OnePlus dumps its famous Alert Slider but it's for one very good reason
If you've ever owned a OnePlus flagship phone then you'll be familiar with the alert slider – it's an easy way to switch the phone into silent when it's in your pocket and it's always been a feature I'm surprised more Android phone makers didn't adopt.
Now though, the button has been axed, starting with the OnePlus 13s which will be available in India after a 5 June launch.
This phone isn't coming to the US or Europe, though it will have implications for countries outside India since it's the first OnePlus phone to replace the Alert Slider with a new button – known as the Plus Key. And to avoid any confusion, the company confirmed it will be coming to 'all OnePlus smartphones launching this year.'
However, the main use for it is to add webpages, messages and other bookmarkable info to a baked-in feature known as the Plus Mind. Nothing also has something similar, known as Essential Space.
Essentially, it's a bit like a catalog for all your key info, an alternative to saving things in apps like Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote. Much like other vendors, OnePlus is toting this as increasing personalisation.
This transition is very similar to the Action Button change on Apple's iPhone and like that button you can also choose its function (so you can keep using it to silence your phone if you want), start the camera or begin translation.
Play
And, if you map the button to an alternative use, you can swipe up with three fingers to add things to your Plus Mind instead. This gesture means that Plus Mind will also come to the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R as well (since there is obviously no dedicated Plus Key) via a software update.
You're also able to use the feature to extract information. So it could use it to extract event info from an image and add it to your calendar for example.
Of course, this is all part of OnePlus AI – the company's somewhat belated push into AI features. But while it might be somewhat later than many rivals, it is offering a lot of the same features as others. And aside from some image editing shortcuts, there's no real evidence that AI tricks are proving a hit with consumers.
Additional OnePlus AI features coming this year
AI VoiceScribe: Enables users to record, summarise, and translate calls and meetings directly within popular messaging, video, and online meeting applications.
AI Call Assistant (coming to India only for now): On the OnePlus 13s, the OnePlus Dialer will offer options for automatic Call Summaries or real-time Call Translation during calls.
AI Translation: Consolidates all translation capabilities – text, live voice, camera-based, and screen translation – into a single, intuitive app, making it easier to understand foreign languages and connect globally.
AI Search: AI Search enables conversational, natural language queries, seamlessly searching local files, settings, notes, and calendars for contextually relevant results. Integrated with AI Plus Mind, it enhances productivity through intuitive, interactive searches.
AI Reframe: Intelligently analyses photo scenes, identifies the subject, and adjusts composition, generating multiple creative framing options for users to choose from.
AI Best Face 2.0 (coming this summer through an update): Enhances group photos by automatically detecting and correcting issues like closed eyes or suboptimal expressions for more polished results. This feature supports images with up to 20 individuals and works even with photos captured on other devices.
OnePlus is also adding Google Gemini integration, similar to parent company Oppo and it will work across OnePlus' own apps as well as Google's ones.
On device AI processing is prioritised where more sensitive information is used, although the company states that its own private cloud will keep data private.
The company also says it recently rolled out support for Oppo's O+ Connect for the OnePlus 13R which enables uses to do file transfers and more between their OnePlus device and MacOS computer, either through the O+ Connect app, or via a drag and drop interface in the Finder.
