OnePlus 7 Feature Apps Readied For Older Phones (With Fixes)

Phones like the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 6 will get a new set of features in an update that'll make them more like OnePlus 7. The OnePlus 7/Pro has a set of features like Zen Mode and Screen Recorder that push the already-excellent phone into the "so many features that I'll probably never use them all" zone. That's a good place to be, especially for people that already own a OnePlus phone.

OnePlus just made a very good decision. Instead of keeping their newest software features restricted to their very newest phones, they've decided to spread the love. They're bringing at least one, if not several, software updates to devices like the OnePlus 5, OnePlus 5T, 6, and 6T. These software updates roll with two key features.

SEE TOO: Our big OnePlus 7 Pro Review

This situation started – publicly, anyway – with OnePlus users uploading OnePlus 7 Pro apps and software to internet forums. Once there, developers took said apps and software and attempted to retrofit to older OnePlus smartphones. In a shock to absolutely no one person, both apps worked – but only mostly.

OnePlus left a message with OnePlus users this week. They suggested that users that've downloaded Screen Recorder or Zen Mode for their older OnePlus smartphone might find the apps will misbehave. The Zen Mode app doesn't block notification reminders as it aught, and the Screen Recorder app blocks some or all audio from the phone's speakers.

As OnePlus suggested this week, these apps are not fully prepared for the OnePlus 5, 5T, 6, or 6T. And they're definitely not prepared whatsoever for OnePlus phones 3T and older. There's no word yet on whether these two apps will ever be prepared for older OnePlus phones than 5, but 5 and forward should have access soon.

OnePlus suggested that Screen Recorder and Zen Mode will be part of "next week's open beta build" for the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. They've let it be known that they're also working on retrofitting the apps to the OnePlus 5 and 5T, and the stable builds for the lot.

So you can FIND these apps right now – you could download the APK files if you wanted – but they'll only sorta work. If you want the real deal, you'll probably only need to wait a week or so. Once OnePlus releases the true updates in Beta form, they'll likely be posted with 3rd-party sites independently as well.