The OnePlus 11 (left) and the OnePlus 10 Pro (right). June Wan/ZDNET
After years of trying to break into the high-end smartphone market, the territory of Apple and Samsung, OnePlus takes a step back with the OnePLus 11, contenting itself with occupying the mid-range segment, and focusing on speed and performance above all.
The result ? A €850 device that in some areas is on par with the best smartphones we’ve tested, but lacks the fundamentals we’ve come to expect, such as wireless charging and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.
It’s the classic game of concessions to the price that OnePlus submits to us in this way, whether we like it or not. In comparison, last year’s model, the OnePlus 10 Pro, which we believe didn’t take as many precautions, is even more appealing.
So which of the two OnePlus smartphones should you buy? Clearly, the answer isn’t as simple as it sounds, so let this comparison guide you in making the perfect purchase decision.
The characteristics of the OnePlus 11
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED with 120Hz, LTPO 3.0
- Weight: 205 grams
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM / Storage: 8 GB / 16 GB / RAM 128 GB / 256 GB
- Camera: 50MP wide angle, 48MP (FOV 115 degrees) ultra wide angle, 32MP portrait telephoto, 16MP front
- Software: OxygenOS 13 on Android 13
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Connectivity: 4G, 5G
- Durability: IP64
- Colours: Titan Black and Eternal Green
- Price: 850 €
The characteristics of the OnePlus 10 Pro
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED with 120Hz, LTPO 2.0
- Weight: 201 grams
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM / Storage: 8 GB / 16 GB / RAM 128 GB / 256 GB
- Camera: 48MP wide, 50MP (FOV 150 degrees) ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto, 32MP front
- Software: OxygenOS 12 (upgradable) on Android 12
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Connectivity: 4G, 5G
- Durability: no
- Colours: Volcanic Black and Forest Emerald
- Price: €520
You should buy the OnePlus 11 if…
June Wan/ZDNET
1. You want a smartphone made to face the future
The OnePlus 11 looks almost identical to the OnePlus 10 Pro except for the circular camera module. But under the hood the company has quietly configured the OnePlus 11 with features that should keep the smartphone relevant for a very long time. The list includes Wi-Fi 7, UFS 4.0, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and OnePlus’ new commitment of four years of OS updates and five years of biweekly security patches. .
All of this, while more subtle than the typical design changes, makes the OnePlus 11 the best smartphone to invest in if you plan to use it for as long as possible.
2. Time (charging) is essential
There is nothing more precious than time. And that’s why the OnePlus 11’s 100W fast charging is a definite plus. Thanks to the proprietary SuperVOOC technology integrated into the charging brick supplied with the smartphone, the OnePlus 11 can go from 0 to 100% battery in less than 30 minutes. By comparison, the OnePlus 11 tops out at 65W on fast charging, which, to be fair, is better than Apple and Samsung’s 30W and 45W, respectively.
But if you always find yourself plugging in your phone for a last-second charge or just getting tired of camping near a wall outlet, then the OnePlus 11 offers faster charging than the 10 Pro.
3. You want the best OnePlus camera available
Historically, OnePlus smartphones have never been known for their excellent cameras. But the company has done a commendable job over the past three years to refine its mobile shooting system, even teaming up with Swedish camera maker Hasselblad on the engineering side on hardware and post-processing.
Based on sample photos taken with the OnePlus 11, we can safely say that this is the best camera on a OnePlus phone to date, unless you have a particular preference. which we will discuss below.
You should buy the OnePlus 10 Pro if…
June Wan/ZDNET
1. Landscape photography is your passion
The OnePlus 11 has the better camera system of the two devices. But there’s one area in particular where the OnePlus 10 Pro shines more, and that’s its 150-degree FOV ultra-wide lens. Having a wider field of view means you’re able to capture more of what’s in front of you, which makes the 10 Pro preferable for landscape photography.
Whether you’re shooting cityscapes or want to capture the essence of a crowded room in a single shot, the OnePlus 10 Pro should serve you better than the 11.
2. You can’t live without wireless charging
It’s not all positives with the new OnePlus smartphone, especially if you’ve built a lifestyle around wireless charging. I’m not the only one who passively charges his phone whenever there’s a charging station nearby, am I? While OnePlus tells me the company ditched wireless charging on the 11 because “faster wired charging should make you forget about all that,” the 10 Pro still has that capability – and it can go all the way up to 50W.
3. Prices have dropped for the OnePlus 10 Pro
The OnePlus 10 Pro was already an excellent deal with its launch price of €800. but with the launch of the OnePlus 11, the price has since dropped to just over €500. And if you rummage on the web, you will most certainly be able to find cheaper. You can even find a second-hand model.
Alternatives to consider
Are you open to other smartphones? So consider these devices recommended by ZDNET:
Samsung Galaxy S23
Price: around 1020 €
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Price: around €685
Google Pixel 7
Price: around €515
Source: “ZDNet.com”