OnePlus is officially replacing its beloved Alert Slider on all new smartphones launching this year with a new customizable button called the “Plus Key.” The change starts with the OnePlus 13s in India and will roll out across the brand’s lineup moving forward.
The Alert Slider, a hallmark of OnePlus phones for nearly a decade, is being phased out to make room for the Plus Key’s expanded functionality.
Beyond replicating the Alert Slider’s simple toggle functions, the Plus Key serves as a shortcut to advanced AI features, marking a major push by OnePlus into AI-powered user experiences.
Key features introduced with the Plus Key include:
Plus Mind: Captures, organizes, and recalls important on-screen info like schedules and event details, similar to Nothing’s Essential Space. Users can trigger it by pressing the Plus Key or swiping up with three fingers.
AI VoiceScribe (India only): Records, summarizes, and translates calls and meetings within popular messaging and video apps.
AI Call Assistant (India only): Provides call summaries and real-time translation during phone calls on the OnePlus 13s.
AI Translation: Combines text, voice, camera, and screen translation into a single, easy-to-use app.
AI Search: Uses natural language queries to search files, notes, calendars, and settings, integrated with Plus Mind for better productivity.
AI Reframe: Analyzes photos and offers multiple creative cropping options.
AI Best Face 2.0 (coming summer): Automatically fixes group photo flaws like closed eyes or poor expressions, supporting up to 20 people per image.
OnePlus stresses that these AI features prioritize on-device processing for privacy and use a Private Computing Cloud for heavier tasks. The new AI suite will debut first in India, with some features planned for future OnePlus 13 and 13R models.
While some fans appreciate the move toward more intelligent controls, others feel the Plus Key and AI additions may be overkill for the average user.
The phase-out of the classic Alert Slider has also sparked debate online about losing a simple, tactile control in favor of AI-driven functions.
In summary: OnePlus’s new Plus Key replaces the decade-old Alert Slider across its 2025 smartphones, unlocking a suite of AI features designed to capture, translate, and enhance user interaction. The transition signals OnePlus’s strong AI focus but may divide longtime fans of the brand’s iconic hardware design.
