Vivo has officially unveiled OriginOS 6 for global markets, marking a major shift from its long-running FunTouch OS. While fans have waited years for the premium OriginOS experience to expand beyond China, the update comes with a twist — it borrows heavily from Apple’s iOS 26 in both design and feel.
For years, Vivo has maintained two distinct Android skins. Chinese users enjoyed OriginOS, known for its polished animations, creative widgets, and futuristic interface. Meanwhile, global users were limited to FunTouch OS, which offered speed and simplicity but lacked the sophistication of its Chinese counterpart. Now, that gap is closing — albeit with a noticeable Apple-inspired makeover.
OriginOS 6 Global: A Fusion of Two Worlds
The new OriginOS 6 (Global) isn’t a direct port of the Chinese build. Instead, it’s a hybrid blend of FunTouch OS 16 and OriginOS elements, designed to align with Android 16 while offering a refreshed user experience.
At first glance, you might not notice major differences. The app drawer, home screens, and navigation remain familiar. But subtle aesthetic tweaks — especially in the notification shade, control center, and icon design — make the new skin stand apart.
Icons are smoother, rounded, and flatter — echoing iOS’s minimalistic style. The transitions are more fluid, and the use of transparency and blur effects adds a sense of depth that feels unmistakably Apple-esque.
iOS 26 Vibes in Notification Shade and Quick Settings
The most significant visual overhaul appears in the notification panel and quick settings menu. Pulling down from the top reveals large, pill-shaped tiles with semi-transparent backgrounds and blur layers — strongly reminiscent of iOS 26’s Control Center.
Each tile now features soft lighting effects that adjust dynamically based on wallpaper tone. There’s also a sleek volume slider just below the brightness bar, a feature seemingly inspired by Samsung’s One UI.
While it looks modern, not everyone is pleased. Long-time FunTouch users argue that the new layout sacrifices efficiency — showing one fewer quick toggle than before. The absence of tile resizing, a popular feature in Google’s Material You design, also disappointed customization fans.
Still, the interface feels cohesive and fluid, giving the impression that Vivo’s design team aimed for elegance over density.
Updated Apps and Smarter Home Screen
Several core apps — including Phone, Albums, and Messages — have been redesigned with rounded edges, pastel icons, and softer text elements. Vivo has also added an “App Suggestions” section beneath the app dock, similar to iOS’s “Siri Suggestions.”
The home screen now supports enhanced widgets, a major highlight of OriginOS since its early days in China. Global users can finally enjoy the same slick widget system that was previously exclusive to the Chinese market.
Widgets Galore: Function Meets Style
OriginOS 6 introduces a wide range of new and redesigned widgets for global users. Among them:
- UV and PM2.5 Index Widgets: Perfect for real-time air quality and sunlight tracking.
- Device Battery Widget: Displays the charge levels of connected accessories such as earbuds or smartwatches.
- Quick Notes Widgets: Let users jot down reminders or thoughts directly from the home screen.
- Calendar and Health Widgets: Enhanced with more visuals and glanceable data.
Each widget is framed within expressive boxes that echo Material Design 3, giving the home screen a tidy, card-like aesthetic.
Fresh Features: Flip Cards and Motion Prompts
Beyond visuals, OriginOS 6 brings several clever features to enhance usability and interactivity.
One of the most exciting is Flip Cards — a playful function that uses the phone’s accelerometer to flip through lock screen wallpapers when the device tilts left or right. It’s a small yet delightful touch that adds motion and personality.
Another thoughtful addition is Motion Prompts — moving dots on the screen that help combat motion sickness for users who get queasy while reading or browsing in a moving vehicle. This feature, first introduced in China, shows Vivo’s commitment to accessibility and comfort.
The Return of Lock Screen Widgets and a Familiar Clock
The lock screen has received a noticeable makeover. Lock screen widgets are back, allowing quick access to essentials like music, weather, and notes without unlocking the device.
Even more striking is Vivo’s take on Apple’s 3D clock design. The new clock dynamically interacts with wallpapers, appearing to sit “behind” foreground elements — an aesthetic first popularized by iOS 17 and now refined in iOS 26.
