OnePlus may exit US and European markets, report says
WinFuture reported that OnePlus and parent Oppo plan to announce the brand’s departure from the US and Europe in the coming days.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
OnePlus may be preparing to leave the United States and Europe, a move that would reshape the phone maker’s presence in two major markets. WinFuture reported, according to a machine translation cited in coverage of the report, that OnePlus and its parent company Oppo plan to announce the brand’s exit in the coming days.
The report has not yet been followed by a formal announcement described in the available accounts. The claim adds to several months of public uncertainty over OnePlus’ future outside China, including earlier reports that the company’s international business was under pressure.
Android Headlines reported in January that OnePlus was being “dismantled.” OnePlus pushed back at that time, saying in a statement that OnePlus North America was still operating and that users would continue to receive after-sales service, software updates and rights commitments.
In March, 9to5Google reported that OnePlus could stop operations in global markets as early as April. The WinFuture report now points to a more specific possible outcome: the OnePlus brand leaving both the US and Europe, with Oppo involved in the planned announcement.
OnePlus has built its name on Android phones sold outside the traditional Samsung and Apple duopoly, including devices aimed at enthusiasts and buyers looking for high-end specifications at lower prices than many flagship rivals. The available reports do not state what would happen to existing customers if the company exits the US and European markets.
The January statement from OnePlus remains the clearest public assurance cited in the reports about customer support. In that statement, the company said its North American operation continued and referred specifically to after-sales support, software updates and user rights commitments.
Oppo is identified in the reports as OnePlus’ parent company. The WinFuture report says both companies are preparing the announcement, but the available information does not describe whether Oppo would keep selling products under other branding in the affected markets.
If confirmed, the move would bring a long-running question about OnePlus’ overseas operations to a head. For now, the reported exit remains tied to published accounts from WinFuture, Android Headlines and 9to5Google, with the expected announcement still pending.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.