OnePlus, McLaren launch new smartphone in China

Smartphone vendor OnePlus is partnering with McLaren to launch a new model in China, as part of its broader push to boost brand image among consumers.

The move makes it the latest Chinese smartphone company to seeking brand cooperation with automobile makers. Huawei has teamed up with Porsche Design to launch a tailor-made edition for its Mate smartphone and OPPO also launched a Lamborghini edition of the flagship OPPO Find X.

The OP6T McLaren edition, priced at 4,599 yuan ($666) in China, comes with a string of advanced features. OnePlus said it has a fast rapid charging technology called Warp Charge, which allows the smartphone to gain half battery power in 20 minutes. The McLaren logo is placed towards the bottom of the rear shell.

The McLaren edition also is available in Europe and India. It is part of broader push by OnePlus to expand its presence in overseas countries and regions. The company also entered the US market earlier this year with the backing of two key local allies - chipmaking giant Qualcomm and mobile operator T-Mobile.

The partnership will allow OnePlus to sell its smartphones in T-Mobile's over 5,600 stores in the US, giving it wider access to local consumers, according to the company.

Pete Lau, founder and chief executive of the five-year-old company, said the secret of OnePlus’s success is paying tremendous attention to product details.