For those who really need one, you may make it work.
For those who’ve been eyeing a OnePlus cellphone, you seemingly have your priorities set on efficiency, worth and software program. Although the corporate had a few rocky launches, the previous couple of generations of OnePlus smartphones have reclaimed the “flagship killer” title that helped put the model on the map within the first place. In our evaluate of the OnePlus 15, we had little or no to complain about apart from the cameras. At $900, you would be hard-pressed to search out an alternate that delivers the sort of efficiency the OnePlus 15 does whereas providing distinctive battery life and an unparalleled software program expertise.
Alas, after months of rumors, OnePlus confirmed its exit out of North America and Europe in July. Most of OnePlus’ catalog is presently out of inventory on its web site, however you’ll be able to nonetheless store for its telephones and audio equipment by means of different retailers like Amazon. The query, nevertheless, is must you purchase a brand new OnePlus machine now that the corporate has ceased operations within the US? For many consumers, the reply might be a no.
Though OnePlus has promised that software program and after-sales help for present OnePlus gadgets will proceed, the corporate is making a giant change to how future software program updates will likely be dealt with. Longtime OnePlus customers will know simply how important OxygenOS has been to the model’s id, and if they are not getting the software program expertise they signed up for, it turns into tougher to justify shopping for into an ecosystem that has no future.
Bid farewell to OxygenOS
Simply OnePlus’ best energy (in addition to its lineup of overkill smartphones) was the software program expertise its customers received to take pleasure in. The OnePlus One debuted with CyanogenMod, which was a really community-driven model of Android. The corporate then made the soar to its personal taste of the working system, OxygenOS. It was identified to supply a clear expertise whereas packing in a ton of customizability. In each evaluate you will come throughout of a OnePlus smartphone, you’re virtually assured to see the reviewer sing praises of how snappy and feature-rich OxygenOS is.
Effectively, that is altering. Though OnePlus is not dropping help for the telephones it has bought within the US, customers who want to expertise newer variations of Android are anticipated to make the swap to ColorOS — the identical software program interface that Oppo smartphones use. Customers have, understandably, expressed frustration with this choice. Nevertheless, when you’ve picked up an Oppo smartphone just lately and put it subsequent to your OnePlus machine, you will understand that OxygenOS and ColorOS are darn close to an identical at this level.
They have been sharing the identical codebase since 2021, so there actually is not something you will be lacking out on by making the swap. Oppo’s ColorOS does pack in a little bit of bloatware in comparison with OxygenOS, and it will be unhappy to see if OnePlus drops the few Easter eggs that helped set its model of Android aside.
Excessive-risk, high-reward
At the start of 2026, I had an itch to improve to the OnePlus 15, regardless of all of the rumors pointing to the corporate’s potential exit from just a few world markets. The cellphone was just too good to disregard, so I made a decision to roll the cube and decide one up. It price considerably lower than competing flagships from Samsung and Apple, and I’m okay with not having one of the best digicam system in my smartphone. In return, I get to take pleasure in a vivid OLED show, the insane horsepower that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers, the obnoxiously quick 120W charging speeds and a software program expertise that feels snappier than every other Android pores and skin I’ve used.
It additionally helps that OnePlus does not lock you in its ecosystem like Apple does. Even when you resolve to select up a pair of OnePlus Buds or a OnePlus Watch, you’ll be able to pair them with different Android smartphones with out giving up key options.
The underside line is, when you actually need to decide up your remaining OnePlus smartphone, you may make it work, assuming you are okay with switching to ColorOS. Each the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15R are set to obtain 4 main Android OS updates and 6 years of safety patches. After-sales service might be accessed by heading to the OnePlus Help web site, and the corporate claims it should honor present guarantee commitments.
