It has been a little over a month since the OnePlus 3 reportedly received Android Oreo through a closed beta program, but now the update is ready to be tested for the OnePlus 3 and 3T for those in the Open Beta program.
As a general overview, Android Oreo introduces visually-different Quick Settings and Settings areas, Picture in Picture mode, and auto-fill, along with many more features and enhancements. Make sure to check out our Android Oreo review to see what is new with the update, and while things might not look very different when compared to Nougat, there are more than enough tweaks and changes that help move the needle.
Going back to the OnePlus 3 and 3T’s Open Beta program, Android Oreo is available for both devices as a 1.4 GB download at the links below. You will need to flash the update, though the instructions to do so are very straightforward.
Because this is the Open Beta program, there are several known issues that will presumably be ironed out by the time the final version lands. For example, unlocking the phones with your fingerprint might be slower than usual, the shortcut to access Google Photos is unavailable, NFC and Bluetooth are somewhat unstable, and the performance and compatibility of third-party apps are not up to snuff.
As exciting as the news might be, it arrives with a somewhat somber context. Keep in mind that, according to OnePlus, Android Oreo will be the last major Android update for the OnePlus 3 and 3T. Likely because of that, the Open Beta program for the two phones will end after Android Oreo exits beta and makes its way to more users.
Security patches will be released “for the foreseeable future,” but with today’s news, we’re that much closer to the end of the road for the OnePlus 3 and 3T.
The OnePlus 5 may have come out, but that doesn’t mean the company has forgotten about the 3 and 3T. Earlier today, the two phones were updated to Oxygen OS 4.5.0, introducing a pile of new features like “lift up display,” Gaming Do Not Disturb, low priority notifications, and OnePlus‘ Slate font. Most of the changes in this release were already available on the OnePlus 5, but it’s great to see them trickle down onto older hardware.
The OTA update is hitting devices now, and it’s 197MB in size. If you root or have a need to download the full image, it’s closer to 1.5GB. As always, if you don’t see the update on your device just yet (it isan incremental roll-out), you can use a VPN set to Germany to trigger the download early, at which point you can then disable the VPN and download at full speed.
Most of the headlining changes in v4.5.0 were already present on the newer OnePlus 5. So if they sound familiar, that would be why. Thankfully the… questionable boot animation from the recent betas
did not make its way into this build.
All of these new changes in Oxygen OS also live in different places, but we’ve updated our own device and documented where all the most interesting bits live, in case you don’t have time to go digging around in Settings yourself.
Lift up display
“Lift up display” is poorly named, but descriptive. Just like the lift to wake on Pixel devices and the OnePlus 5, it allows your OnePlus3/3T to turn on the display and show a bit of black and white notification content when you grab it. All it requires is that the Ambient display just above it in Settings -> Display be enabled. And, of course, for you to lift your phone up while the screen is off.
Gaming Do Not Disturb
Gaming Do Not Disturb will come in handy for a lot of people, probably even outside of games. The feature allows you to block notifications and lock capacitive buttons while specific applications are open so that you don’t accidentally exit them when you don’t mean to. So if you get into a particularly intense gaming session, you won’t have to worry about accidentally exiting the app as you flail in frustration.
You can access Gaming Do Not Disturb in Settings-> Advanced -> Gaming Do Not Disturb, and from there it can be enabled or disabled for individual applications. You can customize the setting to block notifications (outside calls and alarms) and disable hardware buttons as you prefer. To exit Gaming Do Not Disturb mode, you’ll need to open the ongoing notification it creates and tap that to disable.
Low-priority notifications & others
Low-priority notifications are what you’d expect. They don’t trigger sounds, don’t peek, and don’t set the LED to cycle. They also won’t appear on the lock screen or overall status bar. So it’s a perfect setting for apps you might want to manually check notifications from, without being bothered by as they come in. The low priority notification option appears with all the other per-app notification options under each app in Settings -> Notifications.
The phone app UI has also been changed a bit, with a slightly tweaked tab layout. There are also a handful of other minor changes, like a “Shot on OnePlus” watermark for photos, a redesigned photo editor in the Gallery app, a new Dash Charge animation, scheduled night mode, and a “secure box” for the File Manager.
