New Delhi: OnePlus could be preparing for one of the biggest changes in its history. The smartphone maker is likely to phase out its business in the United States and Europe starting as early as this week, with India said to be next in the line of countries to exit the market sometime in 2027. The company has yet to validate the claims, but the report has again sparked doubts over the brand’s future in the West.

The development is months after OnePlus refuted previous reports that it would exit key markets overseas. The decision, if it comes true, would be a major change for the company which has gained popularity for its flagship smartphones at affordable prices. As yet, neither OnePlus nor its parent company Oppo has commented on the latest report.

Bloomberg reports that the closure is part of a comprehensive restructuring process at Oppo, the owner of both OnePlus and Realme. The report claims Oppo is looking to streamline its global smartphone business amid financial pressure, weaker growth in several overseas markets and increasing geopolitical challenges.

The report also indicates that Oppo will focus more on areas where it is still strong. The company will not have a wide European footprint but will be concentrating its efforts in Central Europe. Meanwhile, Realme is said to be focusing on the Nordic countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

Bloomberg says that OnePlus might remain in China and slowly phase out other markets, such as India, sometime this year. In case that comes to pass, it would come to a close to more than a decade of OnePlus’s sales strategy in one of its biggest markets abroad.

However, there is no official confirmation yet. OnePlus has yet to give any indication that it will cease selling devices in India, and existing devices remain available via online and offline channels.

There have been a number of developments recently that have raised some speculations about OnePlus’ long-term plans. Oppo has integrated its service network into the after-sales service for its customers in India, rather than providing a completely different service network.

There has also been a rumour that Oppo is planning to rationalise its software policies and use Oneplus’ OxygenOS and Realme UI with a single version of ColorOS. All three software platforms share a lot of common code, but the integration will give them even more overlap in terms of brands, as Oppo’s ecosystem will embrace the three software platforms.

The reported restructuring comes as smartphone makers face slowing demand, higher component costs and rising memory prices. However, the overall trend of slowing shipments of mobile devices in China was present in the second quarter, as smartphones fell, according to IDC.

OnePlus has also seen some waning momentum in its early days. The company has created a loyal customer base by manufacturing budget-friendly flagship phones and delivering a pure Android experience. However, competition has grown stiffer, particularly from Samsung, Apple and some new and rapidly expanding Chinese brands. Meanwhile, Oppo’s high-end Find lineup has also spread to more overseas markets, meaning that the company doesn’t have to offer redundant high-end flagship devices.

At this stage, existing OnePlus users do not need to worry. The company has not confirmed any exit plans, and there has been no announcement regarding product sales, software updates or warranty support. Until an official statement is issued, the report remains unverified.

However, if the restructuring that’s been announced is actually a reality, then one of the most recognisable Android fan brands in the world will be done with an era. OnePlus redefined the value flagship segment and forced bigger smartphone manufacturers to provide better hardware at a lower price. Although the brand may eventually pull back from overseas markets, it is still likely to have a strong impact on the Android smartphone market.

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Pragya is a Science and Technology reporter, has Master degree in Journalism, covering a range of stories including space, gadgets and how tech is transforming our lives. She has 4+ years of industry experience in Digital Media and Content Writing. 15+ years of practice in yoga philosophy to every day, and that’s one way she strive to build meaningful experiences.