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Busted: OnePlus, Meizu caught benchmark cheating

Nick PapanikolopoulosFebruary 1, 2017

Well it seems that XDA (and GeekBench) insist on it and have all the necessary evidence to back up their story. According to a latest report the OnePlus 3T and Meizu Pro 6 were some of the models that were found to “cheat” during the benchmarking procedure and now they have to… face the truth.

XDA goes on and describes how the OnePlus 3T managed to trick the bench-marking results: the software has been intentionally tweaked in order to trigger to processor to run more aggressively during the benchmark procedure thus resulting in even better scores.

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As a result, everytime a user used the AnTuTu or Geekbench app the SoC was forced to run at even higher frequency speeds (overclocked) for the whole time, and have great (but false) results. This news however poses one serious question: does the OnePlus 3T really deserve to be ranked as the highest scoring Android smartphone in the world for 2016?nbsp;In case you don’t remember, its score was above 163.000, completely destroying other rivals such as LG G5, Galaxy S7 etc.

OnePlus has been notified of this and made an announcement (basically admitting its guilt):

“In order to give users a better user experience in resource intensive apps and games, especially graphically intensive ones, we implemented certain mechanisms in the community and Nougat builds to trigger the processor to run more aggressively. The trigger process for benchmarking apps will not be present in upcoming OxygenOS builds on the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T.”

We have no info on Meizu’s case so far, but the company has been asked to comment and we’re waiting for their official response.

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About the author

Nick Papanikolopoulos
Nick’s journey into the world of technology began back in 1997 with his first mobile device, a Philips Twist—a quirky phone that ignited a lifelong passion for all things mobile. With a career spanning over 25 years in the Mobile Technology sector and countless hours of experience in news editing, scripting, and tech reviews, Nick now serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Gizchina, one of the most influential platforms in global technology journalism.
Nick’s academic background is just as impressive as his professional experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Wireless & Wired Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Informatics, along with a PhD in Mobility QoS Measuring Techniques. His expertise in these fields gives him a deep understanding of the mobile technology ecosystem, making him a thought leader in the industry.

As a passionate Apple enthusiast and avid iOS user, Nick is deeply immersed in the Apple ecosystem but remains a firm advocate of impartiality. His approach to technology involves evaluating every device on its own merits, regardless of brand. While Apple remains his go-to, his love for exploration drives him to constantly switch devices—sometimes on a monthly basis—to stay ahead of trends. He also champions the power of memory as the best password manager, a philosophy honed through years of tech-savviness.
At Gizchina, Nick leads the editorial team, curates content, and crafts insightful reviews and news articles on the latest developments in mobile tech. His knack for delivering fresh, relevant content ensures that Gizchina readers stay ahead in the fast-paced world of technology. Whether testing Android devices or finding ways to maximize iOS functionality, Nick thrives on exploring the endless possibilities of modern tech. He also has a keen eye for photography, appreciating advancements in smartphone cameras while cherishing the timeless charm of analog photography.

Nick is also an avid cyclist, finding solace and adventure on two wheels. Whether exploring scenic routes or pushing his limits on challenging terrain, cycling provides him with a refreshing escape from his tech-heavy days. With his vast experience, unrelenting curiosity, and love for all things tech, Nick ensures that Gizchina remains a top destination for accurate, insightful, and engaging content in the ever-evolving mobile technology world. If you'd like to know more you can always follow him on Twitter.
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- Wolvie
  February 1, 2017
yalok
February 1, 2017
I wonder if they will just hide the cheating deeper…
Atomicrus
February 1, 2017
I can never understand those haters tellin that One Plus Cheated. Well ok, they overclocked the processor, is it forbidden? This is the processor perfomance installed inside the phone, its performance on higher voltage and not the fake SOC used with edited buildprops and fake hardware naming. All the Intel processor ownres in overclocked mode are fckin cheaters? They are not true to windows perfomance bench and other benchmarks)
- February 1, 2017
  Consider the case where your TV performed great in the showroom but not so great at home. Now tell me tweaking your TV to perform better only in showroom is cheating or not?
- Lazar Prodanovic
  February 1, 2017
  Yes it’s cheating as it’s deliberately there to deceit costumers.
- Igen
  February 1, 2017
  Overclocked only when the bench-marking apps are running so that the device can get better scores. This is cheating, even Oneplus can not disagree to this.

Zero
February 1, 2017
If that is cheating, the Beast Mode of Samsung Galaxy S8 is on a similar vein.
goodwill
February 1, 2017
OP3 is a developer’s phone. You can still get such performances by tweaking the kernel yourself with custom kernels, really.
The Calm Critic
February 1, 2017
I partly blame the “5 percenters” (being generous here. Could be even lower…). These Geekbench + Antutu fetish fanatics are a lot worse than what anyone can observe from their PC OCers counterparts, it’s beyond infantile really.
- Wolvie
  February 2, 2017
  I never believe those benchmark result. I more believe on those real live user experience that use the product and posted on their review and opinion on the forums.
  That’s why i really hate elephoney who paid those fake paid poster trolls. Because if every company start doing that cheating then how do i know which review is the true ?

Nolan
February 5, 2017
- balcobomber25
  February 5, 2017
  That’s hilarious that you use a meaningless score as your buying decision. I buy my phones based on features, software, reviews and user forums.
  - NextHype
    February 8, 2017
balcobomber25
February 5, 2017
This is nothing new, companies have been cheating on benchmarks for years. This is why I always say Antutu is nothing but useless numbers to compare with other useless numbers.