OnePlus wants to be known not just for releasing high-powered devices at reasonable prices, but also for its personality. It's trying to be quirky yet establish that it's serious, and what was most on display at the recent OnePlus 5T launch was that this company is willing to reverse course. During the keynote, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei and his co-presenters spent a lot of time recapping the company's history, which doesn't even span four years. Pei didn't shy away from acknowledging the relative failures of the OnePlus 2 (Review) and OnePlus X (Review), promising to do better in the future. It was a performance not only for the press covering a product launch, but also for the fans, analysts, and investors watching who need to be convinced that OnePlus wants to earn its customers' loyalty.

Gadgets 360 spoke to OnePlus co-founders Carl Pei and Pete Lau shortly after the OnePlus 5T (Review) launch event in New York City. Lau spoke in Chinese, and Pei provided translations. We were curious not only about the new device, but also about the company's overall direction and plans for the future.