OnePlus has just announced the latest evolution of its smartphone software, OxygenOS 16, which brings a generous dose of AI-powered features and upgrades the foundations to Android 16. The first device to run the software out of the box will be the upcoming OnePlus 15, while the beta testing program for the older devices kicks off on October 17th.
What’s new with OxygenOS 16?
OnePlus recently shipped a feature called Plus Mind that serves as a memory bank for all the important stuff you want to save, with intelligent search and intelligence thrown into the mix. OxygenOS 16 adds a new Collections system to the space that automatically categorizes saved items into dedicated clusters, somewhat like app categories on iPhones.
Additionally, with a long-press on the physical side key, users can now directly record a voice note and also get it transcribed in real-time, alongside summaries. OxygenOS 16 introduces a new AI-powered contextual search feature that makes it dramatically easier to find relevant items. Users can now even create mind maps based on their saved notes. There’s a neat AI scan feature that turns camera snaps into PDFs while automatically adjusting the angle and brightness.
The bigger shift this time around is the integration of Google Gemini into the Plus Mind. Thanks to Gemini, users can now seamlessly combine data pulled from the content saved in Plus Mind, the internet, and Gemini’s knowledge bank to get work done. OxygenOS 16 also implements a system-wide AI writer tool that handles style adjustments, proofreading, and summarization, similar to Writing Tools within Apple Intelligence.
What else is worth checking out?
One feature, in particular, that users will appreciate is the O+ Connect system, which acts like a bridge between OnePlus phones and Windows or Mac devices. It lets you seamlessly access files stored on the phone directly on your PC (in wireless mode), and even mirror the phone’s screen, too. Then there’s the Remote Control feature that lets users remotely access and control their computer on a OnePlus phone or tablet.
When I tested it on a foldable phone to remotely run my MacBook Air, it worked pretty well. Talking about cross-device connectivity, you can now pair an Apple Watch with a OnePlus phone using the OHealth app, complete with full notification, calling, and health activity sync support in tow. Going a step further, the O+ Connect app even lets OnePlus phones share data with iPhones by bringing the two devices closer, just like the NameDrop feature on iPhones.
On the more flashy side of things, OxygenOS 16 relies on AI to glow up your portrait shots clicked in low-light surroundings, and can also swap frames with the AI Perfect Shot to make sure you aren’t blinking or not showing your best side in a group picture. Furthermore, the update brings a new AI PlayLab feature, where users can get access to experimental features.
Among them is YumSee. You just point the camera at a menu, and the AI will not only translate the text, but also pull up a picture so that you get a better idea of what you’re about to order. Party Up is another AI-powered tool that turns photos into short clips, somewhat like the Veo-powered tricks in Google’s Flow filmmaking tool. Moroever, OxygenOS 16 pushes in-house tech such as Parallel Processing 2.0 and Flow Motion to make UI interactions feel snappier and smoother.
