OxygenOS 15 update fully detailed, Beta available October 30 for OnePlus 12

OxygenOS 15 has been fully detailed as the Android 15 update for supported OnePlus phones – this year with a greater focus on AI functionality and improved performance.

Update: OnePlus has confirmed that the Beta program will open for OnePlus 12 on October 30 – not that the stable release will commence from that date as originally published.

Last year, OnePlus decided to avoid the AI buzz. Instead, the firm’s Android 14 update was more of a refinement process designed to complement the always-impressive internals of a flagship OnePlus device.

With Android 15 and OxygenOS 15, the BBK-owned firm is now leaning further into AI functionality for the third-party skin. Naturally, the announcement is choc full of marketing buzzwords like “Parallel Processing.”

This is actually just a new and improved handling of animations when switching between applications quickly – think those annoying videos where someone rapidly opens and closes multiple apps on their homescreen in succession. OnePlus has worked to improve the entire animation pipeline so that even if you choose to open and close apps back-to-back, it should be smoother now.

The OxygenOS 15 update is also said to be up to 20% smaller than OxygenOS 14. Lots of older “redundant” functions and features have been removed to allow for these impressive space savings.

AI additions

A lot of camera features are being added, including AI Detail Boost, a new cloud-powered feature integrated directly into the gallery app and automatically detects pixelated or blurry images. You’re then given the option to enhance them with a tap.

It can upscale to 4K, allowing you to to remaster old gallery images. In tandem with the AI Unblur – which is also cloud-powered – this will sharpen and clean up images in a similar manner to the Photo Unblur function found on Pixel phones. AI Reflection Eraser is able to remove glass reflections without distorting your photos. According to OnePlus, this even works on surfaces as well as through glass.

Intelligent Search works on-device to allow you to search across system apps like Settings, Files, and Notes to pull from specific files based on queries such as “how much did I pay for my hotel stay last month?”

Circle to Search is coming to OnePlus phones as part of the OxygenOS 15 update. The Google Lens-powered function is already becoming widely available and lets you get contextual search for anything on your phone screen by initiating with a long press of the gesture navbar. OxygenOS 15 also brings Theft Protection to OnePlus phones.

Pass Scan is also a big component of the OxygenOS 15 update, allowing you to quickly scan things like boarding passes, transit tickets or images in your gallery and add them to your Google Wallet for later access.

AI Notes automatically organizes and refines notes with advanced AI capabilities. According to OnePlus, whether you jot down quick ideas or draft detailed reports, AI Notes can summarise key points, adjust the tone or formality, and even correct grammar, ensuring clarity and structure.

The AI Toolbox 2.0 function now includes AI Reply. This works similarly to the Smart Reply feature that is also found in Android, using AI to send quick pre-generated responses. Alternatively, you can use the side-bar to get more in-depth and detailed replies and responses.

Updated UI and interface

As mentioned earlier, OxygenOS 15 brings several updates to its design and interface, aiming to improve user interaction and overall experience.

The Shelf Cards feature now offers a refreshed color scheme and a wider range of card sizes, allowing more flexibility in how users arrange their home screen. With sizes like 1×2, 2×2, and 4×4, it’s easier to customize the layout and access important information quickly. Additionally, popular apps such as Zomato and Blinkit are integrated into the Shelf.

It also adds shimmering effects during certain interactions, like charging, app installation, or unlocking the phone. These subtle animations supposedly make the brief waiting period before something happens on your device feel more fluid and engaging. For example, when charging with a Super VOOC charger, shimmering highlights indicate the speed of the process.

The OnePlus OneTake feature aims to make transitions between the Always-On Display (AOD), lock screen, and main screen feel smooth and seamless. OnePlus says that this change is all about making navigation feel more natural. The “Depth” option also allows users to adjust wallpaper images so that the subject of a photo stands out more prominently.

For multitasking, Open Canvas is making the jump from the OnePlus Open to slabphones and allows users to interact with multiple apps in split-screen mode without compromising on window sizes. Unlike traditional split-screen options that shrink app windows, Open Canvas maintains the full size of both apps, making it easier to multitask and switch between tasks without feeling restricted. This feature could be particularly helpful for users who frequently handle several apps at once.

A new “Share with iPhone” app is also coming with the OxygenOS 15 update to help simplify and streamline the process of sharing files from a OnePlus to an iPhone. You will need the “O+ Connect” app on iOS for this to work, but it works in a similar manner to Quick Share – with some extra steps.

OnePlus confirmed that the OxygenOS 15 Beta rollout will begin on October 30 for OnePlus 12 handsets. Further details are expected on other supported handsets in the coming weeks and months.

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