One of the many useful features that debuted with OxygenOS 9.5 on the OnePlus 7 lineup was called Zen Mode. It locked you out of your own device for 20 minutes, giving you the break you need from staring at a screen and focusing on things around you. All the non-essential functions become inaccessible, leaving solely the camera and calling features available for use. You cannot simply turn off Zen Mode and the 20-minute timer will have to run its course to unlock all features once again.
Well, OnePlus has today made available a standalone Zen Mode app on Google Play Store which hints at its impending arrival on older OnePlus phones. The app is compatible with OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro at the moment, so you cannot just go ahead and run it on any other Android smartphone. I have already tried it on my Nokia 7 Plus and Galaxy Note 10, both of whom do not support Zen Mode.
Zen Mode may not work on third-party Android phones, but its availability on the Google Play Store means that it could soon become available on the OnePlus 6, 6T and 5T lineup. The company has already confirmed that older-gen devices in their portfolio will get this feature, so it could be prepping for that, especially with the nearing OnePlus 7T launch.
The Zen Mode app has been updated to now offer users a choice between 4 different time limits — 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, and 60 minutes. It also adds a ‘Scheduled Reminder’ feature that sends notifications to remind users to set up Zen Mode for that day. I mean, it is one of the best apps for those looking to cut down on smartphone use and want something more restrictive than just the myriad of Digital Wellbeing tools.
Download the Zen Mode app from Play Store (Free)
