OnePlus smartphones in China do not use oxygenOS overlay, but a Chinese hydrogenOS version. According to the information found by XDA Developers, this overlay would disappear, in favor of Oppo’s ColorOS.
Credit: OnePlus
As reported by a senior XDA member hikari_calyx, an announcement on the official OnePlus QQ group would indicate that HydrogenOS’ official website will be closed on March 24. It just so happens that this is precisely the launch date of the OnePlus 9 series in China. Internationally, the three smartphones will be unveiled the day before, March 23.
In addition, its OTA update server will be suspended by April 1, 2021. This would mean that Chinese OnePlus smartphones on HydrogenOS will no longer receive updates,and will likely be required to switch to ColorOS, Oppo’s overlay. The OnePlus 9 could then be the first smartphones of the Chinese manufacturer to operate natively under ColorOS, and could even be sold on the OPPO website in China.
Oppo and OnePlus strengthen their partnership
Like every year, the OnePlus 9 Pro will share many common features with the new Oppo Find X3 Pro that we were able to test. Indeed, both smartphones carry the same AMOLED QHD 120Hz display with LTPO technology. OnePlus has already shared the details of its screen, which has set 13 new records in DisplayMate tests. In addition, they have the same ultra wide-angle sensor IMX766 “Free form”,a technology that prevents the usual distortion on photos.
In addition to being CEO of OnePlus, Pete Lau recently became Senior Vice President of OPlus, which owns the majority of the shares of OnePlus and Oppo. In January 2021, OnePlus announced that it was merging its research and development department with Oppo, but said that software features would remain unique to smartphones. This is apparently not the case, since OnePlus smartphones will likely use ColorOS in China.
For now, it is unclear whether or not OnePlus smartphones will continue to run on OxygenOS in the future, but there is a good chance that the Chinese manufacturer will decide to keep its own international overlay rather than switch to ColorOS. Indeed, ColorOS has many interesting features specific to China, which probably must have motivated the choice of OnePlus in this country.
Source: XDA Developers
