Introduction-
OnePlus, a prominent Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has recently found itself in hot water as users of their flagship devices, namely the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open, voiced their discontent regarding the presence of unwanted pre-installed applications, commonly referred to as 'bloatware'. This issue garnered attention when users noticed additional third-party apps being offered during the setup process, leading to discussions across various social media platforms.
.jpeg)
Discovery of Bloatware-
The controversy was brought to light by Gauraang Arora, an attentive user, who took to social media to highlight the discovery of pre-selected third-party apps during the setup of OnePlus 12. These apps, including LinkedIn, Policybazaar, Block Blast, and Candy Crush Saga, were found bundled under the "From OnePlus" header. Further investigations conducted by Android Authority revealed similar occurrences, with Indian variants of OnePlus 12 presenting four pre-selected apps during setup, while the US variant featured one, and the EU variant had none.
Scope of Bloatware-
The issue extended beyond the OnePlus 12, as Android Authority's probe uncovered the presence of three Meta apps pre-installed on OnePlus Open: Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services. This revelation echoed past criticisms leveled against OnePlus for including such apps in their OnePlus 8 series, which were notoriously difficult to uninstall.
.jpeg)
OnePlus Response-
In response to the backlash, OnePlus acknowledged the oversight, attributing it to a mistake made during testing. They reassured users that the OnePlus 12 does not come pre-loaded with these apps and emphasized their commitment to maintaining a lightweight, fast, and smooth user experience. While admitting to the presence of Instagram and Agoda as pre-installed apps on the OnePlus Nord CE 4, they asserted that such apps are easily removable or uninstallable. Additionally, OnePlus highlighted their collaboration with app developers to optimize performance on their devices.
Future Concerns-
Despite OnePlus' assurances, speculations arose from prominent tipsters suggesting the potential introduction of more bloatware in the latest OxygenOS version for the OnePlus 12. Apps like Fitbit, Bubble Pop, Facebook, Amazon, Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, Zomato, Agoda, and Swiggy were mentioned as potential candidates for pre-installation or display as APK shortcuts.
Conclusion-
In conclusion, while OnePlus has taken steps to address the immediate concerns regarding pre-installed bloatware, continued vigilance from both the company and users remains crucial to ensure a streamlined and bloatware-free smartphone experience.