OriginOS has finally made its way outside China, replacing the oddly named but dependable FunTouch OS. The new OriginOS 6 will now serve as the default software for Vivo and iQOO smartphones in India and global markets. The beta is already live for the Vivo X200 Pro and iQOO 13, and I have been testing OriginOS 6 (based on Android 16) on the Vivo X200 Pro for the past three weeks.
To understand how far it’s come, I compared it directly with FunTouchOS 15 running on the iQOO 13, and the difference is immediate. With OriginOS 6, the brand has delivered what they call “smooth at origin”, and it genuinely feels like it. The software comes across as reliable, confident and of course, smooth. Let’s deep dive into what’s new and why this software update is worth anticipating, also why I believe it’s a win for consumers.
Table of Contents
Smooth animations & transitions
Right from the lock screen, it feels different. As soon as you enter the PIN in OriginOS 6, you are greeted by a translucent colour system with a dynamic glow effect. Every UI interaction, from number pads to the control centre toggles, has a subtle luminance that makes it feel premium and lively. Regarding the Always on Display, the transition of the clock feels smooth when you wake the screen, thereby enhancing the user experience.
The new card-stacking layout in notifications and recent apps gives the interface a 3D sense of layering, replacing the older tile layout with something cleaner and more immersive. Even system animations, such as the new charging and fingerprint scanner animations, have been redesigned with morphing ripple-like movements, giving you the impression of touching a waterbed.
Vivo’s OriginOS 6 also includes the Snap-up engine, which can detect ticket-booking scenarios and automatically prioritise resources for key actions like app launch, payment, and ticket confirmation, making the process simpler and smoother than ever before. It also optimises network performance at the kernel and hardware levels to ensure faster, more stable connections, keeping the network online and giving ticket-booking tasks top priority. It supports only selected apps that are widely used for ticketing. In my testing, the IRCTC Rail Connect and the BookMyShow app show a pop-up at the top of the screen when we start the app, which says “Snap-up Engine activated”. Also, it depends on which phone you are using, based on the processing power, like RAM, processor, etc.
Bevvy of customisation options
Customisation is another area where OriginOS 6 surpasses FunTouch OS 15. This update opens up a much broader playground for users to customise the lock screen and home screen. For starters, folders can now be resized vertically or horizontally or even assigned colours for better organisation. Additionally, you can now create folders in the app drawer. It’s a small but thoughtful addition that keeps the interface neat without losing personal flair. You also get several new home screen sliding effects and a new dock, which is not very useful but adds a unique depth effect thanks to the translucent theme.
Widgets also receive a major upgrade, featuring options for steps, timers, recorders, notes, and device management. The latter shows the battery levels of your phone and paired accessories. The weather app now adds widgets for UV index and PM2.5 levels, giving quick at-a-glance insights. It will save time for the users by getting a glance or interacting with the widget at the home screen, such as starting a timer or checking the battery levels of the paired earbuds.
The lock screen deserves special mention, too. By simply swiping two fingers inwards on the lock screen, you can enter a new customisation panel, a feature that seems to be loved by the users, which is why they kept it in the newer update, also, for easier access. Beyond just changing fonts and layouts, you can now resize the clock, adjust spacing between the digits, and even apply the same translucent theme as the clock digit font. This makes the experience more personalised and unique to users.
There’s also a fun new “Flip Card” wallpaper feature that lets you pick between two to four photos (or videos) as your lock screen, which subtly shifts when you tilt your phone left or right. It’s a delightful touch that makes the lock screen feel alive, and sometimes I like to play with it. There are other preset wallpapers like this. But that’s not all, now you can add widgets to your lock screen, including some interesting ones like sunrise and sunset times based on your location, UV index and PM 2.5 levels, steps tracking, and more, for easier access to key information. However, one feature I still wish to see is the option to add custom text to the lock screen.
AI Enhancements
While FunTouchOS dabbed in AI, OriginOS 6 fully embraces it. The update brings AI to nearly every corner of the interface, with some genuinely useful features. The standout addition is Origin Island, a pill-shaped floating element, which may seem identical to the iPhone’s dynamic island, but Vivo is claiming that it comes with personalised intelligence. It’s supposed to display live updates, smart suggestions and contextual actions.
Drag an image or text near the front camera area, and the Origin Island pops up with suggested apps where you may want to share or save the content, such as social media platforms or note-taking apps. In theory, it should instantly understand your content and suggest the best apps, while also considering your most-used apps. In practice, though, the recommendations feel static. No matter what my content was—whether in the image or the text, and also considering the frequently used apps, the same set kept showing up. For instance, dragging an image consistently brought up New Note, Office Kit, and Save to Albums, while dragging text suggested Snapchat, Uber and WhatsApp.
