You know OnePlus right?
You know OnePlus right? That phone company came like from nowhere and suddenly making these “flagship killer” phones everyone talking about. Their phones always been super fast, software smooth like butter and charging crazy quick. But where this OnePlus actually from? Whats their story and why they not so popular like before?
So lets talk about this OnePlus thing. Where they come from, who behind it, the factories and all that stuff. Also what makes their phones special compared to others.
It all started when some engineers drinking coffee in August 2013. Funny thing – they all working in Android companies but when put phones on table – all iPhones! This make Pete Lau (he big boss at Oppo back then) and his friend Carl Pei think: why we making Android phones but using iPhones? Answer simple – no good Android phones that time can match iPhone quality.
So December 16, 2013 they start OnePlus in Shenzhen, China. Their idea? Make Android phone as good as expensive ones but much cheaper. Their slogan “Never Settle” meaning dont accept bad things when you can have better.
First phone OnePlus One come 2014 and boom – big hit! So powerful but cost half price of Samsung or Apple. People call it “Flagship Killer”. But OnePlus only got 6 employees – how they handle so many orders? Smart trick – you need invite to buy! This make people want more and feel special. They think maybe sell 50,000 but end up selling nearly 1 million!
But here comes the secret… OnePlus not so independent like they say. Big company BBK Electronics own Oppo, Vivo and… surprise – OnePlus too! Pete Lau and Carl Pei both ex-Oppo guys. OnePlus never had own factory – always using Oppo factories. Even their fast charging tech copied from Oppo VOOC.
For years OnePlus say “we independent!” but Chinese government papers show they Oppo subsidiary. Then June 2021 – Pete Lau say “ok we merging with Oppo”. Now OnePlus get Oppo money and tech but… lose that cool rebel image. Good for business but fans not so happy.
Now phones more like Oppo phones with different name. Still good but… not same like before. Some people miss old OnePlus when they small company fighting big guys. But business is business right?
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Where are OnePlus phones made?
So, let’s get to the main question: Where are OnePlus phones made? The short and simple answer: China. OnePlus is headquartered in Shenzhen, China’s tech capital, and its main factories are also located there. Because China has everything needed for manufacturing (from infrastructure and skilled workers to components) in one place, it has become the world’s electronics manufacturing center, and OnePlus is taking advantage of this opportunity to produce high-quality phones at a good price.
But the more specific answer goes back to its big family story. OnePlus uses the giant factories of its parent company, BBK Electronics. These factories, which are the size of 10 football fields and employ thousands of employees, allow OnePlus to produce with the same quality and precision that big brands like Oppo produce. This was the trump card that allowed OnePlus to create a global product from day one, something that no other startup could have dreamed of.
There is also a cool thing for us Iranians. You may have seen in the market that there are two types of OnePlus phones: China Pack with Global ROM and Factory Global Pack.
- China Pack (Global ROM): These phones were made in China for their own market, but later their software (called ROM) was changed to the global version. This may be done in places like Dubai.
- Factory Global Pack: These were made from scratch for global markets (i.e. other than China) and their software is global factory.
Although they are not very different in overall functionality, they may have small differences in things in the box (for example, charger model) or support for some internet networks. Finally, despite being headquartered in China, OnePlus is a global brand and is very active in key markets like India, Europe, and the US, sometimes even setting up assembly lines there to get the product to these markets.
OnePlus phones; from flagships to foldables!
OnePlus has released so many different models over the years that it can be a bit confusing. Let’s break down these series once and for all to make things clear.
- The main series (numbered): These are the bottom of OnePlus phones and the company’s main showcase. Models like the OnePlus 9, OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 11, and the latest OnePlus 13 fall into this category. These phones are directly competing with the iPhone Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S series, and always have the latest processor, the best camera, and the most stunning display.
- Nord Series (Mid-Range and Budget): OnePlus officially entered the affordable smartphone market with the Nord series to bring its smooth and cool experience to more people. This series itself has several models:
- Nord: The main models of this series that are very similar in price and features (e.g. OnePlus Nord 4).
- Nord CE (Core Edition): These are a little cheaper and focus on the core and important things (e.g. Nord CE 4).
- Nord N: The cheapest OnePlus phones made to compete in the budget smartphone market (e.g. Nord N100, Nord N30).
- Speed Love Series (R, T and Ace): These series seem a bit of a mixed bag, but each has its own philosophy.
- T-Series: These used to be an update to the main flagship that came six months later with a few small improvements (e.g. OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 10T).