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2 days ago
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OnePlus dumps its famous Alert Slider but it's for one very good reason
If you've ever owned a OnePlus flagship phone then you'll be familiar with the alert slider – it's an easy way to switch the phone into silent when it's in your pocket and it's always been a feature I'm surprised more Android phone makers didn't adopt. Now though, the button has been axed, starting with the OnePlus 13s which will be available in India after a 5 June launch. This phone isn't coming to the US or Europe, though it will have implications for countries outside India since it's the first OnePlus phone to replace the Alert Slider with a new button – known as the Plus Key. And to avoid any confusion, the company confirmed it will be coming to 'all OnePlus smartphones launching this year.' However, the main use for it is to add webpages, messages and other bookmarkable info to a baked-in feature known as the Plus Mind. Nothing also has something similar, known as Essential Space. Essentially, it's a bit like a catalog for all your key info, an alternative to saving things in apps like Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote. Much like other vendors, OnePlus is toting this as increasing personalisation. This transition is very similar to the Action Button change on Apple's iPhone and like that button you can also choose its function (so you can keep using it to silence your phone if you want), start the camera or begin translation. Play And, if you map the button to an alternative use, you can swipe up with three fingers to add things to your Plus Mind instead. This gesture means that Plus Mind will also come to the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R as well (since there is obviously no dedicated Plus Key) via a software update. You're also able to use the feature to extract information. So it could use it to extract event info from an image and add it to your calendar for example. Of course, this is all part of OnePlus AI – the company's somewhat belated push into AI features. But while it might be somewhat later than many rivals, it is offering a lot of the same features as others. And aside from some image editing shortcuts, there's no real evidence that AI tricks are proving a hit with consumers. Additional OnePlus AI features coming this year AI VoiceScribe: Enables users to record, summarise, and translate calls and meetings directly within popular messaging, video, and online meeting applications. AI Call Assistant (coming to India only for now): On the OnePlus 13s, the OnePlus Dialer will offer options for automatic Call Summaries or real-time Call Translation during calls. AI Translation: Consolidates all translation capabilities – text, live voice, camera-based, and screen translation – into a single, intuitive app, making it easier to understand foreign languages and connect globally. AI Search: AI Search enables conversational, natural language queries, seamlessly searching local files, settings, notes, and calendars for contextually relevant results. Integrated with AI Plus Mind, it enhances productivity through intuitive, interactive searches. AI Reframe: Intelligently analyses photo scenes, identifies the subject, and adjusts composition, generating multiple creative framing options for users to choose from. AI Best Face 2.0 (coming this summer through an update): Enhances group photos by automatically detecting and correcting issues like closed eyes or suboptimal expressions for more polished results. This feature supports images with up to 20 individuals and works even with photos captured on other devices. OnePlus is also adding Google Gemini integration, similar to parent company Oppo and it will work across OnePlus' own apps as well as Google's ones. On device AI processing is prioritised where more sensitive information is used, although the company states that its own private cloud will keep data private. The company also says it recently rolled out support for Oppo's O+ Connect for the OnePlus 13R which enables uses to do file transfers and more between their OnePlus device and MacOS computer, either through the O+ Connect app, or via a drag and drop interface in the Finder.
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Stuff Verdict A sharp-looking smartwatch that's laser-focused on fitness. The Huawei Watch 5 has fewer apps than the Wear OS and Apple Watch alternatives, but delivers excellent workout tracking and comprehensive h Pros Comprehensive, accurate health and fitness tracking Mature, sophisticated styling Multi-day battery life Cons A few extra hoops to jump through during initial setup Can't match Wear OS or Apple Watch for third-party app support Introduction Huawei's wearable division has been on top form lately, with one of the most varied smartwatch selections going. There's something for everyone: some models are inspired by classic timepiece, while others look closer to chunky chronographs. The more minimal Watch 5 sits somewhere in the middle, and is the firm's most workout-friendly wearable yet. It now packs so much health-focused hardware that the sensors have spilled out to