In the wake of its announcement about OnePlus merging with Oppo, the firm revealed that it is merging their respective mobile OSes as well. The firm also revealed a new support lifecycle.

“We created OxygenOS based on the idea that fast and smooth software is fundamental for a good smartphone experience,” an Oxygen OS product lead identified as Gary C. writes. “Since then, OxygenOS has proven to be one of the best Android operating systems available on the global market.”

I agree with that. So I’m curious why OnePlus would move to change its approach to developing this platform. But this is good news, as it turns out. According to Mr. C., it’s all about the same issues that required OnePlus to become part of Oppo: It needs “significantly more resources” to deliver what it calls a world-class user experience.

Here’s the plan: OnePlus is working to integrate the codebases of OxygenOS, its custom version of Android, with ColorOS, the version Oppo uses in its handsets. Mr. C. claims that users won’t see any changes as a result because it’s happening behind the scenes. And that a more streamlined development process and the combined resources of both teams, will result in better efficiency, stability, and reliability.

More to the point, OnePlus will continue to offer OxygenOS to its users, now and in the future. And even better, OnePlus is improving its product support life cycles.

Going forward, flagship devices—including the OnePlus 8 series and newer devices, plus any T/R variants—will receive three major Android updates and four years of security updates. Nord and Nord CE handsets will receive two major Android updates and three years of security updates. And the Nord N series, starting with the N10 and N100, will receive one major Android update and three years of security updates. (Flagship devices released before the OnePlus 8 series will continue to get two major Android updates and three years of security updates.)

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