New OnePlus software updates add Samsung-style ARB with permanent bricking risk

OnePlus has reportedly introduced a major change in the latest ColorOS software updates available for the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13. This change adds limitations on rollback, installing custom ROMs, and can even permanently brick the phone.

Reported by Droidwin, OnePlus has quietly added Anti-Rollback Protection (ARB) on three of the latest ColorOS software updates. These updates, based on Android 16, bring a hardware-level change on select devices.

This protection feature works similarly to how Knox works on Samsung devices, and a similar function is present on phones from Xiaomi and Google as well. As it's a hardware-level protection, when tripped, the aftermath can not be resolved through any software changes. That means popular unbricking methods won't work.

As DroidWin explains, when tripped, ARB blows an e-fuse on the motherboard, permanently bricking the phone. If this happens, the only way to salvage the phone is by swapping the mainboard.

Among the affected phones are the OnePlus 15 (12/256 GB curr. $636.63 on TrandingShenzhen), 13, 13T, Ace 5, and Ace 5 Pro. The change is reportedly present on ColorOS 16.0.3.500, 16.0.3.501, and 16.0.3.503. That means the ARB implementation is currently limited to the Chinese versions of the phones, but it's worth noting that OxygenOS and ColorOS share the same codebase. So, this change could also arrive on the international versions soon.

Of course, this change won't be an issue for regular users, but it's bad news for those running custom ROMs on the affected OnePlus phones. For such users, it would be a good idea not to install any of the recent OxygenOS or ColorOS builds without verifying the changes.