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India consumer watchdog to probe Oppo Reno 5 defects
India's consumer watchdog is investigating Oppo Reno 5 display defects. A finding of systemic manufacturing failure could force refunds and reshape regulatory oversight of Chinese phone brands.
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New Delhi: India's apex consumer watchdog has decided to initiate an inquiry into complaints alleging manufacturing defects in Oppo Reno 5 series smartphones, two government officials said. The department of consumer affairs has been examining complaints registered through the National Consumer Helpline, including an issue with lines appearing on the screen.
The inquiry targets smartphones made by Oppo Guangdong Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd. The Chinese phonemaker ranked third in India's smartphone market with a 14% share in the April-June quarter, behind Vivo and Samsung, according to Counterpoint Technology Market Research.
India has increased scrutiny of Chinese smartphone makers. In a July 2023 Rajya Sabha reply, the government said companies including Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme and OnePlus had faced customs-duty and GST-evasion cases. Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Realme are smartphone brands owned by BBK Electronics.
Senior executives of the Chinese phonemaker will be asked to present their case and provide details on complaints and corrective steps taken, one of the officials said. “Some buyers who approached the company's service centres were provided with replacement handsets, citing internal defects. The purpose of the inquiry is to ascertain the extent of the problem and how many defective phones remain with consumers,” said the second official. “Since the issue relates to an alleged manufacturing defect, the inquiry will help determine how affected consumers can be appropriately compensated.”