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OnePlus 6's Always On Ambient Display removed due to "battery concerns"

OnePlus 6's Always On Ambient Display feature has been removed in a day 1 update. (Source: OnePlus)
OnePlus 6's Always On Ambient Display feature has been removed in a day 1 update. (Source: OnePlus)
OnePlus has removed the Always On Display setting in the new OnePlus 6 via a day 1 patch that installs after first boot. While users have been clamoring on the OnePlus Forums for the feature to return, the company replied that the feature had to be removed to save battery.

A day 1 patch that installs after users first power on the OnePlus 6 handset is found to disable the Always On Ambient Display (AOAD) feature. Users on the official OnePlus Forums have requested that the feature be re-introduced. The company, however, responded to a Redditor's request for the same and said that the decision had to be taken due to battery life concerns. The statement reads,

We have an official update from our Technical Team confirming that always on display on OnePlus 6 was removed due to battery saving concern.

We hope that this clarifies your concern. Let us know if there's anything else.

Regards,

OnePlus Customer Support"

Prior to this day 1 update, the Ambient Display setting offered two options on how the user wants it to work — Lift up display and Always On. After installing the update, however, only the Lift up display option is presented. While OnePlus could have its own justifications for removing the AOAD, it could have at least given users a choice. The handset uses an AMOLED display, which is good at conserving power by lighting up only the necessary pixels. If the device is already in a 'state of readiness' for the Lift up display function, the battery drain for Always on should be more or less on par (atleast theoretically). OnePlus could have done everyone a favor by making it optional as was before. 

While it is uncertain whether OnePlus would heed user feedback and re-enable AOAD later, there is a Magisk module available on XDA Developers to get that feature back. However, those who've installed the module say that it prevents the phone from going into deep sleep (CPU usage = 0) so it might result in lower battery runtimes depending on the brightness levels.

The Always On Ambient Display option before the update. (Source: PiunikaWeb)
The Always On Ambient Display option before the update. (Source: PiunikaWeb)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2018 05 > OnePlus 6's Always On Ambient Display removed due to "battery concerns"
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 2018-05-29 (Update: 2018-05-29)