HydrogenOS update for OnePlus 3 adds aptX support for better Bluetooth audio

If you’re a OnePlus 3 owner looking to get more from your Bluetooth headphones, the latest HydrogenOS (H2OS) update might be just what you need: HydrogenOS version 12 (beta) has been released with support for aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs.

aptX is a streaming protocol that delivers better audio quality when using Bluetooth on compatible devices. It’s not a common feature as of yet, but it recently popped up in Android O, as well as the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. aptX is said to offer an improvement when streaming at higher bitrates, so if you subscribe to a music service or listen through Bluetooth headphones, it’s something that may interest you. (You can learn more about what aptX does at the previous link.)

H2OS, meanwhile, is an alternative ROM for OnePlus devices aimed predominantly at Chinese users. It’s similar to OxygenOS, though it includes some additional Chinese apps and a new launcher. It’s compatible with all of the US OnePlus devices, but the latest version is only available for the OnePlus 3 right now.

According to users on Reddit, aptX support also arrived in OxygenOS open beta 14 (or Oxygen OS open beta 5 for the OnePlus 3T) that rolled out last week. I can’t see it in the release notes, but you may wish to try and check that out first if you’re interested.

If you to flash the H2OS version 12 beta on your OnePlus 3, you can follow this guide from the OnePlus forums on how to get it up and running (note that the guide isn’t for the latest version of HydrogenOS, but the steps should be the same). You don’t need to root your device or unlock the bootloader to install the software.