2022 was an odd year for OnePlus’s top-of-the-line phones. The OnePlus 10 Pro 5G (Review) was the only top phone we got at the start of the year. There were no fresh phones after that. Oneplus 10 didn’t exist, but the OnePlus 10T 5G (Review) did. It had a faster SoC and didn’t have as many extras as the Pro, like the famous Alert slider. Now, the company has just shown off its first goods for 2023. The OnePlus 11R 5G and the OnePlus 11 5G are among them. Both smartphones have newer tech and a changed look with the Alert slider in place.
We’ll be talking mainly about the OnePlus 11 5G today. The 11 5G is like the 10 Pro 5G in spirit, even though it doesn’t have “Pro” in its name. This is because it has better hardware than the 10 Pro 5G, which gives it an instant edge. One thing it doesn’t have, though, is wireless charging, and it still doesn’t have an official IP rating. Are the improvements made to the OnePlus 11 5G worth giving up some of the extras we’ve come to expect from top-of-the-line phones? Let us find out.
OnePlus 11 5G Full Specification
| LAUNCH | |
| Announced | January 04, 2023 |
| First Release | January 09, 2023 |
| NETWORK | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| BODY | |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 74.1 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 205 g |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) Glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) Aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM |
| DISPLAY | |
| Type | LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3216 pixels |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| PLATFORM | |
| Operating System | Android 13, OxygenOS 13 (International) ColorOS 13 (China) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| CPU | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 740 |
| MEMORY | |
| Card Slot | No |
| Internal | 128GB/ 8GB RAM 256GB/ 12GB RAM 256GB/ 16GB RAM 512GB/ 16GB RAM |
| MAIN CAMERA | |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide) 32 MP, f/2.0, 48mm (telephoto) 48 MP, f/2.2, 115˚, (ultrawide) |
| Features | Hasselblad Color Calibration, Dual-LED flash HDR, panorama |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| SELFIE CAMERA | |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 25mm (wide) |
| Features | Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| SOUND | |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack | No |
| COMMS | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| FEATURES | |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro |
| BATTERY | |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 100W wired, PD, 1-50% in 10 min 1-100% in 25 min (advertised) |
| MISC | |
| Colors | Titan Black, Eternal Green, Jupiter Rock |
| Models | PHB110, CPH2449, CPH2447, CPH2451 |
| TESTS | |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Camera | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 108h |
OnePlus 11 5G Attractive Design
The OnePlus flagship phone has a new look for 2023. Instead of a square camera unit like the 10 Pro, it has a round one with metal edges that curve smoothly to meet the phone’s edge. The green color of my review model looks stylish and classy, and the curved glass on the front and back makes it friendly to hold.
Curving Glass and Metal Body
I like how the phone looks. It looks different from the ones that came before it, but it also looks like it belongs to the same family. If you break the glass, don’t worry too much because it is toughened Gorilla Glass. The new phone is better than the 10 Pro because it has an IP64 grade, which means it is waterproof. Not being waterproof on most models of the 10 Pro was a pain since that’s something we expect from all flagship phones. That’s why it’s good to see more government security here.
However, IP64 only protects against light drops of water. Competitors, such as the Pixel 7 Pro, iPhone 14 range, and Galaxy S23 range, all have IP68 ratings, which means they can withstand being submerged in water for at least 30 minutes. Still, IP64 is better than nothing, and it will help keep your phone safe when you’re on the phone in the rain.
Big Screen
The screen is big enough for mobile games at 6.7 inches, and the maximum resolution of 3,216×1,440 pixels makes everything look nice and clear (you can choose a smaller solution to get more battery life). It’s a SuperAMOLED panel with Dolby Vision HDR and HDR 10 Plus. This means it’s bright and clear, and it can show off HDR material correctly.
For high-intensity tasks like games, its adaptive frame rate can go up to 120Hz to keep things smooth. For less demanding tasks like web browsing or showing the always-on display, it can drop to just 1Hz to save power.
There is a fingerprint reader built into the screen that works well. Fans of OnePlus phones for a long time will like the alert button on the right side of the phone. This lets you quickly silence or vibrate the phone. Last year’s OnePlus 10T didn’t have the control at all.
OnePlus 11 Display
The OnePlus 11 has an OLED screen that is 6.7 inches and curves at the edges.
