OxygenOS 16 Unveiled: Fluid Design, AI Upgrades and Cross-Device Sync for OnePlus

There’s something noticeably different the moment you turn on a phone running OxygenOS 16. The interface no longer just shows you icons — it feels alive, almost fluid, as if the display has learned how to breathe. OnePlus calls this new visual language Liquid Glass UI, and it’s the most significant design shift the company has attempted in years.

The familiar sharp corners are now softened by faint reflections and gentle layers of transparency. Pull down the quick settings panel and the motion resembles light sliding across water. The dock can stretch or shrink depending on how you arrange your apps, and if you like keeping things clean, you can remove the media widget altogether. The whole idea is simplicity that doesn’t feel sterile.

Customization has always been part of the OnePlus story, but Flux Themes 2.0 takes it further. The system reads the colors of your wallpaper and automatically adjusts icons to match, so the look never clashes. You can resize folders, rearrange lock-screen elements, or mix dynamic wallpapers with widgets that react to time or weather. It’s subtle, but it makes the phone feel like it’s actually yours.

Artificial intelligence here isn’t about flashy demos. It quietly steps in where it matters: portraits come out with more balanced light; scanned documents look cleaner without extra editing; and the recorder now transcribes speech in real time while removing background noise. The collaboration tools can sketch quick mind maps or suggest short text ideas — small touches that shave seconds off repetitive work.

OxygenOS 16 also builds bridges between devices. A new Unified Device Hub syncs phones, tablets, Windows and macOS computers, smart TVs, and even Android Auto. You can drag files between them, mirror a screen, or share a network connection without fiddling with menus. The real surprise, though, is Apple Watch compatibility. You can check health data, trigger the camera, and manage notifications — proof that the old Android-Apple wall is slowly crumbling.

According to the report from ITHOME, the most awaited update from OnePlus will become available starting November 2025. Here's a small initial list of all compatible devices.

OxygenOS 16 isn’t just another system update; it’s OnePlus trying to make technology feel less mechanical. It’s smoother, a bit more thoughtful, and refreshingly human — exactly what good software should be.