OnePlus Replaces Alert Slider with a Button for Streamlined Control

Get ready to say goodbye to the iconic OnePlus Alert Slider, as after nearly a decade of loyal service OnePlus is replacing it with a customized button similar to the iPhone's action button. The big question on everyone's mind, though, is whether this move is actually a step forward for OnePlus fans, or if it's a misstep.

For years, the Alert Slider has been a signature feature of OnePlus phones, allowing users to quickly switch between sound profiles—silent, vibrate, and ring—with a simple flick. It’s been a fan favourite since its debut on the OnePlus 2 in 2015, offering a tactile and intuitive way to manage notifications without even unlocking the phone.

But times change, and so do smartphones.

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau recently announced that the Alert Slider will be replaced by a customizable button, promising a “more personalized and adaptive user experience.” The new button, rumoured to be called the “Magic Cube Key,” will allow users to assign various functions, from muting the phone to launching apps or even triggering shortcuts.

OnePlus briefly removed the slider on the OnePlus 10T. Fans were so vocal that the company brought it back just months later. This time, though, it seems the slider is gone for good.

Only time will tell if OnePlus made the right call. The customizable button is interesting, sure, but die-hard fans seemed to love the Alert Slider. This bold move by OnePlus signals, it is trying to blend new ideas with what made them special.