OnePlus 7 Pro gets experimental DC dimming mode via day-one OTA update (rolling out in some regions)

Pushing day-one OTA updates is a common practice nowadays. Thanks to the rapid application development (RAD) model, which is preferred by the companies, last minute feature changes and bug fixes have to be delivered to the devices, immediately after general release (GA).

Smartphone makers are also part of this tradition. For example, early adopters of Samsung Galaxy S10 got the phones with the software version compiled back in January. Samsung immediately pushed a new build (compiled on February) with various fixes and improvements as day-one update.

Different phone OEMs prefer to stick with different OTA mechanisms. Unlike Samsung, OnePlus opts for a unified OTA update process which is region and carrier agnostic. Only exception is the T-Mobile exclusive OnePlus 6T, for which the update is controlled by the carrier.

Now that the OnePlus 7 series has been officially launched and the Pro variant has reached to the hands of the early adopters via pop up events, the Shenzhen based OEM is pushing the day-one patch to the OnePlus 7 Pro.

But there is a catch!

Notice the version number of the OxygenOS build – it’s 9.5.3.GM21AA. The Asian/Indian variant of OnePlus 7 Pro is currently receiving it, which carries the internal model number GM1917.

Readers should remember that OnePlus allegedly developed four variations of the Pro model: the model numbers should be GM1911, GM1913, GM1915 and GM1917.

Seems that the Chinese OEM redesigned their OTA distribution policy and prepared region specific software channels. While the Indian models came with OxygenOS 9.5.1 and are getting update to 9.5.3, the US models are receiving 9.5.2 update from 9.5.0 build.

Moreover, the minor revision numbers in the build tag are different (GM21AA for India and GM21BA for USA).

As a matter of fact, the changelogs are different as well. While both builds brought features like April security patch, experimental DC dimming and dedicated gaming mode (marketed as Fnatic mode), the US models got Digital Wellbeing related fixes.

Digital Wellbeing

– Added Wind Down in Digital Wellbeing (Settings-Digital Wellbeing)

– Added Grayscale feature in Wind Down (Settings-Digital Wellbeing-Wind Down)

These fixes are completely absent from the Indian/Asian day-one patch. On the other hand, GM21AA received VoLTE and VoWifi compatibility with AIS Thailand via OOS 9.5.3.

The common portion of the changelog is as follows:

System

– Updated Android security patch to 2019.4

– Added DC dimming feature (Settings-Utilities-OnePlus Laboratory)

– Improved smooth scrolling

– General bug fixes and improvements

Gaming mode

– Enhanced audiovisual experience by adding haptic feedback (Settings-Utilities-Gaming mode)

– Added Fnatic mode (Settings-Utilities-Gaming mode)

Camera

– Optimized photo quality

Interestingly, European users are getting another variant of the OnePlus 7 Pro. The model number is GM1913 and the variant is internally called ‘OnePlus7Pro_EEA’. Presumebly OnePlus is mandating EU’s regulation about search app and browser options by creating a separate branch.

Although the minor build version is similar to the US models (GM21BA), the factory installed version of OxygenOS is 9.5.1 in these units. They have yet to receive the day-one patch.

Team PiunikaWeb is working hard with Oxygen Updater contributors to sort out the confusions around the device variants and separate update channels. Expect more updates from us in future on this topic.

Have you already got the OnePlus 7 Pro? Let us know by commenting below.

Thanks Avi and AnonymousWP for their inputs.

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