- OnePlus has confirmed that it will leave the United States and Europe
- No new OnePlus products will be launched in any of the regions
- Existing customers will continue to receive promised support and software updates.
OnePlus has confirmed the news everyone feared but also expected: the phone giant is officially leaving the US and Europe, meaning no new products will be launched in either region.
The writing has been on the wall for the Android pioneer in both regions for months. OnePlus canceled two of its most anticipated phones in January, and in recent weeks its website has pushed buyers toward its parent company, Oppo.
Oppo’s head of global public relations, Shuang Chen, confirmed in a briefing that all rights for existing customers “including after-sales support and software updates” will remain “fully guaranteed.”
But what else does this explosive news mean on a sad day for Android? We asked OnePlus and its parent company, Oppo: here’s everything you need to know.
1. Why does this happen?
The official line on OnePlus leaving the US and Europe is that it’s a “strategic” move.
But behind the corporate jargon, the reality is that OnePlus has been caught in a pincer movement between an increasingly enthusiastic phone market, huge competition from rival Chinese brands, the increasingly dominant duo of Samsung and Apple, and (in the US) difficulties in maintaining important relationships with carriers. Oh, and the small matter of a global RAM and component crisis.
“It was not a hasty decision,” Oppo’s Shuang Chen explained in a briefing. “This was neither a case of Oppo giving instructions to OnePlus nor a unilateral decision by OnePlus. Being a responsible brand means knowing when to go all out and when to make a decision.”
Unfortunately for OnePlus fans, that choice seems inevitable for some time.
2. What does this mean for OnePlus owners?
James Paterson, senior director of public relations at Oppo Europe, confirmed in a briefing that “all service commitments for existing OnePlus devices in Europe and North America remain unchanged.” This applies to warranties, after-sales support, and promised software updates, but the company also did not provide details on how this will happen.
But this news also means that OnePlus owners will now get ColorOS, instead of OnePlus’ OxygenOS. “We’re confident that as Color OS rolls out to OnePlus devices in North America and Europe in the coming months, users will love it just as they loved Oxygen OS,” added James Paterson.
That remains to be seen. But we’re certainly fans of ColorOS and called it the “highest-performing, smoothest-running Android wrapper” we’ve ever used in our Oppo Find X9 Pro review, even if it’s heavily inspired by iOS. Apparently it will still be possible to revert to OxygenOS on your OnePlus device, but that could rule it out for future updates. ColorOS is naturally the priority for Oppo.
3. Will Oppo take OnePlus’ place?
Yes, at least that’s the plan in Europe. When asked about possible launches in the US, Elvis Zhou (CEO of Oppo Europe) confirmed: “We currently do not have any product plans for North America, but Oppo continues to explore market opportunities in different regions of the world.”
However, in Europe the story is different. “I’m pleased to say that Europe is a really strategically important market for Oppo, so it’s been amazing to see the Find X9 Ultra launched, and also the recently launched Reno 16 series,” added Oppo’s James Paterson.
Fortunately, it should also be much easier to buy Oppo phones in the UK and Europe in the near future, which hasn’t always been the case. “In the future, Oppo will increase our share in European markets. For example, we are now upgrading our equipment and also adjusting our business strategies, and we will focus more on our flagship series, with the importance of our supporting imaging capabilities,” said Oppo’s Elvis Zhou.
4. Is this the end of OnePlus phones?
Not exactly – the OnePlus 16 and 16 Pro or Ultra are still heavily rumored and are expected to launch later this year. But now they will definitely not land in the United States or Europe.
It may still be possible to import those phones from China, but that process can be complex with potential issues related to software compatibility, frequency bands, and unexpected import taxes.
If you still want to buy a OnePlus phone in the US or Europe, Oppo confirmed that it will continue to sell existing phones while supplies last. “We still see market demands, so we will continue to sell where we still have inventory in those markets,” said Oppo’s Elvis Zhou.
5. Where should OnePlus fans go next?
Today’s news about OnePlus is a sad day for Android as a whole. That’s particularly the case in the US, where Oppo confirms it won’t launch any of its phones there to replace OnePlus.
“Yes, it is regrettable that we will not launch new products in North America, but we will ensure that all rights and interests of users, including product updates and relevant after-sales services and services, are fully guaranteed. I am sure there are other excellent products on the market for consumers to choose from,” said Elvis Zhou of Oppo.
So what are those products? The obvious spiritual equivalent brand to OnePlus at the moment is Nothing, founded by former OnePlus CEO Carl Pei, although models like the Nothing Phone (4a) sit more towards the budget end.
If you’re in Europe, there’s also the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, which unfortunately isn’t available in the US, but it’s probably the best camera phone in the world. It’s a similar story with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, another camera phone that’s available in Europe but not the US, and the Honor.
Android fans looking to upgrade soon will no doubt be waiting to see what Google offers with its Pixel 11 series, which launches on August 12. And could the demise of OnePlus push some people towards the iPhone? It’s certainly possible, but we’d like to hear from you in the survey below: If you had to choose one brand to switch from OnePlus, which one would it be?
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
