Green lines typically appear on smartphone displays – or any other displays for that matter – when there’s a problem with the connector or if the device has taken a beating. It’s a hardware issue. But as is the case with several OnePlus owners, their devices are running into green line issues after a software update.
According to several recent reports on Twitter, the OxygenOS 13 update causes a green line to appear on a number of OnePlus devices. These include the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9R – basically the company’s entire catalogue of devices eligible for the OxygenOS 13 update. The OnePlus 10 Pro seems to be in the clear, though.
It isn’t clear from the reports if the issue strikes right after the device is updated to the latest OxygenOS build or if it takes some time, but a link between that particular version and the issue cannot be overlooked.
If user reports are to be believed, then the green line appears even if the device hasn’t been dropped, water-damaged, or mishandled in any way, which is quite odd. Another observation was that all complaints so far seem to come from Indian owners, although that could have more to do with the fact that OnePlus is so popular in the country.
Unfortunately, at this time, the green line issue does not have any known workarounds. While some users do say it’s sporadic for them, green lines are almost always hardware-related and are more often than not permanent. If you are facing the problem, then it’s best to take the affected device to the service centre. Under-warranty units should get a free-of-cost display replacement, but out-of-warranty units might require some convincing on your part.
All AMOLED screens are prone to tint and discolouration, but it has been happening much more to the OnePlus 9R and the entire OnePlus 8 series. This is a severe problem that OnePlus needs to look into. Many OnePlus users have recently reported a green line forming on the screen after the Oxygen OS 13 update.
It cannot be said whether these display issues are caused by poor-quality hardware malfunctioning after a few years or if it’s due to bad software updates.
A plausible explanation is that software updates are altering some voltage parameters, and if the quality of the panel isn’t good, it cannot handle the updated voltage parameters.
This might cause inconsistencies in the display’s colour reproduction, leaving a green line. This issue is primarily irreversible, and nothing can be done on the software front to fix it; since the OLED panel is physically damaged. A software update causing physical hardware damage is undoubtedly disappointing to look at.
There’s a huge possibility that a batch of outsourced OLED panels has undergone poor quality control because the green line/ flicker issues have been happening to several renowned brands, including Apple and Samsung, not just OnePlus.
Some people have conveyed that they got free display replacements even after the phone was out of warranty. If you have a OnePlus phone and you’re facing this issue, it’s recommended to contact a service centre.
While it might take an aggressive approach, the display will mostly be entirely replaced for free, provided there are no scratch marks or other physical damage to your phone.
The point of OnePlus and Oppo’s merger was to create a combined software experience of OxygenOS and ColorOS that is more stable and has fewer bugs.
Faster and more consistent updates were expected, but not updates that wreck the display quality. Given this problem’s large-scale reach and seriousness, we hope OnePlus addresses it as soon as possible.
You must be logged in to post a comment.