“OnePlus has announced a new system that limits who can unlock the bootloader on their phones. Stating reasons such as “data security” and an enhanced “system stability” […]. OnePlus has introduced a new procedure where anyone wanting to unlock the bootloader on their devices must first fill out an online request form for “Deep Testing””.

Even if it is for one region, it is still enshitification preventing phones to have custom ROM 🤦‍♂️

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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    1 day ago

    Damn that sucks. I only buy phones that allow unlocking. Currently on a OP8T. Probably going used Pixel/GrapheneOS next, but really a usable Linux phone can’t come soon enough.

    • brendansimms@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      I’ve been running GrapheneOS on a pixel8a for about a month now and its fine. Came from iphone so it’s probably an easier transition for people who have used android before.

    • darksiderbun@lemmy.ca
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      23 hours ago

      Do you have the beautiful blue one?? That’s the prettiest phone to me! I have one as well but I don’t use it anymore, still have it with Lineage as a backup just in case

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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        18 hours ago

        It’s a kind of turquoise/blue? It is a nice color, but I got that one only because it was cheaper. I keep it in a case anyway :).

  • RacerX@lemmy.zip
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    1 day ago

    Was a OnePlus user for years. Had the original device, the 3, 5 and the 7 pro since launch. I replaced the battery in my 7 pro and put lineage on it just to keep it going.

    My idiot brain jumped off a boat last week with it in my pocket and I assumed I would just get the new one. But no unlockable bootloader means I need to look elsewhere.

    • jol@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 day ago

      One Plus was really impressive at first but like everything, at some point companies want to make a profit. I also had the original and the 3, but that was it.

      • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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        12 hours ago

        true, OP was your semi-budget phones with some of the flagship feature, that was thier selling point. im guessing if samsung, and google is locking down thier phones, OP thought it can force people to constantly get newer phones down the line.

    • Capricorn_Geriatric@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Not in their eyes.

      Phones already literally come with a EULA. The wording may or may not be the same, but the intent is.

      You don’t own your phone, you silly thing. What you own is an unexclusive and transferrable (for now, Teslas don’t even have that for example) licence to use most features of the phone.

    • DSN9@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      Low battery?

      .99 centers to unlock 10 percent battery boost.

    • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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      1 day ago

      i bought it for its cheaper than the flagship phones, im guessing thats why people switch to OP, they probably want people to keep buying thier new phones each cycle, and not have a modded phone that you will stay on forever.

      • possumparty@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 day ago

        Sure- or they’re tired of Samsung’s bullshit. I was going to buy the S25 Ultra outright on release day but then they cut the wireless functionality of the S Pen in favor of their bullshit AI so I decided to cut my support for Samsung and bought a OP13 instead.

        • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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          12 hours ago

          I was considered the older S ultra, or the budget samsung, but i was swayed away from thier chip designs. i tempted an OP13/R, but i decided to try out 12r instead to see how the phone was.

  • observantTrapezium@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    How the mighty have fallen. I got my OnePlus One in 2015 with CyanogenMod preinstalled (although I reinstalled the vanilla OS after, and rooted it easily). Enshitification indeed, no brand is safe.

  • Max-P@lemmy.max-p.me
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    2 days ago

    The writing’s been on the wall since they swapped to ColorOS with Android 12 and the bootloader update that came with it that no longer supports relocking, along with the delayed/nonexistent source code releases for the kernel.

    It’s very sad that basically the only real option is Google’s Pixels, and even there the tides are turning.

    • swagmoney@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      Sony is still an option! my Xperia is dead easy to unlock and it has a headphone jack and sd card slot. they’re just a bit of a hassle to find since they only sell in select markets :p

      • bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I bought qn Xperia 5 two years ago. Im due to upgrade because the screen cracked and dont feel like paying $400 to repair it. Im so mad they dont sell to the US since Xperia 6

    • DrDystopia@lemy.lol
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      2 days ago

      I’m satisfied with the relocked bootloader on my Fairphone.

      Unless you need fucky security chips made in the land of National Security Letters.

      • DSN9@lemmy.ml
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        1 day ago

        Fairphone4 qualcom no longer updates it’s drivers. Might as well be walking around with free access to your phone.

  • Shimitar@downonthestreet.eu
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    2 days ago

    Nothing phone seems to be the best choice today. A few models, so notmuch choice, but solid hardware unbloated android and unlockable bootloader.

    I own a 3a and am pretty happy. Bulky and heavy tough.

    • DSN9@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      Why doesn’t google lock their bootloader? It’s a testing device for other companies?