OnePlus pulls out of US, Europe markets and realme exits China
TECH
PUBLISHED : 20 Jul 2026 at 11:50
WRITER: Puriward Sinthopnumchai
Smartphone makers OnePlus and realme have announced major market withdrawals, with OnePlus exiting the United States and Europe, while sister brand realme departs mainland China to focus entirely on global markets.
The strategic shake-up will see both brands lean heavily into parent company OPPO’s ecosystem. OnePlus confirmed to Android Authority and The Verge that it will stop restocking its handsets in the West, allowing OPPO to take over its market share in those regions.
OnePlus plans to maintain its presence in India and China. However, the future remains hazy as the company has not yet confirmed the launch of its next flagship, the OnePlus 16, amidst lingering rumors that it might also quit the Indian market by 2027.
BREAKING: ONEPLUS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMS THE SHIFT TO COLOROS.OnePlus has confirmed that all existing OnePlus phones will continue to receive the software updates they were promised, but future updates will now be based on ColorOS 17 instead of OxygenOS.The company says this… pic.twitter.com/eowSJVXa53 — Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) July 16, 2026
According to a company statement, the decision was made jointly with OPPO as part of a resource management strategy to optimize marketing efforts for each individual brand.
OnePlus assured existing customers that the move will not affect after-sales service, device warranties or software updates. The company even hinted at potentially extending software support periods for certain devices in the future.
Realme is executing a parallel shift by withdrawing from the competitive Chinese market. The brand will now pivot its focus toward launching new products exclusively for the global consumer base.
REALME TO USE COLOROS 17, BUT THE BRAND ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE. Realme has confirmed that future software will be based on ColorOS 17 after its merger.Here's what changes:- Realme has temporarily paused its independent operations in China and will focus more on global… pic.twitter.com/YScrSRhQsP — Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) July 16, 2026
Following realme's departure from China, OPPO will assume responsibility for all after-sales services and product warranties for existing realme devices in the country.
Another major change is that OnePlus and realme smartphones, along with related devices, will transition to OPPO's ColorOS operating system, replacing their existing software platforms. The companies said the move will simplify software development and improve efficiency across their product ecosystem.
Photo: Community Oneplus
Source: Android Authority, The Verge, Platforms X, Community Oneplus
