Nearly 15 years ago, the first iPhone appeared on the horizon in 2007 and changed the game. Almost seven years after the debut of the iPhone, another smartphone appeared and has now become synonymous with affordable quality. The OnePlus range of smartphones have high-quality designs and low price, which make them within reach of most people.
By 2019, nearly five years after its launch, OnePlus had emerged as the leader of the smartphone segment. The Chinese brand has now taken to diversifying its product line, offering people everything from watches to TVs, for affordable prices.
It is rumored that by 2030, 6G will make smartphones obsolete as other mobile devices overpower the market.
The Rise of OnePlus
In a market dominated by Apple and Samsung, OnePlus managed to carve a name for itself with its smartphone range. As of 2022, the company has a net worth of around $1.5 billion. In the US, the smartphone market, as of Q2 of 2022, is dominated by Apple, which has multiple companies, with a 48% market share. Samsung has 30%, followed by Lenovo at 9%, and OnePlus at 1%, according to Statista.
Phones
Pete Lau and Carl Pei started the company in 2013 and because they had access to Oppo’s infrastructure, they could launch OnePlus phones for cheap.
The OnePlus smartphones surpassed expectations and provide flagship experience at a mid-tier pricing. It was the start of what would one day be called a “OnePlus Success Story.” The company became popular worldwide and built a reputation for their trendy yet reliable devices.
Watches
Building on this momentum, the company launched the OnePlus Watch in March 2021. The response for the smartwatch helped the company gauge the market demand and work on problem areas. After a long break, they released the OnePlus Nord Watch in October 2022.
One of the best smartwatches that packs a punch with its next-gen features and cool, the Nord Watch has given OnePlus a strong standing in the timekeeping and fitness community.
Smart TV
In September 2018, the company announced that it is entering the Smart TV market with its own range. At the time CEO Pete Lau told Business Insider that the company will primarily focus on image quality and sound quality.
Over the years, the company launched the initial OnePlus TV, followed by OnePlus TV Q1 and Q1 Pro. The company also released the affordable range of OnePlus TV Y series and the TV Unus series.
For an organization with no prior experience in the TV segment, its units have almost always been sold out in flash sales. India is a big market for the OnePlus Smart TV with over 1 million units sold.
Future Plans
The company is currently working on launching its first mechanical keyboard. The brand faces an uphill battle, as the market is saturated with seasoned players but has been incorporating customer feedback to make a noteworthy product.
A community post by a product marketing manager of the Chinese firm suggested that the keyboard might have a MacBook layout, meaning there might not be a number pad.
The firm announced it will hold an event in China on December 17 to celebrate its ninth year. The event poster has a “New direction, new action, new future” tagline, although no other details have been shared.
While the teaser of the OnePlus 11 has surfaced on Weibo, the device is not expected to be available until early 2023.
OnePlus Branding
Although OnePlus denied its association with Oppo early on, today it is common news that the company is wholly owned by Oppo.
It is also clear that the company has managed to learn from the mistakes it made as Oppo, given the fact that both founders were earlier associated with the brand before starting OnePlus.
The co-founders took customer reviews and grievances into account before launching the tech company and have continued to do so over the years.
Their “Never Settle” ideology is a testament to their belief that nobody should settle for substandard stuff. They worked on making good tech available to everyone, starting with smartphones.
The OnePlus branding was also aided by tactical product placement and highly successful partnerships with celebrities and influencers. The brand has also collaborated shooting with TV series to showcase just how good their products are.
They say, the proof is in the pudding. Well, here it is in the product. Every time a product has failed to perform well, the company has gone back to the drawing room to study customer feedback. And it is this relentless pursuit of perfection, coupled with a willingness to change that has helped the company advance to the top.
So, in case you are wondering if OnePlus is a good brand, the answer is Yes. Not because they have superior tech or they are cheaper than other brands, but because they are always willing to listen to their customers.
