OnePlus is a brand that once started with successful flagship smartphones. Then came the cool mid-rangers, but today we’re going to talk about the latest top-of-the-line OnePlus model – the 11 5G. Compared to the latest competitors, this is a fairly cheap flagship. We’re used to flagships with prices starting at $1100-1300. So is the OnePlus 11 5G a good smartphone that definitely doesn’t lack anything at a price of $650? Let’s find out.
In 11 5G, we will get a high-performance top-of-the-line chipset (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), a curved AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a QHD+ resolution (3216×1440 pixels), up to 16 GB of RAM, a 5000 mAh battery with 100W charging support, and the icing on the cake is three cameras with Sony sensors calibrated by Hasselblad specialists. That’s right, we have a top-of-the-line filling! And welcome to the review.
Read also: Realme 11 Pro review: A mid-ranger that looks like a flagship
Technical specifications of OnePlus 11 5G
- Screen: 6.7″ Fluid AMOLED, 3216×1440, 525 ppi, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on the back
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 gen 2 (1×3.2 GHz Cortex-X3; 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715; 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710; 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510), Adreno 740
- Available memory configurations: 8/128 GB, 12/256 GB, 16/256 GB, 16/512 GB (UFS 3.1 storage for the junior version and faster UFS 4.0 for the senior version)
- Operating system: Android 13 (OxygenOS 13 interface)
- Rear cameras:
- 50.0 megapixels, f/1.8, 24 mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0 µm, PDAF, OIS
- 48.0 megapixels – ultra-wide-angle, f/2.2, 1/2.0″, 115˚, autofocus
- 32.0 megapixels – telephoto lens, f/2.0, 48 mm, 1/1.56″, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
- Front camera: 16.0 megapixels, f/2.4, 25mm, 1.0µm (wide-angle)
- Video recording: 8K@24 fps, 4K@30/60 fps, 1080p@30/60/240 fps, auto HDR, gyro-EIS
- Battery: 5000 mAh, 100W SuperVOOC fast charging (Power Delivery), 1-50% in 10 min, 1-100% in 25 min, does NOT support wireless charging
- Connectivity: 5G, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, Dual GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, Bluetooth v5.3 with LDAC, aptX, aptX HD and LHDC, USB Type-C, NFC
- Sensors: accelerometer, gravity sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, fingerprint scanner
- Optional: face recognition scanner, dust and water resistance (IP64), dual SIM cards (2x nano-SIM and eSIM), stereo speakers, aluminium body frame
- Dimensions: 74.1 × 163.1 × 8.53 mm
- Weight: 203 g
Positioning and price
Interestingly, this year there is no Pro version and there will be no Pro version, only 11 5G was released. The OnePlus 11 5G is an unusual combination between the OnePlus 10 Pro and the OnePlus 10T from last year. Compared to the 10 Pro, it has some simplifications (no wireless charging, old version of USB, lower water resistance), but compared to the 10T, it offers a significant upgrade. For example, the OnePlus 11 features a third-generation LTPO OLED display with Dolby Vision and a 120Hz refresh rate. The resolution has also increased to QHD+. A slightly larger battery and a newer processor are of course also a plus.
This is a smartphone worthy of attention, a flagship that has gained interest. You’ve probably already guessed that the review will be positive, but first, a little bit about availability and price.
OnePlus strives to make its products affordable for most users. The price depends on the chosen configuration and varies from $650 to $810.
Read also: Realme 11 Pro+ review: Truly extraordinary
Package contents
The OnePlus 11 5G has an extremely striking box. A big box and a juicy centre is something you rarely see lately.
Included: warranty and manual, USB cable and needle to eject the SIM card slot, 100W charger. I’m impressed, not every flagship comes with a charging adapter nowadays.
Plus, it comes with a red cable and stickers. However, there is no case included, but we already have a protective film on the screen.
An interesting fact: along with the OnePlus 11 5G, OnePlus has released the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 in-ear headphones, which we have already reviewed. As it turned out, the headphones are really of very good quality. And now, while testing the smartphone, I can say with confidence that this is a worthy set to buy – headphones with sound from Hans Zimmer and a smartphone with cameras from Hasselblad.
