It’s arduous to consider, however we’re shortly inching towards the OnePlus 11. The telephone is already obtainable for those who dwell in China, however for the remainder of the world, we solely have to attend till February 7 for OnePlus to host its massive ‘Cloud 11’ launch occasion in India.
In anticipation of the OnePlus 11, I made a decision to bust out my OnePlus 10 Professional and see the way it’s holding up in early 2023. Briefly, there are a lot of issues I nonetheless love in regards to the telephone, and it’s admirable how nice it feels a yr later. However much more than that, utilizing the OnePlus 10 Professional in 2023 jogged my memory of how some key issues have modified. Because of this, I’m extra nervous than enthusiastic about what we’ll get with the OnePlus 11. Let me clarify.
Taking a step again with the design
A few of us on the Cellular crew at Digital Developments lately regarded again at our favourite telephones of 2022, and for my decide, I selected the OnePlus 10 Professional — largely due to how a lot I like its {hardware}. In a yr that gave us some actually glorious handsets, the way in which the OnePlus 10 Professional appears and feels stands out so extremely effectively.
I’ve been utilizing the Volcanic Black mannequin since early final yr, and I adore the way it feels. It’s technically glass, however OnePlus lined it with a delicate end that’s very paying homage to velvet. Mixed with the aluminum body, rounded corners, and glorious weight, the OnePlus 10 Professional feels equal components premium and cozy; it’s simply incredible.
But it surely’s not simply that. I additionally fairly like OnePlus’s design for the rear digital camera bump. It’s daring and distinctive, but additionally manages to be considerably subdued. From the easy sq. housing to the Hasselblad emblem discretely positioned to the left of the cameras, it’s an amazing total look.
Primarily based on the photographs we’ve seen up to now of the OnePlus 11, it appears like OnePlus has tried to duplicate the OnePlus 10 Professional design as soon as once more … besides not almost as effectively.
The alert slider is again after a lot uproar from the OnePlus 10T, and it appears just like the soft-touch Volcanic Black end may return. However what is happening with the digital camera design? The housing begins as a straight line, turns right into a circle, and the digital camera housing sits on high of it as a separate piece. The Hasselblad emblem can be now slapped proper in the midst of the cameras like a nasty promotional sticker.
Possibly I’m being too essential of some refined modifications, however there was an magnificence and ease to the OnePlus 10 Professional that I actually adored, and nonetheless do immediately. I don’t get that very same feeling in any respect from the OnePlus 11.
The place are the digital camera upgrades?
Whereas the OnePlus 10 Professional’s design stays glorious in 2023, the identical can’t be stated for its digital camera system. Whereas Digital Developments’ Andy Boxall largely appreciated the ten Professional’s digital camera efficiency, he made it clear that it struggled with consistency — particularly with the ultrawide and telephoto sensors. And that was in April.
Digital Developments’ Nadeem Sarwar pitted the OnePlus 10 Professional in opposition to the iPhone 14 Professional this previous October, and in doing so, put a highlight on how far behind the OnePlus 10 Professional’s digital camera setup actually was in comparison with 2023 flagships.
I additionally gave the ten Professional’s cameras one other strive whereas revisiting it, and whereas I wouldn’t name it a dangerous digital camera system, it definitely wouldn’t be my first selection. Even with the help of Hasselblad, the OnePlus 10 Professional nonetheless makes some odd decisions with the way it captures colours. Generally, it oversaturates issues and provides heat/orange tints the place they don’t belong. Different instances, colours seem too cool and lifeless.
The colour variations between the principle, ultrawide, and telephoto cameras additionally stay stark. The identical actual scene can have a totally totally different look/really feel relying on which sensor you shoot with, and that’s by no means an excellent factor.
