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OnePlus 11R review: Why would you buy the OnePlus 11 anymore?

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OnePlus 11R review: Why would you buy the OnePlus 11 anymore?

The OnePlus 11 ticks all the suitable packing containers, and though we did not get a Pro mannequin this time, the usual variant has all of the options you want in a high-end telephone in 2023. The telephone has a great design, vibrant QHD+ display screen, stellar {hardware}, good battery life with quick charging, and wonderful cameras.For me, the differentiator this 12 months is the cameras; OnePlus lastly received its act collectively, and the OnePlus 11 takes phenomenal photographs in nearly any lighting situation. Considering the telephone prices ₹56,999 ($696) in India, you’re getting so much on your cash.But what when you do not wish to pay that a lot? Thankfully, there’s another only for Indian customers within the type of the OnePlus 11R. The 11R takes the basics of the usual OnePlus 11 and affords in a way more value-focused package deal, and the perfect half is that it will get the identical 50MP principal digital camera as the usual mannequin.I wasn’t a fan of earlier fashions within the R collection; the 10R was one of many ugliest telephones I used final 12 months, and the 9R did not transfer the needle an excessive amount of. But with the OnePlus 11R, you get a tool that has the identical design and digital camera because the OnePlus 11 however for considerably much less cash. If you are in India, this is why I feel it is best to get the OnePlus 11R in lieu of the OnePlus 11.OnePlus 11R: Availability(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)OnePlus launched the OnePlus 11R alongside the OnePlus 11 and TV 65 Q2 Pro at its Cloud 11 occasion in New Delhi on February 7, and the telephone is now on sale in India. Like earlier launches within the R collection, the OnePlus 11R is restricted to India, and will not make its strategy to different markets. That stated, the identical mannequin is offered in China below the Ace 2 label.The OnePlus 11R is offered in two variants in India: an 8GB/128GB mannequin that is promoting for ₹39,999 ($488), and a 16GB/256GB model that prices ₹44,999 ($550). That’s significantly lower than the ₹56,999 ($696) that you simply’d be shelling out for the usual OnePlus 11 within the nation.OnePlus 11R: Design(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I used the OnePlus 11R for the higher a part of every week, and I wasn’t in a position to inform the distinction between the gadget and the usual OnePlus 11. The 11R appears similar to the usual OnePlus 11 on the again, and the one distinction is the shortage of the Hasselblad brand in the midst of the digital camera housing. It additionally misses out on the glittery sample that is seen on the digital camera island of the OnePlus 11, however exterior of these minor variances, these could possibly be the identical telephone.The indisputable fact that the 11R has the identical design as its costlier sibling offers it a way more upmarket look, and I’ve to say that this is likely one of the best-looking telephones in its class. The 11R is a smidgen taller, wider, and thicker than the OnePlus 11, however you may solely discover it with each telephones side-by-side. I’m utilizing the black model of the telephone, and it has the identical shiny end on the again as the usual mannequin.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Like the common model, the 11R has glorious in-hand really feel, and the burden distribution is right. There’s additionally the alert slider, and the ports are in the identical location as the usual mannequin: you may discover a dual-SIM slot on the backside, IR blaster up high, and the amount button on the left. You get the identical Gorilla Glass 5 layer on the again as the usual mannequin.It’s good to see the alert slider intact on the telephone — that is nonetheless a giant {hardware} differentiator for OnePlus. That stated, the 11R misses out on IP64 ranking, so you aren’t getting any kind of resistance towards the weather. It ought to nonetheless climate the occasional splash of rain or water, however with out an official ingress safety ranking, any kind of water harm won’t be lined by the guarantee.Image 1 of 8(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Because the 11R is aimed on the mid-range class, it makes use of a plastic mid-frame as a substitute of the metallic housing that is featured in the usual mannequin. Again, you may solely discover the distinction when utilizing the telephone subsequent to the OnePlus 11.Another space the place the gadget differs to the usual mannequin is the placement of the fingerprint sensor; it sits too low on the display screen, so you may need to awkwardly maneuver your thumb to unlock the telephone. I had this problem