OnePlus phones, including the OnePlus 8, are about to get the always-on display option that fans have been waiting for.

This is thanks to the announcement of HydrogenOS 11, OnePlus' China-specific OS; the major difference between HydrogenOS and OxygenOS (the OS used in all other countries) is that HydrogenOS does not use Google Mobile Services

This is in fact the case.

What this looks like in practice can be seen in this video shared by informant Ishan Agarwal. Since the two operating systems share a fair amount of DNA, this clip gives us a glimpse of what OnePlus devices will be able to do in just a few months.

The biggest feature is the recently leaked introduction of an always-on display. This is a common sight on other Android phones, such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 20, which was just released last week. However, OnePlus has often proven stubborn when it comes to introducing other features common in rival phones, such as IP resistance and wireless charging.

There is no guarantee that all of these changes, along with the redesigned interface and the introduction of a one-handed mode also shown off here, will be realized. However, given the demand, there is no good excuse for OnePlus not to make the changes live for all users.

OnePlus has also just launched the final developer preview of OxygenOS 11. This is not yet an automatic download to one's OnePlus device, as it is intended for developers and enthusiasts to try and test before launch.

OxygenOS has a good reputation among Android users thanks to its clutter-free design that makes only small changes to the stock Android experience that you would get on a Pixel phone, for example. Samsung's One UI comes with a lot of bloatware in the form of Samsung-specific apps, but it also includes many useful features that OnePlus phones have lacked so far, such as an always-on display option.

According to Google's schedule, Android 11 (based on OxygenOS 11) is nearly complete, and the latest version of Android will probably first appear in the OnePlus 8T series. The update will be available soon for the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus Nord.