OPPO launches ColorOS 11 to bring it inline with Android version numbering

Just last week OPPO told us that they were set to launch their Android 11 version update to their operating system, ColorOS. As expected they have just launched their new ColorOS into the world.

Skipping versions 8, 9 and 10 of ColorOS to bring the version number in line with the Android version number it matches the new version is ColorOS 11. OPPO have a new concept for ColorOS 11, a “Make Life Flow” concept that is designed to maintain stock Android features while providing the UI customisation that they are known for.

New levels of UI customisation

With ColorOS 11 OPPO have increased the number of UI customisations possible allowing users to use their imagination to personalise the phone how they want it. Using a blank canvas users can create their own Always-On Display, their theme and their wallpaper while still offering different fonts, icons and ringtones — yes you can make your own ringtones too!

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Dark mode has also been improved with more options available including automatic changing of dark mode and the ability to set either pitch black, dark grey or blue dark based on their preferences.

“ColorOS 11’s focus on UI customisation is rooted in the customer’s desire for a more personalised and unique phone experience.

“The ColorOS team has heeded the user feedback for greater UI customisation, offering a more personalised UI that encompasses a wide range of features. In doing so, we are providing users with ample space to demonstrate their creativity and exercise control over their handsets,” Michael Tran, MD of OPPO Australia

OPPO Relax

Not stopping there OPPO are also including new features to their white noise app, OPPO Relax — now in version 2.0. Now, not only can you choose your sounds from various urban, natural, ASMR or everyday sounds, but you can create your own white noise mix-tape as well.

OPPO Relax 2.0 brings also recorded noises from global cities such as Tokyo, Bangkok, and Reykjavik. It is unclear at this stage whether more cities will be included or whether you can record your own just yet but we suspect this will be in the future if not already.

More efficient

As Google improves Android with each version they build in various improvements in efficiency. OPPO are looking to include all of those and more with a new three-finger Translate powered by Google Lens. A simple three finger swipe will capture the image on the display and the text on it will be automatically translated by Google Lens/Google Translate.

OPPO have also included a new multi-tasking function called Flex Drop which allows the users to watch video and text at the same time. Also included is the Android 11 power menu allowing users to control various smart home devices from any third party manufacturer which supports it.

But wait, there’s more..

OPPO have also included a new version of their lag-reducing engine called UI First 2.0 which prioritises the UI and enhances RAM utilisation, response rate and frame rate. Combined with SuperTouch to optimise touch response speed and AI App Preloading they are promising a much improved system fluency.

Security-wise there are all the new Android 11 features along with the auto-reset of app permissions where if an app has not been used for a while the permissions reset and will need to be re-authorised when the app is used again.

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Nearby Share is Google’s implementation of an Apple Airdrop style functionality. Although OPPO have their own version called OPPO Share in cooperation with other manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Vivo, realme and OnePlus, they are including Google’s feature as well. This will work between any device, no matter the manufacturer, running Android 11.

There are also improvements to the already-impressive OPPO camera software including Video HDR, Super Wide-Angle and Ultra-steady Video Shooting. It will be interesting to put all of these through their paces and will possibly make the OPPO smartphone photography even better.

But when will my OPPO phone see it?

This is the big question everyone wants to know. The good news is that the rollout will cover over 28 models of smartphone including the Find, Rena and the A series of phones. As you can see in the graphic below the rollout starts tonight but given their history of not sticking to timeframes, especially for Australian devices I wouldn’t expect it to arrive in the new few weeks.

Even if OPPO do take a month to start rolling this out to our Australian OPPO phones you can be sure they will be one of, if not the first manufacturers aside from Google to update their smartphones to Android 11. Along with promising “regular” security patches they are promising monthly updates to the Find X2 Pro flagship and every 60-90 days for their other phones.

OPPO have improved a lot in the past few years with their updating of their devices and this launch signifies an even greater commitment to keep their devices up to date. We can’t wait to try out the new ColorOS as it has continued to improve from one version to another and has done so for a while now.