If you are holding a OnePlus 15 right now, check your notification center immediately. OxygenOS is pushing a massive update that completely transforms how you use your device for photography and gaming. The latest firmware version OxygenOS 16.0.2.401 is officially rolling out in Europe and India starting today. It packs a nostalgic Neon camera filter and a crucial battery health feature that power users have been demanding for years.
Cinematic Photography Gets a Major Boost
OnePlus is clearly listening to the creative community with this latest drop. The headline feature here is undoubtedly the new Neon filter integrated directly into the native Camera app.
This is not just a standard color overlay. The Neon filter is engineered to replicate the legendary CineStill 800T film stock aesthetic. Photographers love this film for its unique ability to create a soft halation effect around bright light sources.
Think about walking through a city street at night. Usually, phone cameras try to suppress the glare from streetlights or neon signs to keep the image sharp. This new mode embraces that glow. It turns harsh artificial lights into atmospheric, glowing orbs that bleed slightly into the shadows.
This creates a moody and cinematic vibe that was previously only possible with third party editing tools or expensive analog gear.
We tested similar effects on previous software builds, but this native integration suggests a deeper processing level. It likely uses the ISP to separate highlights in real time before the image is compressed.
- Best Use Cases for Neon Filter:
- Rainy city streets with reflective pavement.
- Portraits taken near storefront signs.
- Night markets with colorful lighting.
- Concerts or festivals with heavy stage lights.
The update ensures that night portrait shots look more organic. It moves away from the clinical sharpness that modern smartphones often force upon us. It gives your photos character.
OnePlus 15 smartphone running OxygenOS neon filter update and bypass charging menu
Bypass Charging Saves Battery Health
Mobile gamers often face a difficult choice. Do you keep playing while plugged in and risk overheating the phone? Or do you stop playing to let it charge?
OnePlus has solved this dilemma with the introduction of Bypass Charging.
This feature is a game changer for anyone who uses their OnePlus 15 for extended sessions. When you enable this mode while plugged into a charger, the power from the wall adapter bypasses the battery completely.
The electricity goes straight to the phone motherboard to power the processor and display. The battery sits idle.
Since the battery is not charging or discharging, it does not generate heat. Heat is the number one enemy of battery longevity and performance.
Why Bypass Charging Matters:
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Reduced Heat | Keeps the phone cool during heavy 3D gaming or rendering. |
| Better Performance | Processors throttle speeds when hot. Cooler phones run faster. |
| Battery Longevity | Reducing charge cycles extends the overall life of the battery cell. |
| Safety | Lowers the risk of the device becoming uncomfortable to hold. |
This feature was previously seen on dedicated gaming phones like the ASUS ROG series. Seeing it land on a mainstream flagship like the OnePlus 15 is excellent news. It bridges the gap between daily drivers and specialized gaming hardware.
Smarter Gallery and UI Enhancements
The OxygenOS team did not stop at hardware features. They have significantly polished the software experience within the Photos app and the home screen interface.
Finding specific media is now much faster. The update introduces new categorization options within the Photos app filter menu. You can now sort by Motion Photo or specific edited files.
The most technical improvement here is the thumbnail parsing logic.
Previously, if you had thousands of photos, scrolling fast could result in gray boxes appearing while the phone struggled to render previews. The new update changes how these thumbnails are parsed.
The system now prioritizes visible images more efficiently. This results in a buttery smooth scrolling experience even if your gallery is full of 4K videos and high resolution RAW files.
Home screen customization also gets a nice quality of life upgrade. You can now drag to resize app clone icons specifically.
The system also allows you to rearrange shortcut icons after resizing. This sounds minor, but for users who obsess over their home screen layout, it offers a level of precision that stock Android often lacks.
“User interface fluidity is defined by these small micro interactions. The ability to resize and arrange icons seamlessly makes the phone feel more personal.”
Crucial Fixes and Security Patches
Beyond the flashy features, this update addresses some irritating bugs that users have reported on forums over the last few months.
The most critical fix relates to vehicle connectivity. Several users reported that their car display would disconnect randomly when the phone switched data networks.
Imagine driving using navigation and your screen goes black just because your phone switched from 5G to 4G. That is dangerous and frustrating. This update patches that handshake protocol to ensure a stable connection regardless of signal fluctuation.
The update also refines the subtitle system. The logic for ending subtitles is now smarter. It detects when sound input stops and automatically cuts the subtitle stream.
This prevents that awkward situation where the last spoken sentence remains stuck on the screen during a long silence.
Update Details at a Glance:
- Version: OxygenOS 16.0.2.401
- Security Patch: December 2025
- Regions: Europe and India (rolling out now), US (coming soon).
- Size: Approximately 850MB (varies by region).
The rollout is staged. This means a small percentage of users get it today to ensure there are no critical bugs. If everything looks stable, a broader rollout will happen over the next few days.
If you are in the US, do not panic if you do not see it yet. Since the device is currently up for pre-order, the update will likely be waiting for you out of the box or arrive immediately upon activation.
This update proves OnePlus is committed to refining the software experience long after the hardware launch.
The combination of artistic tools like the Neon filter and practical utilities like bypass charging makes this an essential download. It balances fun with function perfectly.
We recommend downloading this update over Wi-Fi to save your mobile data plan. Ensure your battery is above 30 percent before hitting the install button.
Tell us what you think about these changes. Are you excited to try the CineStill style photos? Or is the bypass charging the winner for you? Let us know in the comments below. If you capture any cool shots, tag them with #OnePlus15Neon on social media so we can see your creativity in action.
