OnePlus’ 2022 flagship will share a unified Android 13 system with Oppo | Engadget

Following OnePlus’ integration into Oppo in June, co-founder Pete Lau — who has been appointed Chief Product Officer for each manufacturers since May 2020 — is able to share extra on what to anticipate from his expanded group, aka “OnePlus 2.0.” 

We already knew concerning the upcoming unified OS, which is able to apparently convey the very best of each worlds — the smoothness and lightness (no adverts!) of OnePlus’ OxygenOS, mixed with the reliability and smartness of Oppo’s ColorOS. In a latest group interview, Lau added that this yet-to-be-named system shall be based mostly on Google’s upcoming Android 13, and it will be featured on OnePlus’ 2022 flagship gadget — doubtless dubbed “OnePlus 10” — due out first half of the 12 months. Some current units can even obtain this replace, although no particular fashions have been talked about. (Lau mentioned the Nord 2 already options an early model of the built-in codebase, so there is a good likelihood that it will get the total improve.)

Given that the shared OS would cut back differentiation between Lau’s two manufacturers, one would possibly marvel which might extra doubtless produce the “perfect” flagship smartphone? Never one to present a direct reply, Lau implied that he does not imagine such a tool would ever exist. He referred to an inner demographic map that includes 20 consumer classes, every of which tied to a mix of various wants — right down to the extent of product measurement, particular pictures options, charging modes, weight and extra. 

Lau’s fundamental definition of OnePlus customers is “tech enthusiasts,” however he added that based mostly on this mapping, it is nonetheless unimaginable to fulfill everybody’s wants with a single gadget. As such, the exec thinks the market is sufficiently big for his two manufacturers to keep away from pleasant fireplace. For the identical purpose, OnePlus’ Nord line will proceed to co-exist with the Oppo Reno sequence (and Realme, for that matter), although the similarity of their designs remains to be questionable. (Lau insisted that every model has a devoted design group, even after the merger.)

Another space which OnePlus could profit from the mixing is pictures. Lau identified that what was once a digital camera group of round 100 individuals is now some 700, which can permit OnePlus to take higher benefit of its relationship with Hasselblad, particularly with their ongoing work on colour science this 12 months. The exec added that he cannot say OnePlus presently has the very best digital camera efficiency, however he is sure that it is “definitely” among the many prime within the business.

Lau admitted that together with his expanded position, even when he had 48-hour days, it’d nonetheless be unimaginable for him to personally decide on each single element on each product like he did earlier than (let’s simply say it might be unlikely that he’d throw a match over a minor design concern on a logic board, as he as soon as famously did again in his Oppo Blu-ray participant days). Instead, Lau had been spending a variety of time educating his “never settle” philosophy to his new Oppo teammates over the previous 12 months or so, within the hopes of adjusting what was once a leader-driven mission to true group work. It’ll be some time earlier than we get an actual style of this fruition, however Lau is “confident that this new unified OS won’t disappoint.”