on the OnePlus 9 collection, however OnePlus mounted the positioning of the optical module on the OnePlus 10 collection and the OnePlus 11, so I do not actually know why the 11R has the sensor additional beneath on the display screen. It makes unlocking the telephone extra cumbersome than it must be, and I needed to change to face unlock as a substitute.Other than that quibble and the shortage of water resistance, OnePlus received the fundamentals proper with the 11R. This is a handsome telephone that has an incredible in-hand really feel, and in contrast to final 12 months, the alert slider is undamaged. This is principally probably the greatest OnePlus telephones of 2023. OnePlus 11R: Display(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The OnePlus 11 includes a 6.74-inch AMOLED panel with an FHD+ (2772 x 1240) decision and 120Hz refresh. You get HDR10+ and HLG, and whereas the general brightness is touted to be 1,450 nits for HDR content material, that does not measure up in real-world use. When viewing the identical HDR content material on the 11R and the usual mannequin, the latter was persistently brighter and did a greater job managing colours.Similarly, the 11R misses out on LTPO, with the telephone as a substitute switching between 60Hz and 120Hz. As a consequence, you aren’t getting the identical stellar battery figures as the usual mannequin, however there aren’t any points as such in day by day use — the display screen feels fluid whereas looking, going by means of social media, and usually navigating the interface.The OnePlus 11R makes use of the identical curved sides because the common model, and I feel OnePlus ought to have supplied a flat show as a substitute. That would have made the gadget stand out a bit extra as not everybody likes a curved display screen. That stated, the curvature itself is marginal, and it would not really feel unwieldy to make use of. On that be aware, I’m not a fan of the positioning of the selfie digital camera — it is situated within the heart, and the big cutout is extra intrusive than the usual mannequin, the place it’s on the facet.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)While the telephone would not have the most recent Qualcomm silicon, the {hardware} on provide is greater than ample for demanding video games. That stated, the 11R is restricted to 60fps for gaming, so even for titles that transcend 60fps, that is not potential — it is a limitation on the OnePlus 11 as properly. You get a good number of always-on modes, and just like the OnePlus 11, the contextual information that was meant to go reside two years in the past continues to be not out there, so you will not be capable of monitor the likes of Swiggy and Zomato straight on the house display screen. There’s stereo sound right here, and it’s first rate sufficient for streaming the occasional YouTube video.Overall, the OnePlus 11R would not fairly measure as much as the usual OnePlus 11 on this regard, however the panel high quality is okay contemplating what the gadget prices, and in the end, that is what issues on the finish of the day.OnePlus 11R: Performance and battery(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)This can be a comparatively quick part as there is not a lot to speak about on the {hardware} facet of issues. The OnePlus 11R is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and it completely flies in day by day use — you will not discover any slowdowns or lag in day by day use. The software program would not have main shortcomings both, and that greater than anything is the most important differentiator over final 12 months.The telephone handles demanding video games with out breaking a sweat, and it is simple to see that there is a number of overhead relating to the {hardware}. Sure, there may be some overheating after prolonged use — that is the place the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 does higher — however the gadget was by no means uncomfortably scorching.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryOnePlus 11ROSOxygenOS 13, Android 13Display6.74-inch 120Hz AMOLED, FHD+ (2772 x 1240), Gorilla Glass 5ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 1 x 3.0GHz Cortex X2, 3 x 2.5GHz Cortex A710, 4 x 1.8GHz Cortex A510, Adreno 730, 4nmRAM8GB/16GB LPDDR5XStorage128GB/256GB UFS 3.1Rear digital camera 150MP Sony IMX890, f/1.8 1/1.56-inch sensor, PDAF, OIS, 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fpsRear digital camera 28MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens, 120-degree FoVRear digital camera 32MP f/2.4 macroFront digital camera16MP Sony IMX471, mounted focusConnectivitySub-6 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFCAudioStereo sound, USB-C audioAudio codecsAptX, AptX HD, LDAC, LHDC, SBC, AACIngress ProtectionNoneSecurityIn-screen optical fingerprint moduleBattery5000mAh, 100W quick