Who Makes OnePlus Phones and Who Owns Them?

The Evolution of OnePlus: A Deep Dive into Its Roots and Strategic Alliances

OnePlus has long positioned itself as a bold disruptor in the smartphone industry, successfully competing with top-tier flagships. However, it is far from being a scrappy startup. Founded in 2013 by Pete Lau, former OPPO Vice President, and co-founder Carl Pei, OnePlus was initially part of the broader OPPO ecosystem. This connection has played a significant role in shaping the brand’s identity and operations over the years.

OnePlus is not an isolated entity but rather a key player within a larger network of brands under the umbrella of BBK Electronics. Alongside OPPO, Vivo, Realme, and IQOO, these companies were all born from BBK, a Chinese conglomerate that quietly built a massive smartphone empire without ever putting its name on product boxes. BBK allowed these brands to operate semi-independently, sharing resources such as factories, components, and strategies. This approach enabled each brand to maintain its unique identity while benefiting from shared infrastructure.

According to reports, BBK brands collectively outsold Samsung and Huawei globally in 2020, selling over 262 million units. These figures did not even include sales from OnePlus and IQOO. However, BBK's era came to an end in 2023 when the holding company was dissolved and deregistered. This marked a new chapter for OnePlus and its affiliated brands.

Today, OnePlus operates as a subsidiary of OPPO, which is owned by Guangdong OPlus Holdings. The two brands share software teams, research and development (R&D), and even executives. Their product timelines often align, and OnePlus phones run on OxygenOS, which shares a codebase with ColorOS, OPPO’s mobile operating system. This level of integration highlights the deep-rooted relationship between the two companies.

Manufacturing Hubs: China and India

The main manufacturing facilities for OnePlus are located in Shenzhen, China. The core facility, situated in the Tairan Building in Futian and nearby campuses, handles the assembly and final quality control for flagship models like the OnePlus 13. Factory tours reveal state-of-the-art dust-free clean booths, manual checks at critical stages, and strict oversight of essential components such as camera modules.

India has also emerged as a crucial manufacturing hub for OnePlus. Since 2015, the company has been using Foxconn’s Rising Stars facility in Andhra Pradesh for production. Under "Project Starlight," Pete Lau announced plans to invest ₹6,000 crore (approximately $720 million) by 2027 to expand local production, sourcing, R&D, and exports. This strategy aligns with India’s “Make in India” initiative while helping OnePlus avoid high import tariffs in key markets.

Recent reports indicate that by 2026, OPPO, OnePlus, and other brands aim to increase local value addition from 18% to 20%, using Indian suppliers for core components like PCBs, batteries, enclosures, and final assembly. Additionally, OnePlus audio and IoT devices are now contract-manufactured in India through partners like Optiemus. This shift underscores India’s growing importance in OnePlus’ global manufacturing strategy.

Strategic Integration Between OnePlus and OPPO

The relationship between OnePlus and OPPO goes beyond mere collaboration. The two brands began merging their operations in 2021 under OPlus, the holding company that also oversees Realme. Supply chains, software development, and R&D efforts are now fully integrated. Pete Lau, one of OnePlus' co-founders, even took on a top position at OPPO, further solidifying this partnership.

A prime example of this integration is the OnePlus Open and Oppo Find N3, which are essentially the same foldable device with subtle differences and different names tailored for specific markets. Despite this close alignment, the brands maintain separate identities to avoid confusion and ensure regional positioning remains distinct.

This strategic move allows OnePlus to focus on online sales and global markets, while OPPO continues to dominate offline retail and key regions like China. In some areas, the two brands even share service centers, and OnePlus products can be purchased directly from OPPO’s online store.

Conclusion

While OnePlus and OPPO may appear as separate entities on paper, their operations are deeply intertwined. This functional conjoining enables both brands to leverage shared resources while maintaining distinct market positions. The result is a smart business strategy that ensures efficiency, innovation, and continued growth in the competitive smartphone industry.