Rumor | OnePlus will engage ODMs to offer a greater range of more affordable phones per year

According to a new leak, OnePlus could be returning to the reputation for affordability that underpinned its success as a start-up - however, there is somewhat of a catch. This caveat is that the resulting phones may be made as a result of new orders placed with original design manufacturers (ODMs).

These companies exist to make "generic" devices that are then sold by their clients under their own brands. This is a practice often employed by Xiaomi and Huawei for its lower-end handsets (some Honor phones included) to keep the running costs and final prices associated with the same down.

Now, OnePlus is reportedly linked to the same strategy, one that has reportedly also been adopted by Samsung for some of its newer Galaxy A-line smartphones. Should this rumor prove true, it may be a mark of the former company's continuing success in that they are now apparently ready to mimic its more established competitors in this way.

The alleged expanded line-up of OnePlus phones are said to come in both 5G and 4G flavors, and may be made by companies such as Zhongnuo, Wingtech, Wentai, Longqi or Huaqin. Therefore, there is a chance that more mid- to low-end phones that run OxygenOS could abound in the future.