It all starts from a technical development that has gone almost under the radar. With certain recent versions of ColorOS 16, the OnePlus overlay based on Android 16, the manufacturer has introduced “Anti-Rollback Protection”, better known by the acronym ARB. On paper, the objective is laudable: to prevent the installation of older versions of the system, deemed less secure. In reality, the change is much more radical than it seems.
An update like no other
The ARB doesn’t just block an option in the settings. This is an electronic “fuse”, directly integrated into the motherboard. As soon as one of the affected updates is installed, this fuse is triggered and updates the security level of the phone. And once activated, there is no turning back using software. The only theoretical solution to return to the previous state would be to replace the motherboard, which is to say an operation out of reach for the vast majority of users.
This type of protection is not new in the Android world. Manufacturers like Xiaomi, Google and Samsung already use comparable mechanisms. Samsung, for example, triggers a hardware fuse with its Knox system when unlocking the bootloader. The nuance, and it is important, is that OnePlus’ implementation seems significantly stricter.
On affected devices, attempting to install older firmware or an incompatible custom ROM could cause an immediate “hard brick”: the smartphone becomes unusable, and traditional recovery tools are no longer useful.
According to the site Droidwinthe ARB is already active on several recent models. These include the OnePlus 13 and 13T with the ColorOS 16.0.3.501 update, the OnePlus 15 in version 16.0.3.503, as well as the OnePlus Ace 5 and Ace 5 Pro in 16.0.3.500. OPPO’s Find X8 series is also said to be at high risk, and other OnePlus devices could follow, such as the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 12.
Another detail that raises eyebrows in the community: OnePlus has reportedly removed the official packages allowing you to revert to an earlier version of the system for the OnePlus 13. Even previously authorized downgrades could now pose a problem, resulting in a blocked device. If you value bootloader unlocking, alternative ROMs, or simply the ability to roll back after an update, you might want to think twice before installing firmware ending in .500, .501, or .503.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, follow us on Google and on our WhatsApp channel. And if you love us, .