The screen looks good, and the 1440p resolution makes the details look even better. It also has a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1 Hz to 120Hz, thanks to LTPO 3.0 technology. If you use the Always-on Display (AOD) feature, the 1Hz choice is great because it uses less power than the other options.
Samsung E4 OLED Screen
Even though OnePlus doesn’t say what kind of panel technology it uses, unofficial sources say it’s an older Samsung E4 OLED screen instead of a newer E6 panel. This is a slight downside compared to other new phones from 2023, but I wonder if anyone who cares significantly about screen quality would notice.
You can see from the screen measurements above that this phone’s screen doesn’t get as bright outside as other phones’. You’ll have to squint more to read it on a sunny day. The minimum brightness number is also a worry, as it is way too bright for use at night and will make your eyes tired more quickly.
Optical Fingerprint
In terms of biometrics, the OnePlus 11 has an optical fingerprint reader built into the screen. It works quickly and correctly, so we have no complaints. You can also use the front camera to open your phone with your face. However, remember that this is a simple image-based 2D system that is less safe than Apple’s Face ID.
A brand-new buzzing motor that is 67% bigger than before is one of our favorite things about the OnePlus 11. For some reason, OnePlus calls it “the king of Android motors,” and we must agree. It feels exact. It has soft vibrations that let you type, and you won’t miss calls or updates. You can now support “double vibration” for the first time, which is very helpful in games. Now, other people in the Android space need to catch up.
OnePlus 11 5G Availability And Network
Since the company’s beginning, OnePlus has done a lot to make its phones easy for everyone to get, but this device is a step backward. This is excellent news for people who buy open. The OnePlus 11 can be purchased at Best Buy, Amazon, and the company’s website. The 128GB model with 8GB of RAM starts at $700. It’s also possible to add 256GB of RAM and 16GB of storage for an extra $100. The phone was released in early February 2023 and is now easy to get.
T-Mobile shops are the only places that don’t sell the OnePlus, which is a shame. The company has worked closely with the Uncarrier for a long time, but this item won’t be on store shelves. The brand is having a rough time, but that shouldn’t be a surprise, given how the mobile market is right now. According to new information, T-Mobile customers are still interested in the Nord series, but these top phones could be doing better.
But the OnePlus 11 will still work on T-Mobile’s 5G network. It will also work on Verizon, AT&T, and their MVNOs’ 5G networks. The company’s newest smartphone is no longer sold in carrier stores, which is a shame. But don’t worry—this won’t change how an open device works once you get it.
OnePlus 11 5G Camera Performance
This year, OnePlus has made some critical changes to its camera technology. In short, they’re a net plus, but the camera system still needs to be better than what you get on a Galaxy or Pixel phone. Here are the numbers as they are:
- Front-facing 50 MP f/1.8 camera with OIS
- 32 MP f/2.0 telephoto lens (no OIS)
- 48 MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera
- 16 MP, f/2.45, fixed focus for selfies
A spectral imaging sensor is built right next to the flash. It can pick up 13 color bands, whereas a regular image sensor can only pick up six to eight. This is done to help the system set the white balance more accurately. Some side-by-side shots with the OnePlus 10 Pro show that the 11 makes better decisions in bad light, so it’s hard to say if or how well it works. However, it doesn’t make a big difference in the shots whether the spectral sensor is covered or not. The better picture quality is probably because of another change: the color correction was redone.
Primary Camera
The primary camera on the 11 takes better photos with better colors and contrast than the 10 Pro, which tends to make indoor pictures too bright. A lot of people like what it does in bright, contrasty lighting. The colors are bright but not too bright, and the overall picture is warmer. There are times when HDR is too much, but OnePlus is one of many phone companies that do this.
The ultrawide camera on the OnePlus 11 is still excellent. It keeps details well and doesn’t get too noisy in low light. Things are different with the 2x zoom camera. When I move between the primary camera and the telephoto camera, especially indoors, the white balance seems to change a lot. This is when I wouldn’t say I like the way pictures from the telecamera look—they’re lighter and brighter.
Portraits Mode
OnePlus says that this year’s cameras are made to take portraits that look like they were born with specific Hasselblad lenses. If there is enough light, pictures look better because the blur in the background fades out more gradually. Not as much of that “cardboard cutout” look. That said, the telecamera’s sensor is so tiny that it has trouble keeping the shutter speed high enough to take clear pictures inside, even when the subject isn’t moving around much. Some phone makers are switching to telephoto photos that use a crop from the primary sensor’s high resolution. I wonder if OnePlus would also be better off making this change.
