OnePlus has officially confirmed that its smartphones in China will now ship with ColorOS, a custom Android skin developed by Oppo. The change will come into effect with the launch of the OnePlus 9 series tomorrow and will include all the smartphones that will get released from here on. The announcement was made by Gary C., OxygenOS Product Lead, through a post on the company's official forums.

This new move does not affect global OnePlus units in any way. It means global users will continue to keep seeing OxygenOS on their current and new OnePlus smartphones, at least for the foreseeable future. The announcement is meant only for the Chinese users who were using HydrogenOS until now.

The official post mentions:

"After listening to their feedback and voices, our China market devices will now be using a customized version of ColorOS, tailored specifically for OnePlus smartphones, starting with the upcoming OnePlus 9 series. As a global technology company, we always look for ways to address the different usage habits and preferences among our users worldwide. We truly believe this customized new operating system will bring our Chinese users a software experience that is better suited to their liking."

Oppo has recently become the biggest smartphone brand in China. It means there are already millions of users who are familiar with ColorOS and are also enjoying the user experience. Since OnePlus and Oppo are sister companies, it makes sense for them to work together in a way that benefits both parties. We should be hearing more about the change at the launch keynote and if there are any new details, we will make sure to keep you posted.