Cryptocurrency is becoming the new fad lately as more corporations jump the train, and it seems Chinese phone maker OnePlus is planning to bring their own new cryptocurrency. In a recently released YouTube video titled ‘Change is coming’, the company’s co-founder Carl Pei teases the OnePlus is now setting out to “reimagine one of the most fundamental elements of our everyday lives – currency.” The 30-second clip has many other references to the cryptocurrency. A text says, “Blockchain Meets Never Settle” and in the end, there is spinning gold coin with a OnePlus logo on one side, and face of co-founder Pei on the other. There is also a parody of United States motto “E pluribus unum”, written as “E PLURIBUS PEI-UM”. The video says OnePlus will be revealing more information about their “Bitcoin-killer” on March 30.
So is OnePlus really planning to launch cryptocurrency of its own? Probably not. Reports hint the video of part of OnePlus’ April Fools Day pranks and they are most likely right. The Chinese phone maker is known to go practical with its April Fool’s pranks. OnePlus has a history of making such jokes, having started three years back with a DR-1 drone which actually went on sale.
In 2016, the company jokingly announced a “sandstone technology”, allowing consumers to add sandstone finish to everyday products to prevent them from slipping from hands. Last year OnePlus’ April Fool’s Day prank involved launching a Dash Energy drink which was actually made available at select locations around the world.
With April Fool’s Day still two days away, it seems OnePlus is making the most of the joke, and it will as well make some announcement in coming days as part of the jest.
On the more serious side of things, OnePlus has confirmed their upcoming flagship the OnePlus 6 will come with a screen notch. The company shared its first official image of the smartphone with The Verge, and Pei justified the notch stating that it allows for screen real estate on the phone without taking anything away.
Previously Pei had indicated plans to release the OnePlus 6 by the end of second quarter. With company’s older flagship out of stock in most parts of the world, the launch of the new device is expected to be happening sooner.
OnePlus is an over-hyped device manufacturer.