Despite their different names, the software skins from Oppo, Realme, and OnePlus are remarkably similar, offering the same features and user experience. This may disappoint long-time OnePlus users who miss the unique features of Oxygen OS.
Regardless of the brand, users can expect a smooth and feature-rich experience from their phones.
The new Android 14-based ColorOS 14/OxygenOS 14/Realme UI 5.0 versions have minimal user-facing changes compared to the older ColorOS 13/OxygenOS 13/Realme UI 4.0 versions.
Lock screen, home screen, Always-on display
If you’ve used one of the three operating systems before, you’ll recognize the standard navigation and UI elements. The default app drawer and notification shade with quick toggles remain familiar and customizable.
Home screen • Notification shade • Recent apps menu
Customizable fonts, icons, accent colors, and other UI elements provide users with additional personalization options. The Always-on display function also offers various customizations.
UI customization options
The ability to launch apps by holding down the fingerprint reader remains a popular feature on these systems, providing easy access to the user’s preferred apps.
Quick Launch fingerprint feature
Gestures and navigation
Navigation options include gestures and software buttons, with customizable sensitivity for the back gestures. Additional gestures such as screen-off gestures and Air gestures are available on select devices.
System navigation options
Multitasking and productivity features
Features like Split View, Flexible Window, and Smart Sidebar enhance multitasking capabilities, while the Sidebar adds a new feature for saving files and accessing recent files.
Multitasking options
Notification features are enhanced with Smart notification hiding, contextual actions, and pop-up banners for real-time information. However, some features may not be supported on all devices.
Smart suggestions
Additional features like Aqua Dynamics, Smart Touch, and alert slider functionality are available for an improved user experience.
Multi-screen connect
The multi-screen connect feature allows users to connect their devices for screen casting, file sharing, and multitasking. However, the connection process may be cumbersome and limited in some scenarios.
Wrap-up
Overall, ColorOS/OxygenOS/Realme UI offers a smooth and feature-rich experience, but it lags behind in implementing the latest Android changes and innovative features. The user experience and available features remain largely unchanged across the three Android overlays.
