Update, September 8, 2020 (4:00 p.m. ET): Today Google released the stable version of Android 11. At the same time, OnePlus released the first open beta for Oxygen OS 11. Read on to find out how to try it out!
Original article, Aug. 20, 2020 (5:00 p.m. ET): OnePlus has been teasing Oxygen OS 11, the next version of its Android skin, for months. Compared to some of the company’s previous software releases, Oxygen OS 11 is a significant update.
We don’t yet know when the stable version of Oxygen OS 11 will find its way to OnePlus phones. However, we have a good idea of what to expect, including a UI overhaul and some long-awaited features.
See also: The best OnePlus phones
Below are all of the new Oxygen OS 11 features and details that you need to know before rolling out.
Features of Oxygen OS 11
New interface
Oxygen OS 11 is a marked departure from the company’s previous design ethos. The new software has more in common with Samsung’s One UI than with standard Android. There are more design frills throughout the operating system than in previous years. A key part of the updated user interface is the new OnePlus Sans font, which the company claims improves readability.
The good news is that OnePlus has also redesigned the user interface to make it easier to use with one hand. These new designs run across the entire operating system but are most noticeable in the settings. There you will find more space between the individual menu items. In a recent blog post detailing the changes, OnePlus used user test data like a heat map to formulate the ideal size for text elements in Oxygen OS 11.
Elsewhere, you’ll find that the company’s design team has adjusted the location of some navigation buttons and other user interface elements.
Always in the display
OnePlus is finally adding a permanently active display function to its phones. The Oxygen OS 11 headline for many is something fans of the company have wanted for a while. Now that it’s almost there, the most interesting thing for us is how OnePlus managed to do something different with the feature.
Opinion: Give me a great software skin over android every day
By now, most people have a good idea of how always-on displays work. They can be used, for example, to check the time and see if you are receiving notifications without fully activating your phone screen. Time – one of 11 always-on display themes you can choose from in Oxygen OS 11 – goes a step further and allows you to check how many times you’ve unlocked your device during the day. The phone records each unlock on a timeline that cuts through the center of the display.
If you don’t want your phone to remind you of how often you use it every time you pick it up, you can choose between several digital and analog clock designs instead. If none of these points suit you or if you want to extend the battery life of your phone, you can still use the existing Ambient Display function of OnePlus.
Improved dark mode
Oxygen OS 11 will make some improvements to OnePlus’ existing dark mode. In order to make various interface elements easier to read and easier to differentiate when dark mode is active, OnePlus has optimized the function to use more dark gray tones.
The update also supports scheduling in dark mode. This allows you to configure the feature to turn on and off automatically depending on the time of day. You also have the option to toggle Dark Mode quickly from the Quick Settings menu, which you can access by pulling down the notification shade.
Updated apps
A new user interface wouldn’t be complete without matching redesigned apps, and OnePlus has also updated most of its first-party software with new features. For example, the built-in gallery app includes features that automatically create weekly stories with photos and videos you’ve taken over the past seven days. In the meantime, Zen mode has three new themes and a new group feature.
The weather app has also received some attention. The new user interface focuses more on the current day, with important information in the foreground, such as: B. Precipitation Forecasts.
Android 11
Oxygen OS 11 builds on the features of Android 11. This means that many of the improvements introduced with the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system also carry over to Oxygen OS. There are some improvements. So, check out our breakdown of the best Android 11 features to get a better sense of what’s on the go.
Oxygen OS 11 release date and availability
Oxygen OS 11 is currently in open beta. That means anyone with a OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro can try it out. The official changelog and installation instructions can be found on the official OnePlus forums.
OnePlus has not officially commented on when it plans to release a stable version of Oxygen OS 11 for its entire portfolio. However, based on the usual software upgrade schedule, Oxygen OS 11 should be available on most of its most recent devices before the end of 2020. The update will almost certainly hit OnePlus’ core markets like the US, India, the UK and select regions of Europe.
Continue reading: OnePlus Phones: A History of the Company’s Entire Product Line
It is very likely that the final stable build of Oxygen OS 11 will roll over to current flagships first before it becomes available on older devices. That said, we can expect the company to update the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8 first. The new budget phone, the OnePlus Nord, and older devices like the OnePlus 7 Pro should follow shortly thereafter.
There’s also the strong possibility that the OnePlus 8T with Oxygen OS 11 will be ready to go right out of the box.
Suitable Oxygen OS 11 update phones
OnePlus has not announced which devices will be updated with the Oxygen OS 11 stable launch, but its update policy provides useful guidance. In 2018, OnePlus committed to providing its phones with 24-month platform updates. According to this policy, OnePlus will likely update the following devices to Oxygen OS 11:
- 2020 – OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro
- 2020 – OnePlus North
- 2019 – OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro
- 2019 – OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro
- 2018 – OnePlus 6 and 6T
While this isn’t ruled out until OnePlus confirms it, it is almost certain that the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T won’t see Oxygen OS 11.
We’ll update this article as more details about Oxygen OS 11 become available. In the meantime, let us know in the comments if you enjoy making the latest Oxygen OS upgrade.