The OnePlus 15 is apparently only a few months away, as it has already been officially announced for China and global markets. However, to launch a new phone, OnePlus also needs a new software version, and since Android 16 has been around for a while now, it’s time for the official debut of OxygenOS 16.
OxygenOS 16 looks like a significant update for the company, continuing its push into all things AI after a similar initiative last year, while also throwing in a new redesign for good measure. If you were hoping for something inspired by Material 3 Expressive, I have some bad news. Rather than beating around the bush, it’s worth saying plainly: OxygenOS 16 looks almost exactly like modern versions on iOS, taking a style usually reserved for China-exclusive devices and preparing it for a US launch unlike anything we’ve really seen.
OnePlus says its new design language is called “Breath (sic) with You,” and virtually every element reminds me of pre-Liquid Glass iOS. The weather app, already relatively similar to Apple’s relaunched version, is virtually indistinguishable. The Quick Settings look straight out of the Control Center (even more so than last year), with rounded translucent circles and oval-shaped sliders. The app drawer can be transformed into a category-based layout that is a dead ringer for Apple’s app library. The lock screen is one of the few places where the Liquid Glass inspiration really shows, with OnePlus using those same ultra-tall numbers for one of its clock styles, right next to the iOS-style widget icons.
OxygenOS is really full of good ideas, but it’s hard to see past the blatant theft of the overall design and everything that isn’t it directly inspired by Apple – like the elongated home screen icons – just doesn’t look very good. I’ll be curious to see how long-time fans react. At the very least, some of the more ridiculous elements, like an App Library-style app drawer, can be skipped.
Apple’s obsession doesn’t stop there, as OnePlus has also continued to add “Cross-Eco Connectivity” to its platform. Last year, the company actually integrated an AirDrop client into OxygenOS, allowing OnePlus and iPhone users to exchange files back and forth. This year, however, the company is going much further, adding the ability to pair an Apple Watch with one’s OnePlus device via OHealth. OnePlus claims this allows for notifications, messages, synced exercise recordings, and even phone call support, although I’ll be shocked if Apple doesn’t remove this feature in the coming weeks.
Finally, after launching the OnePlus 12 less than two years ago with barely any focus on AI, the company has done a complete 180, loading OxygenOS 16 with as many AI-focused tools as possible. Some of them are enhancements to existing applications. Mind Space – an app for organizing screenshots and other content saved from your screen – now includes support for Gemini, allowing Google’s chatbot to see what you have saved on the device. The company’s productivity-focused suite includes things like AI Scan to scan screens and presentation slides, plus more AI writing tools to personalize your language.
As overwhelming as the focus on AI may seem, it is also relatively superficial. Writing tools, recorders with AI transcriptions, even an AI-based menu translator – none of this seems particularly unique, which is sort of the story of OxygenOS 16. There’s a lot of new here if that’s all you’re looking for, but pretty much all of this has been seen before. Even Plus Mind’s ability to save content to Mind Space on your behalf seems too vague, and given that its hardware hotkey can be changed to activate other tools, I wouldn’t be surprised if most users end up missing it entirely.
I’m really going to have to try OxygenOS 16 for myself before I fully solidify my opinion; Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test a preview before today’s announcement. Fortunately, the launch is not far away. OnePlus is launching an open beta program starting tomorrow, October 17, while the upcoming OnePlus 15 will launch with this update out of the box. Expect lots of existing devices to benefit from this upgrade in the coming months.
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