The OnePlus 11 is Oneplus’s latest phone and true to OnePlus’s heritage, there are a number of excellent software tweaks that can elevate your experience
The OnePlus 11 is the latest flagship Android smartphone from the company. Our review of the OnePlus 11 called out its impressive daytime camera performance and its SuperVOOC battery charging as standout features, while decrying the slippery back, which is far removed from the sandstone texture the company used on earlier devices.
Modern electronic devices aren’t just about the hardware specifications and how the software works together to create a cohesive whole. Most smartphones check those boxes, and the value is in the added features that the company has introduced to make your user experience more seamless. This could be software tweaks to help you get the best images from the cameras, buttons, or sliders that perform one specific task, so you don’t have to dig through settings menus or multitasking improvements for using that smartphone to get work done.
We’ve combed through the OnePlus 11 to find the hidden features to make your experience using the phone even better, and one not-so-hidden feature that we’re glad to see returned to the OnePlus range.The return of the alert slider
The alert slider was removed on the OnePlus 10T, but outcry brought it back as it doesn’t feel like a OnePlus device without it. It sits above the power button and provides a physical way to manage the device’s ringtones. The slider has three positions corresponding to three levels of ringtone availability, Silent, Vibrate, and Ring. Unlike the other buttons on the sides of the device, the alert slider has a rough surface so it’s easily found without looking or taking it out of a pocket.
OnePlus has thoughtfully arranged these three positions according to how quickly you want to access them. The most effortless action for your thumb or finger to do is to push it all the way to the top position, which puts it into Silent mode. All calls and notifications are silenced in this mode, and vibration doesn’t occur. The only function on the OnePlus 11 that can get past the Silent slider position is alarms. Pulling the slider to the middle position puts the phone in Vibrate mode, announcing calls and notifications with physical feedback. The last place on the slider turns audible ringtones back on, at whatever volume levels were previously set.Software control for OnePlus Buds
The OnePlus 11 can control all OnePlus Buds, like the new Buds Pro 2 without leaving the Settings app. The one minor issue is that you have to go into Settings, then Bluetooth, then tap on the paired OnePlus Buds, and finally on Earbud functions. This is a few too many steps for anyone used to the ease of getting to AirPods settings on an iPhone. OnePlus could put a shortcut on the tiles in the notification shade to fix this, and the feature would be less hidden.
Once in the settings, there is a wealth of options. Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and a personalized noise cancellation mode that adjusts according to the structure of your auditory canal. There are settings for preset EQ modes and one to set custom levels. OnePlus has spatial audio for better audio positioning, and « Golden sound » which customizes the sound signature based on a short hearing test. Firmware updates can be triggered from this menu, as can earbud fit tests, customization of earbud controls, and a way to find your earbuds if they get misplaced. Another useful feature is being able to set the earbuds to trigger the OnePlus 11’s camera, by double-tapping either of the buds.Use private Wi-Fi
The OnePlus 11 can use randomized MAC addresses to limit the amount of tracking that advertisers and other companies can do. Normally the MAC address of your device is like its street address, so network operators can track it anywhere it has a signal. Smartphones are among the most-tracked pieces of tech, with GPS and network data sold to any data brokers who want to pay. Randomizing the number puts another layer of security by obscurity on your personal data, which is never bad.
To check if the OnePlus 11 uses a randomized MAC address, open up Settings and tap on Wi-Fi.
