OnePlus’ ethos has always been more phone for less money, and while that’s still the case with the OnePlus 11 5G, the definition of less money has changed since the brand’s first Android smartphone was released nearly a decade ago .
With prices still undercutting those of Samsung and Apple, and boasting flagship-level specs, build quality and features, it’s easy to see the appeal of OnePlus’ latest handset. If you’re looking for a 6.7-inch smartphone with an advanced processor, you’ll have a hard time beating the OnePlus in terms of per-pound/dollar spec. But does that also make the OnePlus 11 the best smartphone for AV enthusiasts? Not quite, but it’s certainly a compelling argument for itself.
Price
The OnePlus 11 costs £729 / $699 / AU$1199, which is pretty reasonable by modern flagship smartphone standards. That gets you 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, but you can also opt for a 16GB RAM and 256GB storage model for a total price of £799 / $799 / AU$1399. In a strange move from OnePlus, it seems that the base model only comes in the Titan Black finish, while the upgraded model only comes in Eternal Green.
The closest Android competitor at this price is the Samsung Galaxy S23 (£849 / $799 / AU$1349), and while we’ve only spent a short hands-on time with that device, we can say with certainty that it’s a smaller , screen with a lower resolution. On the iOS side, the closest competitor is the iPhone 14 at £849 / $799 / AU$1399. But that too has a lower resolution, a lower refresh rate and a smaller screen, although specs aren’t everything on paper, as we’ve learned by now know very well.
To build
We find the OnePlus’ unique design somewhat subjective. While the textured back glass looks smooth and adds much-needed grip to this fairly hefty handheld, the ridiculously large circular camera cluster is nothing short of an eyesore. OnePlus has tried to integrate the metal body into the phone’s frame in a fluid design reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy S21, but it doesn’t negate the clunky bulging optical module that takes up about a quarter of the phone’s rear. takes.
Flip to the front of the device and you’ll find a 6.7-inch screen that curves very slightly over the edge for a minimalist design with thin bezels. There’s a single hole-punch camera tucked away in the top left of the screen, keeping content largely clear of obstacles – unlike Apple’s notch approach.
The OnePlus 11’s metal and glass build feels solid and sufficiently heavy without becoming cumbersome, and it features the return of the iconic switch that can toggle the phone between ring, vibrate and silent modes after it was missing from the 10T from last year. Overall, the OnePlus feels suitably luxurious for the price, with a pleasant mix of quality materials.
Functions
The OnePlus 11 5G includes pretty much all the advanced Android smartphone features you’d expect. We’ve already mentioned the screen’s expansive 6.7-inch size, but it also has a QuadHD+ resolution (1440 x 3216) with a pixel density of 525ppi. It reaches a claimed peak brightness of 1300 nits (practically comparable to the iPhone 14) and has a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming. The screen also supports HDR in Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, which is a really nice touch when you consider that Samsung only provides HDR10+ on its more expensive Galaxy S23. It’s a lot for your money.
The phone even extends its impressive feature set to the audio department with support for Dolby Atmos on the device’s “Dual Reality” stereo speaker setup, as well as through headphones. You won’t find a headphone jack on this phone, as you’ll find on almost all modern smartphones (except Sony’s Xperia line), but you do have Bluetooth 5.3 with support for LE, A2DP and aptX HD codecs. You can also connect a wired headset to the USB-C port via a third-party adapter.
OnePlus 11 5G technical specs
Screen size 6.7 inches
Screen type AMOLED
Screen resolution 1440×3216 (525ppi)
Finishes x2 (Titan Black, Eternal Green)
Operating system Android 13 (Oxygen OS)
Storage 128GB/256GB
RAM 8GB/16GB
In addition to this phone’s non-AV oriented features, there’s the aforementioned camera cluster, which consists of three lenses: a 50MP main lens, a 32MP telephoto lens and a 48MP ultra-wide lens, meaning you should be covered either way you are shooting. The 11 features Hasselblad branding on the rear camera array, as OnePlus has partnered with the camera company for many of its recent models. Taking a photo with the OnePlus gives us a decent image, although the Pixel 7 and iPhone 14 can still be beaten in the smartphone camera game.
The OnePlus also gets Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which keeps the OxygenOS system (based on Android 13) running smoothly. We’ve yet to run into any bugs or glitches with the OnePlus 11, but the OxygenOS is a bit cartoony for our taste. Thankfully, no unnecessary bloatware apps seem to come pre-installed on the system, freeing up internal storage space for apps, photos, movies, and music.
