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It’s onerous to consider, however we’re rapidly inching towards the OnePlus 11. The telephone is already out there 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 large ‘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 12 months 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 Tendencies not too long ago seemed again at our favourite telephones of 2022, and for my decide, I selected the OnePlus 10 Professional — largely due to how a lot I really like its {hardware}. In a 12 months that gave us some really wonderful handsets, the best way the OnePlus 10 Professional appears and feels stands out so extremely properly.
I’ve been utilizing the Volcanic Black mannequin since early final 12 months, and I adore the way it feels. It’s technically glass, however OnePlus lined it with a tender end that’s very paying homage to velvet. Mixed with the aluminum body, rounded corners, and wonderful weight, the OnePlus 10 Professional feels equal elements premium and comfy; it’s simply implausible.
Nevertheless it’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 straightforward sq. housing to the Hasselblad emblem discretely positioned to the left of the cameras, it’s an amazing general look.
Based mostly on the pictures we’ve seen thus far of the OnePlus 11, it appears like OnePlus has tried to copy the OnePlus 10 Professional design as soon as once more … besides not practically as properly.
The alert slider is again after a lot uproar from the OnePlus 10T, and it appears just like the soft-touch Volcanic Black end would possibly 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 prime of it as a separate piece. The Hasselblad emblem can also be now slapped proper in the course of the cameras like a foul promotional sticker.
Perhaps I’m being too vital of some refined adjustments, however there was an magnificence and ease to the OnePlus 10 Professional that I actually adored, and nonetheless do right this moment. 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 wonderful in 2023, the identical can’t be mentioned for its digital camera system. Whereas Digital Tendencies’ Andy Boxall principally preferred 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 Tendencies’ Nadeem Sarwar pitted the OnePlus 10 Professional towards 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 attempt whereas revisiting it, and whereas I wouldn’t name it a unhealthy 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 selections with the way it captures colours. Typically, it oversaturates issues and provides heat/orange tints the place they don’t belong. Different occasions, colours seem too cool and lifeless.
The colour variations between the primary, ultrawide, and telephoto cameras additionally stay stark. The identical actual scene can have a very totally different look/really feel relying on which sensor you shoot with, and that’s by no means a very good factor.
I don’t count on a telephone from a 12 months in the past to go toe-to-toe with Apple’s greatest. However the motive this worries me a lot is that we aren’t anticipating important digital camera upgrades for the OnePlus 11. Based mostly on its launch in China, we all know the OnePlus 11 could have a 50MP predominant digital camera, 49MP ultrawide digital camera, and 32MP telephoto digital camera with 2x zoom. For context, the OnePlus 10 Professional has a 48MP predominant digital camera, 50MP ultrawide digital camera, and an 8MP 3.3x telephoto digital camera.
OnePlus can’t afford to play it protected 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 adjustments 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 positive aspects with the Pixel 7 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional final 12 months, OnePlus can’t afford to play it protected with the OnePlus 11. And it appears like that’s exactly what the corporate might find yourself doing.
Software program that’s headed within the mistaken route
And, lastly, there’s the present software program scenario for OnePlus telephones. The OnePlus 11 is predicted to ship with Android 13 paired with OnePlus’s OxygenOS 13 interface layered on prime 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 limitless 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 steady construct of OxygenOS 13 operating on the OnePlus 10 Professional in early 2023, are issues any higher? The software program is extra steady, certain, and the entire technical bugs look like gone. However OxygenOS 13 nonetheless very a lot seems 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 private home display. In the event you attempt closing the app drawer too rapidly, 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. You must wait a beat after scrolling and then swipe down to return residence.
There’s an identical hiccup with notifications. On most Android telephones, you possibly can 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, you need to swipe proper twice or swipe after which faucet the trash icon. It’s infuriating.
OxygenOS 13 nonetheless very a lot seems like OxygenOS 13, and never in a great way.
Nevertheless it’s not simply these two little examples. I usually get “battery optimization” notifications simply because an app is operating within the background, notifications are gradual to come back in, and the Settings app is a bloated mess that you just’re sure to get misplaced in.
Is it attainable the OnePlus 11 has just a few software program methods up its sleeve to scrub issues up and make OxygenOS a greater expertise? Positive. However we haven’t seen any indication of that up to now. Assuming the OnePlus 11 has the identical software program current on the OnePlus 10 Professional right this moment, we’re in for a bumpy highway.
I would like OnePlus to knock it out of the park
Firstly of final 12 months, it seemed like OnePlus was heading in a very good route. The OnePlus 10 Professional got here out, was a extremely strong 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 wrestle to advocate to anybody. OnePlus then confirmed us what OxygenOS 13 seemed like, and my worries heightened much more.
I would like the OnePlus 11 to be a serious win for the corporate. The second half of final 12 months was a tough one for OnePlus, and it wants to start out 2023 on the best foot. Utilizing the OnePlus 10 Professional once more jogged my memory how good OnePlus might be when its head is within the recreation, 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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