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OnePlus 3 firmware updated to fix RAM and screen, but you’ll have to wait

Published Jun 23rd, 2016 7:15AM EDT
OnePlus 3 RAM Screen

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The hottest Android phone right now is the OnePlus 3. The third flagship from the Chinese company is far better than predecessors, but it also has some flaws. Luckily for buyers, the RAM management and screen color issues can be fixed with the help of a firmware update. However, there’s a catch: It’s only review units that will receive the over-the-air (OTA) fix initially, with a public release expected to go out in the future.

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Recent comparisons between the OnePlus 3 and flagships from the competition, including the Galaxy S7 edge and the iPhone 6s showed that the OnePlus handset is the slowest of the three, in spite of packing 6GB of RAM. An unofficial fix proved that the RAM management can be improved, while OnePlus explained that the poorer RAM performance is intentional, as it’s meant to conserve battery life.

When it comes to the phone’s display, many people criticized OnePlus’s screen choice and its overall color performance. Thankfully, OnePlus acknowledged this issue and promised an update that would fix color accuracy.

But you’ll have to wait a while for your OnePlus 3 to get better. According to Android Authority, OxygenOS version 3.1.4 is being pushed out to review units only, which will be treated as beta testers for the public OTA release that will follow “later on.”

That’s as vague as you’d expect from a smartphone maker talking about firmware updates. At least OnePlus is tackling these issues head on. However, this shows that the Chinese phone maker still has things to learn about making a great phone. Cutting corners isn’t acceptable just because the device is super affordable, at least not as long as the phone wants to compete in the big leagues.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.