OnePlus is facing a fresh wave of shutdown rumours, as reports suggest the company has scaled back parts of its operations outside Asia.
The brand, which is one of the subsidiaries of the Chinese phone maker, OPPO, has repeatedly denied claims that it is shutting down. Still, reports pointing to a pullback from key markets, staffing cuts, fewer launches outside Asia, and a slowdown in Europe have kept speculation alive.
Louis Eriakha
This week, Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station introduced a new angle. According to the leak, OnePlus hasn’t shut down. Instead, it may have merged operations with realme, another OPPO-owned brand.
In a post on Weibo, the tipster claimed both companies have “officially merged” their global and China operations into a shared “sub-product centre.” While there is no formal confirmation, the level of detail has caught the attention of industry watchers.
According to the report, marketing and service divisions across both brands are being combined, while product planning will now sit under a unified structure. Leadership roles have also reportedly been reshuffled, with realme founder Li Bingzhong overseeing the new business unit, and OnePlus China president Li Jie leading the product side, reporting to OnePlus founder Pete Lau.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
The timing of the rumour has only fueled speculation. OnePlus activity outside India and China has slowed noticeably, with fewer launches in Europe and no recent smartphone releases in the U.S. The only recent announcement, the OnePlus Watch 4, still lacks a clear release timeline.
Adding to signs of internal changes, Robin Liu stepped down as CEO of OnePlus India in March 2026. While the company did not directly link his departure to any restructuring, the move has further fuelled speculation about shifts in OnePlus’ global strategy.
At the same time, realme has maintained an aggressive presence across Asia and parts of Europe, with frequent launches and broader price coverage. Bringing both brands under a shared product roadmap could help reduce overlap while cutting costs.
For consumers, nothing changes immediately if the report proves accurate. OnePlus devices remain supported, and realme continues to operate independently in its respective markets. However, over time, the lines between the two brands could blur, especially in the mid-range segment where they already compete closely.
Rather than disappearing, OnePlus may simply be evolving into a more tightly integrated part of OPPO’s broader ecosystem.
