We’re getting an early have a look at how the following model of Android will look on numerous telephones; Samsung confirmed off One UI 6 with a brand new visible design and feature-set, and OnePlus is subsequent according to OxygenOS 14. The Android 14-based OxygenOS 14 will likely be rolled out for testing publicly later this month, and I bought my palms on the primary beta construct a couple of days in the past.
Visually, OxygenOS 14 would not introduce any new options; the UI continues to be closely personalized and resembles ColorOS 13. Actually, I did not see any adjustments on this space in anyway within the 4 days I used the beta, and if there any visible tweaks deliberate, we’ll have to attend for future builds.
Whereas the interface is basically the identical, there are new options and value adjustments, and a boatload of latest ringtones and notification tones. Here is a rundown of seven new options I discovered in OxygenOS 14.
OnePlus is aware of the way to design an AOD fashion that stands out, and that continues to be the case in OxygenOS 14. The brand new Carbon Footprint AOD is builds on the Homeland AOD that debuted final yr, and it’s designed to showcase the influence carbon emissions have on our planet. There are 5 modes to this fashion, going from 0%, 25%, 45%, 75%, and 100%. Every mode adjustments primarily based on the quantity of distance walked — 100% is 8,000 steps — and it adjustments the look of the AOD fairly considerably.
The thought is to chop down in your day by day carbon emissions by strolling as an alternative of taking different types of transport, and that is visually highlighted within the AOD. A 0% change in CO2 emissions reveals a barren planet, with 100% discount surfaces a lush inexperienced world, with the AOD fashion altering dynamically as you make progress in your exercise targets all through the day.
You can too select between a forest or island lagoon, and the animation switches up dynamically in both case the extra you progress.
Use international search straight within the dwelling display
A brand new addition within the OxygenOS 14 dwelling display is a search pillbox that is situated on the backside of the house display, simply above the dock. OnePlus examined a whole lot of methods to floor international search, together with a pull-down gesture anyplace on the display, and whereas that gesture continues to be lively in OxygenOS 14, the search field is a much less intrusive methodology.
Because the identify suggests, international search permits you to search by means of your cellphone, together with contacts, paperwork, and even the online. What I like about this implementation is that the pillbox fades away once you’re scrolling between dwelling screens. And should you do not care a lot for international search, you possibly can flip off this characteristic fully from the settings.
Lock display will get even higher
OnePlus is making a couple of tweaks to the lock display in OxygenOS 14, rolling out two extra controls: QR and flashlight. Now you can arrange a shortcut for a QR code reader or flashlight on the lock display and floor both utility with out having to unlock the cellphone.
OxygenOS 13 launched a persistent media participant on the lock display that is out there in always-on mode, supplying you with the power to manage music playback with out waking the display. This characteristic was hidden within the customization web page, and has been moved to the lock display settings in OxygenOS 14, giving it a lot better visibility. I take advantage of this specific characteristic quite a bit, and it is good to see OnePlus giving it a bit extra consideration.
Unlock a brand new world of ringtones and notification sounds
This is not an enormous deal as options go, however I like switching up my ringtone occasionally, and OxygenOS 14 has dozens of latest ringtones primarily based on the Aquamorphic design aesthetic. The ringtones are objectively higher than the legacy tones that have been bundled with earlier variations of OxygenOS — that are nonetheless out there, by the way in which. In an analogous vein, you get a complete vary of latest notification tones.
Unified safety dashboard provides you an summary of your cellphone’s standing
OnePlus began consolidating all the safety and privateness settings right into a unified dashboard in OxygenOS 13.1, and OxygenOS 14 continues that push. There’s now a single web page that lists all safety and privateness choices out there, and the dashboard provides you a high-level overview of the varied options.
The dashboard has picked up a visible refresh; it has distinct Materials You influences in OxygenOS 13.1, however switches to a clear format that is extra cohesive with the remainder of the OxygenOS 14 styling. The one new change on this entrance is the app permissions that help you grant photograph and video permissions as an alternative of full system entry, a characteristic that is baked into Android 14.
Sensible Recommendations surfaces contextual data
One in every of my favourite software program options on Pixel telephones is the At A Look widget; it does a terrific job surfacing related data as and when wanted, together with calendar occasions, upcoming flights, site visitors and climate data, and so forth. OxygenOS 14 is getting an analogous characteristic that is dubbed Sensible Recommendations.
As a substitute of a widget, Sensible Recommendations will floor data on the lock display, notification shade, and standing bar. The characteristic pulls in information from ride-hailing and meals supply companies (for now), and parses that information within the type of a card that is viewable on the lock display or notification pane.
Change languages on the fly with ease
One other new characteristic in OxygenOS 14 is the power to vary the language on a per-app foundation. The characteristic is accessible within the Extra Settings sub-menu, and you’ll simply choose a language for a person app with out having to vary the system language. This is not simply restricted to OxygenOS 14 as Google is making it out there inside Android 14, so all telephones operating the following model of Android will embrace it.
We’re simply getting began
OnePlus is simply rolling out the primary beta construct of OxygenOS 14, and we must always see extra options with subsequent builds. If historical past is any indication, the secure construct of OxygenOS 14 ought to roll out earlier than the tip of the yr to the greatest OnePlus telephones, beginning with the OnePlus 11.