The OnePlus 15 is seemingly a short few months away, as it’s already been officially announced for both China and global markets. In order to launch a new phone, though, OnePlus also needs a new software build, and with Android 16 having been around for a while now, it’s time for OxygenOS 16’s official debut.
OxygenOS 16 feels like a big update for the company, continuing a push into all things AI-focused after a similar initiative last year while also throwing in a fresh redesign for good measure. If you were hoping for something inspired by Material 3 Expressive, however, I have some bad news. Rather than beating around the bush, it’s worth coming right out and saying it: OxygenOS 16 looks almost exactly like modern builds on iOS, taking a style usually reserved for China-exclusive devices and setting it up for a launch in the US unlike anything we’ve really seen.
OnePlus says its new design language is called “Breath [sic] with You,” and practically every element reminds me of pre-Liquid Glass iOS. The weather app, already relatively similar to Apple’s relaunched version, is practically indistinguishable. Quick settings looks right out of Control Center (even moreso than last year), with rounded translucent circles and oval-shaped sliders. The app drawer can be transformed into a category-based layout that’s a dead ringer for Apple’s App Library. The lock screen is one of the few places where Liquid Glass inspiration really does appear, with OnePlus utilizing those same ultra-tall numbers for one of its clock stylings, right next to iOS-styled widget icons.
OxygenOS really is loaded with good ideas, but it’s difficult to see beyond just how blatantly stolen the overall design is, and the stuff that isn’t directly inspired by Apple — like elongated home screen icons — just doesn’t look very good. I’ll be curious to see how longtime fans react. At the very least, some of the more ridiculous elements like an App Library-esque app drawer can be ignored.
The obsession with Apple doesn’t stop there, though, as OnePlus has also continued adding “Cross-Eco Connectivity” to its platform. Last year, the company effectively built an AirDrop client into OxygenOS, allowing OnePlus and iPhone users to trade files back and forth. This year, though, the company’s going much farther, adding the ability to pair an Apple Watch with their OnePlus device through OHealth. OnePlus says this enables notifications, messages, synced exercise records, and even phone call support, though I’ll be shocked if Apple doesn’t snuff this feature out in the coming weeks.
Finally, after launching the OnePlus 12 less than two years ago with barely a focus on AI, the company has done a complete 180, loading OxygenOS 16 with as many AI-focused tools as possible. Some of these are enhancements to existing apps. Mind Space — an app for organizing screenshots and other saved content from your screen — now includes Gemini support, allowing Google’s chatbot to see what you’ve saved on-device. The company’s productivity-focused suite gets things like AI Scan for scanning screens and presentation slides, alongside more AI writing tools for customizing your language.
For as overwhelming as the focus on AI might feel, it’s also relatively shallow. Writing tools, recorders with AI transcriptions, even an AI-based menu translator — none of it feels particularly unique, which is sort of the story of OxygenOS 16. There’s plenty of new here, if that’s all you’re looking for, but practically all of it has been seen before. Even Plus Mind’s ability to save content in Mind Space on your behalf feels overly vague, and considering its hardware shortcut key can be changed to activate other tools, I wouldn’t be surprised if most users end up missing it entirely.
I’ll really have to try OxygenOS 16 for myself before fully cementing my opinion; unfortunately, I was unable to go hands-on with an early preview before today’s announcement. Thankfully, it’s not far out from launch. OnePlus kicks off an open beta program starting tomorrow, October 17th, while the upcoming OnePlus 15 will launch with this update out of the box. Expect lots of legacy devices to get this upgrade in the coming months.
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