The new phone works hard to earn its flagship title and is essentially a “Pro” model but without the label.
The $699 OnePlus 11 Review is the company’s first true flagship phone to launch in 2023, and it offers plenty to get excited about. From its slick, refreshed design to its extremely powerful processor and fast charging skills, this phone is working hard to earn its flagship title.
At the same time, it’s not a massive overhaul from last year’s already excellent OnePlus 10 Pro. It’s similar in design, and it got a hefty (arguably redundant) boost in power. Even the new camera setup, while good, isn’t a big leap forward.
If you were hoping to see a radical new OnePlus phone, you may be disappointed. Owners of recent OnePlus devices shouldn’t consider upgrading since you wouldn’t see enough benefits to justify the cost.
Price is certainly on its side. The OnePlus 11 base model costs $699 (£729 in the UK, or roughly AU$1,270) and comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Even the higher-end review model I tested, with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, will only set you back $799 (£799 in the UK), undercutting its rivals by a decent chunk.
The phone’s biggest competition comes from the superb Google Pixel 7 Pro, which at $899 isn’t a big step up in cost. (Google charges $999 for the equivalent 256GB model, although there’s no boost in power that comes with the extra storage.)
The Pixel 7 Pro was one of our favourite phones of 2022, earning a coveted CNET Editors’ Choice award when it launched in October thanks to its superb cameras, slick interface and attractive design. It’s an amazing phone and one of my favourite ways to experience Android 13. Review
OnePlus 11 Review: Powerful but Not Perfect
Here’s where the OnePlus 11 excels in its raw power: It offers blistering speeds for gaming and heavy multitasking. It charges quicker than Google’s phones too. The Pixel’s Tensor G2 processor isn’t built for straight-line speed, but still handles anything you’ll find in the Play Store. The Pixel’s pure Android 13 software is clutter-free, and the cameras generally perform better, especially with the addition of the 5x optical zoom lens, which the OnePlus lacks.
Then there’s the new Samsung Galaxy S23, which starts at $800 and comes with a 6.1-inch display, a triple-camera setup, 8GB of RAM and the latest Qualcomm 8 Gen 2 processor. It’s the same chip you’ll find in the OnePlus 11, though it’s been customized for Samsung. With the S23 range going on sale on Feb. 17, we’ll have to wait to see how the new Samsung and OnePlus’ phones stack up against each other.
