OnePlus joins forces with Oppo — what will it mean for future phones?

OnePlus joins forces with Oppo — what volition it hateful for future phones?

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OnePlus, which makes some of the best Android phones, tin can trace several features on devices like the OnePlus 9 Pro back to similar capabilities on Oppo handsets. Oppo can say the same thing. And in the future, information technology sounds like these ii telephone makers are going to be a lot closer.

Posting in the OnePlus Forum, CEO Pete Lau broke the news. Specifically, Lau — who already serves as Oppo's head of product feel — wrote that OnePlus volition "further integrate our organization with Oppo," which leaves a lot to the imagination as to how the motility will touch future phones from either visitor.

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You may be unfamiliar with Oppo, since the company doesn't sell its devices in the U.S. all the same. However it's i of OnePlus' stablemates at BBK Electronics, and produces some great phones, such as the Oppo Find X3 Pro. Oppo'south SuperVOOC charging engineering science is also the basis for OnePlus' ain Warp Charge system, one of the best parts of its recent phones.

Hearing the two companies are joining forces may sound farthermost, only from what Lau writes, saying that OnePlus volition "continue to operate independently", it sounds similar it's more back-end changes than something yous'll notice in future OnePlus or Oppo phones.

Notwithstanding this likely means more than sharing of parts and enquiry that will ameliorate the phones of both companies. Information technology may mean even more budget handsets for OnePlus like the Nord N200 or Nord CE, since Oppo makes several cheaper handsets in the course of the Reno and A serial. We may even see Oppo finally brand landfall in the U.Due south., although the political climate is still not that welcoming for Chinese phone makers.

The OnePlus 9 Pro is the best of the all-time phones overall, so there'due south not much that needs improving for the OnePlus 9T, assumed to exist coming later this year. When the next OnePlus flagship does make it though, it'll be interesting to run across what might take changed as a result of this new OnePlus/Oppo relationship, and likewise when we see the next batch of Oppo phones emerge.

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Richard is a Tom'south Guide staff writer based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, gaming, audio and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's too written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at piece of work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.