Smartphone manufacturer OnePlus introduces hardware-level anti-rollback feature

OnePlus, a sub-brand of Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO, has reportedly updated its ColorOS operating system with an anti-rollback feature that prevents firmware downgrades.

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As the name suggests, the 'anti-rollback feature' prevents rollbacks. OnePlus introduced this feature in its latest ColorOS. This is not a typical software-level feature, but a hardware-level one, so once a firmware update is performed, downgrading or installing a custom ROM becomes impossible. If you want to downgrade, you'll need to replace the motherboard.

According to DroidWin, a website familiar with custom ROMs, the anti-rollback feature has already been enabled on the OnePlus 13 and 13T (ColorOS 16.0.3.501), OnePlus 15 (ColorOS 16.0.3503), and OnePlus Ace 5 and Ace 5 Pro (ColorOS 16.0.3500).

OnePlus also uses OxygenOS as its operating system in addition to ColorOS, but the anti-rollback feature has not yet been implemented in OxygenOS. However, news site Android Authority warns that given OnePlus' shared code base, the anti-rollback feature may be implemented in OxygenOS in a future update.

OnePlus had officially released firmware for downgrading, but has stopped releasing downgrade packages to coincide with the introduction of the anti-rollback feature.

Dhruv Bhutani of Android Authority, a 12-year OnePlus fan, said the appeal of OnePlus is that it's 'almost completely under your control,' and described the anti-rollback feature as 'a betrayal of OnePlus enthusiasts.' He added that the company's decision to choose the mass market over its core customer base 'is tantamount to a death sentence for the company as it stands today.'

I've been a OnePlus fan for 12 years, but I'm at my breaking point