In the smartphone world, OPPO, OnePlus, and Nothing may appear like competitors, but they’re connected through a fascinating lineage rooted in BBK Electronics—a silent giant behind major mobile brands. Here's a condensed view of how these brands evolved and intertwined.

OPPO’s Genesis

OPPO, once a small name under BBK Electronics, evolved into a major tech brand. Pete Lau played a key role here as VP, refining his leadership and technical approach. His experience at OPPO later became instrumental in shaping the next phase. The groundwork was laid for a new kind of smartphone vision—lean, fast, and affordable.

OnePlus is Born

In 2013, Pete Lau and Carl Pei launched OnePlus with a mission to deliver flagship quality for less. Though it seemed like an indie startup, it was backed by OPPO’s supply chain and R&D power. OnePlus rapidly grew into a beloved brand. By 2021, it merged officially with OPPO, aligning both software and hardware development efforts.

Carl Pei’s New Journey: Nothing

Carl Pei left OnePlus in 2020 to found Nothing, aiming to offer uniquely designed tech products. From transparent earbuds to stylish smartphones, Nothing’s approach is bold and fresh. It stands out by being independent of BBK, charting its own course. Ironically, it now competes with the brands Carl once helped build.

BBK Electronics: The Hidden Empire

BBK Electronics operates a powerful portfolio—OPPO, vivo, realme, iQOO, and OnePlus—all functioning under different names but sharing tech DNA. Each brand targets different markets while using shared infrastructure. It’s a case study of vertical integration and brand segmentation done right.

Talking about BBK Empire? See my post about the BBK Android Empire on DEV Community

Final Byte

Competition among these brands is more like sibling rivalry within one giant tech family. Pete and Carl may have taken different paths, but their roots trace back to BBK. And the circle keeps turning.

🔁 OPPO trained Pete ➝ Pete founded OnePlus with Carl ➝ Carl left OnePlus ➝ founded Nothing ➝ now Nothing competes with OnePlus & OPPO ➝ OnePlus merged into OPPO ➝ both are under BBK’s roof.