- OnePlus has revealed the key, a new button positioned as a way to access the new OnePlus AI suite
- The PLUS key replaces the alert sliding control found on OnePlus phones from OnePlus 2
- The best key will come to all OnePlus phones that will be launched this year
OnePlus has announced OnePlus AI, and although the vision of the Chinese company for mobile artificial intelligence occurs mainly through a new software, the changes list includes an update of one of the most emblematic hardware characteristics of the brand.
The new Plus key is a physical button that replaces the three -stage alert sliding control. The button can be customized in the configuration to activate one of several features, such as opening the camera or starting a live translation.
The new hardware function will make its debut with the OnePlus 13s, a model only by China previously known as OnePlus 13 Mini in online rumors circles.
OnePlus has confirmed that the Plus key will reach all OnePlus smartphones that will be implemented this year; At least, we hope this includes the rumored OnePlus 14 and OnePlus 14R, which, according to previous releases, we hope to launch in China at the end of 2025 for the global launch in 2026. Although I keep in mind that OnePlus could jump the number 14 and call the Ooneprus 15 series.
By default, the PLUS key activates the new Mind Ai Plus capture system, which keeps a screenshot, plus a summary of the information on screen, in the new AI Plus Mind application.
It is this, together with the time of this hardware announcement, which illustrates the vision of OnePlus of the Plus key as part of the company’s strategy.
“It’s time for us to evolve”
In the official revelation event of OnePlus AI, I spoke with Arthur Lam, director of Oxygenos and Ai Strategy in OnePlus, about how the key and the most the mind works together.
“The thought process behind this was that we wanted to bring you who can train you to do different things. And I think one of the most important things was that we live in this digital era where we have many fragmented memories in several places,” Lam said.
“We believe that this is not a solution only software,” LAM continued, “it is a hardware software solution; that is done exclusively OnePlus.”
When OnePlus announced the end of the alert sliding control, I wrote that I had always found that it was a useful and charismatic addition to brand phones. However, even with the favorite state of the alert sliding control fans, Lam tells me that the company is confident that it is time for an update.
“People ask us, ‘after using the alert sliding control for a decade, why do you change it?’ Because now is the time, because it is connected to your mind. “
“It makes sense for us to make changes. Although we have been there during the last decade, many of the users love, we believe it is time for us to evolve to the next generation.”
More than just a button
There are more in OnePlus ai that only the Plus and AI Plus Mind key: the next features include the translation of AI, an AI Reframe tool to cut photos and voicjet ai, which automatically transcribes the phone calls.
That said, the plus key is the most complete AI hardware function that we have seen on a smartphone so far: this first approach could help OnePlus to differentiate the PLUS key from the iPhone action button, which clearly served as inspiration.
It is also revealing that OnePlus is willing to cut a very dear feature such as the alert sliding control for the Plus key centered on AI. This suggests that OnePlus AI could be an important priority for the brand in the future.
Personally, I am a fan of the alert sliding control, but I think that Ai Plus Mind is a great idea, and a feature good enough for the PLUS key to seem novel and really useful.
Be sure to maintain the pace of the coverage of our phones for the latest updates, since the Plus key reaches more of the best OnePlus phones.
What do you think of the key more? Will you miss the alert sliding control? Let us know in the comments below.