Read also: OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS headphones review: a versatile flagship
Design, materials and build quality
Narrow bezels, high-quality Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on the back, side bezel made of chrome-plated aluminium. I got the impression that in terms of design, we have two extremes: those who are delighted and those for whom the phone is too bold and deviates too much from popular minimalism.
At the front we have a 6.7-inch screen with curved edges, with narrow bezels at the top and bottom. The curved glass on the front panel makes it nice to hold, I’m pleasantly surprised. The model is relatively narrow, the screen looks “endless”.
On the other hand… the curved screen can lead to accidental touches (but this hasn’t happened to me), it causes image and colour distortion at the edges. Some would say that this is a “return to design” from the past, but why not. Now such screens are back in trend, including among mid-range devices.
A round cutout for a selfie camera is built into the screen, to the right of the top bezel. And that’s all there is to it.
The back panel is much more interesting! What immediately catches your eye is the large round camera island. The company claims that the designers were inspired by a black hole, hence the circular shape with a light-attracting pattern and the Hasselblad brand logo.
Whether the camera arrangement is aesthetically pleasing is an individual matter. For me, this is an interesting approach, OnePlus 11 looks unique. Take Samsung Galaxy S23, for example, and minimalism prevails there, by the way, there will be a brief comparison of these flagships at the end.
As for the colour, we have two options: matte Titan Black and glossy Eternal Green.
In the green version, the back panel is a fingerprint magnet. The black version with a matte back also looks original, but does not collect fingerprints at all.
OnePlus 11 5G is IP64 rated for water resistance. The phone is protected from dust, but not from water. Nowadays, water resistance is what we expect from all flagships, but it was not enough. The model is not afraid of just random drops of water.
Read also: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone review: An unprecedented flagship
Ergonomics and controls
OnePlus 11 5G measures 74.1×163.1×8.53 mm and weighs 202 g. It is quite light, thin and feels great in the hand. I really liked the combination of the thin screen and curved edges. In this way, OnePlus has made this large device slim and comfortable in the hand, which is not easy. The OnePlus 11 has a sturdy build, and the materials of the body provide a fairly secure grip.
The layout of the elements is impeccable. On the right side, we can find two buttons – the power button and the slider for recurring notifications. The notification slider gives us the option to instantly turn off notifications and mute the call, leaving only the vibration.
On the left side are the volume buttons. The power button and volume keys are opposite each other, and it’s not uncommon to take an accidental screenshot instead of locking the device, but after a few misses you get used to it. At the bottom end is the earpiece speaker, USB-C connector and SIM card tray. The second speaker is located behind the phone’s frame on top.
All the buttons work reliably and pleasantly. The slider is a no-brainer: if you want to switch off the phone quickly, just slide the slider. Apart from OnePlus, only the iPhone has something like this now.
Screen
The OnePlus 11 5G features a gorgeous 6.7-inch Super Fluid AMOLED display with a QHD+ (3216×1440) resolution and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The smartphone screen has also received two certificates: SGS Low Blue Light Ex and TÜV SÜD Precise Touching S Rating.
In addition, the eleven uses the latest LTPO 3.0 technology, which adapts the refresh rate to what is happening on the screen at the moment. This guarantees the phone’s very high energy efficiency. An intelligent feature allows the display to recognise types of content and carefully adjust the refresh rate. For example, reading an e-book will reduce the refresh rate to 1 or 10 Hz, while playing a game will increase it to 120 Hz.
There is also HDR support, but the brightness level was an unpleasant surprise. It doesn’t even reach 800 nits: outdoors on a sunny day, the OnePlus 11 screen burns out noticeably.
On the plus side, we have 525 ppi, and the quality of the displayed image is simply phenomenal. Not every flagship offers a resolution of 3216×1440.
