OnePlus
OnePlus 13 Receives Android 16 Beta 3 Update: Here’s What’s New
Following the release of Android 16 Beta 2 under the OxygenOS Developer Program, OnePlus has rolled out Android 16 Beta 3 for the OnePlus 13. This update is specifically targeted at developers and advanced users who want early access to Android’s upcoming features. Since this is a developer preview, it is not recommended for daily use. Users should be prepared for bugs, instability, and data loss, and are advised to back up their data before proceeding with the installation.
Key Android 16 Features
1. Predictive Back Navigation
Android 16 enhances gesture navigation with predictive back animations. Developers can implement callbacks like onBackInvoked, finishAndRemoveTaskCallback(), and moveTaskToBackCallback() using OnBackInvokedDispatcher, giving users smoother and more intuitive navigation transitions.
2. Progress-Centric Notifications
With the new Notification.ProgressStyle API, developers can build rich, progress-focused notifications. These are ideal for real-time tracking apps, like delivery or ride-hailing, where users can monitor ongoing progress and milestones directly from the notification shade.
3. Enhanced Photo Picker
The photo picker now offers more secure, limited access to media. Apps can embed the photo picker within their layouts, and users can search for both local and cloud-based images. Integration will be simplified through Jetpack libraries in future updates.
Developer Considerations
Health Permissions Update
Android 16 introduces a new permission group called Health Data Sharing, replacing the older BODY_SENSORS permissions. Developers must switch to android.permissions.health for apps dealing with fitness or biometric data.
Elegant Fonts Deprecation
The elegantTextHeight attribute is deprecated in Android 16. It was previously used to improve font rendering for scripts like Arabic or Tamil. Apps must now adapt their UI to handle text alignment and spacing without relying on this setting.
Adaptive Layout Requirements
Devices with a minimum screen width of 600dp now enforce adaptive layouts. Android 16 overrides app-level screen orientation and aspect ratio settings to improve compatibility with large screens. Although this override is temporary, it will become mandatory in Android 17. Games are exempt from this requirement.
Privacy and Security Enhancements
Selective Photo Permissions
Users now have more granular control over media permissions. When apps request access, only photos directly associated with the app are selected by default. Users can manually deselect them, giving more transparency and control.
Safer Intent Handling
To reduce security vulnerabilities, Android 16 enforces stricter rules for intent handling. Intents must match defined filters or include specific actions; otherwise, they’ll be ignored. This prevents misrouted or malicious intent calls.
Keystore Key Sharing
The new KeyStoreManager API enables secure sharing and revoking of keystore keys across apps by UID. This enhances secure communication and credential handling between trusted apps.
Performance and Battery Improvements
Automatic Performance Profiling
System-triggered profiling now captures app launch and ANR traces automatically, helping developers debug and optimize their apps more efficiently.
CPU & GPU Headroom APIs
Two new APIs—getCpuHeadroom() and getGpuHeadroom()—allow performance-heavy apps to adjust in real-time based on available system resources. This is especially beneficial for gaming or resource-intensive applications, helping extend battery life and improve performance under load.
Known Issues
- System apps may crash occasionally.
- The camera may go black in certain situations.
- No sound via some connected devices during video playback.
- Notifications may display abnormally.
- Some third-party apps may be unstable or incompatible.
Compatibility and Requirements
This update is only available for the OnePlus 13 and is not compatible with carrier-locked variants such as T-Mobile (TMO) or Verizon (VZW). Additionally, your OnePlus 13 must be on software version 15.0.0703 or lower. If you’re on a higher version, you’ll need to use the official rollback package to downgrade before updating.
OnePlus has advised this version is mainly meant for developers and advanced users, not for daily use.
How to Install
Users interested in trying out Android 16 Beta 3 on their OnePlus 13 can head to the OnePlus Community Forums for official download links, flashing instructions, and known issues list. Make sure to back up all data as this is a developer preview and may require a clean flash.
Android
OnePlus 15R Launching in India on 17 December: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, 7,400mAh Battery, 165Hz AMOLED Expected
OnePlus 15R launch date is officially set for 17 December in India, and the brand is positioning the phone as a performance-first flagship companion to the OnePlus 15. The company’s microsite is already live, confirming key upgrades across speed, battery endurance, and day-to-day usability. The OnePlus 15R will debut alongside the OnePlus Pad Go 2, and sales are expected to follow via Amazon, the OnePlus online store, and authorised retail partners.
