It took OnePlus long enough, but the company finally introduced an always-on display option (and an easily toggleable dark mode) with its latest Android 11-based firmware. However, the always-on display option is missing from Oxygen OS 11 on the T-Mobile carrier variant of the OnePlus 8T, as Redditor u/konnesotan was quick to point out. When we reached out to T-Mobile, we were told that the feature should be added in December.

When you take a peek into the Ambient display options in the 8T's settings, you should see a new Always-on ambient display entry, but that menu isn't visible for people using the T-Mobile variant of the phone — it's just not there.

It's unclear why the carrier launched the 8T+ 5G without this headlining feature, but this situation isn't unprecedented: the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro was missing DC dimming for a few months.

The always-on ambient display option is missing from the T-Mobile OnePlus 8T+ 5G on the right (Credit: u/kinnesotan).

We reached out to T-Mobile to find out what's going on. The carrier told us that always-on display should be "added in December." This situation once again underlines that carrier-specific software isn't something consumers benefit from in any way — just look at our monthly Samsung security patch roundups, a resource that shouldn't even have to exist in the first place.

UPDATE: 2020/11/25 2:18pm PST BY JULES WANG

Update rolling out

One of our regular tipsters has just received the OTA for v11.0.4.6.KB09CB which brings the always-on display feature to his OnePlus 8T+ 5G.

It's nice to see that the feature has come out ahead of schedule, but again, it's a pity to see this stagger in the first place.

Thanks: Moshe

Thanks: Moshe