Colours are beautiful and rich, blacks are deep. The refresh rate is 120 Hz, so the smartphone works beautifully and smoothly. To save battery power, it is best to choose a dynamic frequency. But if you need to, you can manually reduce the refresh rate to 60 Hz and lower the resolution to FHD+ (2412×1080). Yes, in general, most people won’t notice the difference between 2412×1080 and 3216×1440, but from what I can see, it does affect sharpness – an impressive experience.
You can play around with the settings a bit and choose a theme, brightness, set a schedule, eye protection mode, colour intensity – basically, the usual stuff.
There is support for the Always on Display function. In the settings, you can choose what exactly you want to see on the screen: a custom theme, a signature, animation or just a clock. A useful feature is the time and notifications with the ability to quickly view them on the lock screen. We also have special features that are ideal for those who prefer to multitask, such as the sidebar (favourite apps are always at hand in a small panel that we open by swiping from left to right in the highlighted area). Floating windows, on the other hand, allow us to open notifications without closing the application we are using.
As for the screen, you can’t expect anything more, it’s absolutely top-of-the-line at the moment.
Read also: Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus review: A plus for size and battery
OnePlus 11 performance
The OnePlus 11 5G is the first device with the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor to be certified Snapdragon Spaces Ready. It is a platform on which developers work on mixed reality (XR) and explore the potential of augmented reality (AR). It will become the basis for high-end Android smartphones in 2023.
The phone is fast. There is nothing that goes beyond its capabilities. Navigation through the Android interface is fast, smooth, without delays or stuttering. The process of launching and switching between applications is fast, as is the process of unlocking the smartphone. There is nothing to complain about here. OnePlus 11 5G works reliably.
Test results:
- Geekbench: single core – 1518, multi core – 4749
- 3DMark Wild Life Stress Test: best – 12 922, lowest – 8 416
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 3 636
- PCMARK Work 3.0 performance: 10 903
OnePlus 11 5G is available in the following variants: 8/128GB, 12/256GB, 16/256GB, 16/512GB. We tested the 16/256 GB version. It’s worth noting that the permanent memory for the 16/256 version is a fast UFS 4.0 module (about 1780 MB/s for reading and 1250 MB/s for writing – record results!).
Although 8 GB of RAM is also a lot for modern flagships, the smartphone has a special mode that allows you to increase its capacity by another 4 GB, so you’ll have 12 GB. Of course, virtual RAM doesn’t completely replace regular RAM, but it still gives you a performance boost.
As for the storage, 128 GB is not an option for everyone, especially since there is no memory card slot. I would advise you to consider at least 256 GB.
Read also: Samsung Galaxy S23 review: the cool compact flagship
OnePlus 11 cameras
The camera technology in the new OnePlus model was developed in collaboration with the legendary Swedish brand Hasselblad. The third-generation Hasselblad Camera for Mobile features a 13-channel multispectral sensor that collects colour data to accurately reproduce colours in photos, as well as a brand new natural colour calibration function.
In OnePlus 11 5G we have a good set of cameras:
- 50.0 megapixels, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
- 48.0 megapixels – ultra-wide-angle, f/2.2, 1/2.0″, 115˚, AF
- 32.0 megapixel telephoto lens, f/2.0, 48 mm, 1/1.56″, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
- Front camera: 16.0 megapixels, f/2.4, 25 mm, 1.0 µm (wide-angle)
The camera hardware differs significantly from the OnePlus 10 Pro and is a significant upgrade from last year’s OnePlus 10T. The main camera uses the familiar 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 sensor (1/1.56″) combined with a 24mm OIS lens and a wide f/1.8 aperture.
The telephoto lens, on the other hand, is completely new. It’s a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 RGBW sensor (1/1.56″, 1.0µm) with f/2.0 aperture and a 48mm lens with 2x optical zoom. OnePlus claims that this camera is focused on portrait photography with a unique bokeh effect that mimics Hasselblad’s 30mm and 65mm XCD lenses.
The wide-angle module uses a 48-megapixel sensor (1/2.0″, f/2.2) with a 115-degree focal angle and autofocus. It also allows you to take macro shots.
The 16MP selfie camera is borrowed from the OnePlus 10T.
