise, however, is how quickly OnePlus is expanding in the U.S. Just recently the company announced a partnership with Sprint for the latter to carry the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G. OnePlus seems to be doing quite well for itself in America if they're able to ink deals with two major U.S. carriers in such a short time. The brand plans on launching the OnePlus 7T series in 10 days, but the current rumors suggest that the 7T "Pro" model won't be available in the U.S. The OnePlus 7 never launched in the U.S., and the OnePlus 7T Pro is rumored to carry only minor upgrades over the OnePlus 7 Pro. Thus, this strategy makes sense if OnePlus wants to refresh the OnePlus 6T with a better processor, better cameras, and a better screen while also possibly undercutting Google on the Pixel 4.
If Max J., a leaker with a growing list of credible leaks under his belt, is correct, then Verizon may exclusively carry the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition. The leaker hasn't shared any details on when this Verizon-exclusive model will launch, so it might not be the same device that AndroidPolice believes will be sold through Verizon. We also aren't sure if "OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition" will be the phone's actual name, but Verizon is no stranger to excessively long smartphone names. If this smartphone actually exists, then we expect it to support Verizon's mmWave 5G network, sport a unique design, and offer slightly improved hardware. The OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition offered more RAM and faster charging, after all.
We'll find out more information about the 7T and 7T Pro in a few weeks. We've opened up forums for the 7T as that model has been confirmed already, so feel free to join the forums if you're interested in OnePlus' late 2019 flagship.