OriginOS 6 India Registrations Begin September 29, But Rollout Could Be Limited to X Series Initially

Vivo has officially confirmed the arrival of OriginOS 6 in India, its next-generation Android skin that will replace Funtouch OS on new devices. The Android 16-based interface is set to launch in India on October 15, just days after its first reveal in China. But before that, users will get the chance to sign up for the OriginOS 6 Preview Program starting September 29.

A Shift Away From Funtouch OS

For years, Vivo and iQOO smartphones in India have shipped with Funtouch OS, while Chinese users enjoyed the sleeker OriginOS. That split is finally ending. Starting with OriginOS 6, Indian devices will carry the same branding as China, aligning Vivo’s global identity. This marks the first time Indian users will get the full OriginOS experience instead of a renamed version.

The change was recently hinted at by iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya, who said Funtouch OS would soon be phased out in favor of OriginOS. Vivo India has now confirmed that shift, calling OriginOS 6 a “smoother, smarter, and more personal” experience.

Launch Timeline

Here’s how the rollout is planned:

• September 29: Preview Program registrations open in India and globally.
• October 10: Vivo will showcase OriginOS 6 at the Vivo Developer Conference in China.
• October 15: India launch set for the “Brave New Origin: 2025 Global Launch Event” in Shanghai.

This means Indian testers who join the preview will already have access to the OS before its official global reveal.

What’s New in OriginOS 6

OriginOS 6 is being marketed as a redesign built on top of Android 16. Vivo says it focuses on natural visuals and user comfort, part of what it calls a “Comfort Engineering” approach. Some teased updates include:

• A redesigned lock screen with transparent themes and real-time rendering for natural lighting effects.
• A new transparent color palette that blends UI elements with wallpaper backgrounds.
• Improvements to AI Eraser, now working with Live Photos to remove objects or people.
• New AI lighting effects for photos.
• A shake-to-group sharing feature that expands on Vivo’s earlier touch-to-share.

According to Shankar Singh, iQOO India’s DGM of Product Management, developers will also get early access to a beta build, helping Vivo fine-tune the software before it rolls out widely.

Which Phones Get It First

The Vivo X300 Pro, Vivo X300, and the upcoming iQOO 15 will be the first phones to ship with OriginOS 6 out of the box.

Only for the X Series - For Now

A new tip from Paras Guglani (@passionategeekz) suggests that OriginOS 6 will initially be exclusive to Vivo's X series in India. That means the A series, Y series, T series, and even the V series might not get the new software right away. If true, this would limit the reach of the update in the short term, with broader availability coming later.

Vivo hasn't confirmed this restriction yet, so the official announcement on October 15 will be key to understanding the rollout strategy.

Why This Matters in India

Indian users have often criticized Funtouch OS for being heavy and inconsistent compared to rivals like One UI and OxygenOS. By finally unifying the software identity across markets, Vivo is signaling a new direction. For India, it means no more watered-down branding — the same OriginOS experience that Chinese users get will now come directly to Vivo and iQOO phones sold here.