When the OnePlus 5 was launched last week, there were stories and heated discussions on the internet about how the phone looks similar to the iPhone 7 Plus and Oppo’s R11. After using the OnePlus 5 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus (review), I can totally agree that the two phones look similar from the back, however I found the feel, ergonomics and weight of the OnePlus 5 (review) better, compared to the iPhone. On the other hand, the OnePlus 5 looks strikingly similar to the Oppo R11, which was launched recently in China.
At MWC Shanghai, we had the chance to check out the phone for ourselves and the short answer is that they do look similar, but they aren’t exact. There are minor differences here and there in terms of design, while the specifications are world’s apart. There’s also the fact that Oppo has no current plans to launch it in India.
First of all, we need to talk about the design, which I believe is a refinement over Oppo’s previous smartphone designs. The front fascia carries the same look as the Oppo F1s (review), but the phone feels more compact, thanks to the tapered back and thin profile. At just 6.8mm, the Oppo R11 is almost 0.5mm thinner than the OnePlus 5. However, it features a smaller 3000 battery as well.
Subtle differences like not having an alert slider on the left, a slightly raised display and the dual antenna lines design make the Oppo R11 somewhat different from the OnePlus 5. Moreover, the phone has a microUSB port instead of a USB Type-C, which seems like an oversight on Oppo’s part.
Initial inspection suggests that the Oppo R11 is well built, comparable to the likes of the OnePlus 5 or other premium smartphones with metal backs. There is nothing out of the ordinary about the display either. Staying true to the display quality we have been accustomed to on Oppo’s devices, the R11 does not disappoint and felt adequately bright and legible even under the bright lights of the exhibition booth.
In the little time I spent with the device, it felt snappy and responsive. Navigating through the menus or jumping in and out of the camera app is super smooth. However, with a Chinese ROM on-board, it was impossible to assess the phone objectively. That being said, we are quite certain that future phones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 platform won’t disappoint at least in the performance section.
The dual camera setup also seemed good. There is a 20MP primary camera and a 16MP secondary telephoto camera for 2X zoom. On the OnePlus 5, the same setup works in reverse order. However, this doesn't mean that Oppo has settled for an inferior camera experience. In fact, by the few images I shot with the phone, the R11 seems really impressive. Same can be said about the new 20MP front facing camera. The sad part however is that the R11 or the R11 Plus won’t be launched in India.