The OnePlus’ battery life is solid, with a 5000mAh cell powering the device. It’s backed by OnePlus’ SUPERVOOC 100W charging tech, which claims to charge the device from one to 100 percent in just 25 minutes. Charging is indeed super fast, thanks to the included fast charging plug, which is a rarity these days. It’s wired charging or nothing with the 11, though, as it doesn’t support wireless charging, despite the company including this feature in last year’s OnePlus 10 Pro.
Image
There’s plenty to like when it comes to the OnePlus 11’s screen, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given the specs. We set the phone to the cinematic picture setting, with QHD+ resolution for our testing, as we think it’s the optimal setup for viewing content on this display. Boot up Motivation on Netflix, the OnePlus’ strengths are immediately apparent, with plenty of texture detail in The Driver’s skin, even when he’s shrouded in shadow during the thrilling opening sequence.
The black depth is also very solid, with the AMOLED panel producing true blacks. This adds convincing depth to the night sky, as well as the segments of the car interior that are completely obscured by shadow. This goes well with the decent handling of contrast, particularly when a beam of light hits The Driver’s silver jacket, creating a reflective glow while retaining a solid amount of detail from the jacket’s material.
Contours are sharp and well-defined against the background, and skin, clothing, and environmental textures all retain a good amount of detail. The OnePlus’ screen is much larger than the iPhone 14’s, but it’s also more pixel-dense, and it seems to make good use of that extra density for the most part, with plenty of integral detail despite the more cinematically large screen.
The OnePlus isn’t quite perfect though, and it becomes abundantly clear that the iPhone performs better when they’re placed side by side. The iPhone produces a slightly sharper image with more balanced colors. The OnePlus has a bold and bold display that looks great in some cases, but it’s clear subtlety isn’t the main priority as the iPhone’s image feels much more authentic by comparison.
Also in terms of contrast, the iPhone demonstrates its capabilities during this opening scene of Motivation while a nighttime aerial view overlooking the streets of LA pops up much more on the Apple phone. This is thanks to its ability to extract more precise bursts of light from the streetlights and car headlights that pierce the night sky and shaded streets.
The OnePlus tries to make the most of its big, bold and sharp screen, but it generalizes a bit too much and misses some of the necessary nuances needed for a truly cinematic experience. That said, you’ll definitely have a pleasant experience viewing content on the 11’s screen, especially if you like a bit of pizzazz to your shot.
Sound
Sound quality is undoubtedly the weakest aspect of the OnePlus 11, as it fails to impress when it comes to both the speakers and headphone performance. Starting with the supposedly Atmos-enabled speakers, we don’t hear the spatial prowess OnePlus claims to be capable of. The thumping electronic soundtrack of Motivation sounds a bit thin and lifeless, though he switches to Tidal to play The XX’s Crystallized, we do get a hint of dynamism. We’re well aware that there aren’t any smartphone speakers that can be described as objectively good, but some are better than others, and the iPhone’s is better than the OnePlus’, especially in terms of depth and dynamics.
The performance of the headphones, while clearly better, is similar in character, as the OnePlus presents music with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. There’s not much in the way of dynamics and drive here – something that will become apparent when Crystallized reaches its supposed crescendo, which dies out on the OnePlus. Again, the iPhone showcases the OnePlus’ shortcomings, as there’s a lot more texture in the vocals and instruments, as well as a bit more energy to keep the track engaging. Overall, the OnePlus isn’t unpleasant to listen to through the speakers or headphones, but it doesn’t really impress either.
Pronunciation
When it comes to affordable smartphones, the cheaper options keep getting better. Just look at the Nothing Phone (1), or the Sony Xperia 10 IV, which proves that solid AV performance on a smartphone doesn’t have to be expensive. That said, the OnePlus represents a step up from these devices, with a nicer build, better cameras and top-notch everyday performance, making it a really solid choice if you’re looking for your next Android smartphone.
With a screen that’s easy to enjoy thanks to its impressive specs for the price, and a disappointing but harmless audio performance, the OnePlus 11 offers great value for money, and that’s really its main draw. OnePlus set out to create a flagship device that undercuts the competition when it comes to price, and it’s largely succeeded in its mission.
TO SCORE
- Functions 5
- Image 4
- Sound 3
MORE:
Read our review of the Nothing Phone (1)
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Read our iPhone 14 judgement
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