OnePlus now that it’s dead!! Should you still purchase it?

With the EU and US exits guaranteed, is now a bad time to buy a OnePlus phone, or a terrific opportunity? And what if you already have one?

Reports about OnePlus’ death may not have been substantially exaggerated, but rather premature. We’ve been writing about the OnePlus brand’s problems all year, as it is gradually being absorbed by parent firm Oppo.

OnePlus has finally confirmed that it would exit the US and European markets (including the UK). Moving forward, the brand will focus on China and India, though there are already whispers that the Indian market would be exited sooner than later.

“After thorough evaluation, OnePlus has decided to conclude product rollouts in Europe and North America,” according to an official statement.

It’s hardly a huge surprise. Aside from the aforementioned rumors, we’ve been seeing stock shortages, staff cuts (including people we know), and Oppo’s obvious attempts to steer buyers away from its once-flagship-killing sub-brand for months.

But what does this entail if you currently have a OnePlus phone or are thinking about getting one?

Will my OnePlus phone still receive updates?

It is worth reassuring existing OnePlus customers that the firm at the heart of the brand, Oppo, will continue to exist. Indeed, the brand will appear much more frequently on Western coasts in the future.

Furthermore, it appears that the OnePlus brand will continue to exist in some markets, but in a considerably lesser form.

This means that any consumer and security update support term for your existing OnePlus device should last for the right amount of time after your purchase. In the case of the latest flagship, the OnePlus 15, this means it will be safe to use until 2031.

This is not a rumour; both OnePlus and Oppo have announced that any existing handsets would receive full software support.

A notification on the official store states: “Existing OnePlus devices will continue to get software upgrades, security patches, and after-sales support. Our customer service channels are still active and responding in accordance with our standard warranty and support requirements. This news does not change your rights under applicable consumer protection legislation.”

The big(ish) change

It is also officially official that all OnePlus smartphones would be switched from OxygenOS to Oppo’s ColourOS (the two are very similar).

“After the official release of ColorOS 17, users with existing OnePlus devices that fit within the eligible upgrade scope will be able to voluntarily update to the latest ColorOS. Legacy models that are not eligible for this specific upgrade will continue to receive software updates,” OnePlus stated.

You can choose not to migrate and remain on OxygenOS, with the company claiming, “If users update to ColorOS, they will be able to roll back to OxygenOS. The particular rollback versions accessible will be determined by future formal announcements.”

Older models that are not eligible for a ColourOS upgrade will continue to receive “version maintenance support”.

Should I buy a new OnePlus phone?

Another difficult question is whether you should get a OnePlus phone now or in the near future. That is, if you can locate one, as the official UK store has been out of devices for some time, leaving only accessories available. Third-party sellers such as Amazon will still have stock while supplies continue, and you may be able to locate a decent deal. There is also the second-hand market.

Given the fact that both OnePlus and Oppo will be there for the foreseeable future, there should be no immediate concerns about continuous support.

However, we would express one word of caution. Recent reports from OnePlus consumers indicate that the corporation has provided fairly mediocre customer care while dealing with repairs and replacements.

In summary, if something goes wrong with your brand new OnePlus device while under warranty, you may not be able to access the typical level of care. There will be no local organization to address concerns, nor will there be an adequate supply of handsets or components on hand.

Some OnePlus customers have reported being sent vouchers instead of replacements. We wouldn’t be surprised if the business instead offered Oppo vouchers or handset replacements. According to the rumor, the remaining OnePlus US and European stock will need to be sold quickly, which would likely result in some significant discounts.

Given that the OnePlus 15 is still one of our fave phones of the year (its performance and battery life are fantastic), it could be a rare smartphone bargain in a year marred by significant price increases.