OnePlus has confirmed it’s replacing its iconic Alert Slider with a customizable button, not explicitly an “AI button,” as announced by CEO Pete Lau in a March 2025 community post. The new button, likened to Apple’s Action Button, will retain the ability to switch between sound profiles (silent, vibrate, ring) without waking the phone, while offering expanded functionality like launching apps, toggling the flashlight, or taking screenshots. Lau emphasized that this “smarter, customizable button” aims to provide a more personalized experience and optimize device space, potentially hinting at future AI-driven features, though no specific AI functionality was confirmed. The change has sparked mixed reactions, with some fans lamenting the loss of the Alert Slider’s tactile simplicity, while others see potential in the new button’s versatility. No specific debut device was named, but rumors suggest it could appear on models like the OnePlus 13T or OnePlus 14.
