Nothing is working! Is OnePlus going to be unsettled by Carl Pei's shadow?

Important Points to Remember

• Nothing's founder, Carl Pei, has disclosed plans for the company's second product, a smartphone.
• Pei was also a co-founder of the OnePlus smartphone company, which he left in late 2020. Many people thought of him as the "face" of the company.
• Pei seems to invoke values associated with the original OnePlus when talking about the first Nothing phone.
• Given the fact that not all OnePlus supporters are pleased with the company's decision to partner with Oppo, Pei's previous employers may find Nothing's first phone to be a headache.

It has the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. A corporation is founded by two people. The business is a huge success. After that, one of them departs. He establishes his own business. And then the two people who had been working together suddenly find themselves in opposing camps. Of course, it's occurred before in the computer world. Perhaps the most well-known of these occurrences is Steve Jobs' departure from Apple and subsequent acquisition of Next, the firm he co-founded with his own initiative.

Carl Pei, OnePlus' co-founder, recently announced plans for his new company's first phone, the Nothing Phone (1), in an online presentation, and it was tough not to experience similar sentiments. Carl Pei was one of the co-founders of OnePlus, for those who don't dwell on a non-tech world. In 2020, he left the corporation and launched his own company, Nothing. The Ear (1) TWS, the brand's first device, was released in 2021 to widespread praise. Now it appears like Pei is returning to the phone industry.

What happened to the Never Settler?

And, oddly, he's returning at a time when the company he co-founded is undergoing a transformation. OnePlus, the company that rose to prominence as a tech geek favourite because to its emphasis on minimalism in both software and design, frequent updates, and low prices, has been turning over a new leaf for some time. The company has evolved from a flagship killer to a full-fledged flagship manufacturer, including a foray into the luxury phone market. It has also transitioned from releasing only one phone per year to numerous models - last year, it released three phones in the OnePlus 9 series and two in the OnePlus Nord series. Even as all of this was going on, the Never Settling brand teamed up with Oppo, resulting in a polarising collaboration in the tech world.

While OnePlus' sales have been steadily increasing in recent months, many of its early fans are dissatisfied with the company's new strategy. Since Google went costly with its Pixel range, the company has been accused of straying from its perceived principles of restricted but constantly updated models and clean, bloatware-free software, which many (including us) saw as the closest thing to a Nexus. When OnePlus mentioned combining Oppo's Color OS UI with Oxygen OS, the conversation became so hot that the company had to take a step back and reassure its community that OxygenOS would remain independent.

Nothing reminds you of anything?

With OnePlus gearing up for the global debut of its OnePlus 10 Pro flagship, its co-founder has navigated his latest watercraft into these choppy waters. And, based on his presentation, he appears to be aiming his efforts squarely at original OnePlus fans. The idea of uncluttered Android, a clean design, a different gadget that would break away from the day's dull cliches, the discussion of fantastic hardware, of exciting developments that would break away from the routine...this was all old territory. OnePlus had previously covered this territory, but the company had appeared to abandon it. He even hinted that a large group was attempting to sabotage Nothing's chances, adding to the "rebel" vibe and siege mentality that appeals to a lot of geeks — the entire "system is against us" line. And throughout, he emphasised the importance of offering consumers something unique.

Of course, speculating on Nothing's first phone is premature at this point. Apart from a few UI screenshots and the knowledge that it would be powered by an unidentified Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, we know nothing about it (pun intended). After seeing the presentation, there's reason to believe that the Nothing Phone (1) will have elements of the original OnePlus, such as a clean and unobtrusive UI, a unique design (remember those sandstone backs? ), good hardware, and, given Pei's track record at both OnePlus and Nothing, a very low price tag.

The original OnePlus' "face" is currently at Nothing.

Since its inception, OnePlus may have successfully transitioned to new pastures. Even so, as the anger over the ColorOS-OxygenOS integration demonstrated, some members of the community aren't thrilled with the new look. Elements that can entice you to switch to another brand, especially if it promises to embody all that the original OnePlus stood for and comes from someone who was close to the company.

Carl Pei was one of the few people who was close to the Never Settler in its early days. He was, after all, the face of the company, presenting items and socialising with fans. This is why, while every phone maker will be interested in Nothing's first phone effort, we believe OnePlus will be concerned, as it appears to symbolise a return to the ideals that have made OnePlus the force it is today.

Although it is too early to make any forecasts, it is safe to say that OnePlus has nothing to fear this year.