OnePlus has so far been earning raves for its release of the OnePlus 3T but the outpouring of goodwill is being undermined by the company's record on software development, particularly with the claim that it tends to abandon older devices upon each launch of a new flagship handset.
Scrambling to address this issue, OnePlus has announced a new firmware update for the OnePlus 3 in the form of OxygenOS 3.2.8.
Incremental Improvements
Based on official word and initial assessments, it appears that the latest OxygenOS can only boast of a few key improvements. These include the introduction of a new 1080p, 60fps video recording function for its rear camera.
An emergency calling feature is also now made available for OnePlus 3 users in India. It can be accessed by pressing the power button three times. The device also got optimized for Snapchat. This app will no longer encounter stability issues when using video call while opportunities for scrolling lags were reportedly obliterated.
Stability And Performance Upgrade
According to OnePlus, the new update does not aim to provide a bunch of new features. Rather, it is rolling out largely to fix bugs and to improve stability and performance. Users should be able to notice changes in the way they interact with their handsets and in the decrease in problems.
"For those who were on previous versions for the OnePlus 3, we appreciate your active feedback and attempts to reach out to us," OnePlus said in a forum post. "With your help, we have been able to better optimize and improve several key areas."
OnePlus stressed that the OTA update is incremental. This means that some users are not receiving it yet as of this writing. Indeed, the company stressed that the first few days of the rollout will benefit a small percentage of OnePlus 3 users. The rest are asked not to worry because the firmware will surely come their way in succeeding days.
On The Nougat Update
It is important to note that the OxygenOS 3.2.8 is not yet based on Android 7.0 Nougat. Even OnePlus 3T is still running Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Fortunately for the restive OnePlus fans out there, the Nougat update will begin rolling out in December. The company is currently in the process of testing its beta build. According to OnePlus, once that update debuts, OnePlus 3 and 3T will begin enjoying the same update release pacing.
On the issue of slow software development, OnePlus has stated that they are now able to work on updates faster after the integration of the Oxygen OS and Hydrogen OS teams.
