Forum Discussion
OnePlus 8 Android 12
Ok I'm about done hearing that the Unlocked variants OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are on Stable versions of android 12 while being stuck with the carrier variant means we probably won't see Android 12 on T-Mo...
Makulund wrote:
Ok I'm about done hearing that the Unlocked variants OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are on Stable versions of android 12 while being stuck with the carrier variant means we probably won't see Android 12 on T-Mobiles OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro until Android 13 drops this is ridiculous thanks T-Mobile!
unlike popular belief… Carriers have little control, and don't touch the code like people think they do. Multiple times OEM(manufacturers) have admitted it, but here in the states we still blame carriers. Ever noticed Google doesn't blame carriers anymore after about a year of them complaining? Why? They did an AOSP project with Sony and found out that carriers DON'T actually delay updates no more than a month in 90% of cases. They only time there is any lengthy delay is where a security flaw was found.
Other OEM's have pushed out their updates on T-Mobile except OnePlus. They chose to update process for T-Mobile. Why would T-Mobile delay 1 manufacturer over all the others they have? Think about it for a second. IF you device is paid off you can actually load the OnePlus version and run it instead of waiting for a T-Mobile version coming out. OnePlus forums will show you how to do it.
Carriers definitely play a role in delays.
Carriers have little to no direct control in the development of the updates. However, they're the ones that put the requirements in place of which customizations/settings, extra apps, telemetry, restrictions, testing, etc, that the oems have to develop and implement, and the more they add or require, the longer you can expect the updates to take. If they didn't have additional requirements, it'd just be the unlocked version and there's be little delay (save time for testing/verification). So while they have little control, their extra requirements can still be a significant source of delays imo.
As examples of extra value that carriers require oems implement - potentially contributing to delays, look at things like Digital Turbine Ignite and SingleTap that allow bloatware and apps to be installed bypassing Google Play.