Couple that with Origin Island (Vivo’s version of the Dynamic Island), and the influence is hard to miss. Vivo has clearly drawn inspiration from Cupertino’s design book, blending it with Android’s flexibility.
Deeper PC and Mac Integration
A major win for productivity enthusiasts: OriginOS 6 (Global) introduces native PC and Mac connectivity. This was once exclusive to Chinese OriginOS devices but now expands worldwide.
Users can install the Office Kit app on their computers to:
- Mirror their phone’s screen in real time.
- Transfer files seamlessly between devices.
- Sync notes and clipboard content instantly.
While integration with Apple Watch remains missing (available only in China), this feature still represents a massive leap for Vivo’s ecosystem approach. It puts Vivo closer to competing with Samsung DeX and Windows Phone Link integration.
Five Years of Smooth Performance
Vivo also emphasized software longevity. The company claims OriginOS 6 is SGS-certified for five years of smooth operation, thanks to optimized animations, resource management, and improved background efficiency.
This certification could boost user confidence, especially as smartphone buyers increasingly demand long-term reliability alongside regular Android updates.
AI Features Come to Global Vivo Phones
No modern update is complete without AI integration, and OriginOS 6 delivers a handful of smart tools. Users can now access:
- AI Writing Assistant: Helps summarize long notes or rephrase text.
- Smart Translation: Works across apps, chat, and browser windows.
- AI Summaries: Generates condensed overviews of lengthy web pages or articles.
However, some advanced tools still require an active internet connection — including recorder transcription, which disappointed those hoping for on-device processing.
Compared to Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 10, Vivo’s AI suite feels less mature, but it’s a promising start.
Missing in Action: China-Exclusive Features
While global users finally get OriginOS, not every feature from the Chinese version has made the cut. Missing features include:
- Live Photo Object Eraser: For removing unwanted objects from photos in motion.
- Shake-to-Share: A fun shortcut for instant file transfers.
These omissions may stem from regional software restrictions or global optimization priorities. Still, fans hope they’ll arrive in future updates.
OriginOS 6 Beta Program and Availability
Currently, Vivo OriginOS 6 Global Beta is available for two flagship devices:
- Vivo X200 Pro
- iQOO 13
The beta lets users test new features, report bugs, and preview the refreshed UI ahead of the stable rollout. Vivo hasn’t announced an exact release date for the stable build, but sources suggest it could arrive by late November 2025.
A Familiar Story: Android OEMs Embracing iOS Design
Vivo isn’t alone in this trend. Over the years, several Android manufacturers have borrowed design elements from Apple — from Xiaomi’s Control Center to Realme UI’s notification blur and Oppo’s iconography.
What makes OriginOS 6 stand out is how openly it leans into iOS-like aesthetics while trying to maintain Android’s functionality. The transparency, blur layers, and dynamic UI cues are undeniably pleasing — but purists might find the imitation unnecessary.
FunTouch OS, for all its quirks, had its unique identity. It was bold, bright, and unapologetically Android. OriginOS 6, on the other hand, feels like a compromise between Apple’s calm precision and Android’s flexibility.
User Reactions So Far
Early user feedback is mixed. On forums like Reddit and Vivo Community, some global users praised the refreshed design, calling it “modern” and “visually premium.” Others, however, criticized it for being too Apple-inspired and removing some of FunTouch’s signature customization options.
Tech reviewers also pointed out the irony — after years of Android skins evolving away from iOS mimicry, some brands are now circling back.
Still, most agree that performance and animation smoothness have significantly improved. App launch times are faster, transitions feel fluid, and system navigation is more consistent.
Verdict: A Step Forward, With an iOS Shadow
OriginOS 6 for global Vivo phones is a major milestone for the brand. It unifies design philosophies across regions and finally brings several long-awaited features to international users.
Yet, the update leaves a mixed impression. On one hand, it’s smooth, polished, and visually pleasing. On the other, it feels like a diluted identity — an Android experience wearing an iOS coat.
Whether that’s good or bad depends on the user. Fans of clean, elegant design will love it. But those who valued FunTouch OS’s distinctiveness might feel nostalgic for what’s being replaced.
Either way, the message is clear: Vivo is ready to compete globally — even if it means borrowing a page from Apple’s playbook.