- OnePlus is now installing the Amazon app on the OnePlus 8T through a software update.
- Oxygen OS 11.0.1.2 extends the flagship in India with the shopping app.
It seems that OnePlus is dangerously close to bloatware territory again with its latest software update for the OnePlus 8T. The Indian model of the phone is now receiving the Oxygen OS 11.0.1.2.KB05DA update which, oddly enough, brings the Amazon shopping app with it.
We got wind of the update first Twitter and user contributions in the OnePlus forums. We also checked our own OnePlus 8T review unit in India, and the 389MB update actually installs the Amazon app on the phone.
It seemed like OnePlus was on its way to redemption when it was confirmed last week that Facebook bloatware would not be pre-installed on the OnePlus 8T as it did on the OnePlus 8 series and OnePlus Nord. The phones have the Facebook App Installer, Facebook Services, and Facebook App Manager packaged as part of the system apps. They couldn’t be uninstalled and as a result, OnePlus received a lot of flak from users.
Fortunately, the Amazon app that comes with the latest OnePlus 8T Oxygen OS update can be uninstalled. There are also no other background apps for Amazon that cannot be removed from the phone. It is worth noting that the Amazon Music app was preinstalled (and still removable) in our test device.
Adding bloatware via OTA updates
OnePlus’ latest move seems to be of benefit to the company. Pre-loading third-party apps or installing them via system updates can be a monetization option for smartphone OEMs.
It’s also worth noting that the OnePlus 8T was recently launched as an Amazon exclusive in India. The e-commerce platform also heavily promoted its launch event, so it’s not surprising that the phone maker returned the favor. However, we are not aware of any deal between the two companies or why OnePlus decided to forcefully push the Amazon app on the OnePlus 8T via an OTA.
Even so, the move may not be a good fit for the users. Nobody wants unwanted apps to be downloaded onto their phones without express consent.
It also begs the question of whether we’ll see more of this behavior in future Oxygen OS updates. Is OnePlus just bypassing the pre-installed bloatware problem by adding third-party apps later via OTA updates? We just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, you can check out the full changelog of the Oxygen OS 11.0.1.2 update for OnePlus 8T below.
system
- The newly added Amazon Shopping App offers a better shopping experience
- Optimized unlocking experience for ambient
display
- Optimized power consumption for the phone
camera
- The Nightscape mode for videos has been optimized and the image quality has been improved
- Optimized the accuracy of the white balance under different settings
- Improved the stability of the app
network
- Improve the stability of the communication functions
- Features silently added
- Canvas AOD now available (beta)
- Added Horizon Light option under Customization