I don’t anticipate a telephone from a yr in the past to go toe-to-toe with Apple’s greatest. However the purpose this worries me a lot is that we aren’t anticipating important digital camera upgrades for the OnePlus 11. Primarily based on its launch in China, we all know the OnePlus 11 can have a 50MP principal digital camera, 49MP ultrawide digital camera, and 32MP telephoto digital camera with 2x zoom. For context, the OnePlus 10 Professional has a 48MP principal digital camera, 50MP ultrawide digital camera, and an 8MP 3.3x telephoto digital camera.
OnePlus can’t afford to play it secure with the OnePlus 11.
We’ll have to attend some time longer earlier than we all know precisely what sensors OnePlus is utilizing for the OnePlus 11, and what kind of modifications OnePlus and Hasselblad have made to the software program and picture processing. However trying on the specs we do know, there doesn’t look like a lot of a change. If something, all we all know for sure is that the telephoto capabilities are downgraded from 3.3x to 2x.
In a world the place Google and Apple made important digital camera features with the Pixel 7 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional final yr, OnePlus can’t afford to play it secure with the OnePlus 11. And it appears like that’s exactly what the corporate could find yourself doing.
Software program that’s headed within the unsuitable course
And, lastly, there’s the present software program state of affairs for OnePlus telephones. The OnePlus 11 is predicted to ship with Android 13 paired with OnePlus’s OxygenOS 13 interface layered on high of it. I first tried OxygenOS 13 when it was in open beta this previous August, and on the time, I actually didn’t prefer it. The software program felt clunky and heavy, was riddled with bugs, and had seemingly infinite options tacked on only for the sake of it. In different phrases, a far cry from the previous “quick and clean” days of prior OxygenOS variations.
Coming again to a secure construct of OxygenOS 13 operating on the OnePlus 10 Professional in early 2023, are issues any higher? The software program is extra secure, certain, and the entire technical bugs look like gone. However OxygenOS 13 nonetheless very a lot looks like OxygenOS 13, and never in a great way.
All of it comes again to the software program feeling heavy. Say you open the app drawer, scroll round a bit, and attempt to swipe down to return to your property display. If you happen to strive closing the app drawer too shortly, it refuses to shut — as an alternative, you’ll simply pull your app icons down such as you reached the highest of a web page and may’t go any additional. It’s important to wait a beat after scrolling and then swipe down to return house.
There’s an identical hiccup with notifications. On most Android telephones, you may freely swipe left or proper on a notification to dismiss it. With OxygenOS 13, swiping proper on a notification shows three choices for it: snooze, delete, or notification settings. If you wish to clear the notification, it’s important to swipe proper twice or swipe after which faucet the trash icon. It’s infuriating.
OxygenOS 13 nonetheless very a lot looks like OxygenOS 13, and never in a great way.
But it surely’s not simply these two little examples. I commonly get “battery optimization” notifications simply because an app is operating within the background, notifications are gradual to return in, and the Settings app is a bloated mess that you simply’re sure to get misplaced in.
Is it attainable the OnePlus 11 has a couple of software program tips up its sleeve to wash issues up and make OxygenOS a greater expertise? Positive. However we haven’t seen any indication of that to this point. Assuming the OnePlus 11 has the identical software program current on the OnePlus 10 Professional immediately, we’re in for a bumpy street.
I need OnePlus to knock it out of the park
Firstly of final yr, it regarded like OnePlus was heading in an excellent course. The OnePlus 10 Professional got here out, was a very stable handset for the cash, and received me enthusiastic about what would occur subsequent.
Then the OnePlus 10T got here out and have become a tool I battle to advocate to anybody. OnePlus then confirmed us what OxygenOS 13 regarded like, and my worries heightened much more.
I need the OnePlus 11 to be a serious win for the corporate. The second half of final yr was a tough one for OnePlus, and it wants to start out 2023 on the correct foot. Utilizing the OnePlus 10 Professional once more jogged my memory how good OnePlus will be when its head is within the sport, and I hope the OnePlus 11 is one other reminder of that. However early indicators recommend that gained’t be the case, and as a OnePlus fan, it’s disheartening to see.
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