The writing has been on the wall for months, but this week may finally bring the moment of truth. If the latest rumors prove accurate, OnePlus could be about to shut down its global operations, bringing one of Android’s most recognizable brands to an abrupt end.
OnePlus started off as an independent brand. Then, in the past few years, Oppo’s influence over it grew from an open secret for those in the know to a very obvious fact.
OnePlus’ transition into oblivion may be finalized later this week, according to a new report from a usually reliable source. Oppo and OnePlus are allegedly going to announce some “fundamental changes” to their strategy in the next few days. Apparently, what this means is that OnePlus will completely disappear from key markets like Europe and the US.
OnePlus 15 might be the last OnePlus flagship
Oppo will, at the same time, expand into new markets in Europe, presumably to fill the void left by OnePlus’ withdrawal (though how it plans to fill that void with more expensive devices, which Oppo smartphones definitely are compared to OnePlus handsets, is unclear).
Updates and support for OnePlus devices will, however, continue until the end of their respective lifecycles. The remaining stock of OnePlus devices is being sold off in the coming weeks and months, with no further stock expected and no new products in the pipeline for Europe and the US. In India and China, OnePlus may become a mere sub-brand of Oppo and nothing more, focusing on low-priced smartphones and tablets.
Let’s see if all of this turns out to be true. What are your thoughts? If this pans out, are you sad to see OnePlus go? Let us know in the comments.
Source (in German)
