OnePlus has officially announced the OnePlus 3 earlier this morning and alongside the new design and brand-new hardware specifications, the phone comes with plenty of new improvements and unique features. OnePlus has switched a couple of things up this year, like the handset’s overall design, as it now features a metal unibody design instead of the open back design that was used on last year’s OnePlus 2. There are also some similarities, as OnePlus has brought back the alert slider key that was introduced on the OnePlus 2, allowing users to switch back and forth between Android’s notification profiles that include All, Priority, and None. This slider makes for a fast and simple process when you want to set your notifications to priority only, or when you’re ready to open up to all notifications again.
In addition to the alert slider, the OnePlus 3 also features a fingerprint scanner on the front of the device that can be used to unlock the screen and add an extra layer of security to the phone for the user. Although the OnePlus 2 added a fingerprint sensor last year, the OnePlus 3 also features NFC this year which means the device is also capable of making mobile payments, which means the fingerprint sensor won’t be just for unlocking the phone, something which many users are sure to appreciate.
While the fingerprint sensor and the alert slider as well as the NFC radio are a few special features worth mentioning, they’re also all hardware based, and a huge part of the experience on the OnePlus 3 is the software. Special features on the software side of things mostly center around the OxygenOS, OnePlus’ unique blend of Android and what they call a bloat-free user experience that is light, fast, and stylish. OxygenOS has plenty to offer and brings in a widely customizable experience. First things first, though, the OnePlus 3 comes running the latest version of the unique software which is based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Of course, all the Marshmallow-specific features are there, like Doze Mode, App standby, granular permissions control, and Now on Tap, but there are also additional features that are part of OxygenOS like adaptive brightness, accent color customization, Night Mode, home screen and screen-off gestures controls, and more. You can also customize the status bar and notification icons and rearrange them if you want your device personalized from top to bottom. OxygenOS even lets you customize the Google Search bar on the home screen or remove it if you would rather not have it there at all. Other special features that users will notice on the device are things like RAW image support for the camera, as well as a decent set of manual controls for really getting the best out of your pictures from the phone. Overall, if you want a new and fresh experience in a device along with some unique capabilities and features, the OnePlus 3 just might be the solution you’re looking for.