OnePlus exits US and Europe markets
▼ Summary
– OnePlus is exiting the US and European markets and will no longer launch new products there.
– Oppo will honor existing support and warranty agreements, and OnePlus devices will transition to Oppo’s ColorOS for future updates.
– OnePlus may leave India and all other markets except China by next year, according to a Bloomberg report.
– Oppo’s sub-brand Realme will focus on overseas markets and stop launching new products in China.
– OnePlus is still preparing to release the OnePlus 16 flagship, but it is unclear if it will launch outside China.
OnePlus has officially confirmed its departure from the US and European markets, marking the end of an era for the brand in those regions. Parent company Oppo has pledged to uphold all existing support and warranty agreements, with devices gradually migrating to its ColorOS platform for future software updates.
“Software updates and after-sale support will be guaranteed” across the US and Europe, James Paterson, Oppo’s senior PR manager in Europe, confirmed during a call with The Verge. However, the company declined to provide specifics on how it will manage warranty and support obligations in the US, where it will now have no physical presence. In Europe, Oppo itself will continue selling phones and other products.
To deliver ongoing software support, devices will shift from OnePlus’ OxygenOS to Oppo’s ColorOS “in the coming months,” Paterson explained. Oppo Europe CEO Elvis Zhou added that users can choose to revert to OxygenOS if they wish, though that likely means forgoing future updates. My advice: embrace the switch. Aside from Google’s Pixel lineup, ColorOS is currently my top pick for an Android skin, with differences from OxygenOS largely cosmetic.
Regarding OnePlus’ future, Zhou repeatedly avoided specifying which markets the brand still serves or will serve. A Bloomberg report this week suggested that by next year, OnePlus will exit India and all other remaining markets except China. In a statement following that report, Oppo PR representative Nicole Okpokiri confirmed only that “OnePlus’ product roadmap in China remains unchanged,” a remark that does little to inspire confidence.
The same statement revealed that Oppo’s other sub-brand, Realme, is also undergoing restructuring. Realme “will focus on overseas markets and no longer launch new products in China.”
When pressed about job losses tied to OnePlus’ downsizing, Zhou would only say the process was handled “in full accordance with the relevant laws and regulations,” and that some employees were offered positions within Oppo. He declined to disclose how many workers were given that choice or how many left the company.
OnePlus is still preparing to release its next flagship, the OnePlus 16, though it remains uncertain whether that device will debut outside China. Oppo’s own upcoming flagship line, the Find X10 series, is on the horizon, alongside rumors of a wide foldable phone designed to compete with the form factor both Samsung and Apple are expected to adopt this year.
(Source: The Verge)
