OxygenOS 16 Update: Eligible Phones, Features, and Full Rollout Timeline

OnePlus has announced the details about the OxygenOS 16, which is the latest Android skin from the company that is based on Android 16. The update includes numerous visual changes, offers new options for customization, and adopts a new Material 3 Expressive design that is expressive and fresh.

The users will also be able to get a systematic update with the new user interface that is installed alongside the features most changes.

The update has divided the design philosophy into two segments: “Breathe With You” that is focused on visual refinement and “Thrive With Free Expression” that is focused on expanding the personalization. A more dynamic and fluid interface is what users will see, with a special focus on the customizability of the home screen, application drawer, and the lock screen.

Beginning November 2025, OxygenOS 16 will gradually be rolled out. OnePlus has revealed that the update will be delivered in stages, starting with newer models such as OnePlus 13. Thus, users with older devices might get it later on in the release cycle.

OxygenOS 16 is bringing about iOS 26-like “Liquid Glass” effect with a more significant use of Gaussian blur, which covers the elements like the home screen search bar, app drawer, recent apps panel, and the Photos app. The translucent layers now give the interface a much softer and layered look.

There is a significant transformation in the Quick Settings panel. OnePlus has moved the clock, edit, and menu buttons, and at the same time allowing users to rearrange, remove, or resize tiles according to their workflow. For example, in the case of the flashlight, depending on where the tap is, more options are provided.Home Screen and App Drawer Enhancements

The layout of the home screen is now more adaptive, permitting a 5×7 grid and also allowing for the resizing of widgets and the expansion of app icons. The app drawer now has a “Categories” tab that groups apps automatically and makes accessing them easier. Additionally, a uniform aesthetic is achieved as system-wide icon themes now apply to the home screen, app drawer, recents, and Settings.

Flux Themes 2.0 provides a great deal of freedom for customizing the lock screen. It is possible for users to move the clock, insert or change the size of the text, and even choose a live photo or video for wallpaper. Users can also create mini widgets like those in iOS for fast information retrieval.

OxygenOS 16 greatly enhances the Live Alerts feature, showcasing the dynamic updates around the selfie camera for the supported third-party apps, and utilizing Android 16’s Live Updates API. AI functions are gathered under a new section called OnePlus AI. The most notable ones are the AI Writer assisting in drafting emails, captions, and mind maps, as well as the real-time transcription, summarization, and noise reduction in the Recorder app.

Mind Space which is the note and content management feature has now gotten its integration with Google Gemini. Users can perform queries over the saved notes, screenshots, and articles in a more effective way but the feature is still not available in the beta version.

OnePlus has claimed OxygenOS 16 to be a big change in terms of combining interface updates, personalization opportunities, and AI-powered tools for making the use of a smartphone more effortless and sophisticated at the same time.