OnePlus Previews OxygenOS 16 With Deep Gemini AI Integration

OnePlus has officially pulled back the curtain on its upcoming version of Android 16, dubbed OxygenOS 16. Set to debut on the OnePlus 15, this new operating system is blending Android's latest customization features with a suite of AI enhancements and smoother animations, taking some clear inspiration from competitors like Nothing OS.

Smarter AI with Gemini and Mind Space

The standout feature of OxygenOS 16 is its deep integration of Google Gemini with the OnePlus "Mind Space" application. Mind Space, which was introduced earlier this year alongside the new Plus Key on select OnePlus 13 models, functions as a smart scrapbook. Similar to Nothing's Essential Space, it captures and organizes screenshots and voice memos for later reference.

With OxygenOS 16, users can now prompt Gemini to access content stored within Mind Space. This allows the AI to provide more personalized and context-aware responses, leveraging your saved notes and images to deliver more helpful results.

New features being introduced with OxygenOS 16. (Image: OnePlus)

Creative AI Tools for Writing and Photography

Beyond the Gemini integration, OnePlus is embedding more generative AI tools throughout the system. A new AI Writer can instantly convert blocks of text into organized mind maps or tables and even suggest social media captions for your photos. Standard AI writing tools for proofreading and summarizing text are also included.

For photography, OxygenOS 16 introduces two key features. AI Portrait Glow is designed to enhance faces in photos taken in poor lighting, ensuring subjects are always visible. Meanwhile, AI Perfect Shot works much like Google's Best Take feature, combining multiple shots into one perfect image where everyone's eyes are open and smiling.

Enhanced Customization and Smoother Performance

OxygenOS 16 brings a host of new customization options. Users will be able to personalize their lock screens with a wider variety of fonts and layouts. You can even turn a static photo into an animated GIF for your lock screen or use a video instead. The home screen also gets an update with new widgets and the ability to scale app icons, another feature also found in Nothing OS.

Performance is also getting a boost thanks to what OnePlus calls Parallel Processing 2.0. This technology allows new animations to start before the previous ones have finished, which should make navigating the OS and switching between apps feel significantly more fluid and responsive.

Availability and Rollout Schedule

These highlights are just part of the full OxygenOS 16 package, which will also include an expanded multitasking system for tablets and new options for mirroring your phone's screen to a macOS or Windows computer.

OxygenOS 16 will launch with the OnePlus 15, which is expected to be released this fall. The update will then roll out to other recent devices, including the OnePlus 13, OnePlus Pad 3, and OnePlus Open, beginning in November 2025. A complete list of compatible devices is available on the official OnePlus community site.