Video
The 11 Pro can record up to 8K/24p video, which is excellent if you can watch 8K video. We can choose between 4K and 1080, at 30p and 60p. The video clips look great. The AI Highlight setting at 1080 or 4K can reveal more information in scenes with low light or high contrast, but I wouldn’t say I like how it looks. If you shoot video inside in low light with this setting on, it will look too bright and rich.
The 11 is the best phone that OnePlus has made in years. There are no longer any problems with the company that I had before. It has changed a lot for the better. It now has the same firm software support policy as Samsung, with security updates for five years. The phone will work on the 5G networks of all three big US carriers right out of the box. Besides that, the performance is excellent, the screen is perfect, and the fast charging is impressive.
Some Lackings
The lower water resistance rating, lack of wireless charging, and poor picture quality are some of the things that the OnePlus 11 could do better. This year’s more reasonable price is a small comfort. A OnePlus 11 will cost you $699 this year, so if you want to get one, you’ll have to pay for it yourself. Big companies, not even T-Mobile, won’t sell it, so you can’t get your phone plan to pay for it.
That makes this phone much less helpful for people in the US. As for OnePlus fans, how many have been with us on this long, winding road to the OnePlus 11? If you are left-handed and don’t mind software that works best on OS X, this device is a brilliant deal. But a lot of other people have already moved on.
For anyone who isn’t a OnePlus fan, I hesitate to recommend the 11
I should not suggest the 11 to people who aren’t OnePlus fans. The Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch screen, much smaller than the Pixel 11. However, it has some features the 11 doesn’t have, like wireless charging and an IP68 rating. It also takes better pictures overall, even though it doesn’t have a specialized telephoto camera. The MSRP was $599, but it dropped to $499, making it cheaper.
If you want a device with a big, good screen and you want to pay a little less than Samsung does for one, the OnePlus 11 might be a good choice. If you wish for a “something different” phone, you might be the type of person OnePlus wants to attract. The OnePlus 11 is an excellent option for Samsung and Google, which I’m glad about. Most people only need to look at those well-known names, even though we all love an underdog.
OnePlus 11 5G Software and performance
In the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about the OnePlus software experience. This is especially true since Oppo, the parent company, has been trying to gain more control over its division. It’s not as clean of an Android build as OxygenOS used to be, but the latest version on this phone is still more than welcome. OxygenOS 13 is smoother and cleaner than One UI 5 or Google’s Android 13 Pixel, but it stays out of the way most of the time.
Ryne Hager, a former AP editor, wrote a review of the OnePlus 10 Pro last year. Most of the problems he pointed out have either been solved or have not bothered me in the previous few weeks of use. For instance, OxygenOS may not yet be able to recognize QR codes in its camera, but a Lens shortcut makes it easy to get to menus and other links. When I turned on my phone, Google Assistant and my T-Mobile SIM card worked fine. I also liked the customization options with Android 13.
It’s easy to turn off even the most annoying features like the swipe-down button that takes you to Shelf instead of the notification tray or that apps like Gmail and Instagram are locked to the multitasking menu by default. It’s easy to get OxygenOS somewhere between One UI and Google’s Pixel experience. Still, I wouldn’t say I like it as much as either of those, but it’s better than it was a year ago.
Special Features
This site has a lot of tools and features that are for more than just OnePlus fans. Until I turned it off after two weeks with the phone, the top of the settings page kept telling me to set up my Omoji, a virtual character that looks like me and is trying to use Apple’s Memoji for a different group. I wouldn’t say I like the other options, like Smart Sidebar, Kid Space, and Simple Mode. They’re all hidden in a “Special Features” menu near the bottom of settings, which makes it easy to miss.
Some Minor Problems
Still, there were some bugs that I saw from time to time. These are problems that the company can and should fix with future updates. Some minor problems I encountered with the phone were language issues in apps like Notes, crashes in the settings menu while changing options, and the gaming UI going away after I closed games like Genshin Impact. Still, none of these were deal-breakers; they were just minor annoyances.
Regarding Genshin Impact, the OnePlus 11 works just as well as expected. Over the past few years, the company has been involved in several throttling scandals. However, I’ve had no trouble getting games to run at their top settings on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that powers this device. For example, Genshin Impact is a great example. With all the settings on high, I saw an almost constant 60FPS speed, with only a few drops to around 58FPS. Some parts of the phone did get warm to the touch, but that was the only time I could tell. And even after running Genshin for a few hours, I still hadn’t killed the thing. But more on that later.