the side of the case, promising faster and more accurate measurements when using your fingertip as well as your wrist. A long-lasting battery and compatibility with both Android and iOS phones add to the appeal. In Huawei's native China the Watch 5 is as fully-featured as wearables get; in the West, things are a little more complicated, with more limited app support. That puts this £399 wearable on the back foot compared to the cheaper Google Pixel Watch 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. But after wearing one for a few weeks, I'm convinced there's still plenty here to like – particularly if you're into your fitness. How we test wearables Every smartwatch and fitness tracker reviewed on Stuff is worn 24/7 throughout the testing process. We use our own years of experience to judge general performance, battery life, display, and health monitoring. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & build: subtle, not simple Huawei has taken a break from its usual practice of having its watch variants look drastically different; whether you go for the smaller 42mm version or larger 46mm model, the Watch 5's general styling is very consistent. The all-metal chassis is delightfully minimal, looking more like a mainstream timepiece than a fitness-focused wearable. It doesn't go big on the bezel like the Watch GT 5, either. The biggest flourish is the knurled finish on the digital crown, which – along with a shortcut button that lets you quickly jump into the multitude of exercise modes – flanks the new health sensor on the right side of the watch. It's not like the range is short on colour and strap variety, though. The Beige and Sand Gold 42mm models are arguably more feminine, with rose gold cases made from 904L stainless steel and matching leather strap or metal link bracelet. Go big with the 46mm Watch 5 and you've got a choice of black stainless steel, or aerospace-grade titanium in brown, silver and purple. My 42mm review unit had a more gender-neutral 316L stainless steel case and white, leather-effect fluoroelastomer (ie rubber) strap. It was comfy for exercise as well as daily wear. Quick release lugs make it easy to swap out the stock strap for a third-party band or bracelet. I normally wear a larger smartwatch at night, so had no trouble sleeping with the Watch 5 on my wrist. It doesn't feel at all heavy, and sits more flush to your wrist than many recent Android Wear rivals, so easily slips under a shirt sleeve. As you'd expect, the Huawei Watch 5 can survive all manner of harsh conditions, and is fine to wear underwater. There's even a diving mode. Screen: a glass act I normally prefer a large smartwatch screen, but the Huawei Watch 5's 1.3in AMOLED makes up for its smaller stature with a wonderfully sharp 466×466 resolution panel. I could clearly make out even small fonts and tiny watch face complications at arm's length, and colours looked wonderfully vibrant. Viewing angles are faultless, as you'd expect from OLED, and the 82.5% screen-to-body ratio is a big leap from the previous generation. The slim outer rim has subtle hour markers, which cleverly hide the panel bezel for a particularly streamlined look. When using an always-on watch face, a few friends mistook it for an analogue timepiece. LTPO 2.0 tech helps keep power consumption low when using always-on, though you're still losing around a day of wear between charges by enabling it. With a peak 3000 nits brightness, it shines brighter than the outgoing model and matches both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. It won't pump out that much light all the time, but I had no issues reading the screen clearly on the sunniest of sunny days. Interface: sweet harmony Huawei's HarmonyOS interface was already pretty slick, with colourful, information-dense apps that really make the most of the high resolution screens and impressively smooth animations. The Watch 5's vertical grid-based app launcher is a little better at preventing information overload than the checkerboard one found on older models, but the UI otherwise feels very familiar. Notifications and quick settings are still accessed with up and downward swipes; a stack of quick cards showing weather, calendar and music controls life to the left of the main watch face; and more customisable cards filled with widgets and app shortcuts sit to the right of it. These are great for putting a bunch of different health metrics on a single screen, without cluttering up the main watch face. The majority of the pre-installed apps are fitness-focused, and you've got to grant permissions for each of them separately, which is a faff. That's not to say the Watch 5 is short on smarts, though: it has everything you'd expect, syncing weather reports and calendar appointments with your phone, letting you control its music playback and camera shutter remotely, and answer incoming calls from your wrist. Contactless payments rely on Huawei Wallet, which isn't available in every country, and while the Watch 5 has an App Gallery, there's very little here worth installing. The Huawei Health phone app can spit your exercise sessions out to services like Strava via your phone, but you're not getting them on the watch