Did this key feature got excluded from OnePlus 6 Pie update?

So OnePlus has finally started pushing out the Android 9 Pie update to its OnePlus 6 smartphone.

Of course, that’s a very good news for users of the device as most have been waiting for the OnePlus 6 Pie update for quite some time now.

In case you haven’t received the update yet, here’s the change log:

So you can see, the update includes all major 9 Pie goodies you’d expect.

However, looks like one key feature has been excluded from the OnePlus 6 Pie build. The functionality in question is Quick activate the assistant app.

It allows you to launch Google Assistant (or any other virtual assistant app installed on your OnePlus 6) by pressing and holding the device’s power button for half a second.

This feature was implemented by OnePlus in the Beta 3 build based on Android Pie. This means many users on the beta channel have been using the feature.

But after installing the latest stable Android pie update, many are confirming that the feature is no longer there. Following are some user reports:

No “Quick activate the Assistant app” (with the power button) in settings menu, despite being on the beta version

I also also don’t have the option for quick assistant (although I wish I did)!

Anyone else not seeing the quick acitivate assistant app under buttons and gesture. I was using it on beta 3

What happened to the “press lock button to trigger Google Assistant”?

I believe the lock button for Assistant is a feature that’s not released yet

I had read it was in the Beta 3 and was really looking forward to this feature in Pie. Pretty much the main reason why I wanted to upgrade

It’s worth mentioning that it’s perfectly normal for some beta channel features to not make it to the stable build. There can be many reasons for it.

However, it’d be interesting to see whether or not OnePlus includes this feature in any of the incremental updates. One thing is for sure though: majority users will hate to see the feature go away permanently.

Have you installed the stable Pie update? How has been your experience so far? Are you missing the assistant launch shortcut feature? Let us know in comments below.

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