OnePlus 6 and 6T get Android 11 Open Beta 1
Remember when OnePlus was really fast in delivering new Android versions to its phones? Yeah, those were the days. Nowadays, while Google is already testing Android 12, and has outed multiple beta builds so far, OnePlus is testing Android 11 for the OnePlus 6 and 6T.
Okay, granted, these are old phones, and it's nice to see them being updated to Android 11 at all, despite the huge delay. Back in April the company promised it would out an Open Beta build of OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 for the 6 and 6T in August, and yet it's delivered it today, a month or so ahead of schedule. That's a good sign for the future, we hope.
According to OnePlus, this is an early build, released in order "to gather feedback before being officially released". Expect the beta software to be less stable than normal builds, and so you probably shouldn't install it on your main device. Regardless, make sure you backup your stuff before you proceed.
If you're on the latest stable build for the OnePlus 6 or 6T, in order to jump on the Open Beta train you need to head over to the Source linked below and then install the new software through the link provided there. After you install the initial beta, further ones will arrive as over-the-air updates.
However, you need to keep in mind that you will not be receiving the finalized stable update via OTA, you'll have to manually download and install it. If you're still on an older Open Beta build for the OnePlus 6 or 6T, then the new one based on Android 11 will arrive over-the-air soon.
OxygenOS 11 brings with it a fresh new UI, with improvements to Game Space, a new camera UI, Ambient Display enhancements, Dark Mode improvements, and a new Shelf interface with an improved animation for the weather widget.