It’s Thursday, January 22, 2026, and if you’ve been scrolling through tech Twitter, you probably saw the “OnePlus is dying” eulogies. A report from Android Headlines basically said the brand was being dismantled by Oppo and put on life support. The thing is, OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu isn’t having it.
He dropped a “Never Settle” post yesterday to shut down the rumors, insisting business is “as usual.” But let’s be real—even if they aren’t shutting down today, the vibes are… complicated. Those too.
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The “OnePlus Crisis” Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the “flagship killer” is fighting a war on three fronts: sales, product cancellations, and the taxman. Here’s the ground reality:
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The Dismantling Rumor: The viral report claimed Oppo is slowly absorbing OnePlus because of “declining sales” and “cancelled devices.” Robin Liu’s rebuttal was quick: “Recent unverified reports… are false.” The thing is, when you have to deny you’re shutting down, the damage is already done. Or nothing.
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The “Vanishing” Roadmap: Here’s the kicker—we were all waiting for the OnePlus Open 2 (the foldable) and the OnePlus 15s (the compact flagship). But rumors from top leakers say they’re 90% likely to be cancelled for India. Instead, we might just get rebadged Oppo Find N6 units. Let’s be real—OnePlus fans hate being “Oppo-fied.”
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The Market Slump: The math is getting ugly. IDC data shows OnePlus dropped from 3.6% market share (Q3 2024) to 2.4% (Q3 2025). That’s a 30.5% crash in just a year. Meanwhile, parent company Oppo stayed flat. It’s an ongoing situation where OnePlus is losing its “premium” grip to Apple and Samsung.
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The ₹93 Crore Headache: As if that wasn’t enough, the GST department just slapped them with a ₹93 crore notice. The reason? Their “Lifetime Screen Replacement” program for that annoying green line issue. The government thinks they owe tax on those free replacements. OnePlus deposited ₹10 crore “under protest,” but it’s a mess. Those too.
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OnePlus 2026: The “Survival” Matrix
| Feature / Issue | Current Status (Jan 2026) | The “Ground” Reality |
| Flagship 15 Series | Launched (Nov/Dec 2025) | 15R features a massive 7,400mAh battery. |
| Market Share | 2.4% (IDC) | Down from 3.6%; users migrating to iPhone/S26. |
| OnePlus Open 2 | Reportedly Cancelled | Roadmap shifted toward Oppo-only foldables. |
| GST Tax Notice | ₹93 Crore | Dispute over the “Green Line” free repair service. |
| Net Profit | ₹16 Crore (FY25) | Down from ₹230 Cr. Profits have basically evaporated. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The thing is, while the CEO says “business as usual,” the OnePlus 15R is actually a beast on paper—Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, 165Hz display, and that 7,400mAh battery. Or nothing. But people aren’t buying specs anymore; they’re buying stability. Let’s be real—if the “Green Line” issue keeps popping up and the tax cases keep mounting, “Never Settle” might start feeling like a suggestion rather than a promise.
One side comment—the Amazon Republic Day Sale is currently pushing the 15R for ₹47,999, which is a massive aggressive price drop for a one-month-old phone. It’s an ongoing situation where they’re trying to buy back their market share with heavy discounts. Those too.
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End…