As 2023 comes to a close, OnePlus has one more significant advantage: a new and better upgrade policy. First, with this phone, the company will support specific devices with four important OS updates and security patches for five years. Users will still have to deal with patches every two months instead of getting an update on time every few weeks, but it’s a big step in the right direction. At the time, it also goes beyond Google’s own Pixel policy. The OnePlus 11 will get Android 17 in 2026, while the Pixel 7 series will only get Android 16.
OnePlus 11 5G Battery Life
The battery in the OnePlus 11 has a capacity of 5,000mAh, which is the usual for large Android flagship phones.
We found that the OnePlus 11’s battery life was about the same as last year’s model when browsing the web. However, it did worse on our test, where we played YouTube videos.
Video streaming works well on the OnePlus 11. It even beats the Galaxy S23 Ultra in that test. But when it comes to web browsing, the OnePlus 11 gets way below the average. Overall, you shouldn’t expect too much from the OnePlus 11 battery, but you shouldn’t be too disappointed either. Other phones, like the iPhone 14 Pro Max or Galaxy S23 Ultra, have better batteries that will last longer. This one, on the other hand, will easily last through a worse day.
Fastest Charge
The OnePlus 11’s charging speed is what makes it stand out. The fastest charge is 80W, or 100W if you live outside the US. This is a nice improvement over the 10 Pro. It only takes thirty minutes to charge, which is fantastic entirely!
The charging speeds are broken down below:
- 57% on 80W and 67% on 100W in 15 minutes
- In about thirty minutes (32 minutes on 80W, 27 minutes on 100W), it will be fully charged.
OnePlus says that even though the phones charge quickly, the batteries will not lose their health fast. However, they say that a battery should last about four years before it needs to be changed. This is two years longer than other companies’ batteries.
Of course, there are better charging speeds in the world than this. That honor goes to Xiaomi’s 210W charging system, which can fully charge a phone in less than 10 minutes. But you can’t buy those phones in the US. Currently, the OnePlus 11 is the fastest-charging phone in the United States.
There is an interesting fact that we saw in our study of the OnePlus 10T that the older phone had a 150W fast charger, which is even quicker.
The OnePlus 11 doesn’t have wireless charging, which might make some people sad. But if you ask us, this is a manageable loss when you look at how fast wiring charges things.
OnePlus 11 5G Competitors
The OnePlus 11 costs $700, which makes it one of the least expensive phones with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. It costs less than even the Google Pixel 7 Pro. This is excellent news for people who want to spend less money on a top phone.
When you compare the Galaxy S23 Ultra to the OnePlus 11, the OnePlus is cheaper, not as big, and charges faster. But the Galaxy has a better camera system with a more extended zoom range, the S Pen, and the Samsung Experience interface. Of course, the Galaxy costs almost half as much.
When you compare the OnePlus 11 to the Pixel 7 Pro, the OnePlus is cheaper and has a faster processor. It’s also better for games, charges faster, and takes better portrait photos. On the other hand, the Pixel gets Android updates immediately, has a unique user interface that many people like, a slightly better camera system overall, and some cool features like Call Screening and excellent voice recognition.
The OnePlus 11 is smaller and cheaper than the iPhone 14 Pro. It also charges faster and runs on the open Android system. The iPhone, on the other hand, has the iOS platform with long software updates, a slightly faster chip, better video recording quality, and cool features like Dynamic Island.
OnePlus 11 5G Verdict
At a starting price of Rs. 56,999, the OnePlus 11 5G is pretty cheap. The price is reasonable, even for the top-of-the-line model we looked at (Rs. 61,999), which is less than the iQoo 11 5G (Review). Because of the OnePlus 11 5G, you don’t need the better forms of the OnePlus 10T either. Wi-Fi charging is the only thing that would have made the 11 5G perfect, but if you don’t care about that, it shouldn’t matter. The OnePlus 10 Pro 5G is still helpful because it’s just a little behind the new model and (unofficially) waterproofs better and charges wirelessly much faster.
If you want a smartphone with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, the OnePlus 11 5G is a good option that builds on the good points of the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G and comes at a reasonable price.
Also Read: Oppo Reno 8 Pro-5G Review, iPhone 14 Pro Review.
