Ryan Haines/Android Authority
TL; DR
- OnePlus has quietly updated Zen Mode with a new name, new icon, and tons of new features.
- Zen Space, as it’s now called, includes two Zen modes: Deep Zen and the new Light Zen.
- There are also new themes, Always On Display progress status, weekly dashboards, and more.
The presence of Zen Mode was one of the talking points of the previous look of Oxygen OS on older OnePlus smartphones. This app essentially locks your phone with your consent, forcing you to assess the real world around you. It was a great way to untie your phone and all the always online personalities. With the launch of the Nord CE 3 Lite, OnePlus has quietly updated Zen Mode with a redesign and a few new features.
OnePlus forum member Some_Random_Username teased the newly updated and redesigned Zen Mode app in the forum thread. The app is now called Zen Space, and it has a new icon in its v13.1.9 update to celebrate this minor rebranding.
However, the biggest change is in the core functionality of the app. Previously, Zen Mode would lock you out of your phone and make most functions inoperable for the duration you specified. You can only use the camera to click pictures and make and receive emergency phone calls. With the update, there are now two Zen Mode options to choose from: Deep Zen and Light Zen.
Deep Zen will be familiar to Zen Mode users as the classic shutdown function that was previously available. Light Zen is what’s new in the update. This mode allows you to allow certain apps to run while in Light Zen mode. You can also exit the mode if you need to use any apps outside of your allow list. This way, you can force a softer limit to get some distraction-free work done without severely compromising your ability to use your phone.
Light Zen mode includes two presets: Work and Study. These rely on the Work Life Balance feature to populate the list of apps that will remain available. You can also make your own choices.
Other changes to Zen Space include updated themes, the ability to choose from a wider range of time periods, and the ability to see Zen’s progress on the Always On Display. There are also new achievement medals and a dashboard with your weekly stats.
It’s strange that OnePlus didn’t highlight a rather significant change in one of its defining features. Zen Mode / Zen Space is under the radar for many users, but it’s invaluable to those who use it regularly.
The updated Zen Space app is available on the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite (which we expect to be released in the US as the Nord N30). We expect the update to reach other OnePlus users through the Play Store update soon.