OnePlus integrates additional with Oppo, if that’s even attainable

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has introduced a “new journey” for the corporate together with a plan to “further integrate our organization with Oppo.” Lau made the announcement by means of a post on OnePlus’ forums, saying “we’re at a turning point for the future of OnePlus” and “we must adapt as a team and a brand.”

It appears like a dramatic transfer for OnePlus, the corporate Lau began with Carl Pei after ostensibly leaving Oppo in 2013. OnePlus made its identify with rebellious advertising and hype-driven on-line retail methods, portraying itself as a better different to larger smartphone manufacturers.

But it remained a non-public firm with possession tied up in Oppo and the shadowy BBK Electronics empire, and it was clear from OnePlus’ telephones that there have been nonetheless at the least some ties to Oppo. Components like show panels had been usually seemingly an identical, and even supposedly proprietary expertise just like the Dash fast-charging system was cross-compatible with Oppo’s.

“OnePlus and Oppo are two completely independent companies,” a OnePlus consultant informed me three years in the past by means of rationalization. “R&D, finance, sales channels, daily operations, etc operate independently. The two parties share some common investors. OnePlus leases Oppo’s manufacturing line and shares part of the supply chain resources with Oppo.”

Lau says that OnePlus will proceed to function independently, regardless of the additional integration with Oppo. But he hasn’t stated precisely what can be built-in, and given the prevailing commonalities between the 2 manufacturers’ merchandise, it’s not apparent what it will really imply for shoppers. Lau says OnePlus will proceed to function its personal occasions and buyer suggestions channels, for instance, however provides that Oppo’s better assets ought to assist OnePlus be extra environment friendly with software program updates.

It’s not a giant secret that OnePlus and Oppo have been coming nearer to an express reunion in recent times. Lau grew to become Oppo’s chief product officer final yr whereas maintaining his function at OnePlus, and the 2 manufacturers merged R&D departments again in January. More just lately, OnePlus introduced that it’d begin utilizing Oppo’s ColorOS for its telephones in China.

Reading between the traces, it appears like OnePlus will basically be handled like a label of Oppo’s, sustaining a separate consumer-facing operation however with enterprise actions merging in areas past product growth. Will this present itself in tangible modifications to OnePlus gadgets? Who can say.

If you’re a OnePlus fan, although, there’s no purpose to view the nearer ties as a nasty factor. The firm has lengthy left its “flagship killer” roots behind, now competing on the excessive finish with costly “Pro” telephones whereas providing a spread of cheaper Nord gadgets on the low-to-mid vary. Oppo, for its half, releases way more telephones a yr than OnePlus (principally in Asia), however its high-end flagships are each bit nearly as good. The newest Find X3 Pro is my favourite telephone of the yr to this point.

Whether OnePlus would admit it or not, the corporate has at all times been related to Oppo behind the scenes. The largest change right here is that OnePlus is now saying so out loud — whereas making the affiliation even tighter.