Many Android device makers add custom user interfaces on top of Android in an attempt to add value and make their products stand out. Oppo is no different, loading its Android-based ColorOS on its hardware for some time now. Soon, though, Oppo device owners will have the option of using some different software.
Oppo’s AOSP ROM is exactly what it sounds like: An operating system that’s vanilla Android with a few small Oppo tweaks. The Oppo feature’s that’ll be included in this AOSP ROM are Pure Image, Oppo’s custom camera app, screen off gestures, and MaxxAudio enhancements. Outside of those tweaks, Oppo customers will have plain ol’ Android at their disposal.
It’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean that Oppo phones will ship with this AOSP ROM. They’ll still come out of their boxes with ColorOS, but owners will be able to easily install the AOSP ROM using the stock recovery if they’d like.
The Oppo Find 7 will be the first device to get Oppo’s AOSP ROM, which will be based on Android 5.1 at the outset. Beta tests for that project are already underway, with a public version expected to launch later in October. Updates for the Oppo R5 and R5s will follow, with the Oppo R7 to get its AOSP ROM in early 2016.
As for why Oppo is starting with Android 5.1 when Android 6.0 is now available, the company explains that this project is still early and that it’s still learning and tweaking. Oppo also says that it relies on its partners to create drivers for the chipsets in its phones. Oppo currently expects Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based ROMs to start pushing out in early 2016.
This is a pretty nice move by Oppo. The company claims that its ColorOS is popular with users, but the decision to offer a near-stock Android ROM that’s easy to install is sure to please folks that aren’t huge fans of ColorOS. This news of a near-stock AOSP ROM for Oppo devices could pique the interest of non-Oppo folk that value a stock or near-stock Android experience above all.