The erasure of the OnePlus smartphone identity is well underway, with the parent company actively pushing consumers towards sister brand Oppo in some regions.
Now it appears that further consolidation of brands is well underway with reports suggesting the OnePlus user interface for Android phones – called OxygenOS – is going to be discontinued entirely in favour of the Color OS that sits atop of the operating system on Oppo phones. The skins are pretty much interchangeable at this point, but it seems Chinese owner BBK Electronics is going the whole hog.
Smartprix is reporting that a “sweeping consolidation” of the smartphone business that will also include the Realme UI will also be shuttered in favour of ColorOS. If true, that means Oppo, Realme and OnePlus phones will all arrive running ColorOS and the move is being made to cut down on the cost of developing three separate Android skins.
The report says:
“According to a highly reliable and seasoned industry insider, OPPO has initiated a sweeping consolidation of its smartphone business. As part of this aggressive restructuring, both OnePlus and Realme are being fully consolidated into the core OPPO brand. The group’s next big move is software, not hardware: one Android skin across three brands, no exceptions. That means putting ColorOS on all smartphones.”
This comes after the OnePlus store in Germany began actively pushing potential customers to Oppo products (via 9to5Google).
“Looking for new technology that delivers everything you expect from OnePlus devices? OPPO has the speed you need and the experience you trust, keeping your workflows fast and seamless. We’ve curated a selection of OPPO products powered by the latest hardware and high-performance software you know and love, all designed to provide seamless compatibility with existing OnePlus technology.”
Considering OnePlus is the band that build the reputation as the “flagship killer” alternative to expensive Apple and Samsung smartphones, it’s a shame the parent company is now diminishing the brand in some territories.
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