The journey of an 'enthusiast brand' from niche darling to mainstream player often involves difficult choices and perceived betrayals. OnePlus provides a fascinating historical blueprint for this perilous transition, where the very qualities that captivated its initial, fervent following eventually gave way to a broader appeal. Explore how OnePlus navigated this challenging arc, shedding its original identity in pursuit of mass market viability and inadvertently offering a survival guide for other brands treading a similar path.