Carl Pei confirms his departure from OnePlus

As OnePlus prepared to launch its latest premium phone (the 8T), rumors that Carl Pei, one of its original founders alongside then-OPPO executive Pete Lau, was leaving the company arose. Today (October 16, 2020), Pei has confirmed that this is indeed the case.

The (now former) executive did so through a swansong post on the OEM's online forum. Pei also expressed appreciation for his experiences during his approximate 7 years with the brand he helped build since before its initial success the OnePlus One was launched, as well as for the community built up around the same achievements to date.

The reports surrounding his decision to move on also contained suggestions that it had been taken in order to pursue a different, "hardware"-based ambition. However, Pei would only note that his immediate plans involve "taking some time off to decompress and catch up with my family and friends". Thereafter, he will "follow [his] heart on to what’s next".