OnePlus is cheating to get better benchmark scores

  Update: OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, has responded to the issue on an ongoing thread over at reddit. Below is his full response:

“We have made it so that when running benchmark apps, the phone performs the same as when running resource intensive apps such as 3D games. We also fully activate our chipset in other parts of OxygenOS, for instance when launching apps to make the launch experience faster and smoother. We are not making it easier for the chipset to perform, for instance by changing to a lower resolution when detecting a benchmark app. We are not changing the performance of our chipset, for instance by overclocking it.

When users run benchmark apps, which I agree aren’t a useful proxy for real life performance, we believe that they want to see the full potential of their device without interference from tampering. That’s what we’ve unlocked. Every OEM has proprietary performance profiles for their devices, I appreciate that we have a tech enthusiastic following, but feel free to have a look around. :)”

A new report from XDA Developers claims that OnePlus, the Chinese company is once again manipulating the benchmark scores of its latest flagship, the OnePlus 5. This time around, the company is doing so consciously, the report adds.

For those who are not in the know, this is not the first time OnePlus has been alleged to indulge in cheating when it comes to benchmark scores. Earlier this year, OnePlus alongside Meizu were caught cheating on the benchmark scores for their flagship handsets.

In case you are wondering, all the OnePlus 5 review units handed out to tech bloggers alter the benchmark scores of a particular (benchmarking) app by keeping the CPU running at the maximum frequency.

This way, whenever the phone detects a benchmark app running, it will keep the CPU frequency high until the end of the test which in turn results in higher scores.

Read: OnePlus 5 display is exactly the one used on OnePlus 3T, no change

Last time, the XDA report alleged that the cheating mechanism didn’t “increase scores by much on average.” However, this time, “the cheating mechanism is blatant and aimed at maximizing performance,” the report claims.

Akin to the last time, OnePlus is specifically targeting a particular set of benchmarking apps which include AnTuTu, Androbench, Geekbench 4, GFXBench, Quadrant, Nenamark 2, and Vellamo.

In response to XDA Developers allegations, OnePlus’s spokesperson has issued a statement suggesting “People use benchmark apps in order to ascertain the performance of their device, and we want users to see the true performance of the OnePlus 5. Therefore, we have allowed benchmark apps to run in a state similar to daily usage, including the running of resource intensive apps and games. Additionally, when launching apps the OnePlus 5 runs at a similar state in order to increase the speed in which apps open. We are not overclocking the device, rather we are displaying the performance potential of the OnePlus 5.”

Via: XDA Developers

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Prajith

Travel and adventure junkie. Which is why he's now one of those cliche guys with a camera around his neck at all times. When doing neither, you'll find him uber lazy and glued to Netflix. Email: [email protected]