Even if one plus one does not equal eleven, OnePlus has ticked enough boxes to reach the 11 series of smartphones. In fact, there is already a OnePlus 11R on the market, attempting to position itself as the more affordable version of the premium brand’s current offering. From the OnePlus One to the OnePlus 11R, this relatively new contestant in the smartphone segment has demonstrated how well it understands the market, its customers’ demands, and, most importantly, how much they are willing to pay for what they perceive to be a premium device.
The OnePlus 11R has been with me for nearly a week, and it is everything I expected from the brand. However, that perception of OnePlus has shifted in recent quarters as the company has shifted its focus more towards its mother brand, Oppo. This is why I decided to approach this review in a unique way, by asking potential buyers what they would like me to test with the new OnePlus 11R.
Specifications Table
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 |
| No of cores | 8 (octa core) |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5X |
| Height-Width | 6.43in-2.93in |
| Weight | 204 grams |
| Colours | Sonic Black, Galactic Silver |
| Resolution | 1240 x 2772 pixels |
| Display Type | Super Fluid AMOLED, HDR 10+ |
| Colour Reproduction | 16M Colours |
| TouchScreen | Yes, Capacitive, Multi-Touch |
| Rear camera setup | Triple |
| Rear Camera | 50MP(Primary), 8MP(Secondary), 2MP(Tertiary) |
| Front camera | 16 MP Resolution |
| Flash | LED Rear flash |
| Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps |
| Camera Features | Auto FlashAuto FocusFace detectionTouch to focus |
| Battery Type and capacity | Li-Polymer, 5000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, Super VOOC, 100W |
| Internal memory type | 128 GB, UFS 3.1 |
| Operating System | Android v13 |
| Custom UI | Oxygen OS |
| SIM Configuration | Dual SIM |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.3 |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, On-Screen |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
| Other Sensor | Light SensorProximity SensorAccelerometerCompassGyroscope |
Design
The design is typical of OnePlus phones, with a prominent circular camera bump that draws attention to the phone. Fans of OnePlus will be pleased to know that the alert slider remains on the right edge, with the volume rocker on the left. The phone has a good grip, and the sharper edge helps. However, it has grown heavier than its predecessor and now weighs more than 200g.
Display
The OnePlus 11R has a 6.7-inch 120Hz Super Fluid Display with a resolution of 27721240 and a brightness of 500 nits, making it ideal for gaming and content consumption. Depending on the user’s activity, the display will automatically switch between 40 and 120Hz frame rate, saving power. For me, the first glimpse of the display animation was enough to decide that this is a fantastic display, far superior to what I saw on the 10R.
Processing
This phone is powered by the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ processor, as OnePlus appears to have left the MediaTek experiment for the R series. This should assist the brand in maintaining its premium image, at least for the flagship range, rather than watering it down for the discerning audience. The 16GB should please both power users and gamers.
Camera
The OnePlus 11R features a no-frills triple-camera system, which I’ve come to expect from this company. This also means that the phone includes camera features that regular users value and does not include any gimmicks that they will never use. When shooting regular images, I was most impressed by the Macro settings and colour reproduction. The camera does not make reds appear more red or greens appear more green. However, in bright light, you must adjust the focus to prevent images from burning out. The ultra-wide angle and macro lenses, on the other hand, perform best in bright light.
Battery Life
This is where the OnePlus 11R has a significant advantage. With normal use, the 5000mAh battery easily lasts a day, even on 5G. When the battery is low, the low battery mode allows you to access essential features while still attempting to stretch the remaining power for a few more hours.
A 100W SUPER VOOC + charger is included, which can charge the phone for a day’s worth in just over 5 minutes and fully charge it in 25 minutes. This is mind-boggling, especially if you, like me, are constantly forgetting to charge your phone. OnePlus is also including some new technology to help the battery last longer, including a dedicated chip to manage this aspect.
UI
I remain a big fan of the original OnePlus Oxygen UI and the breath of fresh air it provided smartphone users. However, the OnePlus UI has recently begun to resemble that of Oppo phones, which I don’t particularly like, though this has no effect on usability. With the OnePlus 11R, I loved the implementation of the Shelf, a top-down swipe on the home screen that also offers updates from all important apps. The all-black low-battery mode is also useful, as it makes the UI usable rather than restrictive, as it is on some other phones.
Verdict
Yes, if you’re looking for a flagship experience without paying six figures. The OnePlus 11R appears to be a reasonable option under Rs 40,000, and its performance levels are certainly impressive. I also like how the phone’s design is simple and refined. In terms of viewing experience, few phones in the segment will have the display hardware that the 11R does. The phone’s secondary cameras aren’t the best, but they’re balanced out by a more than capable primary camera. Overall, this is a good option worth considering. At Rs 40,000 this phone provides all of the top features you want without confusing you with gimmicks. While its ultra-wide and macro sensors aren’t the most useful, the primary sensor’s point-and-shoot experience should be sufficient for your needs and other aspects of the handset are also acceptable.
Warranty Plan
| Warranty | 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty |
| Extended Warranty | 2 years Extended Warranty from the GoWarranty for the OnePlus 11R phones |
