India, April 29 -- Smartphone companies should consider building products tailored for the Indian market --- an unwavering opinion that Pete Lau, who is the founder of tech company OnePlus, holds close to heart. In a way, that also reflects India's growing importance for OnePlus, not just as a market but also as a hub for research. Investments in the company's research and development centre in Hyderabad, an illustration, as Lau describes to HT just how certain features that were made based on unique usage scenarios emerging from this part of the world, have been well-received in the US and European markets too.

For OnePlus, this is a pivotal year. There is not only a need to reset after the troubles of the past few quarters (this includ...