OnePlus’ Android Q DP3 enhances Ambient Display and adds Game Space & Customization settings

We may earn a commission for purchases made using our links.

Android Q is Google’s next major upgrade for its mobile OS. It’s notable for bringing major revamps to privacy, security, and navigation. Thanks to OnePlus’ partnership with Google, the Android Q beta is already available for the OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 6, and OnePlus 6T. Yesterday, OnePlus released its third developer preview for the four devices. The latest update has OxygenOS layered on top of it, and there are a few notable new features that we spotted.

Hands-on: Android Q DP3 for the OnePlus 7 Pro

Before I get into the new features, I want to talk about the beta software experience. This update is not very stable on my OnePlus 6T. The display would just randomly stop working and glitch out. It had some noticeable lag as well. I would not recommend running it as your daily driver on your OnePlus 6 or 6T. Now the experience on the OnePlus 7/7 Pro, however, is a different story. I haven’t had many issues with the build besides for a few performance hiccups.

OnePlus 6 Forums OnePlus 6T Forums OnePlus 7 Forums OnePlus 7 Pro Forums

Game Space

Game Space is a new feature OnePlus is using to replace their game mode. The new Game Space provides easy access to all the games installed on your phone. It also provides quick access to the “graphics optimization” settings as well as Fnatic mode. For the games installed on your phone, it will show you how long you’ve played if you want to flex how many hours you’ve been gaming. There aren’t actually any new features in Game Space; it’s just a one-stop-shop for all your gaming needs.

Customization settings

In Developer Options of Android Q for the Google Pixel, there are a few options for changing the fonts, accent colors, and icon shapes. OnePlus took these settings to the next level and gave them their own section in settings. These settings include lock screen and system customization along with 3 preset themes. Lock screen customization has clock styles for the lock screen and ambient display, wallpapers, fingerprint animation icons, and Horizon light (edge lighting) color options. The system customization has accent color, tone (light, dark, or colorful), shape, icon pack, and font.

Although the Horizon light settings also appear on the OnePlus 6T, users have reported to us that the feature doesn’t actually work yet. We haven’t tested it on the OnePlus 7, though. The OnePlus 6T, OnePlus 7, and OnePlus 7 Pro don’t have notification LEDs, so all three phones really need this feature (only the 7 Pro supports it for now.)

Ambient “Smart” Display

One of the cooler new features is the new smart display mode for the ambient display. This allows for the phone to show music, weather, calendar events, and more at the bottom of the ambient display if OxygenOS thinks they’re important enough to show. Sadly, OnePlus still hasn’t added an always on display option.

Better Screen Recorder

OnePlus has updated the built-in screen recorder in Android Q DP3 with some really great additions. This feature debuted on the OnePlus 7 Pro and OnePlus 7, and it lets you record the screen and even the internal phone audio. With the latest update, you can now turn the recording resolution up to 4K (3840×2160), turn the bitrate up to 24Mbps, and even record at 60fps.

All these new features actually seem useful. Android Q-based OxygenOS is still in beta right now, and I can not wait until it makes it to stable. As I did mention before, it’s not stable enough yet on the OnePlus 6T/6 but it’s pretty decent on the OnePlus 7 Pro/7. We’re getting close to the first stable Android Q release for the Google Pixel smartphones, and it looks like OnePlus won’t be too far behind on providing the next major update judging by how far along they’ve already come.