This story was originally published on February 8, 2023, and last updated on May 20, 2023.
OnePlus 11 is trying to redeem some of its lost magic and regain its status as a “flagship killer.” It might not be there yet, but it’s definitely giving us some good reasons to root for it. And here are the features to get excited over and some shortcomings you need to know.
Top-of-the-line specs
You get many of the best specs you can expect from a flagship device. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage (at least depending on the market you’re in). This 5G handset uses the minimal Android 13-based OxygenOS 13. And this time OnePlus promises four years of software updates, which is double what it promised before.
It has a 6.7-inch LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10+. And the signature OnePlus slider makes a comeback. OnePlus took it out of its recent flagships claiming the phones couldn’t accommodate the space for it.
The OnePlus 11 gets three new sensors at the back with an improved 32-megapixel telephoto lens designed to mimic the bokeh effect of a 65mm Hasselblad lens when shooting in Portrait mode. OnePlus continues its partnership with Hasselblad for this flagship, which is mostly seen in the software and colors of your photos. We’ve seen praises over the night photo capabilities of this new phone.
It also has a new 50-megapixel primary sensor with a bigger 1/1.56-inch sensor than the OnePlus 10 Pro’s camera. There’s also a 48-megapixel 115-degree ultrawide that pulls double-duty as a macro sensor. In front, there is a 16-megapixel selfie camera.
Blazing fast charging
While it’s not breaking records, the OnePlus 11 still has a respectable 5,000mAh battery with fast 100W SuperVOOC charging support. You will need the included power brick (hallelujah for that) and cable to achieve these speeds. But that means you can theoretically top up your phone in just 25 minutes.
The misses of the OnePlus 11
It doesn’t get the latest and greatest protection with a Gorilla Glass Victus for the front and Gorilla Glass 5 for the back. As we’ve seen in the first impression videos online, it’s just IP64 rated, which can handle minimal splashing. There’s also no wireless charging here or expandable storage.
This may or may not be a con for you, but it packs in a USB-A to USB-C cable instead of the USB-C to USB-C cable we see in many flagship phones. OnePlus reasons this cable is more convenient for users who need that USB-A port when charging in hotel rooms, cars, and more.
The downside to the new zoom lens is optical zoom tops out at 2x, instead of the 3.2x optical zoom on the lower-resolution OnePlus 10 Pro.
The design is also another contentious point of this phone. While the company claims it’s inspired by sports cars (like McLaren which it has collaborated with in the past) and Swiss watches, it’s going to be one of those phone designs that you either love or hate.
OnePlus 11: Price and availability
OnePlus is pricing this handset more aggressively than its predecessor. In the US, you can get the OnePlus 11 at USD 699 (8GB RAM + 128GB storage) and USD 799 (16GB + 256GB). It’s available in Titan Black and Emerald Green. According to OnePlus’ site, priority delivery of the units starts on February 16.
If you’ve been waiting for Philippine pricing, the OnePlus 11 costs PHP 45,990 (8GB) and PHP 49,990 (16GB). If you want to pre-order through OnePlus authorized stores until March 2, you get PHP 2,000 off the new OnePlus Buds Pro 2. OnePlus also has installment offers through Home Credit and supported credit card partners. If you want to take home a free TG113 Bluetooth speaker with your new phone, you should order from Lazada now. This promo is only until February 23 on Lazada. The phone will be available exclusively online through Lazada until February 27.
UPDATE: 2023/02/22, 11:06 A.M. GMT+8 BY NICOLE BATAC
Added Philippine pricing and pre-order promos
UPDATE: 2023/05/20, 9:33 P.M. GMT+8 BY NICOLE BATAC
Added phone unboxing
If you have a OnePlus fan in your life, you might want to send this to them!