OnePlus AI and iPhone-like Plus Key aim to make phones smarter and simpler

OnePlus isn’t new to hardware tricks, but its latest reveal – OnePlus AI – taps into the software space and aims to be more than just marketing buzz. Instead of throwing a handful of AI features into a settings menu, OnePlus is building a layer of intelligence that’s integrated, seamless, and yes, actually usable.

Launching with the OnePlus 13s on June 5, this isn’t your typical ‘smartphone with AI’. It’s a rethink of how phones should work with you, not just for you. Alongside, there’s also the Plus Key. A new customisable hardware button that can be mapped to anything from switching sound profiles to launching translations. But its connection with OnePlus AI transforms it from a possible gimmick into something practical.

The Plus Key and the Plus Mind

The Plus Key is your gateway to AI Plus Mind, a smart system that can not only save but also make sense of the clutter we all pile into our phones, like screenshots, event invites, and reminders. With a three-finger swipe or a tap of the Plus Key, users can toss information into a digital ‘Mind Space’, where AI scans, understands, and organises it. Got a screenshot of a dinner reservation? Plus Mind extracts the details and adds it to your calendar.

The system also supports AI Search, allowing users to find saved content with natural language queries. Think “Find my boarding pass from last week” instead of scrolling through countless folders. Plus Mind’s sorting and contextual understanding are set to improve with upcoming updates, nudging you with reminders or re-surfacing relevant content when it thinks you’ll need it.

OnePlus AI: More than a gimmick?

OnePlus AI is bursting at the seams with an array of practical AI features. AI VoiceScribe records, summarises, and translates calls and meetings. AI Call Assistant (initially rolling out in India) provides live translations and automated summaries right in the Dialer app. AI Translation isn’t just text-based, it’s a unified experience across text, voice, camera, and even screen content.

For photo buffs, AI Reframe suggests creative compositions, and AI Best Face 2.0 (coming later this year) will improve group shots by fixing closed eyes or awkward expressions, even if the photo wasn’t taken on a OnePlus phone.

ALSO READ: Google Beam to Gemini 2.5: Everything announced at Google I/O 2025

What’s interesting is OnePlus’s partnership with Google Gemini, which will integrate Google’s AI smarts into the system. Gemini Live will let users interact with the phone in real time, analysing what the camera sees or interpreting information displayed on-screen.

OnePlus is also emphasising its Private Computing Cloud (PCC), promising that AI features will prioritise on-device processing. When cloud processing is necessary, data is encrypted and handled within a Trusted Execution Environment from device to server, ensuring your information stays locked down.

OnePlus AI rollout timeline

The first rollout of OnePlus AI starts on June 5 with the OnePlus 13s. It will then expand to other OnePlus 13 series devices, and eventually more models. If OnePlus sticks the landing, it might just turn what feels like a ‘nice-to-have’ feature into something you can’t live without. To stay up to date with all things tech, follow Unboxed by Croma.