OnePlus has launched preorders for the OnePlus 15 in the US following its delayed FCC clearance caused by a government shutdown. The milestone allows eager buyers to finally secure the flagship smartphone after weeks of anticipation, resolving the regulatory holdup and marking a key step in the device’s US market entry.
Background on the FCC Delay
The OnePlus 15’s path into the US market was slowed when a federal government shutdown stalled the Federal Communications Commission’s routine certification work, leaving the phone in regulatory limbo just as it was expected to debut. According to reporting on how the government shutdown delay disrupted the OnePlus 15’s review, the pause in operations meant staff who normally process device applications were unavailable, and pending filings simply sat in the queue. For US buyers who had been tracking leaks and early international coverage, the shutdown translated into a concrete setback, pushing back a launch window that OnePlus had previously framed as imminent.
The shutdown’s impact on federal agencies was especially visible at the FCC, where reviews of new phones, tablets, and wearables are a prerequisite for legal sale. In the case of the OnePlus 15, the stalled certification process forced OnePlus to acknowledge that its original US timeline was no longer realistic, and the company began issuing updates that pointed directly to the regulatory bottleneck rather than any hardware issue. That shift in messaging mattered for consumers and carriers alike, since it reassured potential buyers that the delay was procedural rather than technical, while also underscoring how dependent the smartphone launch cycle is on uninterrupted federal oversight.
FCC Clearance Achieved
The logjam finally broke when the OnePlus 15 secured the formal FCC nod that every mass-market phone needs before it can be sold in the United States. Coverage of how the OnePlus 15 preorders go live in the US after FCC nod makes clear that this approval was the decisive step that moved the device from a paperwork backlog into active commercial rollout. With the certification in hand, OnePlus could legally ship units to US warehouses, finalize carrier testing tied to the approved radio profiles, and flip the switch on its marketing plans that had been on hold during the shutdown.
FCC clearance is not just a bureaucratic stamp, it is a technical sign-off that the OnePlus 15’s radios, antennas, and wireless power systems comply with US limits on interference and exposure. The review covers how the phone behaves across licensed spectrum bands, including 5G frequencies used by major carriers, and confirms that it will not disrupt other critical services that share the airwaves. For buyers, the completed review means the device has passed the same regulatory bar as rivals from Apple and Samsung, while for OnePlus it removes the risk of last minute design changes or sales restrictions that can arise if a device fails to meet the FCC’s detailed requirements.
US Preorders Now Live
With the regulatory hurdle cleared, OnePlus moved quickly to open US preorders, turning pent up interest into actual sales commitments. Reporting that preorders finally open on OnePlus’s official site and select retailers describes how the company synchronized its online store with partner channels so that early adopters could reserve devices without waiting for carrier shelves to be stocked. The preorder campaign is structured to capture demand that built up during the shutdown, and it gives OnePlus a clearer read on how many units to allocate to different configurations and regions once shipping begins.
Availability details, including the starting price and bundle options for early buyers, are central to how OnePlus is positioning the OnePlus 15 in a crowded flagship field. The preorder listings highlight base and higher storage variants, along with incentives such as accessory bundles and trade in credits that are designed to nudge undecided shoppers toward committing before launch day. Because the preorder window is explicitly time sensitive and inventory is finite, OnePlus is signaling that those who wait for general availability may face longer delivery estimates or fewer color and storage combinations, a dynamic that raises the stakes for enthusiasts who want the device in hand as close to launch as possible.
Impact on Consumers and Market
The drawn out approval process had a visible effect on US buyers, many of whom had been tracking the OnePlus 15’s global rollout while waiting for local availability. Coverage of how preorders are now live in the US notes that the clearance and preorder launch have effectively reset the narrative from frustration over delays to renewed excitement about the hardware itself. For consumers who held off on buying competing devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 or Google Pixel 10 during the shutdown, the opening of preorders validates that patience and gives them a concrete path to upgrade without resorting to gray market imports.
From a market perspective, the timing of the OnePlus 15’s arrival shapes how it will compete against other flagships that have already been on sale for weeks. The device is entering a landscape where carrier promotions and holiday discounts on rival phones are already in full swing, which could pressure OnePlus to lean more heavily on preorder incentives and aggressive pricing to win share. Reporting that the OnePlus 15 launches US preorders after delayed FCC clearance underscores that shipping is expected to follow relatively quickly after the preorder window, signaling that the end of the wait for OnePlus 15 deliveries is in sight and that the company intends to compress the gap between regulatory approval and devices landing in customers’ hands.