chargingDimensions163.4 x 74.3 x 8.7mm. 204gColorsBlack, SilverYou get 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM as normal, and there is a 16GB variant as properly. Both the 128GB and 256GB storage variants function UFS 3.1 modules, and also you miss out on UFS 4.0. That is not a giant omission contemplating UFS 3.1 continues to be loads quick for nearly any use case in the mean time. The telephone has ample 5G bands to be used in India, and also you get Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and the standard AptX HD audio codec.As for battery life, I had zero points getting the telephone to final a full day with heavy use. That’s all the way down to the big 5000mAh battery, and even with display screen time exceeding six hours over the course of an 18-hour day, the OnePlus 11R hovered over the 15% mark.OnePlus did not make any adjustments to the battery tech, with the gadget providing the identical 100W wired charging as the usual OnePlus 11. Again, it is a particular win for the gadget, and whereas the 10R had 150W charging final 12 months, there is not an excessive amount of of a distinction in real-world charging situations.You’ll discover the identical 100W USB-A charger within the field because the OnePlus 11, and in my testing, it took 28 minutes to totally cost the battery on the 11R.OnePlus 11R: Cameras(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The principal spotlight of the OnePlus 11R must be the truth that it makes use of the identical 50MP Sony IMX890 principal digital camera because the OnePlus 11. This permits the gadget to take fabulous photographs in difficult situations, and offers it a definite edge over most mid-range telephones out there within the nation. Like the OnePlus 11, the 11R options OIS for the 50MP lens.While it is great to see that the 11R will get the identical principal digital camera as its costlier sibling, the auxiliary cameras aren’t well worth the trouble in any respect. There’s an 8MP wide-angle lens with a 120-degree discipline of view, and a 2MP macro lens. Most manufacturers have switched to utilizing wide-angle lenses with autofocus that double as macro shooters, however that is not the case right here — the 11R will get a fixed-focus wide-angle lens, and a ineffective macro shooter that ought to by no means have made its method into the gadget.Compounding the problem is that the wide-angle lens would not provide 4K video recording, and also you’re restricted to 1080p at 30fps. The digital camera interface itself is just like the OnePlus 11 — albeit with out the orange accents — and it is simple sufficient to entry all of the taking pictures modes and change between the wide-angle and principal lens. The telephone does 2x digital zoom, however even that is strictly common.What’s noticeable after utilizing the 11R side-by-side with the OnePlus 11 is how related it’s to its costlier sibling when taking photographs with the 50MP lens. Even although it misses out on the Hasselblad tuning, there is not an entire lot that is totally different between the 2 units. Sure, the OnePlus 11 has barely hotter tones and higher coloration vibrancy, however the 11R does an unbelievable job in its personal proper.You get glorious photographs in low-light conditions, with the 11R persistently delivering photos with minimal noise, correct colours, and good element. It holds its personal towards the usual mannequin, and whereas the OnePlus 11 is ready to handle highlights higher and provide finer element, the 11R is not far behind. Image 1 of 10(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The principal 50MP digital camera produces gorgeous photographs in daylight situations, with the resultant photographs providing correct colours and good dynamic vary total. The identical is true in low-light conditions as properly, and whereas there are just a few conditions the place the publicity is barely decrease, switching to the devoted Night mode mounted these shortcomings. I haven’t got something unfavorable to say about the primary lens — OnePlus did all the suitable issues with the 11R. However, the 8MP wide-angle lens is not anyplace pretty much as good because the 48MP module you may discover on the OnePlus 11; it would not have the identical coloration stability and struggles to take care of element in difficult conditions. I’m not even going to hassle speaking concerning the 2MP macro because it simply is not price it.If you want the flexibility, then the OnePlus 11 is the go-to alternative. But when you intend to make use of the 50MP principal digital camera more often than not and do not thoughts the shoddy wide-angle lens, the OnePlus 11R is an efficient discount. OnePlus 11R: Software(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The OnePlus 11R is operating the identical Android 13-based OxygenOS 13  construct as the usual mannequin, and in my utilization, I