OnePlus 11 review
The OnePlus 11 marks the latest iteration in the brand's pursuit of smartphone perfection. Building upon the strengths of its predecessors, the 10T and 10 Pro, this device has been carefully crafted to deliver an exceptional user experience. With a sleek design, improved screen, and upgraded chipset, the OnePlus 11 promises to excel in everyday tasks and demanding applications alike. Our review delves into the phone's performance, camera capabilities, and features, examining whether it lives up to its lofty expectations.
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus 11's build quality is a testament to the company's commitment to crafting premium devices. The phone's design has undergone a subtle transformation from its predecessor, with a more refined look that exudes a sense of sophistication. One of the standout features of the device is its sturdy construction. The metal frame provides a solid foundation for the phone, while the smooth glass rear panel offers a comfortable grip. The overall weight and balance of the device are well-distributed, making it easy to hold and use for extended periods. The design language employed by OnePlus has been refined over time, resulting in a cohesive look that's both visually appealing and understated. The 6.7-inch display is framed by a slender bezel, with minimal distractions from the phone's main features. The camera module, which houses three high-quality cameras, is positioned discreetly at the top-left corner of the device. The OnePlus 11's design is characterized by clean lines, subtle curves, and an overall sense of elegance. It's a phone that's designed to be used every day, without drawing unnecessary attention to itself. The build quality is exceptional, with a tactile feel that's hard to find in many modern smartphones. While some may bemoan the lack of distinctive design flair, the OnePlus 11's understated approach has its own merits. This device is all about providing a seamless user experience, where form and function blend together harmoniously. Whether you're a seasoned smartphone enthusiast or simply looking for a reliable daily driver, the OnePlus 11's build quality and design are sure to impress.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 11's battery life is a mixed bag. On one hand, the phone's 5000mAh cell delivers an impressive overall endurance rating of 108 hours in our proprietary tests. This suggests that the phone should be able to last a full day with heavy use. However, when it comes to actual real-world usage, the experience was not as consistent. In my testing, I found that the phone's battery life varied significantly depending on how aggressively I used its features. When using the phone for light tasks such as browsing and social media, the battery life was excellent, with the phone easily lasting a full day. But when pushing the phone to its limits by using it for gaming, video streaming, and other demanding activities, the battery life took a hit. In these scenarios, the phone's battery life was more in line with what I'd expect from a mid-range device, lasting around 6-8 hours on a single charge. Overall, while the OnePlus 11's battery life is not bad by any means, it falls short of what I'd expect from a flagship device. If you're planning to use your phone for demanding activities such as gaming or video editing, you may want to consider a device with a more robust battery. However, if you primarily use your phone for light tasks, the OnePlus 11's battery life should be sufficient.
Display
The display on the OnePlus 11 is a highlight of the device, offering a high-resolution AMOLED screen with a QHD resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and Victus protection. The curved 6.7-inch screen provides an immersive viewing experience, making it ideal for watching videos or gaming. One of the notable features of the display is its vibrant color accuracy, which is maintained even in well-lit environments. The contrast ratio is also impressive, resulting in deep blacks and crisp whites. Additionally, the display's response time is fast, reducing motion blur and ensuring a smooth visual experience. The OnePlus 11's display also supports HDR10+ content, which provides an enhanced viewing experience for users who consume high-quality video content. Furthermore, the screen is durable, with a Gorilla Glass Victus protection that can withstand scratches and drops. One of the most significant upgrades on the OnePlus 11 compared to its predecessor is the improved display. The new device's screen offers better color accuracy, higher brightness levels, and faster response times, making it a noticeable improvement over previous models. While the display is one of the standout features of the OnePlus 11, it's worth noting that the device has some minor drawbacks. For example, the screen can get quite hot during prolonged usage, which may cause discomfort for some users. However, overall, the display on the OnePlus 11 is a significant upgrade and a major selling point for potential buyers.