The suggestions remained consistent, since it is in beta, it could be happening. Maybe Vivo can address this in the public version or when the stable version rolls out. But this feature clearly aims to make multitasking smoother. Furthermore, if you copy a link, phone number or meeting details, Origin Island instantly offers relevant app suggestions such as browser, contacts or calendar, saving you a few extra taps. Other useful scenarios include music playback, navigation, audio recording, step counting, timing and more.
Additionally, the AI image expander extends image borders beyond what the camera captured, giving you freedom to reframe shots. AI UHD for restoring blurry images, some more like AI Erase and AI Colour Adjustment, are also available. In essence, these AI tools may not be revolutionary, but they add real-world convenience. They cut repetitive steps and make your phone feel more intuitive, not just intelligent.
Some more quirks in the Albums app, like Immersive view and pinch-to-zoom gestures, help you filter and rearrange photos, improving browsing and discovery. The Albums smart search has been upgraded with features similar to Google Photos. Simply type a keyword, and it helps you find relevant photos and videos.
AI search is also there, which helps you find anything stored in your device or out on the internet. But, during my testing, I couldn’t get it working properly.
Notable additions for everyday use
Beyond visual polish and AI features, OriginOS 6 packs practical enhancements that improve day-to-day usability.
- There’s a Battery Life Extender that gives you 4 minutes of call time at 1% battery, and a redesigned battery graph for better tracking than FunTouchOS.
- Bypass charging is enabled on the Vivo X200 Pro, although this feature may vary by model.
- The Private Space feature creates an encrypted section to store files, photos and apps, almost like a separate phone environment. You can access it by swiping left on the dock of the Home Screen.
- Sleep Comfort Mode gradually tones down blue light before bedtime, helping you fall asleep faster.
- Scam Guard monitors calls and messages for phishing attempts and scam patterns.
- Blank data authorisation helps you give blank data to apps that need access to your sensitive information, like call logs, contacts, etc.
- Overall, the phone’s system-wide haptic feedback also improved with the OriginOS 6.
- For motion sickness users, OriginOS also took care of that with the Motion prompts feature.
- When you click the album art in the media player on the lockscreen, it enlarges the art and makes it visually appealing.
- You get a new file manager app that was not there in the FunTouch OS before.
- When you charge the phone with the supplied charger, it now gives you an option to charge at normal or high speed.
- Now in the control centre, you can record the screen with one tap. Previously, in FunTouch OS, you had to go to the settings first and then start recording.
Enhanced Connectivity and Ecosystem Integration
One of the biggest under-the-radar improvements in OriginOS 6 is how it connects across devices. Instead of relying solely on Microsoft’s “Link to Windows”, Vivo now offers its own Vivo Office Kit, compatible with both Windows and macOS.
Install the Vivo Office Kit app on your Windows or macOS device, and you can transfer files, mirror screens and even control your phone from your PC. This feature is not fully optimised for global markets yet, but it’s working quite smoothly without any lags. The Task Handoff feature syncs notes across devices, but during my testing, it was not syncing properly. This cross-device integration in OriginOS 6 removes boundaries regardless of whether you use Windows or macOS.
There’s also Vivoshare, which supports file transfer between Vivo/iQOO phones and iPhones. But to make this work, ultimately, you have to download the “Easyshare” app on your iPhone. Still, it is encouraging to see cross-platform compatibility finally becoming a focus.
Areas for Improvement
Despite the polished UI, OriginOS 6 isn’t flawless. The translucent colour system isn’t consistently applied across all apps; it’s missing in first-party apps like Calculator, Dialer, Notes and Albums. I hope to see more animations and transitions incorporated in native apps in future updates. This could be because those apps haven’t yet been updated to the new design framework. Hopefully, Vivo extends these design elements system-wide in upcoming updates to make the experience more unified. Also, as this software is in beta, some features were not working properly.
Verdict
OriginOS 6 marks a turning point for Vivo’s software identity. It’s more than just a rebrand; it’s a complete rethinking of how the company wants its phones to feel. The focus on smooth animations, translucent layers, and responsive feedback finally gives Vivo’s UI the polish it has long needed.
With its deep AI integration, improved personalisation, and fluid design, OriginOS 6 feels like a major leap forward from FunTouch OS. It’s not flawless; some inconsistencies remain, and a few features still feel beta-stage, but the direction is clear and confident.
If you already use a Vivo or iQOO device, the upgrade to OriginOS 6 is worth anticipating once the stable build rolls out. For new buyers, it’s a solid reason to consider upcoming Vivo and iQOO phones, such as the iQOO 15 or Vivo X300 series, which will ship with the new OS pre-installed. The added AI tools, ecosystem sync, and refined design make them better long-term bets than older models running FunTouch OS.
While we tested the beta version, the improvements suggest future Vivo/iQOO devices running OriginOS 6 will offer a significantly enhanced user experience, making them worth considering for those prioritising software fluidity. In short, OriginOS 6 positions Vivo’s software right up there with ColorOS, OxygenOS, and One UI, offering a fluid, smart, and more human experience that finally feels global-ready.
