OnePlus has launched its 2023 flagship phone, the OnePlus 11. Unlike the past few years, though, the company did not introduce a Pro model alongside it. Instead, the company only has one flagship phone for its OnePlus 11 series, making it easier for consumers to pick what to buy.

If you were hoping to get your hands on a bigger and better Pro model, don't wait for that. There's no such phone in the pipeline because OnePlus has officially stopped launching devices with a Pro moniker. Here's why.

OnePlus Is Ditching the Pro and T Devices

After launching the OnePlus 11 on February 7th, the lack of a Pro model might have left some hope that the company will introduce it later. After all, the OnePlus 11 starts at $699, which, as you might expect, signals the company had to cut some corners on the spec sheet (and it did).

However, that launch subtly signaled a change in the company's strategy from recent years. As it turns out, OnePlus is officially doing away with the Pro and T naming scheme for its flagship phones.

The company confirmed the change to Android Authority shortly after launching the OnePlus 11 in international markets.

Instead of launching a Pro-branded phone, OnePlus only has one device for its 11 series. On top of that, the company also confirmed to the publication that it would not launch a T variant in the second half of the year, as it has done for the past few years.

Nonetheless, the jury is still out on whether the company will introduce another flagship device for the rest of 2023 or if it will replace the Pro and T monikers with something else.

OnePlus Returns to Its Roots

According to the company, the change is meant to help streamline its flagship portfolio, which has become increasingly confusing in the recent past. In the evolution of OnePlus phones, it's evident how the simple lineup dramatically exploded over the years, making it harder for buyers to figure out which device is right for them.

Thankfully the company acknowledges this. In a statement, OnePlus said:

Starting with our 2023 lineup, we are streamlining the flagship portfolio in North America (and globally) by removing our Pro lineup. In our opinion, you don't need to have a 'Pro' name for a device that's already 'pro.'

But aside from the company's statement, die-hard OnePlus fans have increasingly been vocal in criticizing the company for its strategy change in recent years.

As a brand that gained traction for launching devices with flagship-level specs for less—succinctly named "flagship killers"—OnePlus has been changing course to join the league of companies producing high-end smartphones with high prices to match, like Samsung with its market-leading Galaxy S series lineup.

It seems that didn't work well, and now the company is giving up its dream of becoming a premium smartphone brand by returning to its flagship-killer roots.

The new direction is evident when you look at the OnePlus 11, which features a flagship-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3216 x 1440 pixels) AMOLED panel with 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, up to 100W fast charging support, and a 5000mAh battery for just $699.

Some of these specs blow out the slightly more expensive Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ phones (which start at $799 and $849, respectively)—exactly what the OnePlus brand was about initially.

Don't Expect a "Pro" Device From OnePlus

OnePlus made a name for itself in the smartphone industry by launching devices with impressive specs for less, giving competition to flagship brands like Samsung. However, over the years, the company started making Pro smartphones with premium specs to rival the flagships the company set out to kill.

But OnePlus is returning to its roots, starting with the OnePlus 11 series, so don't expect Pro phones from the company in the future.