OnePlus 11 the Best Phone for Gamers? Our Review Breaks It Down

The highly-anticipated OnePlus 11 has finally arrived, and it’s looking to make a big impression. Priced at $699, this is the company’s first flagship phone of 2023, and it’s clear they’ve put a lot of effort into making it a top performer.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus 11 is its refreshed design. While it’s not a complete departure from the previous model, it does look sleeker and more modern. Its extremely powerful processor packs the phone with power. This means you can expect lightning-fast performance, even when running multiple apps at once.

Another impressive feature of the OnePlus 11 is its fast charging capabilities. This phone can go from zero to fully charged in just a matter of minutes, making it an ideal choice for those who are always on the go.

However, for those who already own a recent OnePlus device, the OnePlus 11 may not offer enough of an upgrade to justify the cost. While it’s certainly a great phone, it’s not a massive overhaul from last year’s already excellent OnePlus 10 Pro. The new camera setup is good, but it’s not a big leap forward.

So, while the OnePlus 11 is a strong flagship phone, it may not be the radical new device that some were hoping for. Nonetheless, it’s definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a new phone and want a powerful, modern device that won’t break the bank.

OnePlus 11

(2023)

AndroidStox Score 8.0

$699 at OnePlus

The OnePlus 11 is a phone that has a lot going for it, especially when it comes to price. Just $699 gets you started with the base model, making it a steal compared to other flagship devices on the market.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is the phone’s biggest competitor, with a price tag of $899. While the Pixel offers some benefits, such as a 5x optical zoom lens and generally better camera performance, the OnePlus 11 excels in raw power. The processor of OnePlus 11 is built for straight-line speed, making it perfect for gaming and heavy multitasking. It also charges faster than the Pixel, making it more convenient for users who are always on the go.

Both phones offer pure Android software, which means a clutter-free experience, but the Pixel’s Android 13 software may be more refined. However, the OnePlus 11’s power and affordability make it a top choice for those who want a flagship phone that won’t break the bank.

In conclusion, the OnePlus 11 is a great option for anyone who wants a top-performing phone at an affordable price. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of some of its competitors, its raw power and fast charging capabilities make it a standout device. If you’re in the market for a new phone, the OnePlus 11 is definitely worth considering.

IP64 Durability Upgrade

The OnePlus 11 has finally arrived, and it’s looking better than ever. One of the standout features of this flagship phone is its sleek new design. The circular camera unit is a welcome change from the square unit of the 10 Pro, and the metal fringe curves gracefully to meet the edge of the phone. It’s a look that is both fresh and familiar, making it easy to recognize as part of the OnePlus family.

But the design isn’t just for show. Toughened Gorilla Glass protects the glass, meaning you don’t have to worry too much about shattering it. And the new phone takes things to the next level by coming with an IP64 rating for protection against water. This is a big improvement over the 10 Pro, which lacked waterproofing on most versions. It’s always frustrating when a flagship phone doesn’t have this feature, so it’s great to see that the OnePlus 11 offers more official protection.

Overall, the new design and improved waterproofing make the OnePlus 11 a great choice for anyone in the market for a new phone. It’s clear that OnePlus has listened to customer feedback and made some important changes to their flagship device. If you want a phone that looks great and can withstand the elements, the OnePlus 11 is definitely worth considering.

When it comes to waterproofing, the OnePlus 11 is a step up from its predecessor, but it’s still not quite on par with some of its competitors. While the phone has an IP64 rating, which offers mild protection against water splashes, rivals like the Pixel 7 Pro, iPhone 14, and Galaxy S23 all have IP68 ratings that protect them from actual submersion in water for at least 30 minutes. However, the IP64 rating will certainly help keep your phone safe when caught in the rain and is still better than having no protection at all.

But the OnePlus 11 has more to offer than just improved waterproofing. The 6.7-inch display is a real standout feature, big enough to do justice to mobile games and movies. The display has a maximum resolution of 3,216×1,440 pixels, making everything look nice and crisp. And it’s a SuperAMOLED panel that supports Dolby Vision HDR and HDR 10 Plus, which means it’s bright, bold, and capable of properly showing off compatible HDR content.

The phone also has an adaptive frame rate that can shoot up to 120Hz to provide a smooth experience for high-intensity tasks like gaming. But it can also dynamically drop to as low as 1Hz to save power for less demanding tasks like web browsing or showing the always-on display. It’s a great feature that helps balance performance with battery life, making the OnePlus 11 a smart choice for power users who want a phone that can keep up with their needs.

Overall, the OnePlus 11 has a lot to offer, from its impressive display to its adaptive frame rate and improved waterproofing. While it may not be the most waterproof phone on the market, it still offers a decent level of protection, and the other features make it a solid choice for anyone looking for a high-performance flagship device.

Hasselblad and OnePlus Collaboration: Worth It?

The OnePlus 11 comes with a triple-camera setup on its back, which includes a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera with macro capabilities, and a 32-megapixel portrait camera with a 2x optical zoom. While this setup is pretty standard, the 2x zoom is a step down from the 3.3x zoom of the OnePlus 10 Pro and a significant step down from the 5x zoom of the Pixel 7 Pro. Having an excellent zoom is a valuable tool for taking outstanding images in any setting, as it lets you create more interesting compositions by eliminating distracting elements in the background. However, without a proper telephoto lens, the OnePlus 11 feels lacking in its photography capabilities.

The phone has teamed up with Hasselblad once again to calibrate its camera for better color accuracy. The results are mixed. Some shots come out looking fantastic with vivid colors and pleasing contrast, while others look over-saturated with heavy-handed HDR processing that can make the images look unrealistic.

Lightning Fast Charging Flagship

The Latest OnePlus 11 Boasts Solid Battery and Lightning-Fast Charging

The battery life of a phone is one of the most critical factors for a consumer. Nobody wants their device to run out of battery in the middle of an important call or while gaming. The OnePlus 11 boasts a 5,000mAh battery that can last a full day with conservative usage. However, if you’re a power user, the battery life might not be as impressive as you’d like.

Streaming a YouTube video for just one hour at maximum display resolution of 3,216×1,440 pixels and 120Hz refresh rate, with the screen brightness set to its highest, caused the battery to drop from full to 92% remaining. After the second hour, the battery had dropped to 85%, which is not the best performance.

However, the phone’s battery life is much better when the resolution is reduced to 2,412×1,080 pixels, and the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz. After an hour of streaming YouTube videos, the battery didn’t even drop below 100%, and after the second hour, it only dropped to 95%. So, if you’re careful with the phone’s settings, you should have no problem getting through a full day with enough juice left to spare.

But what about when you’re gaming? Demanding games with all settings on max can drain the battery quickly. Thirty minutes of gameplay can comfortably knock 10% off the battery. However, if you don’t mind sacrificing some of the graphical details, you can still enjoy playing games on the OnePlus 11 without worrying about your battery dying before you finish your gaming session.

Thankfully, if you do need to recharge your phone, the OnePlus 11 has a lightning-fast charging system.

Overall, the OnePlus 11’s battery life is impressive and offers enough juice for a full day’s worth of use, provided you’re mindful of the display settings and usage habits. And with its lightning-fast charging, you can quickly recharge the phone when needed, making it an excellent choice for users who need their device to keep up with their busy lifestyles.