New Era of Excellence: OnePlus 11 5G Takes the Crown as 2023s Flagship Contender

Опубликовано: 13 июня, 2025

2022 marked an unusual period for OnePlus’ flagship lineup of smartphones. At the start of the year, we saw only one true flagship device, the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G (Review), with no follow-up until later. The OnePlus 10 model was absent, but the OnePlus 10T 5G (Review) later emerged, featuring a quicker processor and a lack of most of the Pro’s additional features, including the well-known Alert slider. Now, the brand has just unveiled its first wave of products for 2023, featuring the OnePlus 11R 5G and the OnePlus 11 5G. Both models showcase a redesigned look, complete with the Alert slider, and enhanced specifications.

Today, our main focus will be the OnePlus 11 5G. While it lacks the ‘Pro’ designation, the 11 5G can be viewed as a spiritual heir to the 10 Pro 5G, boasting upgraded hardware for a competitive advantage. However, it sacrifices a few features like wireless charging and still lacks an official IP rating. Are the enhancements in the OnePlus 11 5G worth the trade-off of some typical flagship features? Let’s delve into it.

OnePlus 11 5G price in India

The OnePlus 11 5G starts at Rs. 56,999 in India, with the entry-level model featuring 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 128GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The second version doubles the specifications, providing 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for Rs. 61,999. This pricing strategies are pretty aggressive when considering that the 11 5G matches or exceeds the specifications of the 10 Pro 5G in various aspects.

OnePlus 11 5G design

The design of the OnePlus 11 5G bears a close resemblance to the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G from the previous year, which is a positive attribute. The main visible change is the transformation of the rear camera setup from square to circular. Additionally, there’s some new texturing below the camera module’s glass, which becomes visible from particular angles. The Hasselblad logo has also shifted to a horizontal position, situated between the four camera lenses instead of being off to one side.

The display of the OnePlus 11 5G supports Dolby Vision HDR playback

The dimensions, build quality, and overall feel in hand are essentially similar to those of the 10 Pro 5G. The OnePlus 11 5G is marginally slimmer at 8.53mm, yet slightly heavier at 205g. The curved edges of the aluminum frame make this phone comfortable to handle; however, it can be quite slippery when held with one hand due to the smooth texture of the back, which is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The included rubber case helps alleviate this issue. We received the Titan Black variant for review, but it’s also available in Eternal Green, which was also an option for the 10 Pro 5G.

The OnePlus 11 5G now includes support for Dolby Vision HDR on its display, which remains similar to the OnePlus 10 Pro. It boasts a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen with a variable refresh rate that can reach 120Hz (dropping to as low as 1Hz), and is safeguarded by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The device comes with a factory-installed scratch guard, which I personally find to be rather bothersome. The display and back panel maintain the curved edges as before, enhancing its premium appearance.

Included in the box with the OnePlus 11 5G is a charging cable and adapter. The phone now supports 100W SuperVOOC fast wired charging, promising a full charge in just 25 minutes.

OnePlus 11 5G specifications and software

An Android flagship is incomplete without the latest SoC, and the OnePlus 11 5G is no exception. It houses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which appears to be unaltered for this phone, unlike Samsung’s S23 series. However, OnePlus asserts that it has employed a new and larger vapor cooling system to enhance heat dissipation for prolonged performance.

The OnePlus 11 5G technically supports Wi-Fi 7, which may soon be available in India. Additionally, it features Bluetooth 5.3, compatibility with 13 5G bands, along with a standard array of sensors and satellite navigation systems. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, an optical in-display fingerprint sensor, and NFC.

The in-display fingerprint sensor of the OnePlus 11 5G functions effectively

Unlike the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, which lacked an IP certification except in the US, all models were confirmed to provide protective features equivalent to IP68. A similar situation applies to the OnePlus 11 5G; the Indian versions do not possess an official IP rating, but OnePlus has confirmed that it boasts IP64-equivalent ingress protection. The downgrade from an ‘8′ to a ‘4′ indicates that the 11 5G is no longer water-resistant to the same extent, requiring more cautious handling.

OxygenOS 13, based on Android 13, powers the OnePlus 11 5G. The new interface resembles Oppo’s ColorOS more closely than ever, a feature that may be seen positively or negatively, based on personal preference. It includes the familiar features of OxygenOS alongside new enhancements like RAM-Vita, intended to optimize RAM use for active applications that require it most. Additionally, OnePlus promises four years of Android updates and five years of security updates for the OnePlus 11 5G.

OnePlus 11 5G performance and battery life

The OnePlus 11 5G provides excellent performance for general tasks and possesses ample power for demanding activities, such as gaming. Throughout the few weeks of usage, the device has demonstrated remarkable performance without any noticeable heat or lag in the interface. The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate; 5G connectivity is efficient, and the screen brightness is sufficient even in daylight.

The stereo speakers of the OnePlus 11 5G deliver impressive volume and sound quality. The stereo separation is a bit skewed, with the main speaker being louder than the earpiece, which is not unusual. Popular games like Call of Duty Mobile functioned flawlessly even with the highest graphics and frame rates, although the back did warm slightly during intense gameplay. Watching HDR content was enjoyable as well, though at the time of writing, the Netflix app did not recognize the HDR capabilities of the screen.

The OnePlus 11 5G lacks an official IP rating

In terms of benchmarks, the OnePlus 11 5G scored 10,16,772 points on AnTuTu, and registered 1,163 and 4,798 points on Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, respectively. It achieved top scores in most tests conducted using 3DMark.

