OnePlus Has Completed An Incredible Redemption Arc [Video]

Of all the OEMs making Android phones, OnePlus has been completely reinvigorated over the past couple of years, both as a brand and as a choice for buyers.

The death of the “old” OnePlus

Maybe rose-tinted glasses haven’t helped the perception of the “old OnePlus” versus this shiny “new OnePlus.”

From the original OnePlus One up to and including the OnePlus 7 series, there was a very vocal subset of people that saw Carl Pei and Pete Lau’s baby as the heir apparent to the Android throne – that is provided tricky and problem areas were addressed in future releases.

For many, though, the switch away from the clean, lightweight, and AOSP+ builds of OxygenOS was a major nail in the coffin to compound the exit of Pei back in 2020. Pricing increases, changes in management, plus other changes all compounded the outlook for OnePlus at the time.

Initially, the first few launches in the post-Pei era were fine but never quite the same or never quite had the same magic. The OnePlus 9 through the OnePlus 11 were fine phones but not quite the leap into the “premium” space we probably deserved.

You were never truly sure what would happen and Oppo was undoubtedly in the driving seat. Rebadged handsets, confusing software, plus price creep likely pushed many away. It was easy to think that OnePlus had “settled” as a subsidiary of a bigger, bolder, brand partner.

However, like a proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes, the last 24 months have been more than just refreshing. OnePlus has released two of the best phones of the last year, arguably the best Wear OS smartwatch you can buy right now, and even has some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. While it’s hyperbole to say that the brand has come back from the depths of despair, things are rosy, and so long as the company can continue on this trajectory, things are very, very bright.

The first steps of a redemption arc

It’s a three-tiered redemption that ironically starts with what was once the weakest area of any OnePlus phone – the camera system.

The partnership with Hasselblad has been transformative, bringing professional-grade color calibration and tuning to OnePlus phones. It started off fairly minimally with software-focused tuning for the OnePlus 9 camera system. Nothing major at this stage, but still more than just a brand name slapped on the camera module in a bid to sell phones.

Since then, though, the Hasselblad hallmarks have been carried over with new modes, better tuning, and more reliable expectations of a OnePlus phone camera setup. By limiting it to the Pro tiers, this collaboration isn’t diluted like it otherwise could have been. Despite at least until last year, there hasn’t been a truly outstanding setup or consistent setup on a OnePlus phone.

It changed with the OnePlus 12’s camera system. It now delivers exceptional dynamic range and low-light performance, rivaling the most expensive phones and changing the perception of what cameras on a OnePlus phone can and should do. Sure, not all of the cameras are objectively the best, but the OnePlus 12 showcased just what the company is capable of when excellent hardware and the vastly improved image engine can do when combined.

This year, the OnePlus 13 picks up where the OnePlus 12 left off, refining the camera experience to make it more reliable yet still versatile. This duo embodies the brand’s resurgence, offering a compelling package of high-end specifications along with some nice design tweaks. You get the most powerful processor, class-leading displays, and long-lasting battery with super fast charging tech bundling in. Even on paper, these things make them true flagship contenders.

While the price has increased, they have remained incredibly competitive compared to other premium smartphones, offering exceptional value for not only the specifications and the camera tech but also the features provided. For instance, the OnePlus 13 has practically 95% of the Galaxy S25 Ultra tech but is almost $400 cheaper.

OxygenOS is better than ever

OxygenOS 15 has addressed many of the concerns raised by users regarding bloatware and stability. Don’t get it twisted, there a few things that you could consider “bloat” but no more than in One UI for instance. The interface feels more refined, and the inclusion of features like improved RAM management and enhanced customization options has significantly enhanced the user experience. The update has provided a more fluid and responsive feel tuned to the high-end hardware packed inside.

Visually, the switch from the “old” OxygenOS to a fork of ColorOS was a big concern. I was very disappointed, but over the past 3-4 updates, it has evolved into something that feels independent enough to fit the hardware. OxygenOS 15 is, simply put, fantastic. It’s fluid and fast while retaining the customization controls that are missing on Google’s lightweight Pixel skin.

Even the AI functions are less in your face than in One UI and mostly just enhance existing functions with timesaving search tools or image tuning rather than trying to fully control your device. Even if you ignore the proliferation of AI, you can have a great experience with the “vanilla” Android 15 update on your OnePlus phone.

I’ll be the first to admit that OxygenOS was never my first choice when OnePlus made the switch to a ColorOS base. Credit where it’s due, though, things have improved so drastically that I can honestly count it among the best skins on Android.

Building out a (better) ecosystem

The beauty of Android is that you can pair products from various brands, and they all play nicely. Oppo was already making their own wearables, earbuds, and other accessories. OnePlus had some admittedly cheap options available but none that were easy to recommend.

In 2025, that is another area of significant improvement. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 excels in just about every regard. They are the best casual earbuds I have ever used. Expertly tuned, ric,h clear sound, great ANC, and all the benefits of Google Fast Pair, plus they usurp the marketing leading AirPods Pro in a head-to-head sound test. There simply are no other Android-focused earbuds that compete in all areas.

OnePlus smartwatches are not something I think I would ever be able to recommend but after some experiments with Wear OS, there has been another massive improvement here. It’s early in the year, but the OnePlus Watch 3 is arguably the best new wearable to pair with an Android phone. From the design to the battery to the integrations, it’s a fantastic smartwatch and continues the similarly solid OnePlus Watch 2 and 2R in that regard.

Yes, it’s important to note that since Fossil exited the market, there have been fewer players in the Wear OS space, so it’s great to see OnePlus step up with solid alternatives.

OnePlus’s even brighter future…

Let’s get some things out of the way. There have been lots of stumbling blocks – probably more than necessary – for OnePlus to reach this point. But if any brand encapsulates a turnaround in recent years, it’s hard to argue that it is OnePlus. The tighter alignment with Oppo has provided the perfect incubation for the one-time market disrupter from the hardware to the software to the accessories that create a mini ecosystem of products.

Going from an enthusiast icon to a more bog-standard Android smartphone maker is really risky. You alienate the original fanbase by trying to open the brand to more people, and ordinarily, that means ballooning prices as you target that market segment. There have been some sizable increases in that area, which is hard to ignore.

For me, the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 13 embody a complete reinstatement as both an incredible flagship-level Android phones, plus devices that does offer many enthusiast-level internal components but the all-important pricing keeps them within reach of most people. Like a throwback to the early days.

Yes, pricing has crept up, but that has helped highlight just how bloated phone prices are across the board. I also think that the quiet approach to improvement has been a great benefit to OnePlus. As other brands like Samsung have stagnated a little in recent years, maybe the bar was lower to allow OnePlus to come good in many areas with little incremental changes, tweaks, tuning, and pricing that – in some cases – vastly undercuts the competition.

Just having the best internals isn’t enough anymore. It’s a great building block but needs to be paired with the best everywhere else and that is where OnePlus has made quiet improvements to a formula that was halfway to a real solution.

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