Oppo has announced ColorOS 12, the latest version of its Android-based operating system. The new version of ColorOS will be available for OPPO as well as OnePlus smartphones in the coming months. ColorOS 12 will first be rolled out for Oppo’s Find X3 Pro flagship phones, along with the OnePlus 9 Pro 5G and OnePlus 9 5G.
Image: Oppo
ColorOS 12 Features: Everything you need to know
Oppo has unveiled the features of its latest ColorOS 12, which is based on the latest Android 12 OS. ColorOS is a mobile operating system created by Oppo Electronics based on the Android Open Source Project. Initially, Realme phones used ColorOS until it was replaced by Realme UI in 2020. Starting from the OnePlus 9 series, OnePlus will pre install ColorOS on all smartphones that are sold in mainland China instead of HydrogenOS (Chinese version of OxygenOS).
The company’s new software will soon be released for some of the Oppo and OnePlus smartphones that have been using ColorOS in China. Oppo says that Find X3 Pro Photographer Edition will be the first device to run the Android 12-based ColorOS 12 update. Oppo kept an Early access program for OPPO Find X3 Pro, OnePlus 9, and OnePlus 9 Pro owners in China, a day before the official reveals of ColorOS 12. Those who were able to get into the program will be the first ones able to test the ColorOS 12 beta. The latest operating system from OPPO comes loaded with a host of interesting features like new UI, new Omoji, better privacy controls, and more.
New UI
Image: Oppo
Oppo has introduced several UI changes with ColorOS 12. The company named the design as ‘Borderless Design’. As the name suggests ColorOS no longer uses borders for separation. Each element is placed on a translucent layer, which the firm calls ‘acrylic sheet’. Even the new icons are called ‘acrylic icons’. ColorOS now follows responsive design and the software uses different shades of colors to distinguish between primary and secondary information. The interface is clutter-free with more white space between page layouts and text so that you can focus on the core content. There are over 300 new animations, and there is an increased contrast. ColorOS 12 comes with new widgets called ‘Quick View Cards’.
Performance and Animations
Image: Oppo
The latest version of ColorOS comes with AI Self-Smooth Engine 2.0’. The said engine claims to reduce memory usage by 30%, reduce background power consumption by 20%, and increase battery life by 12%. ColorOS 12 also comes with ‘Quantum Animation Engine 3.0’. To offer smooth and real swiping experience the system now recognizes different window component elements with different mass and inertia and drives animations according to it.
Smart Sidebar 2.0
Image: Oppo
The smart slidebar in Color OS is getting a revamp as well. Smart Sidebar 2.0 brings support for smart functions depending on different usage scenarios. For instance, it can help users identify music while listening to songs, offers a real-time translation option when playing foreign language videos, and displays a read-aloud function when reading something. It can also be used to compare prices between sites when shopping online.
Cross-Screen Interconnection
Cross-Screen Interconnection is one of the biggest features of ColorOS 12. It enables you to use your phone from your PC, and share files at a maximum speed of 45MB/s. Minimum requirements for this functionality include a computer running Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit powered by at least a 2.4GHz Intel Core i3 processor paired with 8GB RAM. The PC also requires a minimum of Bluetooth 4.1 and WiFi Direct.
Free Floating Window feature
It is the advanced version of FlexDrop which was introduced in ColorOS 11. With this new implementation in ColourOS 12, windows can be now resized and moved anywhere on the screen with actions like tap and drag. It is more intuitive now.
OMOJI
Image: Oppo
Oppo is also introducing AR emojis called Omoji. Omoji will capture your facial expressions in real-time, which you will be able to use in video calls. You can customize the Omoji to create a personalized avatar. You will be able to share the avatar with your friends and even use it as an animated sticker in the Always-on display. This feature is currently in the development stage and will be available with the stable version of ColorOS 12.
Privacy and Security
The new Color OS upgrade will naturally feature Android 12 privacy features. For instance, you will see privacy indicators on the status bar if an app is using sensitive permissions including the camera, microphone and location. There is a permission manager that keeps track of permissions used by apps. There are also additional features like ‘Notification Smart Anti-Peeping’, which hides notifications from others and media sharing without metadata. When sharing photos or videos, you will now have the ability to remove the private information such as date, location etc.
ColorOS 12 Release Date and Supported Devices
Here is the list of smartphones that will be updated to ColorOS 12 along with their scheduled rollout timeline as per Oppo's official website (in Chinese).
Early October 2021
Find X3 Pro
Find X3 Pro Mars Exploration Edition
Find X3
OnePlus 9 5G
OnePlus 9 Pro 5G
November 2021
Oppo Find X2 Pro
Oppo Find X2 Pro Lamborghini Edition
Oppo Find X2 Find X2 League of Legends S10 Limited Edition
Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G
Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G Detective Conon
Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G
Oppo Reno6 5G Limited Edition
December 2021
Oppo Ace2
Oppo Ace2 EVA Limited Edition
Oppo RenoS Pro+ 5G
Oppo RenoS Pro+ Artist Limited Edition 5G
Oppo RenoS Pro 5G
Oppo RenoS 5G
Oppo Reno5
Oppo K 5G
Oppo K9 5G
Oppo A95 5G
Oppo A93 5G
2022 First Half
OnePlus 9R 5G
OnePlus 8T
OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus 8
OnePlus 7T Pro
OnePlus 7T
OnePlus 7 Pro
OnePlus 7
Oppo Reno Ace
Oppo Reno Ace Gundam Edition
Oppo Reno 10x zoom version
Oppo Reno Barcelona Custom Edition
Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G
Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G 2020 Summer Custom
Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G Artist Limited Edition
Oppo Reno4 5G Edition
Oppo Reno4 SE 5G
Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G
Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G Classic Blue Custom Oppo Reno3 5G Edition
Oppo Reno3 vitality version
Oppo K9 Pro 5G
Oppo K7
Oppo K7x
Oppo A93s 5G
Oppo A92s 5G
Oppo A72 5G
Oppo A55 5G
Oppo A53 5G