The OnePlus Pad tablet looks like an advanced and intriguing product that joins the existing offer in the world of large Android screens – but what concerns a large number of users on the network now is the small print that reveals a new and potentially problematic method for maintaining the fast charging technology in the product
The OnePlus company has a first tablet to its name and it is quite powerful and advanced, with an 11.6-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 2,800×2,000 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, the Android 13 system straight from the factory, an octagonal Dimensity 9000 chip from MediaTek and an internal 9,510mAh battery with 67 watt charging A wire that is one of the fastest in the category and promises to return full capacity within eighty minutes at most. A reason to celebrate? Not if you ask those who bothered to read all the fine print and discovered a mention of battery encryption which could quickly become a new trend among the various manufacturers that will limit the steps of consumers in the future.
On one of the official product pages it is explained that the OnePlus Pad battery has undergone dedicated encryption for safety reasons, and therefore its replacement when necessary can only be done at authorized locations that have been adapted for this – otherwise, it is likely that the tablet will simply not interface with the replacement unit and will not work at all.
The encryption mechanism is not detailed, but the assumption is that it is a check of an authorized serial number when the device’s operating system is booted up – a mechanism for which it will apparently be possible to find bypasses, but not something that most users and most repair labs will probably want to deal with. What is the most problematic part of the whole story? Currently there is no detail about those authorized replacement locations outside of India, which may indicate that consumers who purchase the Tab and need the battery replaced for whatever reason will have to send their device for repair abroad – which of course will make the process considerably longer and cumbersome in comparison For quick replacement within a few tens of minutes in any given laboratory here in Israel.
Currently there is no mention of similar encryption in OnePlus’ other devices, but considering that fast battery charging technologies continue to develop at a rapid pace with dual internal structures and smart mechanisms that are designed to allow the use of extremely high currents and voltages on the one hand and maintain the longevity of the unit on the other hand – it would not be excessive It is to be assumed that companies will seek to protect their internal technologies more closely, while user safety and ensuring the quality of use will be the justification for this. This makes sense, of course, but artificially limiting the possibility of replacing the batteries to very specific units and places requires the preparation of a suitable infrastructure in advance – otherwise the consumer will not benefit from the new situation, but will only lose from it.
Let’s hope that if and when the OnePlus Pad gets its official local launch, the Israeli representative will make sure to clarify the issue of the encrypted internal battery.