OnePlus is rolling out a fresh set of OxygenOS updates for three popular phones: the OnePlus 13, OnePlus Nord 5, and OnePlus Nord 4. Along with the January 2026 Android security patch, these updates focus on practical upgrades that improve everyday use—especially for people who game, stream, multitask, or keep lots of photos and files on their device.
OnePlus 13 update adds bypass charging and better photo editing
The biggest change arriving on the OnePlus 13 (OxygenOS 16.0.3.501) is a new bypass charging feature. This option lets the phone pull power straight from the charger instead of constantly cycling power through the battery first. In real-world use, that can be a big deal during high-load activities like gaming sessions, long live streams, extended video playback, or navigation with high screen brightness. The idea is simple: reduce heat and lessen battery wear that can build up from constant charging micro-cycles while the phone is under stress.
The Photos app is also getting a meaningful upgrade. After this update, you can edit full-resolution images up to 50 megapixels without the app degrading image quality—good news for anyone who actually shoots and edits at the camera’s highest resolution.
OnePlus is also refining the app drawer experience by improving app categorization and adding new “Office” and “Finance” categories to help automatically organize apps. On top of that, the update includes the January 2026 security patch to strengthen system protection.
More OnePlus 13 improvements in Private Safe and calling options
Beyond the headline features, the OnePlus 13 update expands what you can do inside Private Safe. You’ll now be able to browse files by sliding the side slider, search for files from within folders, and share files stored there.
There’s also a new calling-related toggle: “Reply with SMS.” This switch allows you to hide the SMS reply option on the incoming call screen. The setting can be found under Contacts, then the menu, then Settings, then Answer/End calls, then Reply with SMS.
OnePlus Nord 5 and Nord 4 updates focus on smarter tools and smoother navigation
OnePlus is also pushing OxygenOS 16-based updates to the Nord 5 and Nord 4 (OxygenOS 16.0.2.400 / 16.0.2.401). These updates are very similar between the two phones and are centered on quality-of-life features that make the software faster and easier to use.
One of the most noticeable changes improves Circle to Search activation. If you use gesture navigation and prefer a cleaner look by hiding the guide bar, you can now launch Circle to Search by pressing and holding the area where the guide bar would normally appear. It’s a small tweak, but it makes the feature far more convenient for people who’ve customized their navigation style.
The update also lets you launch storage cleanup tools directly from the Smart Sidebar, making it quicker to manage space without digging through menus.
Photos app enhancements come to Nord 5 and Nord 4 as well, including faster thumbnail loading thanks to an improved thumbnail parsing method. There are also new filter options in the Photos app, including Motion Photo, Screenshots & screen recordings, and Edited, which should help you sort large photo libraries more easily.
More home screen flexibility and Private Safe editing (plus a Nord 5 exclusive)
Both Nord models are getting improved home screen customization tools. After resizing an app icon and adding shortcut icons, you can now drag and drop those shortcuts to rearrange them. You can also resize app clone icons and add shortcuts for those clones.
On the OnePlus Nord 5 specifically, there’s an added home screen perk: support for stacking 2×1 widgets, which can help you use space more efficiently.
The Nord updates also bring a security-focused improvement through the January 2026 Android security patch. In addition, you can now edit images and videos directly in Private Safe without unlocking them first. And when opening the Phone Manager app, you may see a prompt to allow automatic blocklist updates over Wi‑Fi and mobile data, designed to improve detection and protection efficiency.
For now, these OxygenOS 16 updates are limited to users in India who are already running OxygenOS 16 (based on Android 16). OnePlus is expected to expand availability to more regions in the coming weeks.
