OnePlus' new Android Q preview build introduces Digital Wellbeing and an upgraded camera app

The 4th Android Q Developer Preview (DP4) for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro has been released. Like the previous 3 builds, it allows those who own these phones to investigate the potential of this major OS upgrade before its formal release later this year. This version is mainly described as a "System functions improvement" over DP3 by the OEM's software team.

Android Q DP4 reportedly confers Digital Wellbeing on the 7 Pro, where this new feature from Google was absent from the phone before. Then again, OnePlus has prepared something like its own version of this system-wide user-welfare promoter: Zen Mode. This app, which challenges the viewer to put their phone down for a 20-minute interval, gains the ability to adjust this interval in DP4 - but not to less than this pre-existing limit, however.

DP4 also upgrades the OnePlus Camera app to version 3.8.13 - if only for the 7 Pro. It adds a Focus Tracking mode, which allows the user to keep a moving subject in focus. There is also a new Macro Mode, which as the name suggests may make close-up shots on the OEM's current flagship more effective.

These Preview builds are a kind of exclusive insight into how Android Q will differ from Pie on OnePlus phones. However, this advantage comes with some potential risks. The OEM warns potential DP4 users that their user data may be lost as a result of this OS' installation. This 4th iteration appears to have more bugs than usual: for example, some apps may not work as normal due to a lack of familiarity with Q. 

In addition, 7-series phones on DP4 may exhibit greater lag and instability than usual in some cases. Google Pay will not work for this update, and the user will lose their stored fingerprints besides. OnePlus also warns of the possibility of random artifacts in the corners of display screens. Finally, Oneplus 7 units may exhibit audio defects at their maximum volume.

Despite all this, DP4 may be the most interesting OnePlus Android Q preview build because it may be the last. The OEM has also advised that users on this OS can migrate to an Open Beta ring on the next update. This suggests that there will be no DP5, and that the OnePlus 7-series beta program will start to provide Android Q-based ROMs in the future.