In addition to being an inexpensive Android flagship, the OnePlus 11 is distinguished from the competition by a few unique qualities.
A Return to the Origins
A few distinctive qualities distinguish the OnePlus 11 from other Android flagship smartphones and aid in its ability to remain competitive. Since the OnePlus One’s 2014 introduction, the company’s smartphones have provided a superior value proposition by featuring high-end specifications at a significantly reduced cost compared to its competitors. To maintain a low price, OnePlus reduced expenses by omitting a number of essential features. Since then, OnePlus has ventured into the realm of genuine flagships, but its most recent smartphone represents a return to its origins.
Impressive Hardware
The OnePlus 11, featuring a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a potent Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a sizable 5,000mAh battery, and up to four years of OS updates, is among the top flagship smartphones of 2023. In addition, it has a physical alert slider control and lightning-fast charging, among other distinctive qualities.
Hasselblad Camera Setup
The rear of the OnePlus 11 features a triple-camera configuration from Hasselblad of the third generation. This consists of a Sony IMX890 equipped with a 50MP primary camera, a Sony IMX581 with a 48MP ultra-wide sensor, and a Sony IMX709 with a 32MP portrait telephoto sensor and a 2X optical magnification.
The OnePlus 11’s multispectral sensor and Hasselblad’s Natural Colour Calibration contribute to the device’s more vibrant and precise hues. The portrait telephoto camera is capable of capturing bokeh-effect portraits purportedly comparable to those captured by a Hasselblad camera. Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) and the capability to record videos at up to 8K resolution are additional features.
The Alert Slider, which debuted on OnePlus’s inaugural smartphone, the OnePlus One, was an exclusive OnePlus feature not found on any other Android flagship. A favourite feature, the Alert Slider enables users to alternate between vibrate, ring, and silent modes with a physical button, without the need to unlock the device.
Many OnePlus enthusiasts were dismayed by the company’s decision to remove the Alert Slider from the OnePlus 10T. However, the Slider was reinstated with the OnePlus 11 and repositioned to its customary position on the right edge of the device, directly above the power button. By locating the slider to the top, users can promptly toggle their phone to the silent setting; to vibrate, they can position it in the middle; and to sound, they can slide it to the bottom.
Cutting-Edge Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7 connectivity is one of the OnePlus 11’s distinguishing characteristics; at present, the majority of Android flagships only support Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 7 offers a more consistent and rapid connection in comparison to Wi-Fi 6E, boasting a doubled bandwidth of up to 320MHz, which translates to speeds exceeding 30Gbps.
One drawback is that at present, only a small percentage of Wi-Fi routers are capable of supporting Wi-Fi 7. Even those that do support Wi-Fi 6E are uncommon. However, its support for Wi-Fi 7 renders the OnePlus 11 unquestionably future-proof. However, for compliance with international regulations, Wi-Fi 7 functionality is not initially available on the OnePlus 11. We will release a software update at a later time to enable this functionality.
Impressive Storage and Charging Capabilities
The highest variant of the OnePlus 11 offers 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage space. The majority of other Android flagships have a 12GB LPDDR5X RAM limit. It is evident that increasing the amount of RAM enables seamless app transitioning and provides additional performance for processor-intensive activities such as gaming. In contrast, the foundational model commences with 128GB of storage and 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
OnePlus equips its flagships with ultrafast charging, a feature that has only improved with the years and now provides a substantial competitive edge, making it renowned. The dual-cell OnePlus 11 battery has a capacity of 5,000 mAh and is compatible with 80W rapid charging in the United States (100W in other regions). The incredibly rapid 80W SUPERVOOC charger can completely charge the phone’s battery in approximately 25 minutes (less than 20 minutes at 100W).
Although the OnePlus 11 lacks wireless charging capabilities, it surpasses competitors such as Google and Samsung in terms of tethered charging speed.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the OnePlus 11 is one of the limited number of flagships that includes a tethered charger.
The OnePlus 10 Pro was available for a reasonable $799 at launch, but OnePlus is going all out this time around with the OnePlus 11, which features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and costs $699 for the base model. The Google Pixel 7 Pro, in contrast, begins at $899, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s entry-level model costs $1,199.
OnePlus has reverted to its affordable flagship strategy in recent years with a handful of substandard product releases, but the OnePlus 11 is bringing the company back on track. The OnePlus 11 reasserts itself as one of the most cost-effective Android flagships by continuing the company’s tradition of providing premium specifications and distinctive attributes at an appealing price.
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