OnePlus returns to Germany after long hiatus as Oppo settles 5G patent dispute with Nokia

OnePlus has made a comeback in the German market after an absence of nearly 18 months. The return follows a recent global 5G patent cross-licensing agreement between sister company Oppo and Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia, which resolved a lengthy legal dispute spanning 12 countries.

OnePlus, based in Shenzhen, China reintroduced six smartphone models to Germany on Monday, including the foldable OnePlus Open, as stated on the company’s German website. Additionally, the firm initiated pre-orders for its latest OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R handsets. Prior to this week, OnePlus had limited offerings on its German website, primarily consisting of accessories like wireless earbuds.

This resurgence in the German market comes at a time when the global smartphone industry shows signs of recovery after a prolonged slump. According to tech research firm IDC, the industry is projected to experience 3.8 per cent growth this year.

“Despite another lackluster year for smartphones, 5G adoption continues to be a bright spot in the overall market,” noted Anthony Scarsella, research director at IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker group. IDC forecasts a 20 per cent growth in global 5G smartphone shipments for the year, up from 11 per cent in 2023.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are actively seeking to expand their sales beyond the domestic market, where intense price wars prevail.

OnePlus’ return to Germany follows the global patent cross-licensing agreement between Oppo and Nokia, covering standard-essential patents in 5G and other cellular communication technologies.

This agreement enables the resolution of pending patent litigation in all jurisdictions, with specific terms remaining confidential.

OnePlus had halted smartphone sales in Germany in August 2022 after Oppo lost a patent infringement lawsuit to Nokia in the country. The ruling effectively prohibited Oppo from selling its smartphones and certain OnePlus devices in Germany.

Founded in 2013 by a group of Oppo employees, including OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, OnePlus has gained popularity in the West for its premium smartphones that offer competitive pricing compared to Apple’s iPhone and similar Android handsets from Samsung Electronics.

While OnePlus resumes smartphone sales in Germany, Oppo has yet to reopen for business in the market. Oppo’s official local website still displays “no product information available.” The company faces ongoing legal challenges in Germany, where a Munich court ruled in late December that it infringed on the patents of US wireless and mobile technology company InterDigital. This ruling led to an injunction against Oppo.

Amidst fierce competition from other major Android handset vendors, Oppo is under pressure to resolve its patent disputes. According to IDC data, Oppo was the fourth-largest smartphone vendor globally in 2023, with shipments decreasing by 9.9 per cent year-on-year to 103 million units.

(With inputs from agencies)