No, OPPO and OnePlus are not exiting the EU

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

A new report suggests OPPO and OnePlus could be making their exodus from major markets in the EU. A post in Chinese publication 36Kr suggests the BBK-owned entities are considering pulling out of the U.K. and Germany, and a tweet by leaker Max Jambor indicates France and The Netherlands may also be affected.

Both OPPO and OnePlus have faced significant challenges in Germany in the last six months. A patent lawsuit filed by Nokia (the networking services provider, not HMD Global) effectively barred both OPPO and OnePlus from selling phones in Germany in August 2022, and if you go to the OnePlus Germany site, you will see the company's latest launches — including the Buds Pro 2 and the OnePlus Pad — but no phones at all.

I can confirm: OPPO and OnePlus are pulling out of Europe. First to leave are Germany, UK, France and Netherlands.March 27, 2023

Nokia's lawsuit alleged that both OnePlus and OPPO used the brand's 5G technologies in their phones without paying royalties, and with the German court siding in Nokia's favor, both brands had to pull out of Germany. Thankfully, it looks like the lawsuit won't have any far-reaching consequences for the BBK-owned entities, and that it will be business as usual for the rest of the region.

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In a statement provided to Android Central, OPPO and OnePlus confirmed that both companies will continue to serve existing European markets, with new products launching over the coming months:

"OPPO and OnePlus are committed to all the existing European markets and the UK. 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 and OnePlus will continue to provide more innovative products and the best-in-class service for users moving forward."

OPPO had a big launch event in the U.K. a few weeks ago for the launch of its latest foldable, the Find N2 Flip, and the device is up for sale in the country. Similarly, the OnePlus 11 is listed in the U.K., and OnePlus has maintained several times that the best OnePlus phones would be available in the U.K., with the region playing a key role in the manufacturer's global efforts.

Harish Jonnalagadda is Android Central's Senior Editor of Asia. In his current role, he oversees the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, networking products, and AV gear. He has been testing phones for over a decade, and has extensive experience in mobile hardware and the global semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.