Despite being late to the game with the introduction of Always On Display, OnePlus now has one of the best implementations on any smartphone UI. First released in OxygenOS 11, Always On Display mode now has tons of depth in terms of customization and styles.
OnePlus has gone even deeper with its Always On Display designs in OxygenOS 12 and 13. If you’ve upgraded your phone to newer versions, here’s what you need to know about everything OnePlus has to offer with the different styles and AOD options.
What is an Always on Display and how do I enable it?
Being able to quickly look at your phone’s screen to see the time or notifications without having to wake it up is a convenience made possible by the Always on display feature. Most major smartphone OEMs provide this functionality, some in more decorative and customizable ways than others.
Since AOD mode only lights up the required pixels, it has less of an impact on battery life than you might expect, assuming your phone has an AMOLED display, of course. Certain Android skins make good use of this feature, and OxygenOS is one that gives you a generous number of styles to play with.
To enable always-on display on your OnePlus phone:
- Open the Settings application and navigate to Wallpapers and style.
- From the grid of different UI elements that you can customize, tap screen always on.
- Finally, tap on the screen always on toggle to activate the function.
This is also where you can customize the AOD style to suit your needs. OxygenOS 13 also brings music playback controls and delivery tracking information, both of which can be enabled under the contextual information eyelash.
Other general options you can modify include a time range to schedule the always-on display, selecting what information is displayed, and whether or not new notifications appear on the AOD.
How to customize the always-on display
There are seven unique types of Always On Display styles and a total of 11 you can choose from. Each of these styles has a certain degree of customization, so make sure you spend a little time getting things right.
1. ODA Traditional Clock
Sometimes simplicity is all you need to get a point across, which is exactly what the default AOD styles in OxygenOS do. With big, bold text for a digital watch or thick, well-defined hands for analog watch options, this Always On Display style always looks classy. There is a nice selection of styles that use discreet fonts and layout designs that you can choose from.
2. Bitmoji ODA
Introduced with the release of OxygenOS 11, Bitmoji AOD has to be one of the more unique approaches to this fairly industry-defined standard of static weather and notification elements. If you take pride in customizing your Bitmoji avatar on Snapchat and styling it with fancy threads, OxygenOS lets you put it front and center on your phone screen.
You’ll need to link your Bitmoji account in the Always On Top options for this to work and any changes made to your avatar should immediately be reflected in your AOD. What makes this feature even more distinctive is the adaptive nature of its Bitmoji.
You will see more than a dozen different stickers of your avatar doing various activities. Try playing music on your phone and watch your Bitmoji avatar vibrate the next time you lock your device!
3. ODA canvas
Canvas AOD was also something OnePlus included in the initial release of its Always On Display functionality in OxygenOS. The feature has since been updated to support even more styles and better edge detection.
Canvas AOD works especially well with human subjects, such as portraits or selfies in good lighting. Once applied, you can choose from a handful of contour and color options. This will automatically set the original, unedited image as your normal wallpaper, making the transition look even smoother.
4. Custom patterns
This is easily the most playful of the bunch. You can choose from a handful of shapes, brush styles, and colors to draw your own pattern. The best part: it animates exactly the way you draw as you create it.
The patterns are generated symmetrically, and you don’t need to be particularly good at art to make something that looks good on your always-on screen. There are two other similar AOD styles that allow you to write anything with a background image of your choice and let it display while your phone is idle.
5. ODA insight
Fusing the growing need for digital wellbeing tools like the new focus mode in Android into useful UI elements, Insight AOD is another always-on display style you can apply to your OnePlus phone. The display style comprises a vertical bar that changes color and adds spaces that reflect your screen time habits throughout the day.
You’ll also find a handy unlock counter below the time bar that can help you keep your phone addiction in check. Insight AOD is an extremely well thought out and beautifully designed ambient display alternative.
6. Omoji ODA
Omoji is an internal Animoji scam from OnePlus, which allows users to create an avatar that looks like them. You can create an Omoji in OxygenOS 13 using the long list of customizable styles and set it as your phone’s always-on display.
The applied Omoji can play one of three preset short animations every time your phone wakes up on its always-on screen. This, along with the custom patterns and Canvas AOD, is a distinctive look only found on OnePlus and Oppo phones.
7. Start ODA
Home AOD brings a scenic view of nature and an ambient social message to your phone’s ambient screen. If you’re on OxygenOS 13, you can select a ferocious polar bear, adorable penguin, or curious fish to be your new companion while your phone is locked.
Explore everything OxygenOS 13 has to offer
OnePlus has managed to strike a great balance between functionality and design with its recent developments in Always On Top features. With such a wide range of AOD styles, including traditional watch faces and more artistic alternatives, there’s something in store for everyone.
This isn’t the only area of ​​improvement OnePlus devices have seen in the recent past. If you’ve received the OxygenOS 13 update on your phone, there’s a lot more to discover and enjoy with the revamped interface.