OnePlus 10 Pro could launch in China months before it launches globally

The Oppo-ification of OnePlus has been underway for months, and it looks like another new change is coming to OnePlus’ release cycle.

According to a tweet from reliable leaker Max Jambor, the OnePlus 10 Pro release date will take place in January or February 2022, but only in China. The global OnePlus 10 Pro launch will reportedly be held in March or April 2022, potentially leaving up to a three-month gap between the Chinese and global launches.

This lines up with the global launch of OnePlus’ previous flagship phones. The OnePlus 9 Pro debuted globally in March 2021. However, the earlier China launch is new for the company. OnePlus has historically launched its flagship smartphones globally from day one, or at least semi-globally. OPPO, on the other hand, usually brings its smartphones to its home country of China first, then launches them on an international scale at a later date.

In September 2021, OnePlus CEO and co-founder Pete Lau announced a new era for the company called “OnePlus 2.0,” which essentially meant OnePlus would become more closely integrated with its parent company, BBK, as well as other BBK-owned properties like OPPO.

So what does this mean for the OnePlus 10 Pro? Early next year, if this rumor turns out to be true, we can expect the OnePlus 10 Pro to launch in China with Color OS, the Android skin that ships on OPPO smartphones. The global launch, later on, would see the 10 Pro ship with Oxygen OS, the same software skin that has shipped on OnePlus phones for years.

As mentioned, this is only a rumor and should be taken with a grain of salt until we hear something official from OnePlus.