OnePlus‘ Slate font was originally introduced in an update to the OnePlus 5 at the beginning of this month. It might not be to everyone’s style, but it’s an inoffensive font compared to some that manufacturers include in ROMs.
The partial changelog published by OnePlus includes:
System
Added lift up display
Added Gaming Do Not Disturb
Added low priority notification
Added network speed in status bar
Added scheduled night mode
Added OnePlus Slate font
Redesigned Dash Charge animation
System stability and battery improvements
Launcher
Added Shot on OnePlus wallpaper
Phone
Redesigned calling UI
Camera / Gallery
Added Shot on OnePlus watermark
Redesigned photo editor in Gallery
File Manager
Added secure box
It would appear that the BlueBorne vulnerability has even been patched. At first, we thought the device was still vulnerable since Oxygen OS 4.5.0 is still running the August security patches. But according to the BlueBorne Vulnerability Scanner by Armis, it has been patched for the vulnerability. I’m not entirely sure what detection method the application uses to determine that. But if it’s correct, that means OnePlus 3 and 3T users are just a bit more secure now.
Although the logs don’t mention it, and the security patch level would imply otherwise, the BlueBorne Vulnerability Scanner by Armis claims that the device has, in fact, been patched. We’ve updated the article to reflect that information.
Downloads have been posted, so if you haven’t gotten the OTA, or you prefer to flash manually, you can.
So it has been a while since the last update to the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T, and it has had some of the users a little bit jittery on whether the company will continue to support last year’s flagships, now that the OnePlus 5 has been launched and in full flow. OnePlus had moved to quell those doubts by making an official statement recently, and now a new update is here.
This new update will bump OxygenOS on the OnePlus 3 and 3T to version 4.1.7, and with it comes Google’s updated Android security patches for August. That lines up with the statement OnePlus put out, saying that it will update the security patch first before updating to the finalized features of the beta program that has now officially ended.
Here are the other contents of this update.
Improvements:
– Enhanced system fluidity
– Battery optimizations
– Android security patch updated to August
Bug fixes:
– Sound channel error while recording videos
– Call is routed to speaker accidentally by some 3rd party apps
– Rendering issue in Indian Kannada language
– App locker issue caused by some 3rd party apps
– As requested by Google, Hangouts will be removed if you have never updated it on Play Store. To keep Hangouts, please update it prior to the upgrade
As per usual, this will roll out OTA to your OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T devices in incremental fashion, so you may need to wait a bit for the update to get to you. As always, you can try to use a VPN to check if it has rolled out to other territories as well.
All of that drama aside, both the OnePlus 3 and 3T received a new beta update to OxygenOS yesterday. The update is a big one and does things like tweak the design of the lift up display UI, adjusts the default color screen calibration, speeds up loading of images in the Gallery app, adds a new alarm calendar feature to the clock, and more. I don’t know that there is anything major, but it should fix bugs and stabilize a whole bunch of stuff.
The full changelog can be found below.
Camera：
Added Shot on OnePlus watermark
You can toggle the Shot on OnePlus watermark and add your name to all pictures taken in the main camera settings
System：
Redesigned lift up display UI
Now supports displaying battery percentage
Now supports hiding of notification content from apps locked by App locker
There is now a toggle that allows you to block notifications from apps that are in the App lock list
Improved stability of Parallel apps
Adjusted color display of default screen calibration
It now tends more towards sRGB calibration
Added E-warranty card
You can now find a version of your warranty card in “About phone > E-Warranty card”
Updated Android security patch level to August
Phone：
Added quick index bar in contacts UI
The contacts page/app now have an alphabetical bar on the right side for easy moving to certain groups of names
Improved experience of switching incoming calls
Improvements to suggested merges functionality
Gallery：
Loading speed of images improved
Weather：
Improved location accuracy
Improved the experience of searching cities
Clock:
New feature “Alarm calendar”
Can be used to set an irregular alarm schedule, once you set the time, you can activate this feature by hitting the 3 dot menu button to the right of “repeat”
Known issues:
Immediately following the update, you might not be able to turn on the flashlight. Please reboot the device and normal functionality will be restored.
If interested in running the beta, you’ll want to head over to the OnePlus downloads site to get started.
In our Android Phone Guide, we rank the best Android phones for most people. We recognize that those phones, while good for most people, are not the best for all people. As a companion to the Best Android Phones, we’ve rounded up the Android Phones with the Best Battery Life. If you need a big battery to get through the day, these are the phones for you.