did not see something that was totally different. Now, the software program state of affairs on OnePlus telephones wants a little bit of a clarification; though the software program says it’s OxygenOS, what you get right here is ColorOS 13 with a unique title.As I lined in my OnePlus 11 evaluate, there is not something in OxygenOS 13 that you do not already get in ColorOS 13, and for all intents and functions, each skins are one and the identical. Having stated that, you may discover so much to love in OxygenOS 13, and the interface lastly feels secure — that wasn’t the case for many of the final two years.So whilst you now not get the clear and uncluttered interface that was an enormous differentiator in years previous, the UI appears fashionable, and it has just a few Material You influences, just like the dynamic coloration picker. You additionally get a good degree of customizability right here, and when you do not thoughts the overt styling, there’s a lot to love.As for software program updates, the OnePlus 11R will get three years of Android OS updates together with 4 years of safety patches, and that is one 12 months lower than the usual mannequin. That means the telephone will change to Android 16 as soon as that turns into out there in just a few years’ time, however as for the timeliness of these updates, we’ll have to attend and see.OnePlus 11R: The competitors(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)There’s limitless alternative on this class, and if you need the perfect cameras, the Pixel 6a continues to be my advice. The telephone would not value as a lot because the OnePlus 11R, and whilst you miss out on a 120Hz panel, that’s its solely shortcoming. The {hardware} is unbelievable in day by day use, you get the identical variety of software program updates, and I’m a fan of Google’s design aesthetic. The software program is a key differentiator as properly, with Google providing a clear interface with Material You design and 0 bloatware.The Galaxy S21 FE is a good sufficient alternative, and though the gadget launched over a 12 months in the past, it nonetheless holds its personal towards its rivals. The telephone feels nice to carry and use, will get to Android 16, and I like what Samsung is doing with One UI 5.1. The S21 FE would not cost as quick, however the battery life is on par with different mid-range telephones, and the cameras take good photographs in any state of affairs.If you need a gadget that stands out, Realme’s GT 2 Pro can also be a contender. I used this telephone for a bit final 12 months and preferred it fairly a bit; the distinctive polymer again offers the gadget a number of character, and it is not quick on energy. You get wonderful cameras on the again, and the wide-angle lens does a great job — it is positively a minimize above the 11R. You’ll discover related shortcomings on the software program facet, however Realme OS is secure, and it’s on Android 13.OnePlus 11R: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)You can buy this if:You need a telephone that holds its personal towards the most recent flagshipsYou want high-end {hardware} that is nice for gamingYou need a telephone with a big battery and ultra-fast chargingYou need the perfect worthYou should not purchase this if:You need a good wide-angle lensYou want an IP rankingYou need a gadget with 4 Android OS updatesIf you are in India and just like the look of the OnePlus 11, you’d wish to take into account the 11R as a substitute. The 50MP principal digital camera is unchanged between the 2 units, and because of this the 11R takes terrific photographs in difficult situations. The reality that you simply’re getting it for ₹17,000 lower than the OnePlus 11 is a terrific discount.OnePlus disregarded just a few issues to get to that determine: there is no IP ranking, the auxiliary cameras aren’t price your time, the display screen would not get fairly as vibrant, and I hate the positioning of the fingerprint sensor. While it would not have an effect on usability, the mid-frame is made out of plastic and would not really feel pretty much as good because the common mannequin. Furthermore, the OnePlus 11R will get one fewer software program replace.If you do not thoughts the omissions and need a gadget that delivers the perfect worth on this class, then sure, the OnePlus 11R is for you. The indisputable fact that you do not actually miss out in key areas makes recommending the gadget so much simpler, and also you’re getting a number of worth on your cash.
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The OnePlus 11R offers you a similar 50MP digital camera because the OnePlus 11, the identical 5000mAh battery with 100W charging, and the identical design. Sure, it would not have all of the options of its costlier siblings, however if you wish to maximize worth, that is the OnePlus telephone to purchase in India.