yourself. Wear OS and Apple Watch OS remain leagues ahead for third-party support. Functionality is also slightly more limited when paired to an iPhone, though the fact you can do it at all is a win, and the companion app is easier to install than it is on Android. Health & fitness: seeing sense Pretty much every fitness-focused smartwatch can track your steps, heart rate and stress levels; the better ones also periodically monitor skin temperature and blood oxygen levels, perform ECG readings and check for arterial stiffness. The Huawei Watch 5's new X-Tap tech adds a pressure-sensitive electrode to the side of the watch body, for real-time measurements. Placing a fingertip on the sensor for 60 seconds also generates a comprehensive nine-point health report, including a new heart rate variability score. It's about as comprehensive as non-medical fitness watches get, and the one-tap ease of use meant I was much more likely to run the checkup on the regular than if I was forced to jump in and out of different apps. I found the sensor placement that much more comfortable to reach than the OnePlus Watch 3's, too. With no early signs of heart arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation, I set about testing the comprehensive sport and exercise tracking modes. The Watch 5 was faster than my high-end bike computer to secure a GPS lock, and I can't fault its tracking accuracy. Step count, heart rate and distance measurements were consistent, both during exercise and in daily use. I'd easily put it on par with other top-tier smartwatches. I barely made a dent in the 100 or so different activity modes, which include things as varied as frisbee and belly dancing. It can automatically detect running, walking, rowing and cross trainer workouts, which is less advanced than some rival wearables, and the walking detection didn't always kick in when I expected it to. Still, my mix of hiking, indoor swimming, road cycling and exercise bike workouts were tracked comprehensively, and the Huawei Health app spat them all out to my Strava account correctly. Battery life: working week Battery life has never been a Wear OS or Apple Watch OS strong point; even longevity champs like the OnePlus Watch 3 will run flat after five days, while most can only manage two or three. Huawei, on the other hand, routinely manages up to 7 days per charge, depending on size. The Watch 5 duly delivers, with my 42mm review unit reaching a third day before it needed a trip to its magnetic charging puck. That included an hour of GPS-tracked cycling each day, with each trip knocking around 5% off the remaining charge. Admittedly I avoided using the always-on display mode, instead sticking with raise-to-wake, but otherwise used it as frequently as any other smartwatch. Short of a dedicated sports watch or fitness band, you'll struggle to go longer between charges. The 46mm model is worth plumping for if you want to go longer; Huawei rates it for 4.5 days, or 11 if you use the ultra-long battery life mode, which limits functionality in order to stay fuelled for longer. I was a little surprised Huawei still hasn't made the switch to a type-C charging cable. The USB type-A connector felt old hat on 2023's Watch GT 4; most rivals now have type-C as standard. The magnetic puck at the other end holds the watch in place firmly, though, so I never worried about it slipping off. An hour will usually fully refuel the watch. Huawei Watch 5 verdict Do you feel strongly that apps belong on your phone, not your wrist, and that smartwatches should just focus on fitness? You'll be bright at home with the Huawei Watch 5. It's a sharp-looking wearable with enough smarts to get by on its lonesome, and a seriously comprehensive set of fitness features. Western buyers will need to accept a few limitations compared to the Wear OS and Apple Watch alternatives, and iOS owners are even more restricted on features, but it still does the smartwatch essentials well. Android users will appreciate extra functionality like on-device music, though they'll find the OnePlus Watch 3 just a teensy bit easier to set up – and longer-lasting, too. Phone notifications, weather updates and music controls are all I really need on a smartwatch beyond fitness tracking, and fitness tracking is something the Huawei Watch 5 does very well indeed. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 A sharp-looking smartwatch that's laser-focused on fitness. The Huawei Watch 5 has fewer apps than the Wear OS and Apple Watch alternatives, but delivers excellent workout tracking and comprehensive health monitoring. Pros Comprehensive, accurate health and fitness tracking Mature, sophisticated styling Multi-day battery life Cons A few extra hoops to jump through during initial setup Can't match Wear OS or Apple Watch for third-party app support Huawei Watch 5 technical specifications Screen 1.3in, 466×466 AMOLED Sensors Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, optical heart rate sensor, barometer, temperature sensor Connectivity eSIM, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC (country-dependent) Software Huawei Harmony OS Battery 3 days (42mm) 4.5 days (46mm) typical use Durability IP68, 5ATM Dimensions not stated
