ColorOS 13 Features Archives - Gizmochina

ColorOS 13 Hands-on: Top 5 New Features

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:00:24 +0000

Oppo took wraps off ColorOS 13 today. Unsurprisingly, the latest iteration of the company’s mobile software is based on Android 13. For the unaware, Oppo changed the ColorOS version naming in line with the Android version with the debut of ColorOS 11 in 2020.

Last year’s ColorOS 12 was all about globalization. I described it as a step in the right direction in my review. Whereas, this year’s ColorOS 13 focuses on refining the already good software.

I have been using ColorOS 13 for the past few days. After going through some of its features on a regular basis, I have compiled a list of features that I personally considered to be the best in this article. Let’s take a look at them.

Disclosure:

This article was possible due to an OPPO Find X5 Pro running ColorOS 13 Beta loaned to me by Oppo India. The company had no early look or editorial input. All the opinions stated here are mine alone based on my firsthand experience with the software.

Top 5 ColorOS 13 Features

Design

ColorOS 13 features a design language called ‘Aquamorphic’. Oppo claims that the design is inspired by water. The jargon sounds good for marketing. But what users need to know is that the new design is mostly similar to that of ColorOS 12 with some tweaks here and there to offer an overall better experience.

By default, the color palette is blue and it changes its shade throughout the day, just like water during sunrise and sunset. You can change the system color based on wallpaper but the implementation is just as poor as it is in ColorOS 12. There’s still no ‘Material You’ but the company says that it is working on introducing it.

The interface follows a card-style layout. Settings app and first-party apps feature different-sized cards showing information based on the type of content.

Finally, there are stunning empty state illustrations across the software, which gives a unique look.

Home Screen & Control Center

ColorOS 13’s home screen is almost similar to that of ColorOS 12, except that users can now enlarge folders. Though it sounds like a simple feature, it is so much useful.

Because you don’t need to open a folder to access the desired app anymore. All you have to do is simply click on the required app’s icon present inside the large folder to quickly access it.

As with previous iterations of ColorOS, users can opt for the app drawer if they don’t prefer the iOS-esque home screen filled with all the installed applications.

Most importantly, ColorOS 13 arrives with a redesigned control center. The top portion is populated by two large toggles on the left and a media playback widget on the right. By default, the large toggles are WiFi and Bluetooth but users can change to whatever they want.

Further, the mid-section includes the remaining toggles, followed by the bottom part featuring the brightness slider. Lastly, the header consists of a clock, settings icon, and edit toggles option.

The notifications area resides below the control center in portrait view. However, in landscape view, like during playing a game or watching a video, the notification pane shifts to the right side, while the control center remains on the left. This makes it easier to access quick toggles and respond to notifications.

Always-on Display

ColorOS has one of the best always-on display (AOD) implementations. With ColorOS 13, it gets even better with more AOD styles and integration with third-party apps.

Oppo has introduced a new AOD style series called ‘Home’. It showcases how the earth is affected by global warming. Users can choose from three styles featuring polar bears, penguins, and a coral with clown fish.

Talking about third-party applications, Oppo has partnered with Spotify and Indian food delivery companies Zomato and Swiggy for always-on display. Apps offered by these companies will be displayed on AOD.

Spotify AOD shows the music that’s currently playing along with controls and icons of the four most-played playlists. On the other hand, the India-exclusive Zomato and Swiggy AOD will show useful information like ‘Order accepted’, ‘Meal picked up’, ‘Distance to destination’, and ‘Delivered’.

PC Connect

Oppo introduced PC Connect with ColorOS 12. As of now, there are no new changes in the beta build I used but the company has revealed plans to add more features in the later releases of ColorOS 13.

The firm says that it will be adding functionalities like natively answering calls and sending/receiving messages on the computer. In other words, PC Connect will become more of a Microsoft Phone Link rather than simply mirroring the screen.

Hence, apart from the upcoming new features, users can also make use of the existing features like notifications sync, clipboard sync, and file transfer.

With more refinements like these, PC Connect may become richer in features like Huawei Multi Screen Collaboration and Samsung DeX in the near future.

Kid Space

ColorOS has had Kid Space for a while with no new additions. After years, it finally gets a useful new feature in ColorOS 13.

The new feature relies on the phone’s hardware to protect the eyesight of kids. It gives three different types of reminders pertaining to sitting position, viewing distance, and ambient light.

Parents can also go through all the reminders issued by the phone during the Kid Space session. Hence, they can teach their kids to use smartphones properly.