Note: These phones have been ranked by battery capacity, but that is not the only factor we considered for being included in the list.
The Huawei Mate 9 is huge, both in physical size and battery capacity. It has a gigantic 6-inch 1080p display to go along with the 4000 mAh battery. The display is super bright and gorgeous, and the battery life is exceptional. Huawei also includes a fingerprint scanner on the back sitting beneath a dual Leica setup, plus it comes with Android Nougat.
The Zenfone 3 Max has one of the biggest batteries available in a smartphone. All that battery makes for a hefty device, but it’s surprisingly thin. Just think of it like a permanent battery case. The Zenfone 3 Max also has a 16MP camera with laser focus, 720p display, 3Gb of RAM, and the Snapdragon 430 processor.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge takes the solid foundation built by the standard Galaxy S7 and improves upon it in a few important ways. Battery life is the main improvement. If you want the Galaxy S7, you should absolutely spend the extra money on the Edge model. You’ll thank yourself when you enjoy the all-day battery life.
The Moto Z Force’s 3,600mAh battery combined with top notch battery optimization means the device lasts long enough to keep you connected throughout a busy day. The device also has all the makings of a flagship, including an insane 21-megapixel camera, Snapdragon 820 chipset, and more. Those improvements over the Moto Z’s 2,600mAh battery pack makes it worth considering.
BlackBerry’s KEYone doesn’t have a whole lot of bells and whistles, but perhaps that’s to its benefit. Its 3,505 mAh pack combines with the power-sipping (and amazingly efficient) Snapdragon 625 chipset to provide battery life that should get any busy person through a day or two. Add that iconic BlackBerry keyboard and this is a BlackBerry fanatic’s dream come true.
Samsung took a hit on the chin with their 2016 smartphones in regards to battery life, but they’ve once again found a way to fit big batteries in a pocktable form factor. The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is sporting a roomy 3,500mAh battery that help you achieve a full day of battery life with above moderate usage. Combine that with all the other great qualities — including a gorgeous Infinity Display — and you can feel comfortable with this one.
The Pixel XL has plenty of room inside its 3,450mAh battery pack to make it onto this list, and with the optimizations Google has made to Android — both in general and in their Pixel-specific tweaks — it’s one of the most impressive devices on the market in terms of longevity. Add even more quality traits in allmost every other area and this is once to consider if you need an all day beast.
The Nexus 6P is Huawei’s first attempt at a Nexus device, and they knocked it out of the park. This is the first time a Nexus can truly claim the title of best Android phone. It has an excellent camera, beautiful, big display, and a charming design. If you don’t mind big phones, this is the one to get.
The battery in LG’s latest phone benefits from improved engineering prowess. LG was able to fit a bigger battery in it than its predecessors despite having a similar overall profile. That, combined with a beautiful display, solid hardware, and efficient software make it a long-lasting contender.
The V20 sports a roomy battery pack to make sure it lasts all day. It also employs neat tricks like the use of always-on display and a secondary ticker display to keep you from having to turn your phone on every time a notification comes in, something that surprisedly does wonders for battery life.
Battery: 3200 mAh
Key Features:
Great dual camera
Sharp display
Innovative features
HONORABLE MENTION
There are plenty of Android phones that offer great battery life. We only have so much room in our list, but there are a few extra devices you should consider. Here are five phones that just missed the top ten.
OnePlus 3 beats Galaxy S7 in a timed charging race
OnePlus 3 is still holding on to its moniker as the “flagship killer” specifically targeting the giant Samsung Galaxy S7 in a charging race.
With the rate that we have to recharge every single day, it is convenient to have a very fast charging phone to use. For busy people with less time to deal with a dying battery, Samsung and OnePlus have solutions for those basic need to fast recharge a smartphone.
Samsung with the Adaptive Fast Charging versus the Dash Charge from OnePlus. Who’s gonna own the faster charging smartphone in this face-off.
OnePlus have released a video doing just this. This may be biased in some way but the OnePlus 3 just have the edge in technology in its charger to win this match hands down. The Dash Charge is so much better than Adaptive Fast Charging. Period.
