After announcing plans for a new 'unified operating system' back in September, OnePlus has now confirmed that things have changed and it'll keep using OxygenOS on its smartphones for the foreseeable future. OxygenOS has been the custom interface for OnePlus phones since the OnePlus 2. While it had a rocky launch with numerous bugs and missing features, OxygenOS has since evolved to be one of the best Android skins on the market. It's lightweight, ultra-smooth, and packed to the gills with customization options.
That's what made last September's announcement from OnePlus so concerning. On September 20, 2021, OnePlus announced it was working more closely with its sister company Oppo to combine their two operating systems into one platform. Instead of OnePlus phones having OxygenOS and Oppo phones having ColorOS, OnePlus and Oppo smartphones would all run the same 'unified and upgraded global operating system.' The idea was to deliver the best of both OS's across OnePlus and Oppo handsets alike. However, the response from OnePlus fans was overwhelmingly negative.
As it turns out, the feedback was so bad that OnePlus is abandoning those plans and keeping things as they are. During a recent media roundtable, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau announced that — despite the company's previous intentions — "OxygenOS and ColorOS will remain independent brand properties." According to Lau, this decision was made "in accordance with feedback from our community." More specifically, Lau says that OnePlus "understands users of OxygenOS and ColorOS want each operating system to remain separate from each other with their own distinct properties."
Global OnePlus Phones Will Keep Using OxygenOS
OnePlus is still keeping part of its promise for unifying OxygenOS and ColorOS. The two operating systems will continue to share the same 'unified OS codebase.' This should allow for faster software updates and "better build quality." Beyond that, however, OxygenOS will still be OxygenOS and ColorOS will still be ColorOS. For OxygenOS, specifically, OnePlus reassures the operating system will continue to be lightweight and more reminiscent of stock Android than ColorOS is. ColorOS will also keep being the OS of choice for OnePlus phones sold in China, but everywhere else, they'll have OxygenOS.
Alongside that announcement, OnePlus also teased that it's in the early development process for OxygenOS 13 — its build of OxygenOS based on Android 13. While OnePlus isn't showing OxygenOS 13 quite yet, the philosophy behind the update is promising. OnePlus says OxygenOS 13 will "retain its unique visual design," have the usual 'Fast and Smooth' experience, and offer a variety of exclusive customization features.
This is all likely good news for OnePlus fans. While ColorOS works for the Chinese market, there are certain things OxygenOS is just better at — especially for people in North America, Europe, etc. It's unclear if/when OnePlus will change course again and revert to the original plan of a single OS, but at least for the time being, OxygenOS is here to stay.
Source: OnePlus