In a move that's sure to send shockwaves through its passionate fanbase, OnePlus has officially confirmed the removal of one of its most iconic hardware features: the Alert Slider. Replacing it on upcoming devices, starting with the highly anticipated OnePlus 13 series, is a new button dubbed the "Plus Key," designed primarily as a gateway to the company's burgeoning AI ecosystem.
For years, the Alert Slider – that satisfying physical switch letting users instantly toggle between Silent, Vibrate, and Ring modes without even glancing at the screen – has been a hallmark of the OnePlus experience. It was a tangible piece of hardware that fostered muscle memory and offered unparalleled convenience, often cited by loyal users as a key differentiator from competitors. Its removal feels akin to Apple ditching the headphone jack; it's a bold, potentially divisive statement.
So, What's the Plus Key?
Instead of the three-position slider, users will now find a single, programmable button on the left side of the frame. While OnePlus confirms it can be configured for some traditional functions (like quickly launching the camera or a flashlight), its primary purpose is clear: activating AI features.
Pressing the Plus Key will instantly trigger OnePlus's "Mind" AI platform. This suite of artificial intelligence tools, which OnePlus has been heavily investing in, promises capabilities like real-time translation, context-aware summarization of articles or meetings, advanced image editing tools in the gallery, and potentially deeper system-level optimizations.
"AI is the future of personal technology, deeply integrated to anticipate and simplify," stated a OnePlus spokesperson in a recent community update. "The Plus Key provides immediate, tactile access to this powerful intelligence, putting our most advanced features literally at your fingertips. It represents a significant evolution in how users interact with their OnePlus devices."
Fan Outcry and Practical Concerns
The announcement, detailed on the OnePlus Community forums, has been met with significant backlash from long-time fans. Many view the Alert Slider as core to the OnePlus identity and a major usability advantage.
- "Sacrilege!" wrote one prominent forum member. "The Alert Slider was THE reason I stuck with OnePlus. This feels like abandoning what made you unique."
- Others expressed practical concerns: "So now I need to unlock my phone, navigate an AI menu, or dive into settings just to quickly silence it? That's a massive step backwards in usability," commented another user.
- Skepticism about the AI focus is also prevalent: "Is the AI truly useful enough daily to warrant sacrificing such a perfectly functional hardware feature?"
The AI Push is Real
Despite the controversy, OnePlus is doubling down on AI. The company sees it as the next major battleground in smartphones. Their Mind AI platform aims to compete with offerings like Google's Gemini Nano and Samsung's Galaxy AI, focusing on seamless integration and on-device processing for privacy and speed. The Plus Key is the physical manifestation of this strategic shift.
What About Upcoming Phones?
This change isn't limited to just the flagship OnePlus 13. Reliable sources, including leaks reported by GSMArena, suggest the upcoming, more compact OnePlus 13S will also launch without the Alert Slider, featuring the Plus Key instead. This indicates the change is likely permanent across the premium lineup.
Availability and The Trade-Off
The first phone featuring the Plus Key (and lacking the Alert Slider) will be the OnePlus 13, expected to launch later this year. Pre-orders and detailed specs are anticipated soon. You can expect to see it featured prominently on retailers like Amazon upon release.
(Image concept: Side-by-side render of an older OnePlus phone highlighting the Alert Slider vs. a new OnePlus 13 render showing the single Plus Key button in the same location. Caption: "End of an Era: The Alert Slider (Left) vs. The New AI-Centric Plus Key (Right)")
The Verdict: Innovation or Misstep?
OnePlus is making a high-stakes gamble. While pushing AI accessibility is forward-thinking, removing a beloved, functional, and truly unique hardware feature risks alienating the core user base that helped build the brand. The success of the Plus Key hinges entirely on whether OnePlus's AI features prove to be so indispensable, convenient, and revolutionary that users forget the tactile simplicity of the Alert Slider.
Only time, and user adoption, will tell if the Plus Key becomes a celebrated innovation or a head-scratcher that prompts a swift reversal in a future generation. One thing is certain: the physical identity of the OnePlus phone has fundamentally changed.
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