OnePlus is now a top-five high-end smartphone maker in the US

According to research analyst firm IDC, OnePlus has cracked the top-five when it comes to smartphone manufacturer market share in the high-end segment of the United States. This new jump into the big leagues stems from sales data obtained in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The high-end smartphone market is defined by IDC as phones costing $500 or more.

There’s little doubt that this achievement is a direct result of the partnership between OnePlus and the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier T-Mobile. OnePlus made headlines at the end of 2018 when it launched the OnePlus 6T on T-Mobile, marking the first time U.S. shoppers could buy a OnePlus phone directly from their carrier. This undoubtedly helped OnePlus gain new customers who likely never knew the company existed prior to the partnership.

OnePlus later revealed that first-month sales of the OnePlus 6T in the U.S. were 249 percent higher than first-month U.S. sales for the OnePlus 6, launched only a few months earlier without help from T-Mobile.

The company’s success here in the States seems to be catching up to its success in other countries around the world, particularly in India. In that country, OnePlus has been the top premium smartphone brand for three consecutive quarters. Samsung was previously at the top before OnePlus knocked it down.

With the OnePlus 7 and a OnePlus 5G phone on the horizon as well as the imminent release of a OnePlus TV this year, it’s clear 2019 is going to be a huge year for the relatively young company.

NEXT: OnePlus in 2019: A force to be reckoned with