ColorOS 11 review: OPPO's customisation features add zing to Android 11 OS

 

Based on the Android 11 operating system, ColorOS 11 brings most of the features that Google operating systems natively support.

Like many peers, Chinese smartphone maker OPPO uses a custom-tuned Android operating system on its smartphones. Named ColorOS, this custom OS is built on Android but with a custom skin on top. The OPPO ColorOS has come a long way over the years and its latest iteration, ColorOS 11, is much improved from the previous one, ColorOS 7. Based on Android 11 operating system, ColorOS 11 brings most of the features that Google operating systems natively support. Besides, it boasts several value-added features and customisation options for a personalised user experience.

ColorOS 11 does not look thematically different from ColorOS 7 but it has new features and customisation options that make all the difference. From custom wallpapers to new accent colours, fonts and notification drawer icons, theme customisations are deeply integrated within the OS for a personalised user experience. Moreover, some of the older-generation features have also been enhanced. For example, the fingerprint icon animation gets additional effects and the system-wide dark mode now supports colour accents. In ColorOS 11, customisation options are available for most commonly used features. The customisations add zing to the otherwise minimal Android 11 OS.

As for value-added features, ColorOS 11 incorporates the Google Lens in three finger screenshot windows. The Google Lens integration is limited to the text translation feature. Nonetheless, it provides a quick way to translate text in native languages on the go. Another minor but relevant value-added feature is the ‘Low Battery Message’, which sends a message with the phone’s location to pre-selected contacts as soon as the phone’s battery drops below the threshold limit.