The recent news OnePlus and realme officially merging into one entity has been quite the hot topic this week. According to details shared by the tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the two brands are joining their domestic and global operations into a newly established “sub product center” after what is described as careful consideration. This massive restructuring move aims to streamline resources, though the reports suggest both companies are expected to retain their individual brand identities while sharing background strategy and future product development. Li Jie, the current president of OnePlus China, has reportedly been put in charge of this sub-series product center and will report directly to OnePlus founder Pete Lau, also known as Liu Zuohu. Joining the leadership team is Wang Wei, the former vice president of realme, who is set to serve as the deputy general manager within the newly restructured entity.
Further integration includes the marketing and service arms of both businesses, which have reportedly merged into a specialized sub-business unit. Li Bingzhong, the founder of realme, has been named as the head of this specific business unit, while Xu Qi is expected to be responsible for the marketing and service efforts for both OnePlus and realme. This major change follows months of controversy and industry speculation, including a list of high-profile departures within OnePlus that previously led to rumors that the company might shut down global operations entirely. While executives repeatedly denied those closure claims earlier this year, this merger suggests a strategic pivot toward a more collaborative operational model between the fellow OPPO sub-brands.
The merger is expected to extend to shared resources for software development, product roadmaps, and specific device launch timing to better compete in the global market. Observers note that the two companies already shared a very close relationship when it came to rebadging products, such as the 2022 connection between the OnePlus 10R and the realme GT Neo 3.
Despite the detailed reports regarding internal appointments and structural shifts, neither OnePlus nor realme has provided a formal confirmation or an official comment as of writing.