Good news, OnePlus 3 owners: Your smartphone is going to receive software updates for as long as the OnePlus 3T does.
After last week’s launch of the OnePlus 3T, and the revelation that its predecessor would be discontinued, owners of the OnePlus 3 were rightly concerned that their handset may no longer receive software updates. But OnePlus has confirmed that it will continue to provide software support for the OnePlus 3 for the entire lifespan of the OnePlus 3T. What’s more, the two phones will receive updates at the same time.
The news comes courtesy of a statement issued by OnePlus to specialist blog Android Authority: “The OnePlus 3 will continue to receive updates alongside the OnePlus 3T until the newer device reaches the end of its update life cycle.”
This effectively adds an extra six months onto the lifespan of the OnePlus 3, at least in terms of software updates.
OnePlus is already working on issuing an Android 7.0 Nougat beta for OnePlus 3 owners, although it’s not clear when the general rollout will be. We’re also not sure when Android 7.1 will arrive – that’s the software update that ushers in Google’s Daydream VR platform, which requires the Snapdragon 821 to run.
The OnePlus 3T launched just last week, and is due to release in the UK later this month. It features a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor (up from the SD820 in the OP3), 6GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM, 64GB and 128GB storage options, 16-megapixel front and rear cameras, a 3,400mAh battery, and Google’s Android 6.0.1 overlaid with OxygenOS.
We gave the OnePlus 3T a 4/5 in our review, praising the phone’s great build quality, excellent performance, good camera, and improved battery life. Here’s our verdict: “The OnePlus 3T is again the best Android smartphone you can buy for the money.”
The handset isn’t so much a sequel to the OnePlus 3 as a spin-off, featuring minorly upgraded specs and a slightly jacked up price. OnePlus released the handset to ensure it had a smartphone with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 821 chip inside, and it’s likely the company was also hoping to capitalise on the upcoming Christmas spending season.
