People have long debated iOS versus Android, but they often overlook that Android encompasses a wide range of UIs, each giving smartphones a distinct identity. Among them is ColorOS, now shipped on smartphones from Realme and OnePlus, besides those from OPPO.
To keep its UI feeling fresh, the Shenzhen-based tech giant unveiled ColorOS 17 globally earlier this week. With this new version, OPPO aims to make its smartphones, including Realme and OnePlus devices, feel faster than ever and more elegant to interact with.
Here’s everything you need to know about the improvements and features ColorOS 17 will bring to compatible devices, and when you can expect to receive it.
ColorOS 17 brings more motion to the UI without major customisation changes
With ColorOS 17, OPPO will bring an all-new Living Flow Design mechanism across its smartphone range. It is designed to enhance the UI’s glass-inspired, translucent look while adding a refined dynamic lighting effect to hold users’ attention.
With this mechanism, OPPO emphasises that it has also optimised every element to include some movement when moving from one page or section to another. It also adds bouncy, stretchy animations when users interact with certain elements. You will soon see them in native apps, including the lock screen clock, quick settings panel, navigation bars, and other key areas.
Although the Shenzhen-based tech giant hasn’t introduced significant customisation options with ColorOS 17, the ones it has added let users make their smartphones feel more personal.
For starters, the brand brings a handful of new lock screen clock styles and weather effects that, as the name suggests, simulate atmospheric conditions, including sunny, rainy, and foggy conditions, on the lock screen. It also introduces a new theme called ‘Esports mode’, which changes the overall aesthetic of the game manager UI.
Having said that, the number of new customisation options announced for the home screen is relatively limited. To clarify, every folder, clock, and icon now has light and transparency effects.
ColorOS 17 aims to maintain smooth performance as storage fills up
Beyond the visual changes, OPPO says it has also focused on improving memory utilisation to make its smartphones feel faster to use. It does so by bringing a new Luminous Rendering Engine, configured to use less RAM and improve animation performance. As a result, users can expect better efficiency. OPPO claims its new tuning will help the system retain 90% of its initial smoothness, even with storage at 90% capacity.
Mind Pilot lets users tap multiple AI assistants from one place
While ColorOS 17 should make OPPO, Realme, and OnePlus smartphones feel faster, users will likely see the biggest improvements in AI. Leading this significant enhancement will be the new Mind Pilot, a dedicated app that combines ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity into a single system. Through this app, the UI performs tasks and actions based on the user’s prompt. It can also access locally stored files and photos and sort, organise, or combine them.
ColorOS 17 rollout schedule for OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme
Here’s when OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme smartphone owners can expect to receive ColorOS 17 update:
