By the end of 2024, I made the upgrade from my dependable OnePlus 11R to the far more powerful iQOO 12. The hardware leap felt incredible, but the software setback hit just as hard. Moving from the cleaner and more cohesive OxygenOS to FunTouch OS was harder than I had anticipated. And, as much as I loved the iQOO 12 for its brute performance, battery stamina and overall reliability, Funtouch OS remained my only compromise.
Well, I have lived with that compromise for an entire year at this point, right until OriginOS 6 finally arrived on my iQOO 12. And now, after weeks of using it, I can confidently say that OriginOS 6 is the redemption arc Vivo and iQOO users may have been waiting for.
OriginOS 6 brings a modern visual identity that feels
Credit where it's due, FunTouch OS has improved significantly over the years, offering a more stable and feature-rich experience in the latter years. However, that polish and modern identity were still missing and having switched from OxygenOS, the transition was almost disorienting. System icons felt cartoonish, animations were abrupt, and just the basic UI flow felt stuck in a past Android era.
So, like many users, I tried everything, from launchers and icon packs to lock screen customisations and uninstalling bloat, only to not feel at home. OriginOS 6 flipped the entire experience to the point that it felt like I had upgraded to a different phone altogether. The UI hasn't just received a fresh coat of paint but has been reimagined with a sense of maturity, fluidity and intent that Funtouch OS simply could never achieve.
OriginOS 6 has this modern design language that immediately sets the tone for the entire experience. The icons have been completely reworked and are now flatter, cleaner and more effortlessly premium-looking. The colour palette is softer as well, giving the interface a calmer and more elegant aesthetic.
However, it is the Liquid Glass-inspired aesthetic that steals the show. The subtle transparency effect breathes new life into system elements like the notification shade, quick settings panel, widgets and even parts of the lock screen. It's not at all flashy and gives the UI a sense of depth that Funtouch OS didn't have. It never felt overdone and the balance is precise, tasteful and thoroughly modern.
Animations that finally flow, not fight
One of the biggest differences OriginOS 6 brings is the fine-tuning of system animations. Whereas Funtouch OS often felt like it rushed from one action to the next, OriginOS 6 takes a more fluid, connected approach. Unlocking the phone, opening and minimising apps, or swiping through the Recents screen, every interaction feels smooth, deliberate and visually consistent.
Not to mention that the haptic integration is deeper now and finally feels just about right. My iQOO 12 has a pretty good vibration motor, but Funtouch OS barely utilised it. OriginOS 6 changes this completely. From the volume slider to the toggles in the quick access panel, there's better haptic integration now. It's one of those small touches that turns everyday interactions into something satisfying.
OriginOS 6 is smarter with Origin Island and dynamic interactions
One of the best OriginOS 6 features is Origin Island, Vivo's reimagining of Apple's Dynamic Island on iPhones. Sitting at the top of the display, it acts as a dynamic hub for ongoing tasks such as music playback, timers, active calls and system alerts.
But where Origin Island truly stands out is its support for drag and drop interactions, coming in handy for me more times than once. Being able to pull texts, links or images directly from the island into messaging apps or notes and vice versa feels surprisingly natural. While at first it seemed like a deceptively small feature, it quickly became indispensable.
However, OriginOS 6 doesn't stop there, and the UI polish extends far beyond. The Recent apps menu now adopts a stacked layout that's not only cleaner, but also more efficient to navigate. However, OriginOS 6 also gives you the option to go back to the previous Funtouch OS layout here.
Moving on, the redesigned volume panel is sleeker and more compact now, making the entire interaction feel less cluttered. Meanwhile, the quick settings panel has been reorganised into a more structured layout. I like how the volume menu is right in the quick settings panel now, and long pressing some toggles opens up more controls.
Notifications, a long pain point for Funtouch OS, are finally treated with the respect they deserve and are now neatly grouped and appropriately prioritised. They no longer sprawl across the screen in confusing clusters, and simply tapping upon a notification group reveals all the sub alerts.
Even the lock screen gets a major glow-up with fresh styles and Flip Cards, which is my personal favourite. Flip Cards are a nostalgic throwback to 3D stickers and change images as you tilt the phone, adding a playful and personal touch. While you can choose from different templates, you can also add up to four images of your own.
Even the fingerprint sensor isn't left out, and you can now add a custom emoji or text as the animation. Completely unnecessary but absolutely delightful, if you ask me.
OriginOS 6 is a big step forward, if not a perfect one
OriginOS 6 isn't flawless and there are moments when the Settings panel hesitates to open from Quick Settings and occasionally, heavy multitasking can trigger a micro stutter. After the update, my iQOO 12 has had a tough time being compatible with my IEMs and often times glitches out. These quirks don't exactly break the experience, but they do remind you that this is a platform still finding its footing.
Yet the overall transformation is unmistakably generous and finally feels like the software Vivo always wanted to build for its Indian user base. It's cleaner, smarter, faster and above all, more aesthetic than ever before. For the first time since I picked up the iQOO 12 or any Vivo/ iQOO phone for that matter, I'm enjoying the software not because I have to, but because it's actually fun to use.
If this really is the last chapter for Funtouch OS, it's a farewell that's long overdue. If you're waiting for the update, do check out our dedicated OriginOS 6 supported devices guide to get more clarity.
