OnePlus 10 Ultra: The smartphone world was buzzing with anticipation in early 2022 when rumors began circulating about OnePlus developing an “Ultra” variant of their flagship device. The OnePlus 10 Ultra promised to be the company’s most ambitious smartphone yet, designed to compete directly with Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, this dream device would remain exactly that – a dream that never materialized into reality.
The Rise and Fall of OnePlus’s Ultra Ambitions
OnePlus had already shaken up their traditional release strategy by launching only the OnePlus 10 Pro instead of the usual standard and Pro variants. Industry insiders suggested this change was part of a larger plan to introduce an even more premium “Ultra” model later in the year. The strategy seemed logical – position the Pro as the mainstream flagship while reserving the Ultra designation for a no-compromise, premium device that would justify a price tag exceeding $1000.
Leaker Yogesh Brar first hinted at the device’s existence, claiming OnePlus had entered the testing phase with a smartphone featuring cutting-edge specifications. The device was reportedly being developed in collaboration with Oppo, OnePlus’s parent company, which would have brought additional resources and expertise to the project.
Rumored Specifications That Could Have Changed Everything
The OnePlus 10 Ultra was expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus processor, offering improved performance and efficiency over the standard 8 Gen 1 found in the OnePlus 10 Pro. This upgraded chipset promised 10% better CPU and GPU performance while consuming 15% less power – a combination that would have made the Ultra a powerhouse for gaming and productivity.
Perhaps the most exciting rumored feature was the camera system. Patent filings suggested the device would include OnePlus’s first periscope telephoto lens, potentially offering 5x optical zoom compared to the 3.3x zoom on the Pro model. This would have been achieved through Oppo’s extensive experience with periscope camera technology, finally giving OnePlus a competitive edge in the zoom photography department.
The charging capabilities were also expected to reach new heights. While the OnePlus 10 Pro offered impressive 80W charging globally (65W in North America), the Ultra was rumored to support blazing-fast 150W charging speeds, similar to what OnePlus had implemented in the China-exclusive OnePlus Ace (known as OnePlus 10R in India).
Design Dreams and Display Excellence
Concept renders created by Dutch website LetsGoDigital in collaboration with Concept Creator showed a device that maintained the OnePlus 10 Pro’s design language while incorporating a more sophisticated camera module. The renders suggested a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display with improved color accuracy and potentially even better peak brightness than the already impressive Pro model.
The rumored design included Hasselblad’s second-generation color calibration, building on the partnership that had begun with the OnePlus 9 series. This collaboration was expected to deliver even more natural color reproduction and improved low-light photography capabilities.
Why the Ultra Never Materialized
By mid-2022, it became clear that the OnePlus 10 Ultra would never see the light of day. Industry insider Max Jambor revealed that both the rumored OnePlus 10 and OnePlus 10 Ultra were actually the same device, which would eventually be released as the OnePlus 10T 5G.
This decision reflected OnePlus’s evolving strategy and the practical challenges of maintaining multiple flagship lines. The company was already managing an increasingly complex product portfolio with the Nord series, regional variants, and different charging standards across markets.
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OnePlus 10 Ultra The Legacy of What Could Have Been
The cancellation of the OnePlus 10 Ultra marked a significant moment in the company’s evolution. Instead of pushing boundaries with an ultra-premium device, OnePlus chose to focus on refining their existing formula with the OnePlus 10T, which offered improved performance in a more accessible package.
While enthusiasts may wonder what the OnePlus 10 Ultra could have achieved, the decision probably made business sense. The smartphone market was becoming increasingly competitive, and OnePlus needed to consolidate resources rather than spread them across too many premium variants.
The OnePlus 10 Ultra remains one of tech’s most intriguing “what if” stories – a device that promised to push the boundaries of mobile technology but ultimately became a footnote in OnePlus’s journey toward mainstream success.