What are our options when OP is gone
I’ve been using OnePlus phones since the very beginning, I’ve owned the One, 3T, 5T, 7T, 10T, and now the 15. What always kept me loyal was how open the phones were. Unlocking the bootloader was super easy, installing whatever ROM you wanted was simple, and you could customise the device exactly the way you liked. Even though I haven’t rooted anything since the 7T days, I still appreciated having the option.
But now, with the 15 being my first ColorOS device — which I converted to OxygenOS for less than half the price of the EU model, I’m starting to wonder what our options for cheap phones will be once OxygenOS is discontinued. OPPO doesn't allow bootloader unlocking so no global software, Xiaomi’s Chinese models aren’t much cheaper than the EU versions, and while they technically allow bootloader unlocking, the phone gets bricked if you flash the Global ROM and relock the bootloader. On top of that, they still don’t allow gestures on third‑party launchers.