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OxygenOS won plaudits for remaining mostly true to stock Android but has since developed more of its own personality. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, even if it bears a strong resemblance to Samsung’s One UI. Despite the visual transformation, OnePlus' skin has not only retained many of its neat little features, but some of its recent iterations have also introduced new tricks to make your life a tiny bit easier.
OnePlus brings the new OxygenOS 11 launcher to some older phones
OnePlus phones on Android 10 can get it at the Play Store
OnePlus is a little behind when it comes to bringing the Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 to its older phones, but the company is rolling out an update that will plug that gap a bit in the meantime. The latest 5.x version of the OnePlus Launcher is now compatible with most of the company's older phones, and the two that don't have it yet will later this week, we're told.
Most phone manufacturers have integrated the Google Discover feed into their home screen launchers for years, but OnePlus only started doing it with the OnePlus 8 series. The Discover feed completely replaced the old 'Shelf' pane that was present on previous models, but OnePlus later brought it back with a settings option, and now the company is testing an easier toggle for the process.
The OnePlus "Shelf" is back from the dead for OnePlus 8 series owners. After the company killed it in favor of Google Discover on the 8 and 8 Pro (a wise move, in our opinion), OnePlus has now found a way to bring it back as an optional feature with a swipe-down trigger in the latest OnePlus Launcher Beta.
Dark Mode Quick Settings toggle coming to OxygenOS, plus other tweaks planned
A new multitasking interface and lower volume levels are also on the list
As part of its monthly Q&A (or FAQ — the company calls it both), OnePlus has just revealed a handful of smaller but still much-appreciated tweaks we can look forward to in its OxygenOS software. In addition to finally getting the Dark Mode toggle we've been clamoring for, we can also look forward to multitasking interface tweaks, lower volume settings, and other minor launcher fixes — though each change is tied to its own separate schedule.
The app switcher on Android used to be a core part of the operating system, but with the introduction of gesture navigation, it's now a component of your device's home screen launcher. This means it can be updated outside of OS upgrades, and that's exactly what is happening on OnePlus devices.
A new version of the OnePlus Launcher has been spotted in the wild, and it includes a few interesting tweaks. In addition to a new AMOLED black Shelf card background, this latest update also allows for hiding icon labels if you're after that super clean look. Lastly, the updated app harbors some secrets that reveal a Verizon OnePlus 8 might be in the works.
The lightly tweaked version of Android that OnePlus phones use, called OxygenOS, has some pretty big advantages going for it. There are even things about it that we'd like to see make their way to stock Android. But there's always room for improvement, and we've got a (slightly larger) wishlist of changes that we think could make it even better.
OnePlus has been surprisingly hesitant to illuminate the precise differences between the T-Mobile and unlocked versions of its phones, but gradually the distinctions are coming to light. Recently, it was revealed to us that the T-Mobile version replaces the OnePlus Launcher's "Shelf" functionality with the popular Google Now Feed Discover, and OnePlus remains tight-lipped as to whether the feature is coming to other phones, though it admits only the T-Mobile version has it for now.
Many manufacturers have uploaded their system apps to the Play Store, in order to send out updates without the need for a full system update. Earlier this month, OnePlus published its custom launcher to the Play Store, and users could even sign up for a beta program to try out new features first. For some reason, the listing was removed shortly after it went live.
[Update: And it's gone] OnePlus Launcher is now on the Play Store in a (currently full) limited beta
It looks like OnePlus might be looking for a faster and easier way to update its launcher instead of waiting on OTAs to deliver updates. As of today, the OnePlus Launcher is appearing on Google Play. Unfortunately for anyone clamoring to check it out, it's currently in limited beta, and all the test slots are full.
The Open Beta builds for the OnePlus 3/3T keep on rolling and this time we've got a couple of nice new features and improvements that should please those of you who like to try out new features before they're ready for the general public.