OnePlus OxygenOS 11 (Android 11) – Release Date, Eligible Phones, New Features, and More.

OnePlus has just released the Android 11-based Open Beta 1 version of Oxygen11. The Chinese manufacturer introduced the first preview of OxygenOS 11 a few weeks ago, but the public beta version allows more users to take a look at the new features.

With OxygenOS 11, OnePlus is making visual changes to its skin for the first time in a few generations, and we finally get the always-on display. Although OnePlus phones have used AMOLED panels from the beginning, the company did not offer an AOD mode; that is changing now. There is also a simplified settings page that is similar to Samsung’s One UI, a new system font with better readability, more customization options, new themes for Zen Mode, and much more.

The OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 is limited to the OnePlus 8 series for now as they are the only devices that are part of the Android 11 beta program. We have detailed instructions on how to install the OxygenOS 11 open beta on your phone if you are interested in trying the new features right now. The stable update should be available for other OnePlus phones later this year, and we’ll probably see new features added over the course of the beta.

Here’s what you need to know about OxygenOS 11, when it will launch, and the availability of the device.

The OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 build based on Android 11 is now available for OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. You can install the build right now if you are interested, and after having used it for just under a week, there are no stability issues or bugs important.

The beta is a great way to get a glimpse of all the new OxygenOS 11 features before everyone else. OnePlus made a lot of changes to its interface, so it makes sense to install the beta version to get an idea of ​​what’s new before the stable update launches later this year.

OxygenOS 11 (Android 11) release date: When will the stable update be released?

While there is no official information on when the stable OxygenOS 11 update will be released, there shouldn’t be too long a wait. With the beta program open now live, we should see some beta builds in the coming weeks as OnePlus fixes the latest set of lingering bugs.

Soon after, the stable update for OxygenOS 11 should be available. OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will get the update first, and that makes sense considering both devices are in beta.

OxygenOS 11 (Android 11) update comes to these OnePlus phones

In total, the Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 update will hit 12 OnePlus phones. The interesting addition here is the OnePlus 6 and 6T, which will receive their third Android version update. Here is the list of OnePlus phones that will be updated to OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11:

• OnePlus 8 Pro
• OnePlus 8
• OnePlus North
• OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition
• OnePlus 7T Pro
• OnePlus 7T
• OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
• OnePlus 7 Pro
• OnePlus 7
• OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition
• OnePlus 6T
• OnePlus 6

OxygenOS 11 finally brings the always-on display to OnePlus devices

OnePlus fans have been clamoring for an always-on display for several years now, and OxygenOS 11 finally offers the feature. The always-on screen in OxygenOS 11 shows the time and date, as well as pending notifications and battery level.

The feature itself is identical to what Samsung has offered on their phones for some time now, and it’s great to see OnePlus finally rolling it out to their devices. You have 12 watch faces to choose from, and there is the option to program AOD or enable it throughout the day.

There are some watch faces that stand out. The Insight style in particular (pictured above) dynamically changes based on your phone usage throughout the day; There is a vertical color bar that takes up three-quarters of the screen, and every time you use your phone, you will see a groove in the bar. The longer you use your phone, the wider the slot will be, and it’s a great way to see how much you’ve used your phone over the course of a day. You also get a counter that shows you how many you have unlocked your phone.

OxygenOS 11 introduces a new visual design for stock applications

OxygenOS 11 features a new design for OnePlus’ own apps, including Weather, Notes, Gallery, and others. There’s a bold typeface with large icons that make it easy to see the information, and the layout itself is cleaner now. OnePlus also updated the icons for its source apps, and the new aesthetic ties it together nicely with the other interface-related changes in OxygenOS 11.

OxygenOS 11 has a cleaner settings page similar to One UI

The OxygenOS 11 settings page should look very familiar to you if you’ve used a Samsung phone in the past. Like Samsung, OnePlus has pushed menu items down the page, making it easy to access with one hand. Menu items now feature larger text and icons have also been updated. The categorization of the menu itself hasn’t changed since OxygenOS 10, but the larger text and easier-to-read icons are a welcome move.

OxygenOS 11 features a live wallpaper that changes based on the time of day

OxygenOS always had some of the most exciting wallpapers on Android, and with OxygenOS 11 we get dynamic backgrounds that change based on the time of day. You will see a large globe that changes position on the screen in relation to the time, and the effect is similar to what you get with the Google Wallpapers application.

OxygenOS 11 allows you to program dark mode

OnePlus has a system-wide dark mode in current versions of OxygenOS, and in OxygenOS 11 the feature is being updated. You now have the ability to schedule dark mode or leave it enabled throughout the day, and the setting itself has been moved from the customization menu to the display settings.

OxygenOS 11 has a new OnePlus Sans font for better readability

Continuing the theme of readability, OnePlus introduces a new OnePlus Sans font with wider spacing and clean typeface. You can switch to the font while setting up the phone or via the customization menu in the settings.

Zen mode further improves on OxygenOS 11

Zen Mode is one of the best new features that OnePlus introduced in recent years, and in OxygenOS 11 you get three new themes, inspired by the cosmos, oceans and nature, and more customization options. You can now choose seven increments for Zen mode, ranging from 1 minute, 20, 30, 40, 60, 90 to 120 minutes, and the feature is now collaborative too.

There is the option to set up rooms within Zen Mode, and you can invite your friends to participate in Zen Mode together, as long as they also use OnePlus phones.

OxygenOS 11 offers customizable swipe down gestures

OxygenOS 10 lets you access the notification panel with a nifty swipe-down gesture from anywhere on the home screen, and with OxygenOS 11 you have the option to customize the gesture. You can unfold the notification panel or access the shelf, the function that allows you to access commonly used widgets.

Shelf occupied the leftmost panel in previous versions of OxygenOS, and while you can still customize it to appear there instead of Google’s discovery feed, it’s clear that OnePlus is testing a different way to invoke the feature in OxygenOS 11.

The gallery in OxygenOS 11 serves automatic highlight reels

The default Gallery app in OxygenOS 11 will create short highlight videos based on your photos, and while the feature itself isn’t new, it’s good to see OnePlus offer it on their phones. It takes a few days for the gallery to collect photos for a video, and it does so while the phone is charging.

Much more to come

This is just a first look at what OxygenOS 11 has to offer, and we’ll likely see more features added to the interface as we get closer to a stable release. If you are using OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, you can download the public beta version right now.

We’ll have a lot more to share about OxygenOS 11 in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, which feature are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.