I’ve used every OnePlus phone I’ve been able to get my hands on. This was my favorite

OnePlus has announced that it will cease all operations in Europe and North America, and while the brand may continue to do business in India and its native China, it is certainly the end of an era for many of us. OnePlus unveiled its first phone in 2014, and has continued to launch a wide range of products, including phones, foldable devices, smartwatches, and more. Most of these stuck to the company’s ethos of offering solid hardware at more affordable prices than its premium competitors.

I’ve been reviewing CNET phones for the past 15 years, which means I’ve picked up almost everything OnePlus has launched in the UK – and written full CNET reviews for many of its products. Now that it’s closed down where I live, I wanted to take a look at some of OnePlus’ notable achievements over the years.

OnePlus One, 2014

I’m starting with The company’s first phone. Featuring a 5.5-inch screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, and a single 13-megapixel rear camera, the phone also has very powerful features. Dubbed the “flagship killer” for its low $299 price, OnePlus has built its reputation by undercutting competitors on price while still providing enough grunt to make its phones perform well in everyday use. In comparison, its main competitor at the time was the Samsung Galaxy S5, which launched at over $600.

However, OnePlus hasn’t made the purchasing process easy. Initially, it was launched only through a one-to-one invitation system and word-of-mouth marketing. However, the charmingly popular beginnings helped the niche product gain recognition, and as a result the company gained a dedicated community of followers, helping the brand gain a foothold in the already crowded Android phone market.

OnePlus 3, 2016

the OnePlus 3 It made noticeable changes compared to the models that preceded it. Mainly, it was the first of its kind to come with an all-metal body, which we said “looks better than all previous OnePlus devices” in our full review. It also doesn’t require you to wait for an invitation to buy it, making it the most accessible phone the company has launched.

However, it has stayed true to the “cheap but good” philosophy, with a 5.5-inch HD display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, and a good 16-megapixel rear camera. Not a bad lineup for the $400 asking price, which still significantly undercuts all competitors. Launching later this year, the OnePlus 3T marks the first time the company has launched a mid-cycle T variant that features slightly more processing power – something the brand will continue to do throughout its run.

OnePlus 5T, 2017

The basic OnePlus 5 phone was launched in June 2017, with Version 5T It would be released in November of that year, which I liked even more. Not because of its beefed-up specs, but because OnePlus took the opportunity to be more experimental with its colors. The 5T was launched in vibrant Metallic Red and Sandstone White, as seen above. This sandstone model didn’t just have a color, it had a matte finish that really felt like you were holding a phone hewn directly from the sandstone.

I liked it as a refreshing change from the usual black or silver phones we had at the time, and was disappointed that it wasn’t an option OnePlus would offer on all of its future phones (it’s back in OnePlus 15although less yellow and textured).

Other changes included a larger 6.01-inch display, the removal of the home button on the front (which means moving the fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone) and dual rear cameras consisting of a 20-megapixel main camera paired with a 16-megapixel telephoto zoom camera.

OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition, 2019

In 2019, OnePlus launched the 7 and 7 Pro phones. 7T and the 7T Pro, which are all very similar phones Slightly different sets of specifications. It’s been a confusing time to be a OnePlus fan — and even more challenging to be a tech journalist, especially when some of these phones are only available in some parts of the world, but not others. But it’s this special edition model – built in collaboration with Formula 1 supercar and rival McLaren – that stole my heart.

It helped launch OnePlus at McLaren’s sci-fi-style headquarters, but the phone itself stood out from the crowd thanks to the wavy body design (which looks a bit like… Damascus steel) as well as vibrant orange accents that match McLaren Racing’s famous papaya orange colour. Aside from the luxurious design, the phone’s specifications were largely similar to those of the regular model. It features a large 6.6-inch display and a selfie camera that rises from the top edge of the phone when needed, avoiding the need for any notches or notches.

OnePlus Nord 2020

As OnePlus phones continue to get more powerful, they’re also becoming more expensive, with the 7T Pro McLaren Edition shown above being the company’s most expensive launch to date at £799 (about $1,074). It’s a far cry from the affordable roots that earned OnePlus so many fans in its early years, so to regain some budget market share, OnePlus launched the Nord series.

Debuting in the UK first, OnePlus Nord It has a good range of specifications, including 5G connectivity and a triple camera setup, making it a solid all-rounder option with an asking price of £379 ($510). I also love the vibrant blue color.