Overall, the new camera unit is a good set. Compared to the 10 Pro, we have a slight deterioration. The main sensor is smaller, the wide-angle camera has a smaller viewing angle, the telephoto lens offers 2x zoom instead of 3x. However, compared to the OnePlus 10T, the new model has a more versatile and powerful camera.
In general, this setting is more than enough to produce spectacular daytime photos. In addition, Hasselblad has obviously calibrated the camera well for better colour reproduction. Photos look realistic, with sharp tones and nice contrast. Overall, it’s a pleasure to look at the colours in the photos, they are vivid and impossible to look away from.
The photos below were taken with the main camera, with a cold exposure, warm colours and lots of detail.
The wide-angle camera takes great pictures and captures details in sharp focus better than others.
When you approach your subject, the camera app automatically switches to the wide-angle module and takes a photo in macro mode. You can turn this automatic detection off, but it worked well for me. The overall quality of macro shots is excellent, with good colour reproduction. However, I was expecting sharper photos.
I was very impressed with the telephoto lens. It really makes for some beautiful flowers, portraits, etc. The deep levels of contrast, dynamic range and exposure match those of the main camera. In addition, you get great photos with lots of detail and good sharpness thanks to the 2x zoom.
Whether you’re shooting in normal or night mode, the camera knows exactly what it needs to do. There’s virtually no difference between images taken in normal and night modes, so there’s no need to switch to night mode on purpose. You’ll always get great low-light shots with excellent dynamic range, good exposure, high detail, superb sharpness and almost no digital noise. The camera captures a lot of light, and photos are well lit.
The front camera is fine, it improves colours well, they are bright and contrast is adequate. In post-processing, the photos improve and become noticeably better. This is enough for good selfies. Although the lack of autofocus is a disadvantage.
Let’s move on to the topic of video. We have three recordings in standard 1080p, 4K and 8K resolutions. In video, the stabilisation is a bit lame, and when it comes to audio, you can hear that it lacks depth.
Stabilisation works in all video modes. There’s also an Ultra Steady Pro mode that uses the wide-angle camera to produce extremely smooth video, although it’s limited to 1080p at 30fps.
In addition to taking high-resolution photos with Auto HDR and using the AI scene enhancement tool, the camera app has the standard Pro mode, portrait mode, and many others, as well as a large number of settings.
Bottom line: The OnePlus 11 cameras can take great photos that are sharp and detailed, even at night.
Read also: Huawei P60 Pro review: The world’s best mobile camera again?
OnePlus 11 5G battery and operating time
The combination of improved performance and power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which powers this device, makes OnePlus 11 5G a “two-day phone” for normal use – media and internet browsing, short entertainment. But with active use, the model will also easily last all day from morning to evening.
Plus, we have a 100W fast charger that takes just 25 minutes to fully charge! We come home with a dead phone, 15 minutes and we’re good to go – it lasts a long time.
More controversial, however, may be the decision to ditch wireless charging entirely in this generation, following last year’s budget 10T. It’s hard to see this as anything other than a cost-cutting measure, although the company claims it’s simply unnecessary thanks to the combination of a long-lasting battery and fast charging.
The Cryo-velocity VC intelligent cooling system, which uses crystalline graphene and allows the smartphone to stay cool even when it is connected to the charger while playing games or watching videos, is also interesting.
Sound and data transfer
There are dual Dolby Atmos speakers designed to deliver clear and immersive directional surround sound. They are more suitable for vocals, movies and podcasts. The sound remains quite clear even at high volumes. At the same time, this does not mean that there is a lack of bass. But there is a downside – the sound is noticeably uneven between the lower and upper speakers.
The new Android 13 provides support for surround sound as well as Dolby Atmos support. There is also a very pleasant vibration response.
The smartphone supports 5G, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 (and is even ready for Wi-Fi 7). All connections were stable during the test, and the range was long.
Read also: Test drive of the Realme GT3 smartphone: Need for speed
OnePlus 11 software
The OnePlus 11 5G uses the latest version of Android 13 with the proprietary OxygenOS shell, also version 13. This is a shell similar to what we have on realme, Xiaomi or Huawei smartphones. However, what I also like is the smooth operation of the phone, even when dozens of apps are open. Obviously, the software has been well optimised. In addition, there are no pre-installed apps, which we often find in many other models.
