Losing your smartphone is a painful experience, not only because of the expense but also due to the personal information stored on it. While Google has introduced new theft protection features for Android devices, thieves have their own methods, such as turning off the phone to evade Find My Device tracking.
Fortunately, some phones can still be tracked even when they are dead or turned off, and there are rumors that the OnePlus 13 may be among them.
A recent report indicated that last month’s Open Beta for OxygenOS 15 on the OnePlus 12 included a note in the power-off menu suggesting it could be tracked even when switched off. However, OnePlus excluded this feature from the final stable version, as the OnePlus 12 does not actually support tracking while powered down.
The report further notes that OnePlus confirmed the OnePlus 12 lacks the necessary hardware for this capability. It operates on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7800 platform, which unfortunately does not allow tracking when the device is turned off.
Qualcomm has informed Android expert Mishaal Rahman that its FastConnect 7900 platform, featured in the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, supports powered-off tracking.
However, the implementation of this feature depends on individual manufacturers. It appears that OnePlus may be looking to incorporate this capability into the OnePlus 13. Powered-off tracking isn’t a new concept for Android devices; the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series already have this feature, and Apple’s iPhones have offered it for some time as well.
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, it’s exciting to see the potential for this feature to become more widely adopted across various brands, making it easier for users to monitor their devices. OnePlus recently launched its latest flagship, the OnePlus 13, in China, which comes with impressive specifications.
The phone features a large 6.8-inch display with a peak brightness of 4500 nits. Internally, it houses the aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and is equipped with a 6,000 mAh battery capable of 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. If you’re interested in more details, don’t hesitate to check out our OnePlus 13 preview. We anticipate the global release of the OnePlus 13 early next year.
