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These docs show the rebranding process OnePlus refuses to talk about
- An FCC filing for a OnePlus phone has shown how OPPO and OnePlus handle rebranding.
- The filing confirms that an upcoming budget OnePlus phone is an OPPO device.
Oppo and OnePlus have been inextricably linked for years, as OnePlus rebranded several OPPO devices over the years. This practice has continued in recent times, and we’re expecting to see more rebrands after the two companies merged late last year.
Now, recently filed FCC documents for a 4G OnePlus phone have shed some light on the rebranding process. The OnePlus phone’s FCC listing contains a letter from OPPO noting that this handset is actually identical to a previously disclosed OPPO device.
“They (OnePlus) wish to market this product under their own company name,” reads an excerpt of OPPO’s letter. Check out a screenshot of the letter below.
This isn’t the only noteworthy document in the FCC filing, as OnePlus also filed a list of changes to the phone as part of the rebranding.
These changes include a new model number (from CPH2387 to CPH2469), changing the company name from OPPO to OnePlus, changing the battery cover to reflect a OnePlus logo, switching to a red USB cable, removing the headset, switching to a 50MP+2MP rear camera system, and adopting Oxygen OS 12.1.
We also get a look at the dimensions (163.74 x 75.03 x 7.99mm) and confirmation of a 5,000mAh battery, but there isn’t much else to learn from these documents. In saying so, the original model number (CPH2387) seems to be related to the OPPO A57 4G, seen below.
This budget smartphone is already listed for sale in Thailand and packs a low-end Helio G35 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 5,000mAh battery, 33W charging, and a 6.56-inch HD+ LCD screen. The aforementioned OnePlus phone dimensions are also an exact match for the dimensions seen in this product listing. So we’re guessing this will be an affordable Nord phone with little in the way of aesthetic changes.
Nevertheless, the FCC filing certainly does a good job of peeling the curtain back, giving us some insight into how OnePlus and OPPO handle rebranded phones from a regulatory perspective. It also shows just how transparent the companies are outside the media spotlight when it comes to the topic of rebranding.