It may have been a busy few months for Oppo and OnePlus, what with the launch of major products like the OnePlus 11 and the Oppo Find N2 Flip. But there might be a storm looming in the horizon for these two brands, and it looks like they might be grabbing their raincoats and bidding a hasty retreat.
According to serial leaker Max Jambor, BBK’s two most well-known brands are exiting the European market for good, with the first markets being Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands. This would mark a serious dent into their global ambitions and could spark a wider withdrawal from international markets.
There have been signs this might be the case—it’s been rumoured, for instance, that the new Oppo Find X6 and X6 Pro flagships will only be sold in China, which would make this the first time a Find X model does not see a global release. It’s particularly noteworthy that Oppo is retreating from the global flagship market at a time when these more expensive models are making up the vast majority of smartphone sales, while entry-level and midrange devices are struggling.
However, both Oppo and OnePlus issued statements denying Jambor’s claim, TechAdvisor reported. A OnePlus spokesperson told the publication:
OnePlus will not exit from Europe and the UK and maintains stable operations in local markets. OnePlus will continue to invest in Europe and provide more innovative product and solutions for its users.
OnePlus global PR manager James Paterson
An Oppo spokesperson has also responded, saying in an email:
Oppo is committed to all the existing European markets. We had a great start in 2023 with the successful launches of several products in Europe and have a line-up of upcoming products for the rest of the year. As always, Oppo will continue to provide more innovative products and the best-in-class service for users moving forward.
While OnePlus’ response was practically absolute, Oppo’s was somewhat more ambiguous. It did not deny that it will not be exiting the UK market, and it also did not discount the possibility of the brand leaving the Continent after 2023. For his part, Jambor has since clarified that brands will only be leaving the four countries listed, instead of all of Europe.
Of course, a decision to leave Europe isn’t an indication that the Oppo and OnePlus will be discontinuing all global sales. But the continent is still a big market, and such a move could have drastic consequences further down the line. Would you be sad to see these two brands disappear internationally?
