Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
TL; Dr
- OnePlus is offering a free screen upgrade to OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9R users to prevent the infamous green line issue.
- This new display for older phones promises to increase durability as it is specially designed to perform well in high humidity and high temperature environments.
- This screen upgrade benefit is currently available in India, but the company is exploring expanding it to other regions, including the US.
Smartphones with AMOLED screens have often experienced problems with the green line, and this is not limited to one manufacturer. This hardware problem often occurs after a phone software update, confusing users to believe that correlation is the cause. Many companies have ignored this hardware problem and left customers to fend for themselves – either paying for an out-of-warranty repair or living with the green line. OnePlus is the only company that has offered a lifetime warranty on the display, and now the company is improving on its promise with preventive display replacement on certain models to prevent the problem.
X user Starcommander spotted a new perk in OnePlus’ Red Cable Club loyalty program. Under the Lifetime Free Screen Upgrade offer, OnePlus is offering OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9R users a free “screen upgrade” provided the phone is free of any damage and unauthorized repairs. Note that Red Cable Club benefits are currently limited to India only, so this upgrade remains limited to India.
We reached out to OnePlus for more details on the aforementioned “screen upgrade,” and the company exclusively shared details about its free screen diagnostics and service initiative with us at Android Authority.
This initiative includes three levels of service:
- Comprehensive diagnostics: In-depth evaluation of screen performance and reliability.
- Screen Upgrades and Replacements: Eligible users can get a “new, advanced display panel” that “enhances performance with vibrant colors and increased durability.” This display is said to be “specially designed to perform well in high humidity and high temperature environments.”
- Deep cleaning service: Free, deep cleaning of your device to ensure it works optimally.
OnePlus says it has been proactively working with its suppliers on new screen technology (for those older devices that are no longer sold). These new screens come with improvements that supposedly “increase the screen’s resistance to moisture and environmental conditions.”
We asked further about the specifics of the display upgrade, and the company assured us that all replacements adhere to its high quality standards.
screen
As the Red Cable Club benefits screenshot shows, supported devices include the OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 9, and OnePlus 9R.
Also, while the initiative is limited to the Indian market at the moment, OnePlus is considering similar solutions for the US and other locales:
Fair credit goes to OnePlus for continuing to offer a solution to older customers, especially those who are out of warranty but are affected by similar hardware issues through no fault of their own.
It is not clear if the lifetime display warranty is applicable to the newly replaced display as well. We’ve reached out to OnePlus for clarification on this matter and will update the article once we learn more.
Assuming the screen’s lifetime warranty also applies to the new, more flexible display, users in India with older OnePlus flagships have two choices. They can stay with their current display and benefit from the screen’s lifetime warranty, or they can opt for a free preventive screen replacement to the new, more durable display.
In my opinion, if your display has been working fine until now, there is no reason to opt for an immediate display replacement as the company promises some sort of solution to the green line issue if it occurs in the future anyway. You can pursue a screen replacement (or other suggested alternatives) if and when your device is affected by the problem. Preemptive display replacement makes sense if you need that peace of mind now, or if you intend to keep the phone longer and don’t want to risk future parts availability.
