As Android software goes, few are as far from the look of stockAndroidas OnePlus' OxygenOS. And with theAndroid 14-powered version for this year, there’s plenty to discover under the surface. It’s loaded on theOnePlus 12andOnePlus 12Rout of the box, and – if you’re happy to go digging a little – you may just find some gems.
Watch the video above or read on below to dive into some of my favorite features of the OnePlus 12 and OxygenOS 14.
OnePlus 12
The current flagship smartphone from OnePlus, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a triple camera array, and a 5,400 mAH battery pack.
1Floating app window
Multitasking unlocked
You can turn any supported app into a floating window byswiping upand holding,while it’s in full-screen mode. It loads as a mini window, but you canenlarge it by just tapping it, thenresize it by dragging the corners. Or you can move it around the screen by dragging the top bar. TapXto close it, or the arrows in the corner to turn it back to full screen.
The other way to launch it is to go to yourrecent apps view, thentap the dotsin the corner of the app you want, then tap the floatingwindowin the drop-down menu.
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2Organize your apps in large folders
See all your apps
Enlarged folders on your Home Screen let you see more apps within a folder but also – crucially – let you launch the apps without having to expand the folder. Just tap on the app icon you want to launch, and you’re there. To create an enlarged folder, justdrag and drop appson top of each other to create a folder as normal, thentap and hold that folder, and chooseEnlarge Folder.
3Use one-handed mode
Put everything within reach
There’s a one-handed mode that lets you swipe down near the bottom edge of the display to bring down the hard-to-reach parts at the top. Just go toSettings>Additional Settings>One-handed modeandtoggle it on.
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4One-handed app launching
A handy trick
There’s another one-handed feature that’s really useful, and lets you drag your thumb up from the bottom left or right side of the screen while on the Home Screen, and then shrink down the app icons, bringing them closer to your thumb, so you don’t have to reach for them. To enable it, open your Home Screen settings bytapping and holding the wallpaperand then tappingMore. Now selectIcon Pull-Down Gestureandtoggle it on.
5Bring back the power button
So long, Google Assistant
If you press and hold the power button on the OnePlus 12, it launches a voice assistant – Google Assistant, by default. To make it a power button again, head toSettings>Additional Settings>Power Buttonand then choosePress and Hold the Power Button. On the next screen,selectPower menu.
6Block Mic and Camera access
Privacy first
You can quickly and easily block all access to your phone cameras and mics, protecting your privacy, whenever you want to. All you need to do is add the relevant quick settings tiles to your drop-down sheet.
Swipe down from the top of your screenuntil you see your quick settings toggles.Tap the three dotsin the corner and chooseEdit Tilesin the menu. You’ll seeCamera AccessandMic Accessright next to each other. Now justtap the green + signnext to those to add them to the sheet. Now, when you swipe down to your quick settings, it’ll have those tiles available.
7Use the OnePlus 12 as a TV remote
Change channels, control the volume
This year, the OnePlus 12 has a built-in IR blaster for use as a remote control, and you can program it to control a number of different products. To use it, firstpull down the quick settingsshade thentap the three dotsin the corner and chooseedit tiles. Nowfind the IR remotetoggle in the available controls, andadd it to your quick settings tiles.
Now,drop down the quick settings againand tap on theIR remote. On the first screen you’ll see a floating ‘+’ button in the corner; tap the + and you’re able to program it for your first device. Go through the set-up, and – presuming everything worked – you’ll now have a TV remote on your phone. You can also add streaming devices, audio equipment, even fans.
8Adopt accent colors from the wallpaper
Personalization is fun
If you head toSettings>Wallpapers & Style– you’ll find an option labeledColorsunderUser Interface. This determines the accent colors that appear on your user interface and stock apps. To get it to match your wallpaper, chooseWallpaperon the next screen andCustom.
Now you’ll see a little thumbnail of your Home Screen wallpaper, you’ll also see four dots showing which colors it’s picked automatically. To change them, you may move those dots anywhere within the thumbnail to choose different color accents.
9Use completely round icons
Change things up
OxygenOS is one of the best preinstalled Android launchers for Home Screen optimization, and it includes fine-tuned customization of app icons. If youlong-press your wallpaperandtap Icons, you’ll see a few different options. If you download and install custom packs, they appear here too. However, if you want a completely round icon, you want to choosecustom– then choose the first icon shape – which looks like a square with rounded corners. You’ll see aslider that says ‘Roundness’– slide this all the way across to the end and the icons become circles.
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10Sort apps by usage
Better organization
When you’re looking for an app that you use a lot in the app drawer, and it has a letter towards the end of the alphabet, by default, that means lots of scrolling. However, if you want to better organize your app drawer based on the apps you use the most, you’re able to.Open the app drawer, thentap manage,thensortand choose theby usageoption. This then sorts the apps in order of how often you open them, putting your most frequently used apps at the top of the drawer.
