Reports of the OP3's demise appear to be greatly exaggerated

[speedlever]

I've seen several reports that the OP3T will replace the OP3, even in articles over at XDA. And yet here's a site that reports that the OP3 and the OP3T will continue to be produced, sold, and supported side-by-side.

OnePlus 3 Will Be Back In Stock Soon, Says The Company | Androidheadlines.com

I find myself wondering where the authors get their sources of info? Or are they writing pure conjecture?

 

[Aquila]

Not sure. Android Headlines is using Twitter as a source, it's unclear on who the others are using as a source.

 

[schooner]

OP Support told me on twitter directly that the OP3 would continue and would be restocked soon. Everything I read yesterday said otherwise.

 

[speedlever]

It seems to me that OP will be selling 3 variants of the OP3:
OP3 - $399
OP3T/64GB - $439
OP3T/128GB - $479

I have to LOL reading posts over on the OP Reddit and the OP forums at OnePlus with all the angst about how the OP3 is no longer top dog and the users are distressed that OP released an updated phone after just a few months. What a world we live in. Sigh.

 

[Aquila]

It seems to me that OP will be selling 3 variants of the OP3:OP3 - $399OP3T/64GB - $439OP3T/128GB - $479I have to LOL reading posts over on the OP Reddit and the OP forums at OnePlus with all the angst about how the OP3 is no longer top dog and the users are distressed that OP released an updated phone after just a few months. What a world we live in. Sigh.

The OP3 never was the top dog and most OEM's are on a 2 or more phones per year release cycle - IIRC they released a second phone last year too, but it was a downgrade rather than an upgrade to the OP2.

 

[speedlever]

The OP3 was the top dog for OP until the 3T was announced. For whatever reason, a bunch of OP3 owners have their panties in a wad over a supposedly *too soon* release of an updated phone.

 

[libra89]

Not so much, it is done.

OnePlus 3 sales officially discontinued in the US and Europe

 

[speedlever]

Well it sure is confusing. Even in the comments of the link you posted there is info saying the OP3 will continue.

How about OP just clearly stating the facts. That would be helpful.

 

[MRS DIVA]

It would appear there are quite a few new listings for OP3's on ebay (UK). One cheeky person is selling it for £600.

The other prices range from high £300's to mid £400's.

 

[ironass]

The only network that was offering the OnePlus 3, O2 in the U.K., has now dropped the model and is now only showing the OnePlus 3T. See...

O2 UK will sell the OnePlus 3T too, pre-orders start tomorrow - GSMArena.com news

and

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...2F%23contractType%3Dpaymonthly&token=GF5Yf-DT

 

[libra89]

Now, our own Android Central has confirmed that when they run out of OnePlus 3 stock in the U.S., that's the end.
http://www.androidcentral.com/confirmed-oneplus-3-be-discontinued-favor-new-3t-model

As @ironass said, it is already at the end in the UK.

 

[ironass]

It would appear there are quite a few new listings for OP3's on ebay (UK). One cheeky person is selling it for £600.

Thinking about the fall of the British pound on the world currency markets, £600 is going to seem like a bargain by Christmas!

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Thinking about the fall of the British pound on the world currency markets, £600 is going to seem like a bargain by Christmas!

You joke, but I think by Xmas 2020 you'll be right!

 

[Feldon]

Well, I *was* feeling confident in my purchase of the OnePlus 3 less than a month ago...

 

[ben55124]

I would still "settle" for the 3 at $400 vs 3T at $440+. The upgrade is marginal unless you want 128GB. That $40 is likely profit, so OP needs to take away the 3 option and hope their customers don't seek other $400 competitors. I suspect this current $400 segment will trend down, so good luck OP.

 

[speedlever]

Well, I *was* feeling confident in my purchase of the OnePlus 3 less than a month ago...

I am still confident in my OP3 purchase. The release of the 3T takes nothing away from my OP3.

I am frankly embarrassed for OP with some OP3 owners asking for compensation because they bought a product that was quickly supplanted by a newer model.

This is consumer electronics. Get over it or don't participate. Sheesh.

I still think OP should continue the OP3 and offer 3 models for sale. That would give them a viable product that is still below the $400 threshold, which I think is important. Once you get past that number (in my thinking), then it's easier to consider other options around the $500 mark.

I hope it works out well for OP. I'm looking forward to a OnePlus4 and/or OP5 for my next phone. But if support lags, then my purchase decisions going forward will have to be re-thought.

Like having a great price from your service provider, if I don't have service, then the price point is moot. I suspect the same axiom that applies to service providers applies to hardware manufacturers too. Isn't it cheaper to keep a customer than to always be looking for new customers?

 

[Aquila]

I am still confident in my OP3 purchase. The release of the 3T takes nothing away from my OP3.I am frankly embarrassed for OP with some OP3 owners asking for compensation because they bought a product that was quickly supplanted by a newer model.

Agree 100%.

 

[1213 1213]

I would still "settle" for the 3 at $400 vs 3T at $440+. The upgrade is marginal unless you want 128GB. That $40 is likely profit, so OP needs to take away the 3 option and hope their customers don't seek other $400 competitors. I suspect this current $400 segment will trend down, so good luck OP.

Not so much profit for just the 3t, but a transitional phase in increasing their prices. the oneplus 3t won't drop in prices for a while, so I doubt the Oneplus 4 will launch at $400, or $440, but closer to $500.

 

[speedlever]

Not so much profit for just the 3t, but a transitional phase in increasing their prices. the oneplus 3t won't drop in prices for a while, so I doubt the Oneplus 4 will launch at $400, or $440, but closer to $500.

You may be right about that price point. But if so, I think it may be a harder sell unless the rest of the market similarly ups their prices.

I would have thought smartphone pricing in general would have headed downward, not up as the market matures. You can get a lot of laptop for the price of flagship phones these days. Shucks, you can get a lot of laptop for the $400 OP3 price point

The phones I considered in my shopping this year were in the upper $800 range (iP7+, Note7, Pixel XL, etc.). But spending that much $$ for a phone not supported (OS and security updates) more than a couple of years simply did not make economic sense to me. The iPhone is the standout for long term support and my main reason for iOS interest. Even the Pixel drops OS support after 2 years. But I just couldn't make the iOS move. I see enough of that on my iPad mini2.

So to me, the value buy became the OP3 with a near pure Android experience and a reasonable price that would hopefully allow me to upgrade in a couple of years and, after buying 2 phones, still be below the 2016 flagship price point. But if OP is pricing upwards, then my strategy may fail. Regardless, I may be a few bucks north of a 2016 flagship in a couple of years, but still have the latest HW. So maybe it still makes sense as long as OP pricing remains "reasonable".

 

[doa70]

I would have thought smartphone pricing in general would have headed downward, not up as the market matures.

This occurred in the laptop market too. Initially there is a "race to zero" where prices drop. Then as improvements in hardware come along and consumers look for more from a device, prices tend to go back up. Eventually the range of prices becomes the norm as opposed to a couple of key price points like we see now.