This OxygenOS 16 feature fixes my biggest annoyance with OnePlus phones

Source: Android Authority

Did you know about new controls for earbuds in OxygenOS 16?

The need for better controls

OnePlus has been selling AirPods‑rivaling wireless earbuds for a few years now, from the flagship Buds Pro 3 to the budget‑friendly Nord Buds. They offer solid sound, excellent codec support, spatial audio, and sound‑personalisation features.

The persistent annoyance has been the many steps required to change basic settings such as ANC mode. Until recently, the only way was:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Select the specific pair of earbuds.
3. Tap Earbud functions.

This workflow feels cumbersome, especially compared with Samsung Galaxy or iPhone, where the same actions are reachable in a couple of taps.

OxygenOS 16 brings new Quick Settings options

OxygenOS 16 (based on Android 16) adds a Quick Settings tile for Bluetooth earbud controls:

• The tile appears in the Quick Settings panel and can be placed like any other tile.
• Tapping the earbuds icon opens a dedicated page where you can:
  • Cycle between ANC modes (e.g., Off → Transparency → ANC).
  • View battery levels.
• A “Earbud Settings” shortcut at the bottom leads to the full settings page that previously lived inside the Bluetooth menu.

The Quick Settings overhaul also lets you move the brightness and volume sliders freely and add dedicated widgets for audio profiles, paving the way for OnePlus’s shift away from the three‑way alert slider.

Home‑screen widgets for added convenience

OxygenOS 16 introduces home‑screen widgets that control connected devices, including earbuds:

• Individual widgets let you manage each pair of earbuds separately (battery, ANC mode, etc.).
• Widgets display a clear image of the earbuds, making it easy to differentiate multiple devices.
• Widgets can be placed in a widget stack (though they cannot be resized).

This approach offers more flexibility than Samsung’s current implementation, which only controls the currently active pair.

My Devices manages more than earbuds

The My Devices feature, accessible via the Quick Settings tile or a dedicated widget, serves as a hub for all OnePlus‑compatible accessories:

• Manage audio devices, the OnePlus Pad’s stylus, tablets, PCs, and even iPhones that are set up with O+ Connect.
• Although the OnePlus Watch isn’t listed, the feature demonstrates OnePlus’s push toward a more cohesive cross‑device ecosystem.

Overall, the new Quick Settings tile, home‑screen widgets, and the expanded My Devices hub make controlling OnePlus earbuds (and other accessories) far more intuitive, eliminating the multi‑step process that previously annoyed many users.