OnePlus Launcher 5 update gives older phones a taste of Oxygen OS 11
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
- The standard launcher for Oxygen OS 11 can now be installed on OnePlus’ Android 10 phones.
- OnePlus Launcher 5 includes a redesigned shelf and new search shortcuts.
- Supported phones include the OnePlus 6, 7, and North lines.
OnePlus has struggled to provide updates to its older flagships. The company has yet to develop stable Android 11 builds for the OnePlus 7T. But it’s now set to serve a starter to hungry users before the main course is delivered.
As discovered by Android police, OnePlus provides the Oxygen OS 11 launcher – namely version 5.0.2.4 – for phones that are still running Android 10-based Oxygen OS 10. With this update, older OnePlus phones are given a temporary gloss finish when they wait for their next major operating system update.
In terms of features, don’t expect the full range of Android 11-specific improvements to make the cut. There’s no Google Discover support yet, but users can enjoy a redesigned shelf and a handful of new search gestures in the meantime. Check out the improvements to the former below.
While the polished user interface seems like a welcome improvement, recent OnePlus launcher reviews on the Play Store suggest otherwise. Recent reviews have cited the changes as “awful” and “awful” and lament the lack of shelf customizability that the earlier version of the launcher offered.
OnePlus Launcher 5: Supported Devices
It’s not a mandatory update, however, and the phones it supports currently include those running Android 10. These include the OnePlus 6 series, OnePlus 6T series, OnePlus 7 and 7T series, as well as the original OnePlus Nord. According to a spokesman quoted by Android policeThe North N10 and North N100 will also be added to this list later this week.
If stable Android 11 builds support these devices, users may still have to wait a long time. OnePlus confirmed its roadmap for Android 11 earlier this month and has since rolled over the beta builds of Oxygen OS 11 to OnePlus 7, 7T, and Nord. The OnePlus 6 and 6T as well as the Nord N10 and N100 have yet to acquire the latest version of Android in some form.
If you’re one of those unlucky users who still rock Android 10 but want to experience some of that love for Oxygen OS 11, you can download the new OnePlus launcher from the button below.
OnePlus Launcher
