OnePlus 11 announced globally: It's not a 'Pro,' but is it 'Pro' enough?

OnePlus is back for the second launch of its OnePlus 11 smartphone. The company previously announced the Chinese version of the phone on January 4, but it announced its latest flagship for the global market on February 7, 2023.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the OnePlus 11, including specs, features, design, and how much you’ll pay for one.

OnePlus 11: What’s new at-a-glance

The most recent phone in the main OnePlus lineup was the OnePlus 10T, which launched on August 3, 2022. The star “feature” of this phone was actually its price. At a list price of just $649, the phone undercut the Galaxy S22’s list price significantly, as well as the iPhone 14. However, it was still $50 more expensive than the Google Pixel 6 (and, later in October, the Google Pixel 7). When it comes to features, however, we don’t find too many differences between the OnePlus 10T and the OnePlus 11:

• Only slight redesigns: The OnePlus 11 overall looks very similar to the OnePlus 10T. The rear camera system still features four circles inside a left-aligned module, although the module on the OnePlus 11 is more rounded. Thankfully, the alert slider lives on in this newer model, which the OnePlus 10T sorely missed. Even the color choices are pretty much the same — black or green, although the shades are slightly different in 2023.
• Updated processor and storage: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powers the OnePlus 11, which will be nominally more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 in the OnePlus 10T. There’s also the option to get a model with UFS 4.0 storage, which should make read/write speeds nominally faster.
• Better cameras: The primary shooter on the backs of both phones is the same: a 50MP lens. The selfie camera is also the same on both. However, the OnePlus 11 has a much better ultrawide lens and a telephoto lens in place of the macro shooter on the OnePlus 10T.
• Newer software and better support: You’ll find Oxygen OS 13 (based on Android 13) out-of-the-box with the OnePlus 11. This puts it a generation ahead of the OnePlus 10T, which shipped with Oxygen OS 12. The 2023 phone will also see four Android upgrades and five years of bi-monthly security patches, making it the OnePlus device with the longest software commitment.
• Slightly more durable: The OnePlus 11 is IP64-rated, making it more resistant to dust than the IP54-rated OnePlus 10T. The newer phone also has Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, which is stronger then the Gorilla Glass 5 on the 2022 model.

OnePlus 11 design and display

• The OnePlus 11 keeps the classic OnePlus design elements on the front, including a left-aligned selfie camera cutout and a curved display.
• The back of the OnePlus 11 is slightly different, with a more circular camera module.
• OnePlus’ iconic alert slider makes a welcome return on the OnePlus 11, a notable omission from the OnePlus 10T.

The overall look of the OnePlus 11 is classic OnePlus. There are curves everywhere, and the two color choices — Titan Black and Eternal Green — look a lot like the other black/green colorways we’ve seen on previous releases. Even the massive left-aligned rear camera module of the OnePlus 10 Pro and 10T returns here, although with a slight redesign that makes it look more circular.

The display design also hasn’t changed much from previous OnePlus phones. The left-aligned selfie cutout is still here, and the sides of the display are curved. However, this is now the most advanced display on a OnePlus device. It’s an LTPO3 AMOLED display with a 1440p resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120Hz. Generally, those are similar specs to what we saw on the OnePlus 10 Pro, but the LTPO3 panel on the OnePlus 11 should be more power-efficient than the LTPO2 panel of the 10 Pro.

We missed the iconic alert slider on the OnePlus 10T, but it returns on the OnePlus 11. This physical slider allows you to put the phone into either vibrate or silent mode quickly.

OnePlus 11 camera

• The OnePlus 11 camera is slightly better than the OnePlus 10 Pro’s and 10T’s.
• The main sensor is a 50MP wide lens, which gets paired with a 48MP ultrawide and a 32MP “portrait” telephoto. That last lens is not quite what it seems.

Despite the Hasselblad pedigree attached to OnePlus cameras, the company usually lags behind Samsung, Google, and Apple flagships when it comes to capturing photos and videos. Things are no different in 2023, with OnePlus providing a few high-end bits of hardware and then a confusing choice that handicaps performance.

The main rear sensor is the 50MP Sony IMX890, which is not the same but similar to the 50MP sensors in the Galaxy S22 and Pixel 7. This sensor should be fine for your usual photography tasks. The 48MP ultrawide has a good 115-degree field-of-view (FoV), which will certainly make shots less awkward than the way-too-wide 150-degree FoV on the OnePlus 10 Pro.

The third lens, however, is a real head-scratcher. The OnePlus 10 Pro had an 8MP telephoto capable of 3.3x zoom. This wasn’t the greatest system, but it allowed you to get a decent degree of optical clarity when zooming in. The OnePlus 11, however, has a 32MP “portrait” telephoto, which is only capable of 2x optical zoom. Its primary function is to enhance bokeh on portrait-style photos, not zoom.

This weird decision not to provide a proper telephoto upgrade (or even sidegrade) is a classic OnePlus move. For whatever reason, the company often under-delivers on camera hardware, at least when compared to other phones in the same price bracket from major competitors. As such, the OnePlus 11 will be fine for your standard shots and maybe even great for portraits, but the quality will immediately start to degrade as soon as you start zooming in on your subject.

