OnePlus is a Chinese brand founded in 2013 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. It is owned by BBK Electronics and closely related to OPPO. India has historically been OnePlus’s largest global market.
OnePlus Brand Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Brand Name | OnePlus |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Origin | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| Founders | Pete Lau and Carl Pei |
| Parent Company | BBK Electronics / OPPO Electronics (China) |
| India Entity | OnePlus Technology India Private Limited |
| India Since | 2014 |
| Products | Premium to flagship smartphones, TWS earbuds, smartwatches, TV |
| Positioning | Premium performance smartphones — “Never Settle” |
| India Status | India was historically OnePlus’s No. 1 global market |
The Origin Story
OnePlus was founded in December 2013 by Pete Lau and Carl Pei — two former OPPO executives who wanted to create a new kind of smartphone brand. Their founding philosophy was bold and simple: make a flagship-quality smartphone and sell it at a fraction of the price of established premium brands like Samsung and Apple.
The brand launched with an invite-only system — customers needed an invitation from an existing OnePlus user to purchase a phone. This created enormous artificial scarcity and generated unprecedented online buzz. The OnePlus One launched in 2014 at $299 — offering specifications comparable to phones costing twice as much — and became a cult device among technology enthusiasts globally.
India was central to OnePlus’s strategy from the very beginning. The brand launched in India in 2014 through Amazon India with an exclusive online model — becoming one of the earliest examples of a smartphone brand building its entire India business through a single e-commerce partner. This OnePlus-Amazon India partnership was a defining moment in India’s online smartphone retail history.
Indian technology enthusiasts, who were deeply engaged with international tech communities through Reddit and YouTube, became some of OnePlus’s most passionate early adopters. India quickly became OnePlus’s single largest global market — a position it held for several years.
OnePlus and OPPO Merger
In 2021, OnePlus and OPPO officially merged their software teams and announced a deeper integration — with OnePlus operating as a premium sub-brand within the broader OPPO/BBK ecosystem. This integration reflected the underlying reality that both brands had always shared significant technology and manufacturing resources through BBK Electronics.
Carl Pei left OnePlus in 2020 to found Nothing — a new consumer electronics company based in London.
OnePlus in India Today
OnePlus maintains a strong premium and flagship smartphone presence in India — competing directly with Samsung’s Galaxy S series and Apple iPhone in the premium segment. The brand has expanded beyond phones into TWS earbuds, smartwatches, laptops, and smart TVs in the Indian market.
Final Verdict
OnePlus is a Chinese brand under BBK Electronics and OPPO — not an Indian brand despite India being its historically most important market. The brand’s ownership, technology, and intellectual property are entirely Chinese.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is OnePlus an Indian brand?
A: No. OnePlus is a Chinese brand founded in 2013 in Shenzhen, owned by BBK Electronics through OPPO.
Q: Who founded OnePlus?
A: Pete Lau and Carl Pei — two former OPPO executives who founded OnePlus in December 2013.
Q: Is OnePlus owned by OPPO?
A: Yes — OnePlus is closely integrated with OPPO under the BBK Electronics group, operating as a premium sub-brand.
Q: Why is OnePlus so popular in India?
A: OnePlus built India as its primary market from 2014 — offering flagship specifications at competitive prices, backed by strong community engagement and an Amazon-exclusive launch strategy.
Q: Who is Carl Pei?
A: Carl Pei co-founded OnePlus with Pete Lau in 2013. He left OnePlus in 2020 to found Nothing — another consumer electronics brand.
Q: Is India still OnePlus’s largest market?
A: India was historically OnePlus’s No. 1 global market. As OnePlus expanded globally and moved upmarket, its India dominance has become more competitive with other premium brands.
Q: What other products does OnePlus sell in India besides phones?
A: TWS earbuds (OnePlus Buds), smartwatches (OnePlus Watch), smart TVs (OnePlus TV), and laptops.