No, OnePlus is not an Indian brand — it’s Chinese.
Overview
OnePlus is a Chinese consumer electronics company best known for its smartphones, particularly its “flagship killer” positioning — offering high-end specs at lower prices than rivals like Samsung or Apple. It’s headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and has grown into a global smartphone brand also making earbuds, smartwatches, tablets, and other electronics.
OnePlus has an unusually deep relationship with India — India is one of its biggest and most important markets, it has manufacturing operations there, and its community-driven marketing found massive early success with Indian consumers — which is likely why people associate it so strongly with India. But the company’s origin, headquarters, and ownership are Chinese.
Origin Story
- 2013: OnePlus was founded by Pete Lau (a former Oppo executive) and Carl Pei in Shenzhen, China.
- Early identity: The company launched with the slogan “Never Settle” and built buzz through an invite-only sales system for its first phone, the OnePlus One — creating scarcity and hype rather than relying on traditional advertising.
- India connection: OnePlus partnered closely with Amazon India for exclusive online sales and built a strong community (OnePlus Forums, local “OnePlus Clubs”) that made India one of its top markets very early on — it became a leading premium smartphone brand in India within a few years of entering.
- Carl Pei’s departure: Co-founder Carl Pei left OnePlus in 2020 and later founded a new company, Nothing.
- Deeper Oppo integration: OnePlus was originally backed by Oppo (itself part of BBK Electronics) from the start, but the relationship deepened over time. In 2021, OnePlus announced a formal merger of its operations with Oppo, integrating R&D, supply chain, and operations more tightly — while keeping OnePlus as a distinct consumer-facing brand.
Who Owns OnePlus Today
- OnePlus operates under Oppo, which itself is part of the BBK Electronics family of brands — a Chinese conglomerate that also owns/backs Vivo, Realme, and iQOO.
- Pete Lau remains associated with OnePlus in a senior leadership capacity, but the operational and structural backbone is now closely tied to Oppo.
FAQ
Q: Is OnePlus owned by an Indian company?
No. It’s part of the Chinese BBK Electronics/Oppo ecosystem.
Q: Are OnePlus phones made in India?
Yes, OnePlus has manufacturing/assembly partnerships in India (common for many global smartphone brands to meet local demand and import regulations), but this doesn’t make it an Indian brand.
Q: Is OnePlus related to Oppo?
Yes — OnePlus was backed by Oppo from its founding and has since deeply integrated its operations with Oppo, both under the BBK Electronics umbrella.
Q: Why do people think OnePlus is Indian?
Because of its outsized popularity, marketing focus, and manufacturing presence in India, plus its historically strong ties to Amazon India — but its origin and ownership remain Chinese.
Q: Is OnePlus the same company as Nothing?
No — Nothing is a separate company founded later by Carl Pei, a OnePlus co-founder, after he left OnePlus.
