A major shakeup is reportedly underway in the smartphone industry as OnePlus and Realme are set to merge into a single entity. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, Li Jie, president of OnePlus China, will lead the merged company and report directly to Pete Lau (Liu Zuohu). This consolidation comes after months of controversy surrounding both brands' positioning and market strategies.

Under the proposed structure, both brands will share product development, software development, roadmaps, and launch timing. Wang Wei, Realme's former VP, will reportedly serve as deputy general manager. While both domestic and global operations will merge, the brands will maintain their separate identities.

The merger would represent a significant consolidation within BBK Electronics' portfolio, combining two of its major smartphone brands. With neither company confirming the changes, consumers and industry observers remain uncertain about how this will affect product differentiation in an increasingly competitive smartphone market.