Future OnePlus phones will use a multi-function Action button instead of an Alert Slider. This marks a major change in OnePlus’ brand identity, as the Alert Slider is fairly unique in the world of Android.

Pete Lau, the co-founder and CEO of OnePlus, announced the new Action button in a OnePlus Forum post. He explains that the OnePlus 10T, which was widely criticized for ditching the Alert Slider, forced the OnePlus team to reconsider the feature’s importance. OnePlus users don’t want to lose the Action Switch—in fact, they want it to improve.

“Let me customize the Alert Slider” is one of “the most common requests” that OnePlus receives from its customers. The problem, according to Lau, is that three-position hardware switches are somewhat limited in terms of programmability. You can’t use a fixed switch as a momentary switch—a button offers more customizability.

Of course, a button is a less elegant solution for controlling audio modes. You can’t glance at a button to see whether your phone is muted, for example. This is a problem that iPhone owners like myself have had to deal with since 2023, when the iPhone 15 Pro debuted with a multi-function button in place of its traditional mute switch.

“But here’s the thing: as much as I love the Alert Slider, I kept asking myself the same question. How can it do more? As iconic as it is, it is a huge piece of hardware just to switch sound profiles. That didn’t sit right with me. I brought this up with our product team several times because I believed we could push it further … Smartphones today aren’t just tools packed with industry-leading specs (though we’ve got that covered). They’re intelligent companions. The new smart button is designed for that future, delivering a more personalized experience.”

Obviously, OnePlus is following in Apple’s lead. And this is nothing new for OnePlus or its sister company, Oppo. Both brands have a unique identity, but they’ve never shied away from Apple-style design or marketing. (The Nothing smartphone brand, created by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, is also a disciple of Apple philosophy.)

I’m not an iPhone evangelist, and I really don’t care if one company lifts an idea from another. In fact, I’m willing to argue that OnePlus regularly improves on Apple’s concepts. The Action Slider is a great example of this phenomenon—OnePlus’ implementation, which is a three-position slider that separates the ringer-off and full-mute modes, is far more graceful than Apple’s old two-position mute switch. If OnePlus has its head in the right place, it’ll improve on Apple’s Action Button concept.

Unfortunately, we don’t know all the details yet. Pete Lau simply states that the Action Button will be customizable and provide audio-switching functionality for those who want it. We don’t even know if it’ll support per-app customization.

On a lighter note, the forum post announcing this change is incredibly thorough and thoughtful. It also gives customers a place to discuss the Alert Slider or share feedback with Pete Lau. While I don’t expect OnePlus to reverse its decision, I appreciate that the company is willing to speak directly with its fans—something that Apple, Google, and Samsung are keen to avoid.

As for my personal feelings—well, I’m an iPhone owner, so I sympathize with the OnePlus crowd. A multi-function action button is cool and all, but it’s no replacement for a tactile mute switch. I understand that most people just set the switch to ringer-off and never touch it again, so a multi-function button may offer broader appeal and usability, but I prefer the old-fashioned audio switch.

The OnePlus Action Button will probably debut with this year’s 13T smartphone. Note that Pete Lau uses the term “smart button” instead of “Action Button;” I’m not sure whether this is the official term or not, as Lau types it in lowercase instead of treating it like a proper noun.

Source: OnePlus via 9to5Google