OxygenOS 11 brings a new UI to a number of OnePlus apps including the Zen Mode app. The redesigned app also brings new features and you can try it now if you own a OnePlus phone running Android 10.

The new Zen Mode app has version number 2.0.0.2 and is said to be available on the Play Store already according to XDA-Developers, although we found out it is not available for all. However, the APK is listed on APKMirror, so you can grab it from there and sideload it.

So what’s new? Apart from the redesign, the app now has a multi-person mode that allows you to create or join a room where others are also using Zen Mode and then start a challenge together. Below is the changelog:

• Adding a variety of themes to bring you a more immersive meditation experience.
• You can create a room and invite your friends to join you to start a focus challenge together.
• Record daily Zen moments and review the journey of concentration.

Zen Mode is designed to keep you from being distracted and also to take a break from using your device. Users can choose from 1 minute to 120 minutes during which apps will be locked and notifications will be muted. However, you can still make or receive calls and also use the camera app.

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One of the software features that made its debut on the OnePlus 7 series is Zen Mode app. The feature is designed to get you to not use your phone for 20 minutes for anything else other than for calls and taking pictures. When activated, you can’t turn it off until the timer ends.

The Chinese tech giant has now officially published the Oxygen OS-only Zen Mode as a standalone app on Google Playstore. Don’t be so quick to head over to the play store as the app still is compatible with the OnePlus 7 series models only (OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro). However, publishing it as an independent app on the play store is an indication that the company may be planning to bring support to other OnePlus phones pretty soon.  Already, the OnePlus 6 series was tipped to get Zen Mode support soon. The OnePlus 5/5T were also confirmed to get the software feature.

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Zen Mode basically gives users a 20-minute break from your smartphone, locking almost all non-essential apps so that you can simply focus on something else. The mode still gives users access to the camera and emergency services, but the mode cannot be deactivated once active. The Play Store version even lets users extend the duration of the app from 20 minutes, 30, 40 and up to 60 minutes. This is, therefore, an updated version of the app. That may even be the essence of publishing the app on Play Store as OnePlus can easily push updates to the app and will also increase update speed.

This app is no doubt a useful one for smartphone addicts and will surely help to curb any bad habits and smartphone overuse.

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(source)

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The OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro come with OxygenOS 9.5. While it is still based on Android Pie, it brings new features not available (yet) to older OnePlus phones. Two of those features are Screen Recorder and Zen Mode.

OnePlus already confirmed that Zen Mode will be coming to the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T via an OTA update. There is no time frame for the update yet but you don’t have to wait that long to get the feature.

AndroidPolice reports that the Zen Mode feature works on older OnePlus devices once you install the APK. The same also applies to the Screen Recorder. So all you are required to do is grab the APKs on APK Mirror and install them.

They did say both apps will not show in your app drawer. You will have to open the Quick Settings toggles and look for Screen Recorder/Zen Mode, then drag the tiles up to your existing ones. You can then launch them from there, grant permissions and set them up for the first time use.

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Based on the comments, screen recorder has been tested on the OnePlus 6T, OnePlus 6, OnePlus 5T, and the OnePlus 3T while Zen Mode has been confirmed to work on the OnePlus 6/6T and the OnePlus 3T. Do note that both apps will most likely not work if you are running a custom ROM on the aforementioned devices.

Do let us know if you got them to work on your phone.

(Sources: 1, 2 | APK links: 1, 2)

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One of the software features the new OnePlus 7 series brings is Zen Mode. This is a feature designed to get you to not use your phone for 20 minutes for anything else other than for calls and taking pictures. When activated, you can’t turn it off until the timer ends.

OnePlus disclosed to Android Authority that the feature will be coming to the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T via an update in the future. That should be exciting news for those who own either of the two devices and have been looking for ways to reduce how long they stare at their phone’s display.

That’s the good news. The bad news is the OnePlus 7 series’ Nightscape 2.0 will not be coming to last year’s flagships. Nightscape 2.0 improves upon the night mode feature which debuted last year. OnePlus says the reason why both phones won’t have the updated version is based on a hardware limitation – (probably the primary rear camera).

There are other software features such as Fnatic Mode (coming to the OnePlus 7 series via an OTA update) and a built-in screen recorder but we haven’t heard anything about these features coming to the older models.

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OnePlus is still selling the 6T and even announced a price cut following the launch of the new models. So, if you don’t care about the latest processor, faster storage and having better cameras, you might want to pick up a unit.

(Source, Via)

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