Summary
- OnePlus is rolling out ARB via ColorOS 16 versions ending with .500, .501 and .503.
- The update is rolling out to OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 15, introducing challenges in the modding community.
- ARB prevents users from rolling back to older firmware or installing older custom ROMs without bricking their phones
OnePlus is reportedly implementing a controversial security measure that could effectively end the era of carefree modding and software downgrades on OnePlus smartphones. According to the latest information, the brand has introduced ARB (Anti-Rollback Protection), which does exactly what its name suggests and more.
OnePlus Anti-Rollback Protection Won't Let You Downgrade Anymore
Spotted first by Droidwin, OnePlus' latest ColorOS 16 updates with builds ending with .500, .501 and .503 are introducing Anti-Rollback Protection to OnePlus smartphones like the OnePlus 13, OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X8 series.
ARB or Anti-Rollback protection is a hardware-level fuse that resides on the phone's motherboard. Once a user updates to the ARB-enabled version, the fuse is physically blown. If the user subsequently attempts to downgrade to an older Android version or flash a custom ROM based on the previous firmware, the phone detects the mismatch and hard-bricks itself.
Hard bricking happens at a hardware level, unlike soft bricking, where it's relatively easier to get the phone back to a working state. Once a smartphone hard bricks, the only solution is to replace the motherboard, which is the most expensive component on a smartphone.
The bottom line is, OnePlus users cannot install and roll back to older firmware versions or custom ROMs based on the older versions. However, they can still upgrade to newer firmware or install custom ROMs based on the newer firmware.
This is a blow to the modding community, but it's been a long time coming. However, the shift has sparked a debate, with a few users pointing out that a downgrade should still be possible if the developers find a way to capture stock firmware and disable ARB checks inside it.
For now, users who don't want to miss out on bootloader unlocking, installing custom ROMs or downgrading to a previous firmware are advised not install the updates which end with .500, .501, and .503. The same goes for global users running OxygenOS 16, as these updates could soon roll out to the OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X8 running ColorOS 16.
Source
Droidwin
