I'm glad Android is getting better animations, but I'm tired of this nonsensical 'test'

Animations are a part of basically any modern software, but there are only certain times when you actually notice them. On Android, one of the times it’s unfortunately common to notice animations is when they aren’t as smooth as they should be, and while I’m glad that’s getting better, it’s getting way too much emphasis on one specific area.

This issue of 9to5Google Weekender is a part of 9to5Google’s rebooted newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and other tidbits. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox early!

One of the common points you’ll hear from enthusiasts regarding iOS vs Android is how much smoother and polished Apple’s platform is, and a big part of that is in the attention to detail in the animations found throughout iOS. Android has gotten way better over the years in this regard, to the point where the vast majority of people can barely tell the difference, but there’s a vocal group that’s been pushing for further improvements.

This week, OnePlus showed off OxygenOS 15, based on Oppo’s ColorOS which was announced last week. In both cases, there’s a heavy focus on animations as there are some considerable improvements in these updates.

Thanks to a new “parallel processing” method, OnePlus and Oppo devices will be able to show smoother animations by allowing two to play at once. A great idea, but where’s the application?

The focus of this particular feature really seem to be on a “test” that’s been popularized online where a user will open up their phone and very rapidly open and close apps, often showing the footage in slow motion to see where the animations break off or lag as the test goes on. Frankly, it’s a ridiculous “test” because it doesn’t reflect how anyone actually uses their phone. It’s a stress test, absolutely, but I’d argue that animations aren’t “broken” in these tests when that’s not actually how people see them.

Regardless of that, though, it’s what inspired the improvements here, clearly, as OnePlus showed the same open-close-open-close “test” over and over again in a 17-minute video detailing what’s new in OxygenOS 15.

My point here isn’t to say that the work OnePlus and Oppo, and other brands, are putting in to improve their animations isn’t important. It is. We all want our phones to be smoother and faster. But to put so much emphasis on it just feels ridiculous. Animations, especially ones like these, are supposed to fade into the background and go unnoticed. When done right, no one notices these, and I just worry that putting so much attention on this takes away from things that actually matter, like the animations you’re supposed to notice.

What do you think?

This Week’s Top Stories

Snapdragon 8 Elite goes official

To lead off this week, Qualcomm officially announced 2025’s flagship chip for Android phones, the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The updated chip uses Qualcomm’s new Oryon tech that debuted on Snapdragon X Elite laptops and promises big power upgrades.

But this might run into some issues, as Arm this week reportedly issued a notice to Qualcomm that it would pull its license, putting the future of Oryon-powered chips in potential jeopardy.

OnePlus 13 is on its way

Alongside the reveal of OxygenOS 15, OnePlus also showed off the OnePlus 13 in China this week ahead of its official launch on October 31. The device has a new design, easily headlined by a flat display.