OnePlus’ iconic Alert Slider is going away
Rushil Agrawal / Android Authority
TL;DR
- OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed that the long-lasting Alert Slider can be faraway from future telephones.
- It will likely be changed by a customizable button. Customers would nonetheless be capable to swap sound profiles with out waking up the gadget, however they’d additionally be capable to do far more.
- Apple launched an alert slider on the unique iPhone in 2007 and changed it with a customizable button on the iPhone 15 collection in 2023.
OnePlus makes some great Android flagships, and it’s one of many few Android OEMs round that has gently advanced its design language over the generations relatively than threat stagnating it. Regardless of this evolution, virtually all OnePlus flagships have retained the relatively iconic Alert Slider, though most different mainstream Android telephones don’t supply one. That is about to alter, as the corporate has now confirmed that the Alert Slider goes away.
OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a forum post that the Alert Slider will quickly get replaced by a customizable button on future units. Pete doesn’t reveal a lot info, however we presume this implies OnePlus units and presumably extends to OPPO units.
The first purpose for eliminating the Alert Slider seems to be its limitations as a {hardware} swap that might solely swap sound profiles primarily based on its bodily place. Customers apparently have been asking for higher customizability, however a sliding swap has limitations on what it may be configured for intuitively.
In consequence, OnePlus is choosing a “new sensible button” for its future units. This can nonetheless be capable to swap sound profiles with out waking up the gadget, and customers will even be capable to customise it to do extra. Pete doesn’t share extra on what it might do, however leaks have steered that customers will be capable to toggle the flashlight, take a screenshot, seize a photograph, get assist with a translation, and even shortly launch apps.
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
If all of this sounds acquainted to what Apple is doing with the Motion button on newer iPhones, you wouldn’t be unsuitable. In spite of everything, the long-lasting Alert Slider was additionally impressed by the unique iPhone’s alert slider. Apple has already moved on to a customizable button on the iPhone 15 collection in 2023, so OnePlus is a number of years behind the curve in taking its inspiration. You may safely blame Apple for OnePlus’ completely unique concept of including an alert slider to its smartphones after which changing it with a customizable button.
