OnePlus' OxygenOS front-end is one of the best things about the company's phones, but it has always lacked an always-on display mode, a feature commonly found on rival devices OnePlus tested this feature for the release of the OnePlus 6, but in 2018 this device was not included in the final software when it shipped.

OnePlus announced this year that it would finally include an always-on mode, but little has been seen or heard about it; OnePlus co-founder Pete Lau tweeted a graphic with the caption "11 on display." hinting that the long-requested feature will debut in OxygenOS 11 (based on Android 11).

Additionally, Android Police obtained screenshots of OnePlus marketing videos shared on Chinese social media.

It is indeed distinctive. While most always-on modes only show the clock, date, and weather, and perhaps an icon for notifications, OnePlus' approach is more visually unique, with a rainbow-colored bar running vertically across the display, representing the time the device is in use. The break in the bar represents screen time, and in a sense, the always-on screen provides a snapshot of the status of digital wellbeing at any given point in time.

At the top is the number of times the phone has been unlocked throughout the day, and at the bottom is a notification icon.

While this is a clever and useful look, one wonders how OnePlus could have mitigated the impact of the always-on display mode on battery life. Presumably, that is why the company decided not to include this feature in earlier models, even though virtually every other Android device manufacturer (including Google) has adopted it. That said, the upgrade will allow the OnePlus 8 to catch up significantly with rivals such as the Galaxy Note 20 and Google Pixel 4a.

Recent OnePlus phones have had good battery life, with the OnePlus 8 Pro exceeding 11 hours in a custom battery test in 60Hz mode.

The video unearthed by Android Police also includes several other suggestions for an always-on interface that OnePlus seems to have abandoned. Looking at these mockups, it seems like it was the right move: some show 80s neon-style concentric circles, while others show a blurry digital clock that seems to be of no use whatsoever.

It remains to be seen when OxygenOS 11 will be released to the public. However, the final developer preview of the software will reportedly be released on August 10, meaning that OnePlus' always-on display technology could arrive in time for the rumored OnePlus 8T this fall.