OnePlus 13: Could It Join the “Powered Off Finding” Revolution?
OnePlus might just have a handy new feature on the horizon with the OnePlus 13 — the potential ability to locate your phone even when it’s powered off. This capability is currently available only on Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series, but some clues in the recent OxygenOS 15 beta for the OnePlus 12 suggest that this useful feature could soon extend to OnePlus users. Here’s everything we know so far, and why it matters for Android users looking for reliable phone-finding solutions.
What is Powered Off Finding?
Google’s Find My Device service allows Android users to locate their phones through both an Android app and a web client. Normally, this only works when your phone is powered on, as most devices require active power to broadcast their location via Bluetooth. This “Powered Off Finding” feature, however, changes the game. It lets certain phones continue sending location signals via low-energy Bluetooth even after the phone shuts down, making it possible to find your device even when it’s off or out of battery.
At the moment, this feature is exclusive to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9. But based on beta notes and power menu hints in the OnePlus 12’s OxygenOS 15, the OnePlus 13 could be next in line to support it.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Why Most Android Phones Can’t Be Found When Turned Off
To locate a phone that’s powered off, it needs special hardware and software integration. Generally, when an Android phone shuts down, it stops providing power to its Bluetooth chip, which prevents location broadcasts. However, if a phone includes specialized hardware that keeps the Bluetooth controller alive post-shutdown, it can still emit location signals.
Google’s Pixel phones achieve this through a combination of the Bluetooth chip and a precomputed beacon stored when the device is powered on. This beacon, emitted even after shutdown, helps locate the device by allowing nearby hardware to triangulate its location.
The Clues in OxygenOS 15 for OnePlus 12
When users updated their OnePlus 12 to the OxygenOS 15 beta, they noticed a line in the changelog hinting at a new feature: “locate your device even when it’s switched off.” This initially led some to believe the OnePlus 12 supported Powered Off Finding. The power menu also briefly displayed a notification about locating the device while powered off. However, OnePlus later clarified that the OnePlus 12, due to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (also known as the 8650 platform), does not support this feature.
Why OnePlus 13 May Be Different
The OnePlus 13, which uses the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, has a different connectivity subsystem — the FastConnect 7900. Qualcomm confirmed that this subsystem supports Powered Off Finding, leaving the decision to enable it up to manufacturers like OnePlus. While OnePlus hasn’t officially confirmed that the OnePlus 13 will include this feature, the presence of related references in OxygenOS 15 hints strongly that it might be on the cards for the OnePlus 13 or other future models.
The Benefits of Powered Off Finding for OnePlus Users
If OnePlus does indeed enable Powered Off Finding on the OnePlus 13, it would significantly increase the chances of locating a lost or stolen device. Here’s why this feature would be a valuable addition:
- Enhanced Security: Powered Off Finding ensures your phone’s location can be traced even when someone tries to prevent it by powering down the device.
- Peace of Mind: With the option to track your phone even when it’s off, users have a better chance of retrieving lost devices.
- Competitive Edge: Offering this feature would put OnePlus on par with Pixel devices, catering to users who prioritize phone security and usability.
What’s Next for OnePlus?
Though it remains uncertain, the inclusion of Powered Off Finding in OnePlus devices could mark a major step forward. For now, users will have to wait until the global release of the OnePlus 13 to see if this feature makes the cut. If it does, it will join an expanding list of advanced features that aim to make Android devices more secure and user-friendly.
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