Here's how OnePlus Project Starlight will save its phones from the 'green line' issue

It involves investing a whopping 2000 crore...

OnePlus is gearing up its entire efforts to not become a 'green line' meme at this point. From immigration officers to family friends, literally everyone we meet has been spooked by the inevitable software update that might strike a straight green line on their display. OnePlus has not been sitting on its laurels; a strategic plan has been formulated that will ensure that the upcoming OnePlus 13 and many more after will get stringent testing, proper after-sales service and sturdy innards to make sure the green is never on this side of the fence. Here’s a full breakdown of OnePlus’ new strategy called Project Starlight.

ALSO SEE: OnePlus 13 launching globally in January 2025

OnePlus Project Starlight: Cause and solutions

We asked Robin Liu (CEO of OnePlus India) why so many customers are convinced that the green line issue is due to a software update. To that, Robin and Ramagopala Reddy P (Vice President at OnePlus India and former Director of the company’s Hyderabad R&D Center) explained that the issue with the green line on AMOLED display is caused by multiple factors, most notoriously heat and not software alone. According to OnePlus, when the phone goes into a software update, the heat generated is higher than its normal running state, and that causes the display to malfunction. They also pointed out that even environmental factors like heat and humidity from India’s diverse landscape can cause the display to degrade faster than usual.

The solution to this problem is what OnePlus calls the Green Line Worry-Free Solution, which brings three things - a new testing method to ensure heat and humidity don’t interfere, a new layer that protects the display from heat and humidity and a lifetime warranty against the greenline issue on all OnePlus devices.

ALSO SEE: OnePlus 13: Everything you need to know

A new testing method dubbed the ‘Double 85’ test has been introduced into the quality control process. During this testing process, the OnePlus 13 smartphone will be put into a chamber where the temperature is set to 85℃ and humidity is set to 85 percent. It’s like sitting inside a sauna after running on the streets of Mumbai for three hours. The phone is subjected to heat and humidity simultaneously to ensure heat and moisture are never going to bother the OnePlus 13.

A new PVX Enhanced Edge Bonding Layer material in all OnePlus AMOLED displays aids the structural integrity of the OnePlus 13 in these hot moments. This material is known for resistance to weathering and chemicals and will act as a barrier to slow moisture and oxygen penetration over time.

The last step in ensuring that the OnePlus 13 smartphones don't have that annoying green line issue (unless you're watching a nature documentary on Netflix) is a life-time warranty against the green line issue. They're even extending their life-time warranty against the green line issue to all their smartphone models. Does this mean you'll get a free screen replacement if it happens? We're not sure yet. The details of this warranty program are still a bit of a mystery.

OnePlus Project Starlight: Plus one in after-sales

Remember we mentioned Project Starlight? Well, the R&D, testing and warranty programs do fall under that as well but there’s a lot more happening in after-sales too. OnePlus has promised an investment of Rs. 2,000 crores annually for the next three years.

Where’s that money going? For starters, in better customer service. OnePlus has been busy boosting its service centres in India this year – they've increased the overall number by 22 percent, with a focus on exclusive, company-owned centres, which saw an 11 percent jump. And they're not stopping there: their goal is to have a whopping 50 percent more service centers by the middle of 2026 to increase offline support. OnePlus will also be launching in more stores like Reliance Digital, Croma and Vijay Sales, while also increasing its presence in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India.

ALSO SEE: OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review

OnePlus is also ramping up its online support. Think hotline help, WhatsApp assistance, and live chat options. They're also making sure their tech staff is top-notch with better training programs, and they're making the repair process more transparent so you can easily track what's happening with your device. On top of that, OnePlus is giving half of its flagship retail stores a makeover to improve the in-store experience, and they're giving third-party stores a boost with better service capabilities. Basically, they're going all out to make sure getting your OnePlus device serviced is easy and hassle-free for everyone in India.

OnePlus Project Starlight: India specific features

The most interesting investment OnePlus is making in India is with the Delhi Metro. The OnePlus 13 Series will be the first phone in India with supposedly fast 5.5G speeds which is also called 5G-Advanced. It’s essentially a more efficient way to handle 5G connections, increase stability, slightly boost speeds and minimise energy consumption.

ALSO SEE: OnePlus Nord 4 review

Vodafone is still on a 4G network, so I won’t be holding my breath on this one in India. However, OnePlus is also debuting a customized signal optimisation feature specifically for places such as Delhi Metro so you can doom-scroll on Instagram even when passing through network dead zones. It works through custom hardware support installed around the Delhi Metro, which ensures a healthy network connection for all OnePlus 13 devices. Pretty cool!

Another feature is "Steady Connect" which boosts your Bluetooth range to a whopping 360 meters.

The OnePlus 13 is going to launch in January 2025 and while we already know what the insides of the phone will be thanks to the Chinese launch, there are some interesting India specific features coming to the OnePlus 13 that should makes things a bit more exciting.