With the launch of ColorOS 14, Oppo has brought a modern smartphone vision to the Android 14 operating system. Here are the three main areas that the Chinese smartphone maker has focused on with the latest update.
Updated user interface
ColorOS 13, the previous version of the operating system, introduced its watercolor design. It seems to simplify the cluttered UI of previous versions of ColorOS by offering more natural colors. ColorOS 14 advances this design.
If you are a fan of automatic night light on your smartphone, Oppo has extended it to all day. You can configure your phone to adjust the UI spot color so that it changes dynamically based on activity. It's a nice touch that makes the phone more in tune with what's going on. Whether you want a phone that changes depending on your mood is another matter. I stick with the phone with an almost monochromatic UI that stays consistent.
Oppo has added Aqua Dynamics to the mix. It's a weird mix of various pinned elements that can be placed at the edge of the screen (like chat bubbles) and is almost, but not quite, a dynamic iOS island. It's still not widely supported, and I'm interested in coming back to it in a year to see if it will still be a control tab or if it can offer a more unique experience.
Smart Sidebar has a new feature to share information between apps on your device and potentially across all your devices The File Dock is a global clipboard-like area for copying information, whether text, links, or images. Not only can you restore any item up to thirty days into the future, you can sync it across OPPO smartphones and (especially) tablets.
I found it useful. I'm a bit of an information junkie, so having a place to drop information crumbs suits my style. All you have to do is long press on the highlighted information and then drag it to the sidebar. Fast and convenient.
OPPO continues to highlight nature and environment with its permanent animations. Go Green AOD joins ColorOS 13's Homeland series, which calculates your personal carbon footprint by taking into account five different inputs (such as number of steps) and highlighting the impact of changes in your daily habits.
I'm not sure of the overall impact of this information, but it emphasizes personal responsibility.
It's time to use artificial intelligence
Given Google's efforts and public awareness of integrating AI into Android 14, it's no surprise that AI is present in ColorOS 14 as well. Oppo's focus during ColorOS' debut was on the use of "AI in the background": there's no doubt the impact of AI around the world. As new devices launch, so will a layer of applications and experiences.
Oppo's "Trinity Engine" consists of three software tools that optimize your phone's operating environment. You have the oddly titled "ROM Vitalization" program running on your device's memory, applying compression to less frequently used files, photos, and recordings. It also works in apps. Oppo claims over 20GB of storage space has been saved during long-term use of the smartphone... something that can't really be rectified within a few weeks of use.
Activating RAM is second. It examines the user experience when switching between apps, launching apps, and running apps in the background. AI manages memory to provide a seamless experience based on personal preferences. Oppo's claimed smoothness gains are hard to quantify, but the Oppo Find N2 Flip running ColorOS 14 is definitely smoother while navigating between apps.
Finally, you have CPU optimization and you can probably see where to go using the UI to balance CPU power, performance and efficiency, maximizing each area as needed. The biggest advantage would be battery life.
Another AI-based feature, Smart Charging, also helps improve battery life. Charging patterns can be adjusted based on user activity and there is a manual switch to stop charging at 80% to extend battery life.
Security improvements
Oppo has highlighted two security features in its offerings. The first is very similar to the AI Assist feature. Auto Pixelate works with the screenshot system to segment information you don't want to reveal, such as chat avatars and friend names.
Another is additional permissions for apps that can access photos and videos; Now you can set it to "Ask every time".
Last thought
These aren't the only new features in ColorOS. Being based on Android 14 means all the extra features added to the base OS are here.
ColorOS 14 is not immediately available everywhere. The launch begins with Oppo's Find N2 Flip and is expected to continue until April 2024, with production of the phone halted along the way. Since the last ColorOS 14 public beta included the Find X5 series, I expect to see the next series such as Reno 10 Pro Plus, Reno 8 Pro, Oppo A77 and Oppo A57. No doubt it will see the full release of the operating system as soon as possible.
I expect the new device to offer software features that are not part of the operating system version. While the Find N2 Flip is the first phone to get access to ColorOS 14, there is no addition to the Cover Display on locked phones. It is likely that when the next generation of foldable devices is launched, Oppo will take this moment to introduce new applications for the cover screen.
Right now we have a baseline for 2024. Oppo needs to deliver a year's worth of smartphones. These changes move Oppo's operating system away from the Android base to offer a single identity and Oppo's vision for the mobile experience: quick access to information, having a responsive phone all day, and the right to offer applications in place of Reg. the moment
The real test of ColorOS is when it hits devices.
Now read my review of Oppo Find N2 Flip smartphone.