First test was recharging the phone with the screen off. OnePlus 3 got to the advertised 64% within 30 or more minutes while the Galaxy S7 has just reached 50%. The parameters of this comparison is not revealed if both phones are in airplane mode or are connections stayed on working in the background.
The last test was done with both of the smartphone’s display turned on with maximum brightness. Once again, the budget-friendly OnePlus 3 reached 67%, dashing past the Galaxy S7.
This is not to say that the Adaptive Fast Charging of the S7 is not good. It is. Dash Charge is just way, way faster.
This is very subtle gold with not overpowering yellow and shining too much when gleamed with some light. This is the most OnePlus 3 yet.
2016 was the year of the smartphones with competitors vying for the top spot and remain in the game. OnePlus 3 is no exception with its outstanding specs and design choices, it’s one of the great smartphones to own this year. The build quality, faster performance and a better camera makes up for a very compelling choice for most people who wants more value for their money. The price is astounding as well, just half the price compared to the flagships from Samsung and Apple.
Last week, the company announced one of its color option: Soft Gold.
First of all, it is gorgeous with a very great feeling on the hand, the OnePlus 3 in Soft Gold is design-wise almost perfect. Regarding the internal componensts, the OnePlus 3 is the same as the first gray model with a 5.5-inch, 1080p screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 16MP camera equipped with optical stabilizaton. The gold finish at the back was coupled with a white front which is a reminder to the iPhone of the past.
But the gold on the OnePlus 3 is a very nice gold, not overly yellow or harsh like other phones. Next to a gold Nexus 6P, the OnePlus 3 is more pleasing to look at. And the plastic inserts for antennas and radios are color-matched to the metal finish, so they don’t stand out as much as if they were white. Bottomline is, the soft gold OnePlus 3 is the same as the original, only prettier. OnePlus is shippling this model once they meet the already huge demand for shipment.
OnePlus 3 stops sales to accommodate faster shipping
Without the invite system, OnePlus still faces some deadline issues in terms of shipping on time. Solution? Stop sales for a while.
These territories will soon see a sudden halt in OnePlus 3 sales until all shipments are met. This stoppage will start on August 9 to September 12.
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
France
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Hong Kong
OnePlus has been having problems with keeping up with the demand of their device so to meet the already booked shipment, the company decided to stop selling more units until the old schedules are done and good.
CEO Carl Pei wrote in a forum that sales will slightly stop mostly in Europe, where demand has been even higher than expected for OnePlus’s “fastest selling device we’ve ever made.”
Shipment dates for all customers have been lengthening to as far as two weeks from purchase since sales began in June. Meantime, sales of the OnePlus 3 in China have only just begun and the company may want to bolster a relatively underserved crowd. Apple may have possibly faced a similar situation with its iPhone SE as posted shipment dates were more than a week from purchase for an extended period.
About a month after releasing Engadget’s favorite sub-$400 phone, OnePlus is classing up the solid, budget-minded OnePlus 3 with a new, “Soft Gold” color variant. “This isn’t your typical gaudy gold smartphone,” a OnePlus staffer wrote in the subtweet-heavy product announcement. Instead of a jewel-encrusted piece of hardware, OnePlus has gone for a toned-down, “low-profile take on gold” to match the phone’s budget-friendly price.
Naturally, the new color comes with all the same build quality and impressive horsepower we’ve come to expect from OnePlus, plus the Soft Gold edition sports a luxurious-sounding finish that feels “reminiscent of holding fine, silky-soft sand.” The new limited edition is available today in the US, and in other regions starting on August 1st.
This was no surprise as the Brexit gets signed the tech industry is getting its share of hikes and price changes, including the recently released OnePlus 3.
Following the signing of the UK’s exit from the EU or Brexit is one of tech industry’s first price hike: the OnePlus 3. It is primarily blamed on the weakening of the pound against the dollar. So starting July 11, OnePlus 3 will be at £329 from £309.
“Given the effects of the unstable markets on our extremely thin margins, we’re reluctantly going to have make some small changes to our pricing structure for the device.
“In practical terms for our customers, this means that from July 11, 2016 (that’s next Monday), the OnePlus 3 will be £329 in the UK.”
The company had warned its loyal customers beforehand of the pending price hike in the UK due to its fallout from the Brexit campaign. This made little surprises. But for customers who are worried about the prices of the OnePlus 3 in other countries, prices will still be the same.
