[Updated] OnePlus 6 (including Red edition) isn't compatible with some carriers

Update (July 20):

The company confirms OnePlus 6’s compatibility issue with Airtel, and assures to resolve the same over next couple of days.

Update (July 20):

More reports:

Original story:

How would you feel if your newly bought smartphone threw a notification stating ‘Phone Services: Phone not allowed ‘ on inserting a SIM in it for the first time? Perplexed, right?

Well, unfortunately, that’s what some OnePlus 6 owners are going through. Most of the complainants – including those who purchased the brand new Red Edition variant – are getting this error on inserting an Airtel SIM card.

Needless to say, the problem renders the phone useless when in comes to calling and other basic carrier-related features.

Oneplus 6 Red users say…

Baffled buyers of OnePlus 6 Red (the company’s latest offering) for whom Airtel SIMs are not working explain the problem saying (1,2,3):

I received one plus 6 red phone today. I am also facing the phone not allowed problem with Airtel 4g sim. Jio and idea Sims are working fine. this is horrible software or hardware issue from one plus. come on we paid 40k for the phone.

Bought a new OnePlus 6 Red colour on 16th. Airtel sim is not working (pls see pic) but working on my wife’s OP6 mirror black. Jio is working fine on both.

My new OP6 Red ( got it today) : Airtel 4G sim failed to connect to network.

https://twitter.com/itsvivekbuddy/status/1019617475279798273
https://twitter.com/PaddiBimarHai/status/1019268874426986497

The limited number of complaints could be because many users are yet to receive their ordered OP6 Red unit.

Anyway, the reports don’t end here.

While digging in for more information, we could locate complaints (1,2,3,4,5) from other OnePlus 6 (not Red) buyers as well, who bought their units lately and are reporting similar issues.

Take a look at some of the latest complaints:

I bought new one +6 125GB yesterday but My new OnePlus 6 is not detecting Airtel network Signal. All other carriers are working fine. Can anyone please help me in this issue.

I have bought a new one plus 6 , 256 gb variant . But my Airtel Sim doesn’t work in it . I have tried all other network Sims and they work . I have tried with other aritel Sim and it also doesn’t work .There is no network shown. Airtel customer service couldn’t help me solve this issue as they told all the settings are as excepted and it may be device problem .

As I recieved my mobile phone on 14th July, can’t see the airtel service in it. I went to the airtel office and replaced the old sim with the new one. The sim is working in all the phones except in OP6. This made me weird.

I just got my oneplus 6 today… I am also facing the issue.. other sims are working .. only I am having issue with Airtel sims..

My new OnePlus 6 is not detecting Airtel network Signal. All other carriers are working fine.

So the problem isn’t limited to OnePlus 6 Red devices only. Rather, it reportedly plagues newly manufactured OnePlus 6 units.

OnePlus tells to wait for 3 days

While complaints continue to pour in, some of the affected users who got in touch with OnePlus support have shared that the company is aware of the problem and also working on fixing it. Here’s what they got to hear:

Same problem, When I inserted my Airtel SIM (only SIM I have), I started getting “Phone not allowed” message.
Raised a complaint one plus they said they will fix the issue by Friday 20th july 2018. If it’s not solved they said they will replace the phone through Amazon. Worst experience – July 19

Today I contacted the one oneplus team They told me that its a known issue and they are working on it and may take 3 or more days to solve. They told that there some problem with specific IMEI numbers and mine is on that list. – July 18

Same is the case for me too. I called the OnePlus customer care and was informed that it’s an issue from their side and want us to wait for a couple of days until they push a software update.
Until then either we have to use a non Airtel sim or do not use the device at all. – July 18

I am also facing the same problem. I consulted with OnePlus customer care. They are saying the issue will be fixed within 3days. I assume they may release OS update. – July 18

Service center is asking to wait for 24 hrs for an OTA update but not giving any assurance. – July 18

They also told me that the problem is specific to airtel only. – July 18

In fact, Amazon is even replacing a users’ unit encountering similar issue, saying the device is defected.

I am getting it replaced .. yesterday the Amazon technician came and checked it out.. They said the device has an issue. So I am getting it replaced tomorrow. – July 18

For clarity, 5.1.9 didn’t fix the issue

Most likely, the latest OxygenOS 5.1.9 update did not fix the issue in question, as the company just repeated the same ‘wait for 3 working days’ statement while reverting back to a complainant through their official Twitter account.

While OnePlus support is telling users that the problem is known and will be fixed with an update, there’s no official word from the company about it other than suggesting users to wait for three working days. We hope they come up with a statement soon to give a clear picture to those affected.

In the end, the support’s statement leaves us questioning whether OnePlus 6 is going to receive another update (as OxygenOS 5.1.9 has just landed) in a couple of days to fix the Airtel SIM glitch?

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