OnePlus Doubles Down on AI: New Phones, Features, and the Controversial Plus Key
OnePlus is diving headfirst into the world of AI, following the trend set by other smartphone manufacturers. While the brand is introducing a suite of AI features across its devices, it's also making a controversial move by replacing its iconic Alert Slider with a new button called the Plus Key.
This dedication to AI isn't just skin deep. OnePlus is integrating AI into various aspects of the user experience, from translation and photography to screen capture and information management. Let's explore what OnePlus has in store.
AI-Powered Features
OnePlus's AI offerings cover several established use cases. Two features, AI VoiceScribe and AI Call Assistant, will record and summarize calls in messaging and video chat apps or directly from phone calls, echoing features found on Google's Pixel phones. However, these features are initially exclusive to India.
Globally, users will have access to AI Translation, a unified app for text, voice, camera, and screen translation, similar to Google Translate. AI Search will allow users to find content using natural language queries, creating a conversational search experience like Motorola's Ask and Search feature.
Photography also gets an AI boost. AI Reframe analyzes the viewfinder and suggests framing options, while AI Best Face 2.0 corrects closed eyes and suboptimal expressions in group photos (up to 20 people), even pulling information from photos taken on different devices.
The Plus Key and AI Plus Mind
The most significant hardware change is the introduction of the Plus Key, a customizable physical button replacing the Alert Slider. This button can launch the camera, initiate translations, start recordings, and most importantly, trigger AI Plus Mind.
AI Plus Mind captures and saves important on-screen information, such as schedules, event details, and reservations, to a dedicated Mind Space. Users can then search for information using natural language queries. AI Plus Mind initially debuts on the OnePlus 13S in Asia and will roll out to other OnePlus 13 series devices and future OnePlus phones. The company is planning to further improve AI Plus Mind later this year by automatically categorizing saved information, enhancing organization.
US Availability
While the new OnePlus 13 is exclusive to India, US users will still get access to these AI features as part of a later update. Both the Plus Key and AI Plus Mind bear a notable resemblance to Nothing's Essential Key and Essential Space app.
What does this mean for OnePlus? The shift toward AI reflects the broader industry trend of integrating artificial intelligence into smartphones. But the removal of the Alert Slider, a beloved feature among OnePlus fans, is a risky move. Will the AI features and the Plus Key be enough to compensate for this change?
Share your thoughts! What do you think about OnePlus's AI push and the replacement of the Alert Slider with the Plus Key? Let us know in the comments below.