The post ColorOS 13 Hands-on: Top 5 New Features appeared first on Gizmochina.

Oppo confirms ColorOS 13 will launch globally on August 18

Jed John Ikoba — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:33:58 +0000

Oppo will unveil its latest skin, the ColorOS 13 on August 18. The new skin is based on Android 13 and it will globally debut on the stated date, as confirmed by Oppo. Oppo says the new skin will incorporate underlying safety and privacy features in Android 13. This comes on the heels of the release of the Oxygen OS 13 also for Android 13. The new upgrade features aesthetic improvements in the layout and functionality.

Are you ready to add some more Color to your life?
The ColorOS 13 global online launch event goes live on Aug 18th, 16:30 IST.#SmartandConnected #ColorOS13 pic.twitter.com/YmSmyconY6

— OPPO India (@OPPOIndia) August 9, 2022

Oppo says that Color OS 13 comes with an overall refreshed design and will deliver a concise, smooth, and comfortable experience similar to Oxygen OS 13. There are no specifics yet on the Oppo devices that will herald the new Android 13 skin. The Oppo Find N and Find X5 Pro are both expected to be in the mix for the new skin. Both devices were part of the Android 13 beta program. There are speculations also that the Oppo Reno 8 lineup could also get the upgrade to Color OS 13.

The launch event for the new Oppo Android 13 skin will further illuminate the update. We will also get to know the trajectory of devices that will get the software at the launch. Global availability of the firmware could proceed immediately although no specifics have been mentioned yet. If a sequential release is countenanced, we expect the upgrade to start from China and proceed to other markets subsequently.

ColorOS 13 will Release Globally in August, Reno 8 Series to get it in September: Report

Anurag — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:43:01 +0000

The latest version of Oppo’s custom Android skin–ColorOS 13—is just around the corner. The company recently opened the beta version of the software for public testing in select smartphones. The exact launch date of the new ColorOS 13 is still a mystery but a new report suggests that it may debut globally this month (August). The report also reveals that the new version of ColorOS will start rolling out to Oppo Reno 8 series in September.

91mobiles, citing industry sources, reveals that ColorOS 13 will be launched globally in August. In addition, Reno 8 series smartphone owners can get their hands on ColorOS 13 as early as September. The news correlates with a recent leak by tipster Digital Chat Station, which revealed Oppo’s new software skin will make a debut in the first half of August.

As mentioned, OPPO also opened ColorOS 13 beta for public testing in Oppo Find X5, Oppo Find X5 Pro, and Oppo Find N. However, the registration for beta testing were only open till August 4 and the company only accepted 1000 users for each model.

ColorOS 13 will be based on the latest Android 13. It will likely a lot of improvements in terms of design and usability. The new OS will also be carrying some new features. It is said to have improved background retention rate and the adaptation of free small windows.

There’s no word from the company about the launch of ColorOS 13. We’ll keep an eye out for an update and let you know about any new developments.

ColorOS 13 screenshots, beta program timeline leak

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 09:57:05 +0000

A couple of weeks back, Oppo held a developer conference in China to shed information on the upcoming ColorOS 13 based on Android 13. Followed by this event, a prolific Chinese leaker known as Digital Chat Station shared a few screenshots of the yet-to-release software on Weibo earlier today. He also disclosed the beta program timeline.

Digital Chat Station shared two Weibo posts on the topic of ColorOS 13 a few hours back. He has taken down (removed pictures) the one with screenshots but the other one with beta timeline details is still live.

Thankfully Chinese media like ITHome reported on the leak before the images were deleted. As per the screenshots, ColorOS 13 will bring improvements to folders and widgets.

Users will be able to expand the folder size on the home screen. Thanks to this, apps can be opened quickly by tapping their icons from outside the folder itself.

Further, Oppo introduced widgets with ColorOS 12. It is possible to place them on the left page as well as the home screen, just like on iOS. With ColorOS 13, the company will be adding support for more widgets, says the leaker.

Finally, the tipster also mentions that the system UX design will be similar to the now-defunct Oneplus’ HydrogenOS. Therefore, Oneplus users will feel at home.

Talking about the development, Digital Chat Station says that the internal testing is better than that of ColorOS 12. Also, the process is a month ahead of the previous generation.

Hence, the external internal testing is expected to begin in July based on Android 13 Beta 3. This will be later followed by public testing in August.

As far as the official launch is concerned, we think that the conference will be held in August since that’s when public testing is said to begin.

With that being said, what are your expectations of ColorOS 13 based on Android 13? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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