R-series: These are the budget flagships. In these models, OnePlus uses last year’s flagship processor or a combination of powerful hardware and more modest cameras to offer flagship-like speed at a lower price (e.g. OnePlus 13R). - Ace-series: This series, which is very popular in China, focuses solely on speed and gaming. Ace-series phones usually have the most powerful processors on the market (whether Qualcomm or MediaTek) and powerful cooling systems (e.g. OnePlus Ace 3 Pro).
- Open-series: OnePlus officially entered the foldable phone game with the OnePlus Open. A tough competitor to Samsung’s Fold series, this phone shows that OnePlus wants to have a say in all segments of the expensive phone market.
Oxygen OS; The soul that was breathed into OnePlus!
One of the main reasons why OnePlus was so successful in the early years was not just its powerful hardware; its software, the OxygenOS user interface, played a major role in its success.
The golden age: fast, light, lovely
OxygenOS was born in 2015, after their collaboration with the famous Cyanogen team fell apart. Its initial philosophy was very simple: a user experience similar to Google’s raw and original Android, but with a few practical features and smart optimizations. This user interface had no additional programs and junk (bloatware) and was therefore incredibly fast, smooth and light. These things made OxygenOS quickly become the most popular user interface among professionals and tech enthusiasts; many bought OnePlus phones just for the love of this smooth software.
The great merger: When OxygenOS became ColorOS!
As we said, when OnePlus and Oppo officially merged, their software also got mixed up. They merged the core code of the two user interfaces, OxygenOS and ColorOS (Oppo’s user interface). OxygenOS versions 12 and 13 were the first results of this combination. These versions looked a lot like ColorOS and took a lot of the look and feel, settings menu, and even default apps from it. Although OnePlus said that this would make the operating system more stable and updates faster, many long-time fans were upset. They felt that the simple, clean, and unique identity of OxygenOS was gone.
A New Era: Artificial Intelligence and Aquamorphic Design
The newer versions, OxygenOS 14 and OxygenOS 15, continued the same path but became much better and more mature, and now focused on performance and smart features.
- Trinity Engine: This is a stealth technology that monitors the CPU, RAM, and ROM, and manages them in a way that keeps the phone running smoothly and consumes less battery during heavy and long-term tasks.
Aquamorphic Design: A new design language inspired by nature and water. Its animations are very smooth and fluid, its colors change according to the time of day, and it has soothing sounds. - Artificial Intelligence (AI): OxygenOS 15 is now fully AI-friendly. Features like smart search (for example, you can tell it, “Where’s the last photo I took with my friend?” and it finds it), text summarization and rewriting in the Notes app, AI-powered photo editing tools (for example, removing a person from a photo or sharpening blurry photos), and Google’s Circle to Search feature are all part of this big change.
- Better performance: Features like File Dock, which lets you easily move files between apps, and Open Canvas for better multitasking are other new features.
In fact, the story of OxygenOS’s evolution is much like the story of the OnePlus brand itself: a journey from a niche, simple product for professionals to a powerful, feature-packed platform to fight in the mainstream market and attract ordinary people.
OnePlus Phone Summary
Well, after this long journey, we’ve reached the bottom of the line. OnePlus has gone from a rogue brand and “flagship killer” that won the hearts of professionals with its strange invitation system to a major, large, and powerful player in the global market that now operates under the shadow of the giant Oppo. That independent and unique identity has faded, but in its place it has gained more power, stability, and money.
So is buying a OnePlus phone today the right thing to do? The answer depends on what kind of user you are.
Should you buy OnePlus? - Speed junkies and gamers: If your top priority is raw speed, lag-free performance, the smoothest Android experience possible, and the fastest charging in the world, OnePlus is still one of the best options for you. Especially the R and Ace series models, which give you flagship speed at a much lower price.
- Rational flagship buyers: If you’re looking for a solid alternative to Samsung and Apple and like things like super-fast charging and a clean (though not as simple as the old) interface, OnePlus’ main flagships are great choices.
Or should you look elsewhere?
A die-hard fan: If you loved OnePlus for its pure OxygenOS, that raw Android feel, and special features like the notification slider, you should know that OnePlus is no longer that brand. It no longer has that “special” and “different” feel. - Those who are just looking for a budget phone: While the Nord series is a great value, OnePlus’s flagships are no longer cheap. They are now priced right in line with other flagships on the market, and there are no more “shocking” prices.
Finally, OnePlus is no longer the simple, one-dimensional “flagship killer.” The brand is now a full-fledged flagship in its own right. Buying a OnePlus phone today means buying a part of the powerful BBK/Oppo ecosystem, with all its good points (a lot of money, advanced technology, cool tech) and bad points (fading independent identity). The Never Settle slogan may still be there, but its meaning has changed: it now means “not settling” in the face of delivering a complete, modern, and world-class flagship experience.