OnePlus 11 performance, battery life, and charging

• The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powers the OnePlus 11.
• You should get plenty of battery life with the large 5,000mAh cell.
• There is no wireless charging, but 80W wired charging can top you up in just a few minutes.

OnePlus has always prioritized raw power with its flagship phones. In that regard, the OnePlus 11 is no exception, as it carries the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. This is currently the second-most-powerful mobile processor in the Android world, topped only by the ever-so-slightly more powerful custom version inside the Galaxy S23 series. Whatever you want to do with your phone, the OnePlus 11 should be able to handle it without breaking a sweat.

In addition to this chipset, the OnePlus 11 comes with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM, with the latter option being absolute overkill. If you do opt for the 16GB model, that will come with 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, which is some of the fastest we’ve ever seen in a smartphone (most are stuck on UFS 3.1). In other words, speed and multitasking should not be a problem at all with the 16GB model.

Powering this system is a large 5,000mAh battery. This battery is split into two 2,500mAh cells, which is what helps the phone charge so fast. Speaking of which, you’ll see 80W wired charging speeds with the OnePlus 11, which should allow you to go from zero to 100% in just under 32 minutes. Thankfully, you don’t need to shell out extra cash for this feature, as an 80W charger and compatible cable come in the box with the phone.

Unfortunately, the trade-off here is that there is no wireless charging on the OnePlus 11. This is pretty disappointing considering OnePlus finally fully embraced wireless charging with the OnePlus 9 series, giving fast wireless charging to the 9 Pro and standard wireless charging to the OnePlus 9. That was the first time OnePlus ever did that. Now, after just one generation, we’re back to no wireless charging at all, which was the standard for OnePlus from its inception until the OnePlus 8 in 2020.

OnePlus 11 specs

The OnePlus 11 specs are quite formidable in some areas and head-scratching in others. This complete table goes over everything you need to know.

OnePlus 11 release date, price, and carrier support

• The OnePlus 11 has two variants with costs ranging from $699 to $799:
  • OnePlus 11 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage: $699 / CAD $999 / £729 / Rs. 56,999
  • OnePlus 11 with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage: $799 / CAD $1,149 / £799 / Rs. 61,999
• The 128GB model only comes in one color: Titan Black. The 256GB model comes in Titan Black or Eternal Green.
• Pre-orders opened on February 7, and general sales begin on February 16.

Thankfully, OnePlus is keeping pricing low for the OnePlus 11. This is a smart move considering the flagship features missing from the phone, which includes wireless charging and a full IP68 rating. In exchange for the loss of these features, you can get a 128GB OnePlus 11 for just $699 / CAD $999 / £729, which undercuts the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the iPhone 14 by $100. Meanwhile, the 256GB model costs $799 / CAD $1,149 / £799.

Your choices when it comes to colors depend on the variant you want. If you opt for the 256GB model, you can choose between two colors: Titan Black or Eternal Green. If you want to save some cash and go with the 128GB model, you are limited to just the Titan Black option.

Either way, you can pre-order a OnePlus 11 from February 7 to February 15. On February 16, 2023, the OnePlus 11 will hit virtual store shelves with availability from OnePlus directly as well as Amazon and Best Buy.

As far as carrier support, OnePlus says the OnePlus 11 should work on most of the major US carriers. The official list is below. However, do note that OnePlus has lost its carrier partnerships in North America, so the only way you’ll be able to get the phone is by buying unlocked from a retailer.

United States:

Canada:

• Bell Mobility 5G
• Rogers Wireless 4G only
• Telus Mobility 5G
• Freedom Mobile 4G only

Will there be a OnePlus 11 Pro or OnePlus 11T?

OnePlus confirmed to Android Authority that there will not be a OnePlus 11 Pro. In fact, the company is done making phones with the “Pro” moniker. Going forward, the newest numbered release in the main series will be the top-of-the-line model for that year.

Likewise, there will not be a OnePlus 11T in the second half of 2023. It is unclear if that means there will be no H2 flagship from OnePlus at all or if the company has something else planned for then. The leaked foldables could be slotted into H2, for example.

Should you buy the OnePlus 11?

The OnePlus 11 is a pretty good phone for its price. When it comes to features, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is probably the better buy, though. It has a faster chipset, a much better camera system, wireless charging, and you can buy it from almost any US carrier. However, that phone starts at $100 more than the OnePlus 11 and charges slower, has a lower-resolution display, and lacks the alert slider.

Generally, if you absolutely need to stay under $700 and want the most powerful phone you can get, the OnePlus 11 Pro would be a good choice. However, if you don’t care much about raw power and would rather have standard flagship features, we would recommend going with the more expensive Galaxy S23 or even spending less money and getting the $599 Google Pixel 7.

The OnePlus 11 is in an awkward position. It has some incredible features, such as its display, chipset, and charging speeds. But what it lacks could be deal-breakers for flagship phone shoppers. You’ll need to know what’s important to you when it comes to your phone needs to understand if the OnePlus 11 is right for you.