OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro Pricing Leaked Online?
Yes, pricing for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro leaked online before their official announcement, with the standard model reportedly starting at €699 and the Pro model at €899 in Europe. These leaks came from well-known tipsters and retailer listings, and while they were not officially confirmed at the time, they closely matched the final launch prices in many regions. Below is a detailed look at what leaked, how the pricing compared to previous models, and what buyers should know.
Background: The OnePlus 8 Series and Its Pricing History
OnePlus has traditionally positioned its phones as “flagship killers,� offering high-end specs at lower prices than Samsung or Apple. The OnePlus 7 Pro (2019) started at $669, and the OnePlus 7T at $599. By 2020, the company was moving toward a more premium pricing strategy, partly due to 5G components and higher refresh rate displays. The leaked OnePlus 8 pricing reflected this shift: the base 8 was expected to cost more than the 7T, and the 8 Pro was expected to rival the Galaxy S20 in price.
What the Leaks Said: Exact Figures and Sources
In March and April 2020, multiple leaks surfaced from sources like @OnLeaks and various European retailers. The most commonly cited figures were:
- OnePlus 8 (8GB/128GB): €699 – €719
- OnePlus 8 (12GB/256GB): €799
- OnePlus 8 Pro (8GB/128GB): €899 – €949
- OnePlus 8 Pro (12GB/256GB): €999 – €1,049
US pricing was also leaked, with the OnePlus 8 starting at $699 and the Pro at $899. These numbers were later confirmed at the official launch on April 14, 2020, for most regions, though some carrier-exclusive variants had different prices.
How the Leaks Compared to Official Launch Prices
At the global launch, OnePlus announced:
- OnePlus 8 (8GB/128GB): $699 / €699
- OnePlus 8 (12GB/256GB): $799 / €799
- OnePlus 8 Pro (8GB/128GB): $899 / €899
- OnePlus 8 Pro (12GB/256GB): $999 / €999
Thus, the leaks were nearly spot-on for the US and most of Europe. Some European retailers initially listed higher prices (e.g., €949 for the Pro), likely due to VAT differences or early listings that were later corrected. The leaked prices were accurate enough that they gave potential buyers a reliable expectation before the official announcement.
Why Pricing Leaks Happen and How Reliable They Are
Pricing leaks typically come from three sources:
- Retailer databases: Online stores often create product pages before launch, and the prices they input may be placeholders or final.
- Carrier internal systems: Telecom operators sometimes load pricing into their systems for pre-orders, and that data can be accessed by tipsters.
- Supply chain documents: Component costs and BOM (bill of materials) estimates can be used to predict final prices, but these are less precise.
Reliability varies. Retailer listings are often accurate, but they can also be wrong if the store uses a placeholder price to reserve a SKU. Tipsters with a good track record (like Evan Blass) are more trustworthy. For the OnePlus 8 series, the leaks were unusually consistent across multiple sources, which is why they turned out to be correct.
Common Misconceptions About the Leaked Pricing
One misconception is that the leaked prices were “official� or “confirmed� by OnePlus. They were not—they were third-party estimates. Another is that the leaked prices applied globally. In reality, prices varied by region due to taxes, import duties, and carrier subsidies. For example, in India, the OnePlus 8 launched at ₹41,999 (about $550), which was lower than the US price, while in the UK, prices included 20% VAT, making them higher than the US figures. A third misconception is that the Pro model’s higher price was only due to the display; in fact, it also had a larger battery, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating, which added to the cost.
How to Evaluate Future Pricing Leaks
If you see a pricing leak for a new phone, here’s how to assess its credibility:
- Check if multiple independent sources report the same figure.
- Look for retailer listings that include a specific SKU and storage configuration.
- Compare the leaked price to the previous generation’s launch price and to competitors.
- Be wary of prices that seem too low or too high—they may be placeholder values.
- Wait for a second round of leaks closer to launch, as early leaks are often revised.
For the OnePlus 8 series, the leaks were reliable because they matched the company’s upward pricing trend and were confirmed by multiple sources within days of each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the leaked OnePlus 8 prices accurate?
Yes, for the most part. The leaked US prices ($699 for the 8, $899 for the 8 Pro) were exactly what OnePlus announced. European prices also matched, though some early retailer listings showed higher figures that were later corrected. The leaks were accurate enough that they gave buyers a solid expectation.
Why did the OnePlus 8 Pro cost so much more than the OnePlus 8?
The Pro had several upgrades: a 120Hz QHD+ display (vs. 90Hz FHD+), a larger 4510mAh battery (vs. 4300mAh), wireless charging (30W), an IP68 water resistance rating, and a more advanced camera system with a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultrawide. These components and features justified the $200 price gap.
Did the leaked prices include taxes?
In Europe, the leaked prices typically included VAT (value-added tax), which is why they were higher than the US prices (where taxes are added at checkout). For example, the €699 price for the OnePlus 8 included 19-20% VAT, so the pre-tax price was around €580. In the US, the $699 price did not include sales tax.
How does the OnePlus 8 pricing compare to the Samsung Galaxy S20?
The Galaxy S20 launched at $999, while the OnePlus 8 Pro was $899. The standard OnePlus 8 at $699 was significantly cheaper than the Galaxy S20, making it a strong value proposition. OnePlus undercut Samsung by $100-$300, which was a key selling point.
Should I wait for the official announcement before pre-ordering?
Yes, it’s wise to wait for the official announcement because leaks can be wrong, and pre-order bonuses (like free earbuds or trade-in deals) are only announced at launch. In the case of the OnePlus 8 series, the official prices matched the leaks, but you could have missed out on launch-day promotions if you pre-ordered based solely on leaks.
Do leaked prices affect the resale value of the phone?
Not directly. Resale value is determined by the actual market price, not leaks. However, if a phone launches at a higher price than expected, it may depreciate faster; if it launches lower, it may hold value better. For the OnePlus 8, the official price was in line with leaks, so there was no surprise impact on resale.
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