It’s always a disappointment to discover unwanted apps cluttering up your brand new phone. Sadly, bloatware remains a persistent issue, even on flagship devices, and OnePlus is the latest manufacturer facing criticism for pre-installing third-party apps on their phones.
The OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open are highly regarded for their blend of performance, design, camera quality, and the near-stock Android experience offered by OxygenOS. However, a recent update has introduced bloatware apps during the setup process, much to the dismay of users.
A tweet by Gauraang Arora highlighted that the OnePlus 12 setup now includes a screen prompting users to review additional apps, with four Google Play apps pre-selected by default. Among them are LinkedIn, Policybazaar, Block Blast!, and Candy Crush Saga. Android Authority confirmed this setup screen on Indian OnePlus 12 devices, with U.S. models featuring LinkedIn and EU models not offering any non-Google apps during setup.
The issue escalates further as Android Authority discovered that this setup screen is hidden and not presented openly to users. It’s part of a toggle labeled “Review Additional Apps” during the final stages of setup. This means that users may inadvertently install these apps without realizing they had the option to decline.
The OnePlus Open faces a similar issue, with the addition of three extra apps post-setup — Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services. These apps are notoriously difficult to uninstall, prompting widespread criticism.
OnePlus responded to Android Authority, attributing the app preloads on the OnePlus 12 to an error during testing, which has since been rectified. They clarified that the OnePlus 12 does not come pre-loaded with these apps and reaffirmed their commitment to keeping OxygenOS free of bloatware.
However, the setup screen reportedly remains present, raising concerns about the potential for future bloatware on OnePlus devices. While bloatware on budget phones may be somewhat expected, premium devices like the OnePlus Open, which commands a hefty price tag, should offer a clean software experience.
Hopefully, OnePlus swiftly addresses this issue, ensuring a bloatware-free experience for users moving forward.
