Hands-On with Android 8.0 Beta 2 for OnePlus 5T
- Paul Thurrott
- Jan 16, 2018
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Last night, OnePlus released its OxygenOS Open Beta 2 release. Here’s what’s new.
As you may recall, the amazing OnePlus 5T shipped in late November with an Android 7.1.1-based OS, but I still found it to be the single best value in the smartphone market. But OnePlus has been working to add Android 8.0. Oreo to its flagship, starting with a Beta 1 version that shipped in late December.
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It’s been a bit over two weeks since then, and OnePlus has now released what it calls OnePlus 5T OxygenOS Open Beta 2. I installed it this morning on my OnePlus 5T, and am seriously considering switching to this device, and to MintSIM, for full-time use, given the problems I keep having with the Google Pixel 2 XL. I’ll keep thinking on that. But in the meantime, here’s what I see in this new beta.
OnePlus Switch. Previously available through the Google Play Store, this app is now included in the system and provides phone backup and restore functionality. It’s hard to find, though, as it doesn’t appear in the All Apps view (for now, I assume). Instead, you have to navigate to Settings > Advanced > OnePlus Switch. And then approve a crazy number of permissions. The good news? This includes messaging backup and restore.
Improved incoming call notifications. Now, when you receive a call, the notification banner includes location information. This is kind of interesting in my case, since my main phone number is listed, accurately, as being from Massachusetts even though I’ve moved (and kept using my old number).
Clock app icon is now dynamic. This one is a bit subtle, but the icon for the Clock app is now dynamic, meaning that it actually displays the current time. This works in the All Apps view or on a home screen.
In addition to what I noticed, OnePlus says that this release also includes improvements to the File Manager app, a new Clipboard app (that I’ve not yet seen), a few OnePlus launcher improvements (including auto-naming folders), improved power consumption measurement, and improved background app management.
If you’re enrolled in the beta, you will get this release automatically over the air (OTA), as I did. If not, you can find OnePlus 5T OxygenOS Open Beta 2 on the OnePlus website.
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<p>Oreo Beta 2? Two?</p><p>LOL…it's for this reason, why I go "pure" Android or Google. Android always has cool and (most importantly) useful features after each OS release. It's for this reason, as to why I don't go Samsung. Motorola, Huawei, etc… </p><p>It's not just the OS, but the OS exclusives that one gets when operating a Google device, like the extremely fun Augmented Reality stickers with the Pixel camera.</p><p>I am not trying to put down this phone, as I know that a lot of Android users love it. It's a great phone for those non-techie people who don't need the official latest, greatest, and most useful improvements to the Android Operating System, and is okay with running Oxygen OS. </p><p>Ya know…it's been a few months since the release of the Pixel 2 XL. I swear to everyone when I say that my phone is working flawlessly…absolutely FLAWLESS. Again, we are being told by Paul that he is having problems with his Pixel. This is now the 2nd Pixel phone, he is reporting to have problems with. If, in fact, this is true he has got to be running a bad app on his phone or….*cough*…I am not going to say.</p><p>All in all, this OnePlus is a great phone, but…..eh…..Oreo in beta 2…..just now? Seriously? LOL.</p>