Grok AI Review: Zomato & Swiggy food delivery updates on OnePlus AOD

Kireeti Varma
Mar 15
4 min read

Updated: Mar 18

Me: "Give me a detailed analysis of how OnePlus phone users received the feature of Zomato & Swiggy integration on AOD in OxygenOS 13"

Grok: ...

The integration of Zomato and Swiggy into the Always-On Display (AOD) feature in OxygenOS 13 was a notable addition for OnePlus phone users, particularly those in India, where these food delivery apps are widely popular. This feature aimed to enhance user convenience by providing real-time updates on food orders directly on the lock screen without requiring users to unlock their devices or open the respective apps. Below is a detailed analysis of how OnePlus users received this feature based on available information, user sentiment, and the broader context of OxygenOS 13’s development and rollout.

Introduction of the Feature

OxygenOS 13, based on Android 13, was officially announced by OnePlus on August 3, 2022, with a focus on a refreshed "Aquamorphic" design, performance improvements, and enhanced customization options. Among the standout features was the revamped AOD, which had been a point of praise in previous OxygenOS versions for its aesthetic and functional versatility. With OxygenOS 13, OnePlus expanded the AOD’s capabilities by integrating contextual information, including partnerships with third-party apps like Spotify, Zomato, and Swiggy. The Zomato and Swiggy integration allowed users in India to track food delivery statuses—such as order confirmation, preparation, pickup, and estimated arrival time—directly on the AOD and lock screen.

This feature was initially highlighted during the OxygenOS 13 announcement, with OnePlus noting that it was exclusive to India due to the regional popularity of these apps. However, it wasn’t fully available in the early beta builds released in August 2022 for devices like the OnePlus 10 Pro. The integration required app authorization and specific system settings to function, indicating that its rollout was phased and dependent on updates to both OxygenOS and the respective apps.

Usability and Functionality

The implementation itself was straightforward: users needed to enable the "Contextual Info" or "Food Delivery AOD" option in the AOD settings and grant necessary permissions to Zomato and Swiggy. Once set up, the AOD would display a minimalistic widget-like interface showing delivery progress. This worked best when the apps were actively tracking an order, pulling data such as the delivery partner’s location or ETA directly onto the screen.

Users who tested the feature appreciated its simplicity and the fact that it reduced the need to constantly unlock their phones—a small but meaningful convenience. For example, a user on X might have posted about ordering from Zomato, locking their phone, and still staying updated via the AOD, calling it "a game-changer for lazy weekends."

User Reception

User reception of the Zomato and Swiggy AOD integration can be broken down into several aspects based on reviews, tech blogs, and community feedback:

Positive Feedback

Convenience: Many users appreciated the ability to glance at their food delivery status without unlocking their phones. For instance, a tipster on March 9, 2023, described the Contextual Info feature as “incredible,” highlighting its utility for Zomato and Swiggy alongside Spotify. This sentiment was echoed in posts on X, where users in late 2024 (e.g., December 11, 2024) expressed excitement about the live alerts working seamlessly on the AOD and lock screen.
Regional Relevance: Indian users, in particular, found the feature valuable given the dominance of Zomato and Swiggy in the food delivery market. It aligned with OnePlus’s efforts to tailor OxygenOS for its large Indian user base.
Innovative AOD Use: Compared to other Android skins, OxygenOS 13’s AOD stood out for its interactive elements. Tech articles praised OnePlus for bringing “useful functionality” to the AOD, a feature often limited to static clock designs on competing devices.

Criticism and Challenges

Delayed Rollout: Early adopters of the OxygenOS 13 beta in August 2022 noted that the Zomato and Swiggy integration wasn’t available at launch. Reviews, such as one from Android Central on August 11, 2022, mentioned that the feature was absent in initial builds, leading to some disappointment among beta-users expecting immediate access.
Limited App Support: The integration was restricted to Zomato and Swiggy, leaving out other popular food delivery apps like Uber Eats or regional alternatives. This exclusivity frustrated some users who relied on different services.
Inconsistent Performance: Feedback from forums and X posts suggested that the feature’s reliability varied. Some users reported delays in updates or glitches, possibly due to app compatibility issues or OxygenOS beta optimization hiccups. For example, a user in December 2024 noted it “worked for the first time” after months, hinting at sporadic functionality or not being aware how to enable the feature.

Community Sentiment

On platforms like the OnePlus Community and X, reactions ranged from enthusiasm to mild indifference. Power users and tech enthusiasts celebrated the AOD’s evolution, often citing it as a reason OxygenOS remained competitive. Casual users, however, sometimes overlooked it, either due to lack of awareness or because they didn’t use Zomato or Swiggy frequently. By early 2023, as the stable OxygenOS 13 update reached more devices (e.g., OnePlus 9, 10 Pro, Nord series), the feature gained traction, with users being excited and sharing screenshots of delivery updates on their AODs.

Impact and Legacy

The Zomato and Swiggy AOD integration set a precedent for OxygenOS’s future direction, emphasizing localized features and third-party app partnerships. It influenced subsequent updates, such as OxygenOS 14 (released in 2023), which introduced additional AOD enhancements like the Carbon Footprint AOD, showing OnePlus’s commitment to evolving this feature. For Indian users, it reinforced OnePlus’s market focus, contributing to its strong presence in the region.

The Zomato and Swiggy AOD integration settled into a "nice-to-have" feature. Users who relied on it regularly—particularly in India—continued to appreciate its convenience, adding to the OxygenOS experience.

Conclusion

The AOD integration with Zomato and Swiggy in OxygenOS 12 was a bold, user-centric experiment that showcased OnePlus’s willingness to cater to specific markets. Its reception was positive: Indian users welcomed the convenience and novelty. For those it worked well for, it was a delightful addition; for others, it was a minor discomfort due to its unavailability outside India. The feature’s legacy lies in how it paved the way for more refined implementations in later OxygenOS versions, proving that with polish, such integrations could win over a wider audience.