OxygenOS
OxygenOS 16.1 vs One UI 9: Why OnePlus Is Setting a New Standard for Android in 2026

OxygenOS 16.1 has emerged as one of the biggest software upgrades released by OnePlus in recent years. While Samsung recently introduced One UI 9 based on Android 17, a closer comparison shows that OnePlus has made significant improvements in animations, customization, lock screen functionality, and overall user experience.
OxygenOS 16.1 Delivers Smoother Animations
One of the most noticeable differences between the two operating systems is animation quality. OxygenOS 16.1 offers smoother app opening and closing animations, fluid folder transitions, refined widget interactions, and seamless scrolling throughout the interface.
Samsung has improved animations in One UI 9, but OxygenOS still feels faster and more polished during everyday use. Whether users are switching apps or interacting with the control center, the overall experience feels more responsive on OnePlus devices.
Enhanced Lock Screen and Live Activities
OnePlus has significantly upgraded its lock screen experience with OxygenOS 16.1. The new Live Activities system provides real-time information directly on the lock screen and Always-On Display.
Users can view timers, navigation details, music controls, and other ongoing activities without constantly unlocking the device. The implementation feels more interactive and useful compared to Samsung’s Now Bar, especially when viewing information in full-screen mode.
Better Home Screen Customization
Customization remains one of OxygenOS 16.1’s strongest areas. Users can resize app icons, create quick shortcuts, organize applications by category, and even arrange apps based on color using AI-powered tools.
The new layout management feature allows users to save and restore home screen setups instantly. Samsung offers customization options as well, but OnePlus currently provides greater flexibility and smarter organization tools.
Refined Control Center Design
Samsung deserves credit for offering extensive Quick Settings customization. However, OxygenOS 16.1 introduces visual improvements that enhance the overall experience.
The Contour Glow effect, improved transparency, stronger blur effects, and fluid pull-down animations create a premium interface. These subtle enhancements contribute to a modern design language that many users may prefer over Samsung’s approach.
AI Features: Samsung Leads, But OnePlus Is Catching Up
Samsung still holds an advantage in AI-powered features such as AI writing assistance, image editing, summaries, and on-device processing.
However, OnePlus has introduced several practical AI tools, including AI Translate, Mind Space, and an upgraded Document Scanner. The AI Translate feature is especially useful for travelers, allowing real-time translation of menus and text, even offline.
Final Verdict
While Samsung’s One UI 9 introduces useful improvements and maintains a strong lead in AI capabilities, OxygenOS 16.1 delivers a more complete day-to-day experience. From smoother animations and superior lock screen functionality to deeper customization and thoughtful usability enhancements, OnePlus has successfully raised the bar for Android software in 2026.
For users who prioritize performance, fluidity, and personalization, OxygenOS 16.1 currently stands out as one of the best Android interfaces available today.
Also Read: ColorOS 17 Leak Reveals Stunning Glass-Inspired Design and Dynamic Light Effects
OxygenOS
OnePlus Stock Dialer Gets an Amazing Upgrade With New Depth Effect Feature

The OnePlus Stock Dialer is finally receiving one of the most requested upgrades through the latest OxygenOS July OTA update. While the official changelog only mentions improvements to the Contacts app, the update introduces a refreshed calling experience with a new Depth Effect for contact photos. It also hints at more features that could arrive in future updates. The information is based on the latest OxygenOS update testing and feature walkthrough.
OnePlus Introduces Depth Effect in Calling Screen
The highlight of the latest update is the new Depth Effect in the Stock Dialer. When users assign a compatible profile picture to a contact, the caller’s image is intelligently separated into foreground and background layers. During incoming and outgoing calls, the contact name appears behind the subject, creating a premium-looking interface.
Users can enable or disable the effect by editing a contact’s profile picture and selecting the Depth Effect option. The feature also allows zooming and repositioning the image while maintaining the layered animation.
Performance and Battery After the Update
The July OTA update is approximately 462MB in size and was tested extensively. Benchmark results show a slight drop in Geekbench and AnTuTu scores compared to the previous build. A CPU throttling test even resulted in an unexpected system crash during testing, although it could not be consistently reproduced.
Gaming performance, however, remains impressive. During BGMI gameplay, the device maintained stable frame rates with low temperatures and minimal frame drops, offering a smooth gaming experience. Battery life also remains strong, with nearly eight hours of screen-on time during heavy testing and up to 9–10 hours under normal usage.
More Features Could Be Coming Soon
Although OxygenOS currently includes only the new calling interface, several features already available on ColorOS have not yet reached OnePlus devices. These include:
- Scam protection inside Phone Manager
- Improved AI Writer functionality
- Remote PC locking through Device Connect
These additions could be introduced in upcoming OxygenOS updates, although OnePlus has not officially confirmed their rollout timeline.
Important Limitation
The new calling interface is available only on OnePlus smartphones that use the OnePlus Stock Dialer. Devices that rely on the Google Phone app will not receive the new Depth Effect feature, making this update exclusive to supported models.
Final Thoughts
The latest OxygenOS update may look minor on paper, but it brings a meaningful visual improvement to the OnePlus calling experience. While performance changes appear minimal and battery life remains solid, the new Depth Effect gives the Stock Dialer a more modern appearance. With additional ColorOS features expected in future updates, OnePlus users have more improvements to look forward to.
Also Read: OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Brings AI Features, Audio Sharing and Useful Upgrades for OnePlus Users
OnePlus
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Brings AI Features, Audio Sharing and Useful Upgrades for OnePlus Users