On the performance front, OnePlus has confirmed the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for the 15R, a meaningful jump over the previous generation. The phone is also expected to pair the chipset with LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, which should translate into faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and better sustained performance for gaming.
Battery is shaping up to be the headline feature. The OnePlus 15R is confirmed to pack a 7,400mAh cell, the largest ever on a OnePlus phone, beating even the 7,300mAh unit in the standard OnePlus 15. OnePlus says the battery uses Silicon Nanostack technology with 15% silicon content in the anode, designed to retain at least 80% capacity after four years. 80W fast charging is also expected.
Display upgrades look equally appealing. The phone will likely feature a 165Hz 1.5K AMOLED panel with up to 1,800 nits peak brightness, plus ultra-low 1 nit dimming and TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care 5.0 certification.
For cameras, expectations point to a 50MP Sony IMX906 main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 32MP front camera—aimed at dependable everyday results.
Pricing is tipped at ₹45,000 to ₹50,000, reflecting the step up from the OnePlus 13R’s launch price.
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OnePlus Pad Go 2 Unboxing & First Impressions! New Design, Massive Battery & 2.8K Display🔥
OxygenOS 16 Bugs Impacting Users After the Latest Update
OxygenOS 16 Bugs have become a major concern for many OnePlus users, and the company has finally responded with clarity regarding the issues and upcoming fixes. Ever since the rollout of OxygenOS 16, users across select models have reported problems such as non-functional AI features, broken themes, NFC issues, connectivity dropouts and missing wallpapers. OnePlus has now addressed these concerns in its latest community update, offering assurance that patches are on the way.
One of the biggest controversies revolves around the temporary suspension of OnePlus AI services. Due to a major crash issue triggered by specific text inputs, the company has disabled the feature across devices until a stable fix is released. Alongside this, many users have also witnessed the AI Writer tool failing to respond entirely. OnePlus has confirmed that AI functions will resume only after internal testing ensures stability.
Another commonly reported OxygenOS 16 bug is NFC malfunction on certain models. Users attempting digital payments have experienced failed transactions; however, OnePlus states that the issue doesn’t affect all devices and will be resolved in an upcoming OTA update. Network-related complaints, especially weak 5G connectivity on Airtel SIM cards, have also been officially acknowledged. A fix for unstable signals is under development.
Other concerns such as double-press power button failure for launching the camera, desktop widget glitches, missing Flux wallpapers and third-party app compatibility problems including Live Alerts have all been added to OnePlus’s priority list. Users are advised not to sideload APKs and instead wait for official patches.
With multiple optimizations scheduled for rollout, OnePlus assures that most issues will be resolved soon. Users can expect a more stable and improved OxygenOS experience once the next update arrives.
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Related Video: OxygenOS 16 Bugs! OnePlus Update Coming Soon to Fix Everything🔥
Smartphone Awards 2025 mark one of the most exciting years in mobile innovation, with brands pushing boundaries in performance, design and user experience. Despite the rise of AI gadgets, smartphones remain at the center of personal computing, and this year’s winners clearly show why.
Top Highlights from Smartphone Awards 2025
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max stood out as one of the most feature-packed releases of the year. Its nearly 3,000-nit panel, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and large silicon-carbon battery made it a powerhouse worthy of recognition. Samsung also impressed with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, a foldable that finally perfected compact usability with a larger cover screen and polished software experience.
Best Camera Winner in Smartphone Awards 2025
The Oppo Find X9 Pro dominated the camera category with its 50 MP main sensor, 200 MP telephoto lens and outstanding color accuracy. The camera performance remained consistent across lighting scenarios, making it one of the most reliable smartphone camera setups of the year.
Most Improved and MVP: iPhone 17
Apple’s iPhone 17 earned both “Most Improved” and MVP awards thanks to its long-awaited upgrades, including a 120 Hz display, new selfie camera and better value compared to competing flagships. The improvements finally make the base model a complete and highly recommended device.
Value and Battery Leaders
The CMF Phone 2 Pro delivered exceptional value through its modular design and clean software. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 15 set a new standard for battery life, thanks to next-generation silicon-carbon technology offering multi-day performance.
These results from the Smartphone Awards 2025 capture the innovations that are shaping the next era of mobile technology.
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Credit: Marques Brownlee