It was a phone that really harked back to the early days of OnePlus with its primary focus on value while still being a great all-rounder for everyday use.

OnePlus Pro headphones 2021

OnePlus has launched a range of headphones for the US and UK markets, with Buds Pro Being the company’s high-end wireless earbuds. Like its phones, OnePlus’ Buds Pro were a solid all-around option and didn’t require as much money as competitors like Apple’s AirPods Pro. I’ve used my OnePlus earbuds almost constantly because I appreciate how well the bass emphasis fits the electronic music I listen to.

But I also liked that OnePlus released a shiny chrome model, which stood out from the boring-looking black earbuds I had before. The Buds Pro 2 came in a beautiful green, and featured improved quality and better active noise cancellation, while the newer Buds Pro 3 upped the ante with a better battery. The company’s headphones never topped our lists, but they consistently delivered a good experience at a reasonable cost.

OnePlus Watch, 2021-2025

the The first OnePlus watch It was a letdown thanks to poor tracking and connectivity issues. Despite its relatively cheap price of $159, it failed to impress, earning an average rating of 6 out of 10 in our full review. The second model had a few upgrades, however third generation, Launched in 2025, it showed real promise.

With its sleek design, enhanced calling experience, and exceptionally good battery life, the OnePlus Watch 3 ticked all the boxes we’ve come to expect from a modern all-around smartwatch, earning it a great score in our review. Sure, its $350 price tag meant it was significantly more expensive than the original, but the result was a much more refined product that complemented an active lifestyle well.

It also showed that OnePlus cared about its fans and media criticism (like our products) and actively improved its products year after year, and finally delivered something worthy of praise.

OnePlus 10 Pro, 2022

the OnePlus 10 ProIn my opinion, it represents a new era for OnePlus, which aims to compete seriously in the flagship arena. With a revamped design featuring glass and metal, cutting-edge components, and a partnership with popular camera company Hasselblad, the 10 Pro was an “all guns blazing” phone at an affordable price.

I reviewed this phone back in 2022 and praised it not only for its excellent performance but also for its long battery life and fast charging capabilities. Frustratingly, these fast charging speeds weren’t available on phones sold in the US, and if you wanted one rated for water resistance, you had to buy it from T-Mobile for some stupid reason.

However, this phone was outstanding in almost every way, and it set the standard for what OnePlus wanted from its phones. Gone are the cheap and cheerful days of the OnePlus One. The OnePlus 11, OnePlus 12, and subsequent OnePlus 13 had a similar lineup of specs wrapped in stunning bodies that commanded high prices.

OnePlus Unlocked, 2023

Despite its roots in affordable Android phones, OnePlus hasn’t been afraid to jump on the foldable bandwagon and push the boat out with a very premium device. the OnePlus unlocked It was a book-shaped foldable device with a powerful processor and, in my opinion, a really nice-looking design – especially in the Crimson Shadow model I used. But the camera performance let things down, and it lacked any wireless charging.

It achieved a good score in our review, but the phone clearly wasn’t a success for the company as it quietly discontinued its Open 2 plans, and as a result, it’s the only foldable phone we’ve ever gotten that has the OnePlus badge on it.

OnePlus 15, 2025

Launched in late 2025, the OnePlus 15 is the last flagship phone the company launched. And it’s not a bad phone to get out of. Although I find the design a lot more boring than some of its flagship predecessors, the phone has some serious power under the hood and a ton of space. 7300 mAh battery This means it can continue to squeak even with only a small percentage remaining.

But at $900, it was actually more expensive than the starting prices of similar flagship phones from Samsung and Google, meaning the company’s original affordable ethos was all but gone. Maybe that’s why sales were rumored to be well below expectations.

The OnePlus 15 is by no means my favorite of the company’s phones over the years, but it had plenty of merit, and I was excited to see what OnePlus had in store for us in 2026 and beyond. It’s been an interesting journey seeing the company change its tactics over the years — and seeing what OnePlus co-founder Karl Pei has been doing since then with his new mobile company, Nothing.

Being a journalist for a long time means seeing the rise and fall of companies like OnePlus. While it may have been inconceivable at one time that OnePlus would be wiped from our shelves, it shows just how fickle the phone market is — and that any company’s success isn’t written in stone.