This software, which was developed by the Asian brand, can be found in certain models of the brand. That is, we are facing a mobile operating system that has been derived from Android. In short, OxygenOS is an alternative version of Google’s software system, but it is based on it.
And how they have been happening over the years, this software itself has had different firmware updates with the simple objective of continuing to implement more news to your smartphones and other devices. In addition, this has a parallel development to that carried out by Android, so it is not necessary that each version of this layer is updated accordingly to the base of the Google operating system. For this reason, we will explain to you when it arose, if it is available in all OnePlus terminals and what its future could be like.
The beginnings of OxygenOS
Before getting fully into the history of OxygenOS , we have to give way to the divorce between Cyanogen, the company that was behind the famous Android ROM CyanogenMod, and OnePlus. After ending its relationship with this company in 2014, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer decided to embark on the adventure of developing its own layer, something that several mobile phone companies were beginning to do.
And although the mobile firm had the intention of being a brand with great added value, since it had CyanogenMod, everything changed for one fact: the exclusive sale of the rights of Cyanogen to a manufacturer in India. With this, the relations between both parties were finally broken, and the mobile firm made the decision to create OxygenOS . In addition, in order to ensure the quality of OxygenOS, they decided to hire the main developers of Paranoid Android, another ROM of Google’s operating system.
Therefore, we are facing an alternative mobile software based on Android, which was developed by the Chinese phone manufacturer exclusively for its mobile devices. However, we cannot forget that there is another version of the operating system designed specifically for the market of other devices, we refer to HydrogenOS .
The first version of this software from the Asian brand was finally released on September 2, 2015 and was based on Android 5 Lollipop. However, during an interview published on September 3, 2016, it was revealed that the smartphone brand was already working on the fusion between the two layers so that only one operating system was finally left for all its devices.
Does OnePlus use this system for all its mobiles?
The firm’s first device was launched in 2014, in addition to being considered a true flagship killer . More than anything, because it had features that could with a large part of the top mobile phones of the moment and the best of all is that it had a simply ridiculous price when compared to the rest of the phones, since it cost around 270 euros.
Another aspect that drew attention to this mobile is that it had CyanogenMOD 11S, a modification of Android 4.4.2 KitKat that fit like a glove. However, it was the first and the last to have this ROM, as the OnePlus 2 was already accompanied by this operating system.
In addition, the brand did not know how to offer adequate support for this terminal and the price began to increase, since it cost about 340 euros in its most basic version, and about 400 in its 64 GB version. For this reason, within the manufacturer’s own catalog you can find different smartphones that not only have this customization layer as standard. Over time it has accumulated different versions, Chinese and international, from the first Caynogen to the Chinese HydrogenOS or the international OxygenOS .
And although a member of the company itself assured in 2016 that these two layers would already be fused, as we told you before, the reality is that it has not been fulfilled. In March 2021, it was confirmed that the operating system inside a OnePlus mobile would continue to depend on its region . A fact that was reflected after the union of OPPO with this Asian brand, so that the global mobiles of this terminal company will continue to have OxygenOS, but the mobiles launched in China will do so with ColorOS, the OPPO layer.
The exclusivities of the software
The Asian firm’s software is the favorite of many users, since it does not add too many aspects to the stock version of Android. However, each new version that is implemented has more tools and possibilities to personalize your smartphones. Something that allows access to different functionalities that other firms do not have, at least for now. Since with the passage of time it has been observed how in this market all brands share practically all the functions and characteristics in their own software.
One of the functionalities that can be found in the terminals of the Chinese company is the secret menu also known as Shelf . The Chinese brand hides a panel of quick shortcuts in its launcher. To be able to open Shelf on your mobile you will have to slide your finger to the right on the home screen or slide your finger from the middle of the screen down. In the event that these movements do not appear to us, you must configure it from the home screen settings . To do this, press an empty space on your terminal screen and, in the options that appear in the bottom bar, select the gear icon as shown in this image. Then, it will be as simple as activating the switch that will appear.
Another of the exclusivities that can be found in the software of this mobile brand is the blocking of applications , that is, we can block one application or several without having to resort to a third-party app. With this we will establish that, if we want to open a certain application, we will have to confirm a fingerprint or enter a password. Even with the arrival of OxygenOS 11, the mobile devices of this brand have begun to have the outstanding Canvas mode, which allows us to convert any background into one for the Always on Display mode of the terminal.
And they are not the only functionalities that can only be found in the terminals of this brand. We will also find an exclusive and very simple to use tool, Switch , which will help us both to make backup copies and to move from one phone to another without losing our data. We will even be able to maintain all the aesthetic configuration that we had applied in the previous device.
The future of OxygenOS
The future of the Asian firm’s software layer is more uncertain than ever. Although they do not have the top mobile phones today, they do manage to highlight their phones for their excellent software. In addition, the brand has been recognized for the great optimization of its personalization layer. Although, in 2021 it has been possible to see how we could be closer than ever to his final goodbye.
This layer of personalization is one of the reasons to choose a brand phone over one of its competitors. Likewise, the company is preparing for the launch of OxygenOS 12, obviously based on Android 12. However, the fear of many users seems to increase greatly when seeing what is happening in China. We refer to the fact that the replacement of your system by ColorOS ends up being replicated around the world.
The latest in mobiles that have been launched in China have been the OnePlus 9 series models and they have been marketed under the arm of the Android-based OPPO ColorOS layer, instead of running its own HydrogenOS, which is the Chinese version of OxygenOS. So, the doubt about what will happen in the coming months and years with the software that was created in 2015 by OnePlus does not stop growing.
However, everything leads to it will continue with us, or at least until the brand changes its mind. Therefore, the users of this Asian company will continue to enjoy this layer in their terminals. Also, the company has confirmed that they will currently run this software and not ColorOS.
But, this does not mean that it is not possible that, in the future, smartphones that work with this software will increasingly look more like OPPO mobiles, by imitating the design and functionality of their software layer. . In addition, with the merger between these two companies, OnePlus will become a sub-brand of OPPO just like Redmi and Xiaomi.
