OnePlus explains 'SOS call reboot' bug, rolls out hotfix to address issue

The bug was related to a modem memory usage issue

China-based smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has been in the news lately, and this time it is not for a new product launch or software upgrade. There have been reports of a bug in the company's flagship OnePlus 5 that reboots the device automatically whenever a user dials emergency numbers like 911. 

According to affected OnePlus 5 owners, their device reboots as soon as their call 911 emergency number to report any mishap. The bug was reported to OnePlus after several similar incidents were reported by OnePlus 5 owners across the globe sharing similar experience of dialing SOS number 911 only to see the device rebooting itself. 

Not just the OnePlus 5, other smartphone owners also shared on Reddit how their devices respond when they try to call 911. Some devices go blank while other just freeze and come back to normal only after forced restart.  

OnePlus was quick in response to acknowledge the bug and soon after the company released a hotfix to address the bug in affected OnePlus 5 devices. According to the company's official statement, the issue was “related to a modem memory usage issue.” The bug was a “random occurrence” for customers on a voice over long-term evolution (VoLTE) network. The reboot happened only when the OTDOA protocol was triggered during an emergency call. 

The above statement may sound too technical for some but rest assured the bug is rectified by OnePlus by working with the chipset maker Qualcomm around the issue. The hotfix is rolling out as an incremental update and, therefore, will reach to all the OnePlus 5 owners any time soon.