OxygenOS version 13 is a lightweight and transparent “shell” for Android. We have an entire settings panel to help you fully personalise the look and feel of your phone. These are already familiar solutions, so I will briefly describe them.
Among other things, we have universal and multitasking solutions such as Edge panels, split screen mode, flexible windows, and a smart sidebar. In addition, Kid Space allows you to restrict children’s access to content. Customisation options are standard, including wallpapers, fonts, icons, accent colours, quick switching, and even fingerprint animations.
An attractive feature is the widget panel that expands when you swipe on the left. It can be customised, with a clock, step counter, notes, and anything else we want. Here are a few photos of what it looks like:
The OnePlus 11 5G is the first OnePlus device to offer users four major OxygenOS updates and five years of support in terms of Android security updates. This is a new dimension in this area – the current standard is to update devices within two years or, in rare cases, four years after release.
In general, I got the impression that OxygenOS is a twin shell of ColorOS and the realme interface, which I had the opportunity to try out during my testing of OPPO and realme. But this is not surprising, as all these brands are part of the same BBK concern.
In any case, OxygenOS is beautiful, smooth, fast and reliable.
Read also: Xiaomi 13 smartphone review: almost perfect
Summary and conclusions
OnePlus 11 5G is a powerful flagship. At the same time, it is a decent compromise between price and powerful performance. The smartphone has a gorgeous LTPO3 AMOLED display with the highest resolution, a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with amazing performance, good battery life, 100W charging, and excellent cameras.
This is definitely one of the best OnePlus devices in recent years. This is a true premium segment.
Are there any drawbacks? Yes, there is no water protection and no wireless charging, but this is not so important for everyone. The lack of microSD support is also not encouraging. In addition, the screen does not have the best peak brightness. But let’s not forget about the price!
Not so long ago, I tested the flagship Samsung Galaxy S23+, so I’d like to make a brief comparison in conclusion. These smartphones have almost identical hardware: three cameras, the same amount of permanent memory, and a Qualcomm 8 Gen 2 processor. The Samsung model costs from 40,000 UAH and does not have a version with 12 or 16 GB of RAM and has a lower resolution screen. The cameras are also less interesting. As you can see, the OnePlus 11 5G offers excellent value for money.
What about other competitors? You can buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro 12/128 GB for the price of 28,000 UAH (our review can be found here). In my opinion, this is the more desirable option if photography is your top priority. It offers a better overall camera experience and a longer zoom range (5x). It also has a brighter display, IP68 dust/water resistance, and clean Android. On the other hand, the OnePlus 11 is more powerful, offers better stable performance under load, much faster wired charging and longer battery life, and doesn’t overheat (a big problem for Pixels).
Another alternative with pure Android is the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra (our review), which costs from $800. It charges just as fast, has a brighter display with a higher refresh rate. But the OnePlus 11 offers much better cameras.
Or perhaps pay attention to last year’s OnePlus 10 Pro, which costs from $530. The 10 Pro has fast wireless charging, but is a little slower to charge normally. It also has a 3x zoom (but the quality is not the best). It has a better wide-angle camera, but no autofocus (I mean macro). The rest of the hardware and overall experience is almost identical. The upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is not insignificant, but for the vast majority of users it will go unnoticed. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is still a very powerful SoC.
Advantages of One Plus 11 5G
- Distinctive design with excellent ergonomics (feels slim and light in the hand)
- Gorgeous LTPO3 AMOLED display with 120Hz frequency, excellent colour accuracy and QHD+ resolution
- Excellent battery life
- SuperVOOC 100W fast charging
- Excellent stable operation, no overheating
- The overall impression of the camera is good, both day and night.
Disadvantages of One Plus 11 5G
- No wireless charging
- No high degree of protection against moisture
- Optical zoom does not exceed 2x
- OxygenOS is now the same as OPPO ColorOS, no unique features
Read also:
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