Surprise! OnePlus 10 Pro Gets OxygenOS 16, Beating OnePlus’ Own Update Promise

OnePlus 10 Pro owners, rejoice, as the smartphone has begun receiving the Android 16-based OxygenOS 16 update in India. This comes as a surprise, as Android 15 was supposedly the last update for the flagship and the update to Android 16 goes beyond the manufacturer's original software commitment.

OnePlus 10 Pro gets OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16

In a surprising update, OnePlus' software team head Winkey posted on OnePlus Community that the brand is rolling out OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16 to the OnePlus 10 Pro. The update is currently rolling out to users in India and will soon expand to users in the EU and other regions.

For those unaware, the OnePlus 10 Pro launched with Android 12, and it was guaranteed three major OS updates. By that math, the phone had already reached its End of Life when it received Android 15. However, the arrival of Android 16 marks its fourth major OS update, effectively making the handset relevant for another year.

This quiet policy shift aligns the OnePlus 10 Pro with the brand's modern support standards of four years of major updates, which it introduced with the OnePlus 11. It is an instance of a manufacturer over-delivering on a past promise, which should leave early buyers of the flagship extremely happy.

Although this is not the first time OnePlus has over-delivered. The last time we saw OnePlus roll out an additional update was with the OnePlus 3 and 3T. The smartphones weren't supposed to receive Android Pie (9), but the brand delivered, citing that it was one of the most ambitious offerings that deserved the extra update.

For those still waiting for the update, OnePlus has started rolling it out in batches to Indian users first with the build number NE2211_16.0.3.500(EX01). Therefore, it may take a few days to a few weeks to reach all the units. 

For users who assumed their OnePlus 10 Pro had hit its ceiling with Android 15, this update should add significant value. The OxygenOS 16 feature list is massive, with UI changes and optimisations all across the board. OnePlus 10 Pro users who were looking to upgrade can now postpone their phone purchase plans.