OnePlus said its operations in India were continuing as usual after a report published by Android Headlines claimed the smartphone brand was being dismantled and gradually wound down by its parent group.
When contacted by The Mobile Indian regarding the report titled “OnePlus Is Being Dismantled”, a OnePlus India spokesperson said, “OnePlus India’s business operations continue as normal.”
The statement comes amid renewed scrutiny of the brand’s global strategy, workforce structure and long-term positioning, particularly in India, a market once described by OnePlus leadership as central to its future growth.
The controversy follows the Android Headlines story, which cited discussions with current and former OnePlus employees across China, India, the United States and Europe, as well as data from multiple analyst firms. The report alleged shrinking shipments, reduced international presence, cancelled products and tighter centralised control from China.
OnePlus has not publicly responded to the broader claims made in the report.
The Mobile Indian also sought clarification from OnePlus on a long-standing commitment made in August 2019, when co-founder Pete Lau announced plans to establish the company’s largest global research and development centre in India, with a target of employing 1,500 engineers by 2022. The company did not respond to questions on the current status of that commitment by the time this story went to print. We will update the article if we receive a response.
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India has, in recent years, emerged as a growing hub for research, development and artificial intelligence work for global technology companies. Industry executives have increasingly pointed to the country’s engineering talent and expanding innovation ecosystem as reasons for deeper investments.
JB Park, president and chief executive officer of Samsung Southwest Asia, said India was already functioning as a core centre for AI-related development within the company, comparable to long-established hubs in the United States.
“Well, India plays a pivotal role in that development area with its engineers,” Park told The Mobile Indian. “Another area is Silicon Valley where we have Samsung Research America. But Samsung Research, Bengaluru is equal to that task in contributing to AI development.”
The debate around OnePlus intensified on social media following the Android Headlines report. Robin Liu posted on X urging readers and industry stakeholders to verify information through official channels before sharing claims that may not be supported by confirmed disclosures.
Market data has shown pressure on the OnePlus brand in recent years. Analyst firms have reported a decline in OnePlus smartphone shipments in 2024, even as parent OPPO Group posted modest overall growth. In India, retail partners have previously raised concerns around margins and after-sales processes, factors that have contributed to fluctuating shelf presence in parts of the country.
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The Android Headlines report also drew parallels between OnePlus and other smartphone brands that retrenched from global markets over time, including Nokia, BlackBerry, HTC and LG. The publication argued that shrinking international operations and tighter integration with parent companies often precede deeper consolidation.
For consumers, OnePlus has continued to launch new devices (though reports of delays in the launch of new devices are also grabbing headlines) and maintain software update commitments. Industry analysts say warranties and updates are expected to be supported through OPPO’s service network in the near term.
For now, OnePlus maintains that its India business remains unaffected. Whether that assurance extends to long-term investment, research expansion and market strategy remains an open question.
Editor’s note: OnePlus has been contacted for further comment. Any response will be added to this story.
Author: Sandeep Budki
Source: The Mobile Indian
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
