OnePlus Bypass Charging is a feature introduced to enhance the smartphone gaming experience by managing power delivery in a smarter way. The idea is simple: when you are gaming while plugged in, the power supply bypasses the battery and goes directly to the phone’s motherboard. This should, in theory, reduce device heating and prevent battery degradation. But does it actually work as claimed?

We put this feature to the test under real-world gaming conditions using the OnePlus 13. This article details our complete findings, along with performance metrics, FPS variations, and temperature recordings, to help you understand how useful Bypass Charging actually is for heavy gamers and content creators.

What Is Bypass Charging and How Does It Work?

In a typical charging scenario, power flows into the battery, and then the phone draws from it during operation. The issue with this method during gaming is that it puts a double load on the battery—charging it and using it at the same time—which causes unnecessary heat buildup.

Bypass Charging solves this by directing the power supply straight to the processor and mainboard, completely bypassing the battery. As a result, the battery remains idle, reducing wear and tear and limiting heat generation. This is especially beneficial for people who game while charging or creators who need to screen record for long sessions.

The Testing Environment

To keep things fair and accurate, we tested this feature with a consistent setup:

• Device: OnePlus 13

• Game: BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India)

• Duration: 30 minutes for each test

• Conditions: Ambient temperature of 25–26°C, screen recording on, brightness locked manually

• Charger: Stock OnePlus adapter

We conducted two separate tests—one with Bypass Charging turned off and another with it enabled. The focus was to observe FPS performance and thermal readings under pressure.

Without Bypass Charging: Good Start, Hot Finish

We began with a battery level of 17%. The initial gameplay was smooth, especially in a 5-minute TDM match. We recorded an average FPS of 110.7 and a max device temperature of 37.6°C. However, once we moved to a classic match with a hot-drop situation, the FPS dropped to 80 and did not recover.

After 30 minutes, the average FPS dropped to 88.1, and the maximum recorded temperature rose to 42°C. The device became noticeably warm, particularly on the top portion.

With Bypass Charging: Slight Gains, But Not Perfect

For the second round, we enabled Bypass Charging and set the targeted battery level at 40%. We started at 44% battery, meaning the feature should’ve kicked in successfully. Initial readings showed slightly lower temperatures, and average FPS during the TDM match increased to 115.6.

TDM BGMI performance comparison with Bypass Charging ON vs OFF on OnePlus.

Even during the classic match, the device initially performed better, maintaining higher FPS and staying a little cooler. The final average FPS was 92.3, with a maximum recorded temperature of 41°C. However, the FPS still dropped to 80 after extended gameplay, similar to the previous test.

Interestingly, the battery still charged during the session, rising from 44% to 62%, suggesting that Bypass Charging might not have remained fully active or behaved inconsistently.

Classic match FPS and temperature comparison on OnePlus with Bypass Charging ON vs OFF.

Also Read: Nothing Phone (3) Launch Confirmed for July 2025 – “It’s a Magic Number”

Conclusion: Is Bypass Charging Actually Useful?

Bypass Charging on the OnePlus 13 sounds promising on paper, but in our real-world gaming test, we did not observe any major improvements. While the feature showed a slight increase in average FPS and marginally lower temperature during the early phase of gameplay, the overall impact was negligible.

FPS still dropped significantly during longer sessions, and the device continued to charge the battery despite Bypass Charging being enabled. This raises concerns about how reliably the feature works under actual gaming stress.

For now, Bypass Charging feels more like a theoretical advantage than a practical game-changer. It might help with battery longevity in the long run, but if you’re expecting a noticeable boost in gaming performance or thermal management, the difference is minimal.

Unless OnePlus fine-tunes the feature in future software updates, most users won’t notice a significant change in their gaming experience by enabling it.

OnePlus is preparing to roll out new software updates for several of its smartphones in May 2025. These updates will bring the latest OxygenOS 15, offering improved performance, new features, and better security.

OnePlus 11R

• Expected Version: OxygenOS 15.0.0.812
• Status: Yet to be received
• Security Patch: 1 May 2025

A new version has been detected for the OnePlus 11R. However, the rollout has not yet begun. There is also a possibility that OnePlus might release intermediate versions before the final build.

OnePlus Nord 4

• Expected Version: OxygenOS 15.0.0.820
• Status: Yet to be received
• Security Patch: 1 May 2025

Similar to the OnePlus 11R, the OnePlus Nord 4 is also expected to receive a fresh OxygenOS 15 update this month. A new version has been spotted, and like before, intermediate updates may be released before the stable version arrives.

OnePlus has released a major new software update for the OnePlus 11 smartphone. The update, named OxygenOS 15.0.1, comes with the build number CPH2447_15.0.0.820(EX01) and has a file size of 6.58 GB. This update introduces several useful features, design improvements, and important security enhancements to improve the overall user experience.

One of the main highlights of this update is the improved visual design for notifications on the lock screen. Individual notifications, notification stacks, and user interactions have all been refined for a smoother experience. A new Lock Screen Magazine feature has also been added, which can be accessed by swiping right on the lock screen.

Another major addition is the new Drag & Drop gesture feature, which allows users to easily move text and images in third-party apps. This can be turned on or off from Settings > Accessibility & convenience > Drag & drop. The update also improves multitasking by saving the size and position of floating windows, so users can pick up where they left off more easily.

The app drawer has been redesigned to offer a more consistent and user-friendly visual style across the interface. Along with this, the update also brings refreshed icon designs and user interface improvements. Floating windows have also been optimized to provide a smoother experience. On the security front, the update includes the latest Android security patch for May 2025, which helps protect the device against potential threats.

In terms of privacy features, OnePlus now allows users to secure recently deleted items in the My Files, Notes, and Photos apps with a password. The Phone Manager app has also been updated to show detailed storage usage by apps and the system when freeing up space. A new Screen Sharing Protection feature lets users block selected apps and notifications during screen sharing. This can be found under Settings > Security & privacy > Screen sharing protection.

The update also addresses a bug where some third-party apps might accidentally delete photos. In such cases, users will now receive a notification to review and recover the deleted images from the “Recently Deleted” folder.

Lastly, the Camera app has received a creative boost with the addition of three new portrait effects – Misty, Glowing, and Dreamy. These effects give users more options to enhance their portrait shots with different artistic styles.

Overall, the OxygenOS 15.0.1 update brings a fresh and more secure experience to OnePlus 11 users, with thoughtful improvements across the system, privacy, and camera.