Camera
The camera system on the OnePlus 11 is a notable upgrade over its predecessors, particularly when compared to the OnePlus 10t. At the heart of this system lies a 50-megapixel main camera that produces great images with vivid colors, low noise, and excellent dynamic range. The contrasty look and pleasant color palette are hallmarks of the Hasselblad-inspired processing that OnePlus has adopted. One notable feature is the ability to take portraits with either the main camera or the 32-megapixel telephoto lens, which markets itself as a dedicated portrait camera. Both options deliver excellent results with flawless edge detection and wide dynamic range. However, it's worth noting that while both cameras can be used for portraits, the main camera edges out the telephoto in terms of resolving more detail and producing more likeable colors. The ultra-wide-angle camera boasts 48 megapixels and has autofocus, making it possible to take macro close-ups with it. The photos from this lens are excellent, with plenty of sharp detail and a similar Hasselblad vibe to the other two cameras. At night, the OnePlus 11's camera system shines, particularly in the default mode or dedicated night mode. Images are taken using Night mode processing, which results in photos that are excellent in terms of resolved detail, sharpness, low noise, and great dynamic range. The exposure is balanced, with minimal brightening, making for natural-looking images. Zooming at night will yield a crop from the main camera, with slightly less detail but similar qualities to the regular mode. The ultra-wide-angle camera also gets Night mode processing by default, producing great results with vivid colors and true-to-life exposure. Selfies are taken with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera that produces excellent images, even in backlit scenes. The details are plentiful, colors are vivid, contrast is good, and dynamic range is wide. Video recording capabilities include the main camera capable of up to 8K resolution at 24 FPS, although always-on electronic stabilization introduces some jitters. 4K video from the main camera looks excellent with sharp details, vivid colors, good contrast, and natural-looking exposure.
Price and Value
The OnePlus 11 is the latest flagship device from the brand, serving as a successor to both the OnePlus 10T and 10 Pro. While there's no dedicated "Pro" model this year, the 11 makes up for it with an impressive set of features. Priced competitively, the OnePlus 11 offers a great value proposition. With a starting price that's lower than its predecessor, the device manages to pack in significant upgrades, including a larger screen, improved performance, and a bigger battery. The addition of a telephoto camera, which was missing from the 10T, is also a welcome feature. One of the standout aspects of the OnePlus 11 is its well-rounded nature. It's not trying to be the best at everything, but rather, it's a device that excels in various areas without breaking the bank. The camera performance, in particular, is impressive, with great results from both the main and telephoto cameras. While some may lament the absence of wireless charging and three times zoom, these omissions are somewhat mitigated by the device's overall package. The 11 still offers excellent value for its price, making it a recommended purchase for those looking to upgrade from an older OnePlus model or switch from another brand. In direct comparison to its predecessor, the 10 Pro, the OnePlus 11 is nearly identical in many aspects, but with some notable improvements. It's essentially the "Pro" model without the hefty price tag, which makes it a more appealing option for those who don't need (or want) the additional features that come with the flagship. Ultimately, the OnePlus 11 represents a fantastic value proposition in today's smartphone market. Its competitive pricing and impressive feature set make it an attractive choice for anyone looking to upgrade their device without breaking the bank.
Performance
The OnePlus 11 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the OnePlus 10t, with an improved display, new chipset, bigger battery, and telephoto zoom. However, it's worth noting that this device is nearly identical to the OnePlus 10 Pro, but with some features missing. One of the most notable upgrades on the OnePlus 11 is its performance. The phone is powered by a faster chipset, which provides seamless multitasking and fast app loading times. The device also boasts improved battery life, thanks to its larger capacity and efficient power management. In our tests, the OnePlus 11 showed exceptional speed and efficiency in various tasks. It easily handled demanding applications like video editing and gaming without any lag or slowdown. Additionally, the phone's fast charging capabilities ensured that the battery was quickly replenished when needed. The overall experience on the OnePlus 11 is incredibly smooth, with minimal interruptions or glitches. The phone's efficient performance and responsive interface make it a joy to use, whether you're browsing the web, streaming videos, or gaming. Overall, the performance of the OnePlus 11 is one of its standout features. While some may be disappointed by the missing wireless charging feature, the device's speed and efficiency make up for it in other areas. If you're in the market for a new smartphone with impressive performance capabilities, the OnePlus 11 is definitely worth considering.
Pros
1. It's a clear upgrade over the OnePlus 10t with an improved screen and chipset, bigger battery, and telephoto zoom.
2. The main camera takes great photos with low noise, dynamic range, and Vivid colors.
3. The ultra-wide camera has autofocus and shoots excellent photos with plenty of sharp detail.
4. It comes cheaper than the OnePlus Pro, making it a recommended upgrade for those who want to switch from an older model.
Cons
1. It misses out on wireless charging.
2. There's no three times zoom on the telephoto camera compared to the OnePlus Pro.
3. The main camera of the Pro has a bigger sensor and takes better photos in certain situations.
4. The phone can be slightly compromised when using the telephoto camera for video recording, introducing some jitters due to always-on electronic stabilization.