Samsung has already taken the wraps off its long-awaited Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones and Xiaomi has also launched the Mi 6 smartphone, and latest rumors suggest Apple is nowhere close to unveiling its 10th anniversary iPhone. As a result, smartphone enthusiasts have their eye on the next big smartphone -- the OnePlus 5.

OnePlus is skipping the number four and directly jumping to the OnePlus 5 since the aforesaid number is considered ill-fated in China. Now, the development of the device has finally kicked off, and this exciting revelation was made by OnePlus CEO Pete Lau.

In a blog post published on the company's official website, Lau confirmed that employees are currently hard at works on a 'big surprise' for its loyalists. Later, he shared a post on Weibo (via Gadgets 360) and inspirited the team to continue their mission. The said image features laborers who are seen working on a smartphone, implying that the company is actually working on a new smartphone i.e. the OnePlus 5.

The translated message on the image reads, 'indulge in labor without a break, just to make a big surprise.' The message is posted by Liu Zuotu, whose profile on Weibo indicates he is chief executive of A plus technology and a mobile phone founder.

Touted as the next 'flagship killer,' OnePlus 5 was spotted online (via IndiaToday) in the form of the render of the smartphone, though the images were not spared from flaws. Since then, a bunch of photos allegedly clicked by the OnePlus 5 and its EXIF information seems to have found their way on the internet.

One of the recently surfaced images aligns perfectly with previous rumors that indicated the OnePlus 5 might come with a dual rear camera setup. The EXIF information of the images confirms that the photos could have been clicked by the OnePlus 5 smartphone. The EXIF data hint at focal length, model, aperture, and shutter speed and a slew of other details related to the images. Also, the EXIF data show the device model listed as ONEPLUS A5000, BGR reported.

Nevertheless, the Shenzhen-based handset manufacturer is unlikely to deviate from its emphasis on offering the best of specifications at an affordable price point. Lau does not divulge details about the OnePlus 5's hardware; however, the device is likely to boast a considerable upgrade. Here's a rundown on OnePlus 5's rumored specifications.

OnePlus 5 Specifications

Dual rear cameras
No standard home button, slim bezels
8GB of RAM
5.5-inch display, 2K resolution
3,000mAh battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

OnePlus 5 Release Date

The next OnePlus handset is expected to launch in the second half of 2017, bearing an affordable price tag, but that's a mere speculation at the moment. However, OnePlus might spill the beans about the device's exact launch date, price, and other details sooner rather than later so stay tuned in here for more OnePlus 5-related news and updates!