Many OnePlus 5 owners are feeling the prospect of their phones being labeled as ‘old’ following the launch of OnePlus 5T. The 5T arrived just months after the OnePlus 5 went on sale. OnePlus 5 buyers shouldn’t be disappointed because the Chinese company is bringing one of the most talked about features of the OnePlus 5T to the ‘older’ phone. Yes, I’m talking about the Face Unlock.
Open Beta Program for OnePlus 5 announced
OnePlus 5 will start receiving the Android Oreo update by the end of this year. The software update will bring many new features such as the improved auto-fill, picture-in-picture mode, notification dots, and more to the OnePlus 5. The company has officially announced the Open Beta Program for OnePlus 5. Even before OnePlus announced the first open build, an XDA Developers forum member posted the link to the OnePlus 5 Open Beta 2 build. The forum member spotted the Face Unlock feature in the second beta build.
If you want to install the Open Beta builds, you’ll need to back up all the data before flashing your device because the data might be lost in the process. Follow OnePlus’s official flashing guide for instructions. Don’t forget that these are beta builds that contain tons of bugs. According to the changelog posted on OnePlus’s forum, the Android Oreo-based build contains Oreo features alongside OnePlus specific features such as the Parallel Apps, a new app folder design, Notification Dots, and more.
Face Unlock spotted in the Open Beta 2 build for OnePlus 5
Face Unlock is one of the signature features of the new OnePlus 5T. It allows users to unlock the device quickly. Experts have praised it for its incredibly fast speed, though it is not as secure as Apple’s Face ID on the iPhone X. OnePlus fans were wondering whether the company would bring the feature to the OnePlus 5. In a recent AMA, the company said it had no plans to add the facial recognition feature to the OnePlus 5. But the Open Beta 2 build suggests otherwise.
The Face Unlock technology is more about convenience than security. The OnePlus 5T has a bezel-less design, which forced the company to relocate the fingerprint scanner to the back panel. A rear-mounted fingerprint reader isn’t the most convenient way to unlock a device. So, OnePlus added the Face Unlock feature. It uses more than 100 identifiers on your face to recognize you.
Early reports suggest that Face Unlock is fairly accurate, and can’t be fooled by photographs. However, you can trick the feature by taking a selfie of the OnePlus 5T owner on another phone and placing it in front of their OnePlus 5T. The Chinese company is working to update the algorithms to recognize whether it’s a real face or a photo on another smartphone.
OnePlus doesn’t want someone with multiple photos of yours to trick the Face Unlock feature. The company says the Face Unlock automatically deactivates after five failed attempts. After that, the OnePlus 5T requires a security code or the owner’s fingerprint to unlock the device. The hacker still has five chances to fool the technology using your photos or selfies.
The leaked Open Beta 2 build confirms that the feature works on the OnePlus 5. It works well even when you are wearing glasses, and in different lighting conditions. OnePlus realizes that the Face Unlock isn’t highly secure. That’s why the feature doesn’t work with payment and other secure applications. You have to use the rear-mounted fingerprint reader on OnePlus 5T to authenticate payments via Android Pay.
OnePlus 5T to get camera update next month
OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei said in a tweet that the company would roll out a software update in December to further improve the OnePlus 5T camera capabilities. The update will enhance its low-light performance, allowing the camera to capture more details. It will also improve the front camera to give users a more natural exposure when taking selfies.
https://twitter.com/getpeid/status/933751670697324544
Pei said the Beautification mode will only be turned on by default in select Asian markets going forward. OnePlus will start testing the new camera update “among a private group” next week, before rolling it out to the public in early December.
The brand-new OnePlus 5T retains the basic hardware specifications of its predecessor. It has the same Snapdragon 835 chipset with 6GB or 8GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. The device runs OxygenOS on top of Android Nougat, though it will receive the Android Oreo update in the coming weeks. It has a 16MP + 20MP camera setup on the back, and a 16-megapixel sensor on the front for selfies.
The OnePlus 5T packs a 3,300mAh battery with Dash Charge technology. However, it lacks wireless charging capabilities. The device has a 6-inch Full HD AMOLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It has a unibody aluminum design, which makes it sturdier than most other premium phones. It has a starting price of just $499.
