OnePlus has been a smartphone competitor to Apple, Google, Samsung and Motorola for over 12 years, since the release of the OnePlus One in 2014, which required an invitation to purchase. However, the late 2025 delay for the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15R to arrive in US markets suggests the brand’s presence is diminishing globally. Additionally, OnePlus and Realme reportedly merged in May 2026. If the merger goes through, BBK Electronics (the Chinese conglomerate that owns OnePlus, Realme, Oppo, and Vivo) will likely re-evaluate the brand. OnePlus may end up being downsized or having to cease operations in international markets, including the United States and parts of Europe.
Although OnePlus has previously said that after-sales support and software updates will be honored, any new products will likely be excluded from global markets. This is not good news for consumers looking to buy new OnePlus phones. They will only become more and more limited and the brand will become more difficult to manage, especially considering OnePlus’ removal from local Best Buy stores. Phone availability will become more questionable and carriers will likely offer limited, if any, support for OnePlus devices. Additionally, new OnePlus phones will likely be excluded from carrier deals and promotions.
OnePlus phones are still lagging behind
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There are other reasons why a OnePlus phone just isn’t worth it in 2026. Hardware upgrades, which while good, may not be worth it compared to other smartphones on the market. For example, the OnePlus 15 offers an impressive feature set, including a hefty 7,300mAh battery, the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and a fast 165Hz refresh rate. However, it has some notable drawbacks, like a lower resolution screen that only supports 1.5K resolution, cameras that still aren’t great, and only four years of software support (six years for security). That’s a little more than half of what current competitors like Google and Samsung offer.
While these phones aren’t bad, there are still plenty of other options that could work just as well, like the Pixel 10 Pro or even the last-gen Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, or even better. For these phones, you can turn to reliable operators who can offer attractive deals. Finally, if you need to repair a OnePlus smartphone, you now need to fill out an online form to request it, ship your device to the company, and wait for it to return. There are no great first-party repair options involving walk-ins or in-person services.
