OnePlus has introduced its latest OxygenOS 16 update, and the new OnePlus 15 will be the first smartphone to ship with it out of the box.
Representing OnePlus’s most significant software advancement, it includes plenty of new AI capabilities. Arthur Lam, Director of OxygenOS at AI Strategy at OnePlus, says it understands and adapts to individual users.
The heart of the software is Plus Mind, a personal intelligence that intuitively recognizes on-screen content and organizes it in Mind Space, a unified hub for all your captured data. With the Plus Key or a three-finger swipe-up, you can configure Plus Mind as a shortcut. The Plus Key can also be set as the default for other key functions like screenshots, flashlight, camera, voice recording, Do Not Disturb mode, and seamless switching among ring, vibrate, or silent modes.
Plus Mind can also understand the context of saved content: for instance, it can automatically extract the date and time from a captured event poster and prompt you to add it to your calendar. It also supports long screenshot capture, fully preserving entire pieces of content and organizing them efficiently within your Mind Space.
OxygenOS 16 is based on the latest version of Android, and Google Gemini can now connect with Mind Space to pull information and help you act via a single prompt. This technology allows you to get personalized results and insights based on your data stored within Mind Space, offering a new level of intelligent, context-aware assistance.
For instance, you can ask questions like, “Based on my interior design content from Mind Space, help me draft a home decor plan.” Gemini will then curate a detailed plan from the saved content on your Mind Space to give you a personalized answer. By combining personal context from Mind Space with the AI power of Google Gemini, you can turn an idea or inspiration into a realized concept.
The AI experience extends throughout the operating system with multiple innovative features. The AI Efficiency suite significantly enhances productivity. AI Writer offers advanced content creation tools, including mind maps, charts, and social media caption generation. AI Scan transforms your camera into an intelligent scanner, instantly converting documents, whiteboards, and receipts into clear, shareable PDFs with options to edit and enhance the captured content.
OxygenOS 16 introduces powerful tools for creative expression, including AI Portrait Glow to enhance portraits taken in any lighting condition, along with AI Perfect Shot for intelligent photo optimization. AI PlayLab provides enthusiasts with early access to experimental features, including YumSee, a feature that turns text into a picture, and Party Up, which turns pictures into videos to bring party vibes to group photos.
Parallel Processing 2.0 represents the most comprehensive application of this technology on Android. It allows new animations to begin before previous actions complete, creating smoothness throughout the entire system interface, from application transitions to navigation gestures and system interactions.
OxygenOS 16 has an upgraded integration ecosystem that offers seamless sharing and connectivity with Windows and Mac PCs, alongside enhanced compatibility with Apple ecosystem products, including Apple Watch integration for synchronized notifications, OnePlus phone camera control, and health data tracking.
OxygenOS 16 offers customization capabilities with fluid animations to enhance the lock screen and app drawer, while Flux Theme 2.0 empowers dynamic personalization with MotionPhotos and video wallpapers. These features include advanced depth effects that adapt to your interactions. The reimagined Fluid Cloud transforms into an intelligent, interactive hub with robust third-party app integration. It delivers real-time alerts and live updates from apps like Spotify, food delivery services, and sports platforms.
The new design language delivers Gaussian blur effects, rounded corners, and translucent interfaces across Quick Settings, Home Screen, and App Drawer. Native apps like Clock and Calculator integrate refined optical feedback, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.
OxygenOS 16 also introduces security innovations led by the Private Computing Cloud, representing Android’s first full-chain security solution and providing enhanced protection for both GPU and CPU processing. This architecture ensures sensitive data remains protected in the cloud, maintaining privacy and security.
OxygenOS 16 extends its signature fast and smooth performance to OnePlus tablets like the OnePlus Pad 3, delivering an adaptive and personalized interface that enhances both productivity and creativity. The update introduces a revamped home screen with scalable icons and an expanded dock that supports up to 18 apps, optimizing screen space for quicker access to essential tools. Multitasking is elevated with Open Canvas, enabling up to five simultaneous apps — three in split-view and two resizable floating windows — for seamless workflow management.
Enjoy deeper integration with Windows PCs, operating the computer directly from the tablet via a virtual trackpad and intuitive drag-and-drop file transfer. The upgraded Photos app also incorporates built-in video editing, allowing you to trim clips, add music and captions, and convert videos into MotionPhotos without leaving the gallery.
Beyond the core innovations, the update introduces enhanced ecosystem connectivity, including seamless sharing with Mac and Windows PCs, improved Apple accessory integration, and upgraded features demonstrating OnePlus’s approach to creating an integrated smart and personalized experience.
As noted, OnePlus 15 smartphone will be the first device to come with the latest OxygenOS 16 right out of the box, with subsequent rollout to previous OnePlus devices to come. I’ll be trying it out: stay tuned!