Which is better than plain Android?
Even if you say "Android smartphone", the installed Android OS is actually customized little by little for each manufacturer. Did you know that some operating systems are appearing more attractive than Google's "genuine" Android? Among them, there are smartphones and OS that have a reputation for being amazing.
The OnePlus line of smartphones is getting better and better. Hardware is getting a lot of attention, but pre-installed operating systems and software are strangely rarely talked about. Although OnePlus is an Android smartphone, it is equipped with its own Android-based OS "OxygenOS". It is evolving with the momentum to beat even the original Google.
From Samsung's One UI, which was said to be ``a big tree in the past, but now it's much better,'' to LG Electronics and HTC's average OS, and even From Huawei to quirky operating systems like Xiaomi, every manufacturer has its own twist on Android (with the exception of Nokia, which sticks to stock Android, or raw Android). .
Sleek design, intuitive interfaces, efficient software...it's been the market for years that Google leads the way. It's the pure Android user experience that first appeared in the Nexus series and continues in a slightly different form in the Pixel series.
OxygenOS is an OS announced by OnePlus in 2015 as a spin-off of genuine Android. However, after using it for a while, you should realize that OxygenOS is ahead of the original Google. This is because it greatly exceeds the genuine product in terms of well-thought-out design, functionality, and usability, while retaining the best parts of what Google has created.
1) OxygenOS wins for the interface
Although the stock Android has been streamlined and not overweight, it still looks plain and boring. On the other hand, OxygenOS seems to be much easier to use at first glance, and this difference is larger than expected. The appearance of the software is also highly configurable, from the overall theme to fonts and accent colors.
From the app icons, to the font usage, to the ability to make small changes within the app, OxygenOS looks nothing to complain about. It's clean, elegant, and never boring, whether you're looking to skim through the settings menu or send a text message. And the weather app in the app drawer actually changes depending on the local weather. Do not miss it!
2) Focus on Game Mode
OxygenOS has a Game Mode. It would be nice if Google could imitate it, but it would be a story if someone who actually played games on the Pixel appeared. It's a feature that seems like common sense, and it's automatically activated when you start the game, but you can also customize it in detail from the settings menu.
When you enter game mode, notifications stop and calls switch to speaker only. It also disables automatic screen brightness adjustment, improves display quality with HDR-like features, adds interesting effects to haptic feedback, and frees up as much of your device's processing power as possible for gameplay. .
3) OxygenOS dominates the execution of multiple apps simultaneously
The ability to run apps in parallel is not a proprietary feature of OxygenOS. However, the implementation is quite excellent, and unfortunately it is a part that genuine Android cannot catch up for the time being. It's worth noting that you can run two instances of the same app with two different login credentials.
I want to run two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone. I want to follow the latest information on multiple Instagram accounts. Such hopes can be fulfilled with the functions of Parallel Apps. Of course, it's super easy to set up. Like many features of OxygenOS, it works as intended with minimal effort.
4) Once you get used to gestures, you can't go back
Once you can use your phone with customized gestures, you can't go back. This is also one of the advantages of OxygenOS in OnePlus smartphones. For example, swipe from the top to the right to open the last used app. Similar to Pixel's gestures, but with more spirit.
OxygenOS also has the ability to draw or write certain characters on the lock screen to launch a specific app (your choice of flashlight, selfie camera, etc.). It's all customizable on the settings page, and you can even switch between gesture and soft navigation across the OS.
5) OnePlus phones wake themselves up
It's a combination of hardware and software, so it's not unique to OxygenOS, but by all means more I hope it will spread. You can choose when your device will start up and turn off by opening Utilities in Settings and selecting Scheduled power on/off. It's a very useful feature when it comes to saving battery.
What's even nicer is that you can set an alarm and wake up your smartphone together. With this smartphone equipped with OxygenOS, the smartphone will wake up at the same time as the alarm, so you can safely turn off the power before going to bed. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a life-changing feature, but it's definitely useful.
6) Keep Your Privacy Safe with App Locker
OxygenOS's "app locker" is a novelty in this age of privacy. This is also not a feature limited to OxygenOS, but genuine Android does not have this feature. This is another feature that, once you get used to it, you can't live without.
It basically hides selected apps behind an encrypted wall. Hidden apps can only be launched by entering the PIN or using registered fingerprint authentication. It's perfect when other people, such as children, spouses, and parents, often use the same phone, and there are apps you don't want them to use.
7) Shelf is better than Google Assistant
OxygenOS' "shelf" is just a left swipe from the home screen to open it. At first glance, it looks like a degraded version of the familiar "Google Now" and "Google Assistant" in genuine Android. But after spending some time with OxygenOS, you'll come to realize that the shelf is a convenient feature that takes the best out of all the pretenses.
The shelf holds shortcuts to your notes, files, camera, recent apps, data, battery usage, and more. You can arrange only the functions that you actually use frequently, and receive push notifications for personalized news articles and sports results. Notifications are based on Google's predictions and are, of course, easy to customize.