The OnePlus 11 5G includes a functionality for automatic adjustment of display resolution, switching from full-HD+ to QHD+ based on the app or content being viewed; this is the setting I primarily utilized. Combined with the display’s capability to adjust its refresh rate down to 1Hz when necessary (such as for the Always-on display), it grants remarkable battery longevity. Even with extended gaming sessions and camera use, I consistently achieved over a full day on a single charge. This was highlighted by our HD video loop test, which lasted 23 hours and 25 minutes at full-HD+ resolution, and 21 hours and 46 minutes when set to QHD+.

While I did miss the wireless charging feature in the OnePlus 11 5G, the impressively rapid wired charger somewhat compensated for that. I could refresh the battery from zero to full in approximately 26 minutes. Notably, there’s no need to activate any special mode for 100W charging, as the phone manages this optimization automatically.

OnePlus 11 5G cameras

OnePlus revamped all the cameras on the 11 5G compared to the 10 Pro 5G. The primary camera incorporates a Sony IMX890 sensor, which is slightly smaller than its counterpart in the 10 Pro 5G, yet it boasts a higher resolution (50 megapixels). The focal length has increased by 1mm while maintaining the f/1.8 aperture. The ultra-wide camera has received a substantial upgrade to a 48-megapixel Sony IMX581 sensor, featuring a narrower field of view (115 degrees versus 150 degrees), but providing a larger sensor with autofocus capabilities, reintroducing macro mode.

The rear cameras of the OnePlus 11 5G have been thoroughly overhauled compared to the 10 Pro 5G

The third rear camera is a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 sensor offering 2X optical zoom with a wider f/2.0 aperture. Interestingly, despite the resolution upgrade, the maximum zoom level remains at 20X, which is lower than the 30X available in the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, which utilized an 8-megapixel telephoto camera. For selfies, OnePlus reverted to its previous Sony IMX471 16-megapixel sensor, which is a downgrade from what the 10 Pro 5G presented.

Photographs taken with the OnePlus 11 5G receive a Hasselblad ‘natural’ color treatment; however, the camera app also features an ‘AI scene enhancement’ toggle that tends to artificially amplify the colors of scenes and specific objects. The app includes unique filters in Photo and Portrait modes, developed alongside Hasselblad brand ambassadors. Additionally, it enables the capture of 10-bit color photos suitable for professional use.

Sample from the OnePlus 11 5G main camera (tap to view full size)

Ultra-wide camera samples from OnePlus 11 5G (tap to view full size)

Macro camera samples from OnePlus 11 5G (tap to view full size)

The ultra-wide camera in the OnePlus 11 5G is a significant enhancement over the one in last year’s 10 Pro 5G. The clarity and vividness of colors and textures are much improved in captured images. Low-light shots also exhibit admirable quality with decent exposure and striking colors. The camera app effortlessly switches to the ultra-wide camera for macro shots as you get closer to an object. If this automatic switching is a nuisance, it can be disabled within the app settings. Macro images turned out well, although I occasionally encountered focus issues; the focusing distance isn’t as precise as what the iPhone 13 Pro achieves.

Telephoto camera samples from OnePlus 11 5G (tap to view full size)

Telephoto camera images have also seen slight improvements. The details, textures, and colors are enhanced across all zoom levels compared to the captures of the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G. In low light, the camera usually utilizes digital zoom through the main camera unless the subject is well illuminated. Night mode remains effective even at 2X magnification.

Selfie camera samples from OnePlus 11 5G (tap to view full size)

The OnePlus 11 5G can record video at a maximum of 8K at 24fps, although this feature might not attract many users. A great portion of users will likely find 4K at 30fps adequate since you can toggle between the ultra-wide camera or zoom in up to 10X while filming. It’s notable that, regardless of the resolution and frame rate, except for 1080p at 30fps, zooming is achieved digitally through the main camera rather than the telephoto lens. Video stabilization is commendable, and footage captured in daylight exhibits clarity. Low-light videos are also respectable, albeit they may show noise, and filming while walking introduces some shakiness into the footage. The ‘AI Highlight’ feature works at 4K, but enables zooming functionality only when disabled. Although there wasn’t a drastic difference in bright environments, it successfully brightens videos shot in very low light, albeit it slightly increases noise.

One point to mention is that 8K video recording is actually functional on the 11 5G, a contrast to the 10 Pro 5G, which overheated after a few minutes, at the time of our review. With the 11 5G, I successfully recorded 20 minutes of 8K footage, with only a slight increase in warmth.

Verdict

The OnePlus 11 5G enters the market at a competitive starting price of Rs. 56,999. The high-end variant that we reviewed is also reasonably priced at Rs. 61,999, undercutting the iQoo 11 5G (Review). The OnePlus 11 5G effectively renders the higher-end variants of the OnePlus 10T unnecessary. The absence of wireless charging is a notable shortfall that could have made the 11 5G an all-encompassing choice, but if this feature isn’t a priority for you, it shouldn’t pose an issue. The OnePlus 10 Pro 5G remains relevant, as it is just slightly behind the newer model while (unofficially) providing superior waterproofing and fast wireless charging.

For those eager to upgrade to a smartphone equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, the OnePlus 11 5G stands out as a compelling option that builds upon the strong points of the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G and is priced competitively.

Earlier this week, Samsung launched its Galaxy S23 smartphone series, unveiling several upgrades across all three models. How does this impact pricing? Join us for a discussion on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. You can listen to Orbital on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

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