In my years of testing premium smartphones, the OnePlus 8T stands out with its vibrant 120Hz display, impressive camera system, and reliable battery life. Paired with OxygenOS 11's fresh features, it's a powerhouse daily driver. Here are my top tips to unlock its full potential.
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Let's dive in.
The OnePlus 8T's default power menu can be frustrating—pressing the power button often summons Google Assistant instead. From my experience, this trips up many users on first boot.
To access the power menu reliably, press the power button and volume up button together. For one-handed ease, customize it: Go to Settings > Buttons & gestures, tap Press & hold Power button, and select Power menu.
OxygenOS's Always-On Display (AOD) is a standout feature, letting you glance at notifications, time, and more without waking the screen—much like Samsung's implementation I've praised in reviews.
Enable it via Settings > Display > Ambient display > All day. For personalization, head to Settings > Personalization > Clock style to choose from stylish options.
Try the Insight Clock—it tracks unlock sessions with a clever gap in the clock face. Pro tip: Customize Horizon Lights under Ambient display settings for ambient edge lighting.
Quick Share (Android's AirDrop rival) makes transferring photos and screenshots seamless between devices—a feature I've relied on daily.
After capturing a screenshot, tap Share; nearby devices appear if enabled. First time? Set visibility to Everyone.
The revamped Messages app organizes chats efficiently, surfacing transactional and promo cards upfront—like apps such as Truecaller or Microsoft's SMS Organizer.
Disable if preferred: Tap the three-dot menu > Settings > Toggle off visual cards.
Schedule Dark Mode to activate at sunset or a custom time—perfect for eye comfort, as I've configured on all my devices.
Navigate to Settings > Display > Dark mode. Bonus: Force Dark Mode on unsupported apps.
Finally, reliable subject tracking in the camera app—similar to Samsung's since the Galaxy S8. Ideal for pets or kids in motion.
Open Camera > Settings > Enable Focus tracking.
Zen Mode now offers five calming themes to curb screen time. Pull down Quick Settings > Zen Mode, swipe for themes, set up to 120 minutes.
Launch apps via the fingerprint sensor: Settings > Utilities > Quick Launch. Customize your favorites for quick access post-unlock.
These tweaks elevate your OnePlus 8T experience. Explore further customizations like fingerprint icons, OnePlus Sans font, or camera modes (macro, filters). Pair it with top earbuds like Jabra Elite 75t—check our comparison with Galaxy Buds Live next.