OxygenOS 16.1 June Update is rolling out to eligible OnePlus smartphones with several practical features that improve the overall user experience. Instead of introducing major visual changes, this update focuses on AI-powered tools, better connectivity, gaming enhancements, improved privacy, and system optimization.
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Introduces AI Sports Widget
One of the biggest additions in the June update is the new AI-powered Sports Widget. Users can enable it from the OnePlus AI settings and place it on the home screen. The widget displays live football scores, upcoming fixtures, tournament standings, and match results without opening a separate sports application.
This feature is especially useful for sports fans who want real-time updates directly on their home screen.
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Brings Layer 2 Audio Sharing
The update also introduces Layer 2 Audio Sharing, allowing two wireless earbuds to connect to a single OnePlus smartphone simultaneously. Users can stream music or videos together while independently controlling the volume for each connected earbud.
This feature makes sharing entertainment much more convenient without requiring additional accessories.
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Improves Outdoor Mode
Outdoor Mode has also received a useful improvement. Users can now customize the dock by adding their preferred applications, including communication, navigation, entertainment, and utility apps. This makes switching between essential apps much faster while using the phone outdoors.
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Enhances Gaming Experience
Gamers will notice a welcome addition inside Game Space. The Game Capture feature now supports 2K resolution screenshots, allowing players to capture sharper in-game moments compared to the previous standard resolution.
Although it’s a small feature, it benefits users who frequently share gaming content on social media.
Weather and App Drawer Improvements
The Weather application now displays additional information such as moonrise, moonset, and moon phases. While minor, it adds more detailed weather insights.
Meanwhile, the App Drawer has been improved with properly working Suggested Apps, making frequently used applications easier to access.
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Adds Better Privacy Protection
Another important addition is an enhanced privacy feature. If a third-party application attempts a potentially risky action, OxygenOS now displays a warning and allows users to revoke sensitive permissions with a single tap. This provides better protection, especially for users who install apps from outside the Play Store.
OxygenOS 16.1 June Update Delivers Performance and Battery Improvements
Besides the visible features, the June update also includes better system optimization. Many users have reported smoother performance, improved battery backup, and noticeable camera enhancements after installing the latest software update. While improvements may vary by device, the overall experience appears more refined than previous builds.
Should You Install the OxygenOS 16.1 June Update?
The OxygenOS 16.1 June Update may not be a massive redesign, but it delivers several practical improvements that enhance daily usability. From AI-powered sports updates and dual audio sharing to gaming, privacy, and performance optimizations, the update offers meaningful additions that OnePlus users are likely to appreciate. Users with eligible devices are recommended to install the latest update to enjoy these new features and system improvements.
Also Read: OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Review: Big Bass, Strong ANC and Excellent Battery Life at Rs 3,299
OxygenOS
OnePlus 12 June Update: OxygenOS 16.1 Brings Better Battery, Camera Improvements and New Features

OnePlus 12 June Update Improves Battery, Camera and Overall Performance
The OnePlus 12 June Update has officially started rolling out with OxygenOS 16.1, bringing several useful improvements for OnePlus 12 series users. The update not only includes the June 2026 Android security patch but also delivers better battery backup, refined camera processing, smoother system performance, and a few new features that enhance the overall user experience.
OnePlus 12 June Update Brings Better Battery Life and Performance
One of the biggest highlights of this update is the noticeable improvement in battery life. Compared to the previous build, users can expect lower overnight battery drain and more consistent screen-on time during daily usage. Even after benchmark testing and heavy workloads, the device manages battery consumption more efficiently.
Performance has also been optimized. While benchmark scores remain almost identical, real-world usage feels smoother with better system stability and improved responsiveness throughout the interface.
OnePlus 12 June Update Improves Camera Performance
The camera experience has received subtle but useful refinements. HDR performance has improved, allowing the camera to preserve details in both bright and dark areas more effectively. Colors now appear more natural without excessive saturation, resulting in balanced photos.
Low-light photography also benefits from the update. Images capture more details while reducing noise, although minor lens flare around bright light sources can still be noticed in certain situations.
New Features Added in OxygenOS 16.1
The June update introduces several new features for OnePlus 12 users:
- Audio Sharing allows two Bluetooth earphones to connect simultaneously.
- The Weather app now displays moonrise, moonset, and lunar phase information.
- Outdoor Mode has been redesigned with customizable pinned apps.
- Game Assistant now supports 2K resolution screenshots.
- The App Drawer includes a new Suggested Apps option.
- Improved security alerts warn users when installing apps from unofficial sources.
These additions make OxygenOS more practical for everyday use while improving convenience and security.
Still a Few Issues Remain
Although the update fixes brightness calibration and improves manual brightness adjustment, a couple of known issues still exist. The High Resolution camera mode continues to display incorrect megapixel values for certain lenses, and the Control Center animation during Dark Mode switching has not yet been resolved.
Final Verdict
The OnePlus 12 June Update is a worthwhile installation for users looking for improved battery life, better camera performance, smoother daily usage, and useful new features. While a few minor bugs remain, the overall experience is noticeably better than the previous software version, making this one of the most polished OxygenOS 16.1 updates for the OnePlus 12 series.
Also Read: OnePlus Backup and Restore: Complete Guide to Backup and Restore Data on Any OnePlus Device







