OnePlus Alert Slider to Be Replaced by Customizable Button in Future Phones

OnePlus has officially announced that its signature Alert Slider will be transitioned into a customizable button, similar to Apple’s Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro. The move, revealed in a community blog post by OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, comes after three years of discussions about enhancing the functionality of the Alert Slider.

Why Is OnePlus Replacing the Alert Slider?

The Alert Slider has been a beloved feature on OnePlus smartphones, allowing users to switch between silent, vibrate, and ring modes without unlocking their device. However, Lau stated that the company has been working on ways to make it more versatile while still retaining its core functionality.

“I know this is a big change. And I know it’s not easy to accept. The Alert Slider holds a special place in the hearts of our Community, and we don’t take that lightly,” Lau wrote in the blog post.

This announcement also comes after backlash from the OnePlus community in 2022, when the OnePlus 10T omitted the Alert Slider, prompting concerns that the feature might be permanently removed.

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What Will the New Button Do?

While OnePlus hasn’t detailed all the functionalities of the new button, it will likely offer customizable actions, allowing users to map different features like launching apps, controlling the camera, or activating shortcuts. This shift aligns with the growing trend of customizable buttons seen in modern smartphones:

• Apple Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16E ($599)
• Samsung’s Galaxy S25 ($800) Side Button, which can be programmed for different functions

Which OnePlus Phones Will Get the Customizable Button?

OnePlus has not confirmed which upcoming models will introduce the new customizable button, but the announcement suggests that future devices will gradually phase out the traditional Alert Slider.

While OnePlus typically releases new flagship models in winter, the new button could first appear on a lower-cost Nord series device, which follows a less predictable launch schedule.

What This Means for OnePlus Users

The Alert Slider has been an iconic part of OnePlus phones, and replacing it with a customizable button is a significant shift. However, custom buttons are becoming the new standard in premium smartphones, offering users more control over device functionality.

For now, OnePlus fans will have to wait for more details on how the new button will function and which models will debut the change.