Industry observers are once again turning their attention to a familiar pattern among Chinese smartphone conglomerates: the absorption of an independent sub-brand into the parent company. Following widely noted consolidations such as the restructuring of OnePlus and Realme under Oppo, fresh speculation suggests another brand may soon follow the same path.
The discussion gained traction after a post by known leaker Yogesh Brar on X, indicating that a brand faces re-integration due to underwhelming performance. Brar did not name the company or reveal a timeline, but the hint was enough to spark a flurry of analysis and educated guesses across the tech community.
Poco and iQoo emerge as leading candidates
Two names quickly surfaced as the most likely subjects of a potential merger: Poco and iQoo. Poco, originally launched as a sub-brand under Xiaomi and later operating with substantial autonomy, and Redmi, which remains tightly integrated with Xiaomi, both serve overlapping segments. iQoo, similarly, has functioned as a performance-focused line under Vivo. Neither brand maintains a significant footprint in the United States, and sales in Europe are reportedly declining, making their competitive standing in India and China the most probable deciding factor for any restructuring decision.
Some industry followers have also floated the possibility of CMF, a design-led offshoot, being absorbed into its parent firm Nothing. However, the consensus is that the parent companies in question are likely to be Xiaomi or Vivo rather than a younger startup operation.
Signals of integration grow stronger
A comment highlighted in the original discussion pointed out that some Poco devices recently received a HyperOS 3.1 update that replaced distinct Poco app icons with standard Xiaomi branding. Additionally, Poco’s release cycle increasingly mirrors the approach of Oppo and OnePlus. For iQoo, the case is reinforced by its consistent use of Funtouch OS in international markets, the same software layer found on mainstream Vivo phones, and its relatively muted performance in India.
The ripple effects of this type of consolidation are well documented. Following Oppo’s absorption of OnePlus, the focus in the Indian market shifted decisively away from flagship launches toward mid-range and budget-friendly devices, exemplified by the rollout of the OnePlus N series. Whether a Poco or iQoo merger would produce a similar strategic pivot remains to be seen, but the precedent suggests price-conscious segments could receive renewed emphasis if either brand is folded back into its parent.
Sources: x.com, community.oneplus.com