Oppo Reno 11 Pro Review - Incremental upgrades for the new mid-ranger

• Oppo Reno 11 Pro features a 50MP triple camera set-up
• The device is powered by Mediatek Dimensity 8200 SoC
• Offered in a single variant it is priced at ₹39,999

2024 has started with a bang for the smartphone market especially for the mid-range segment. After the launch of Redmi Note 13 series, Oppo has now played its turn with the new Reno 11 series. Perhaps the most famous product from the brand Reno devices enjoys a cult following. To the point that I have been stopped twice in my last week of testing enquiring about the product. Fascinatingly once in Goa and then in Delhi. I have tested the last two generations of Reno Pro devices. Reno 11 Pro seems like the culmination of the progress I have seen over the last two years. So is this the ultimate Reno device? And how does it stand against the heavy weights in its category like Redmi Note 13 Pro+. I will tell you in my detailed review.

Price & Availability
Oppo Reno 11 Pro is available in a single variant that packs in 12GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It is priced at ₹39,999.

Design

Oppo Reno 11 Pro’s sports the fundamentals we associate with a Reno device. It’s clean, minimal and lightweight. To the point that it will remind you a lot of the Reno 10 Pro, like it did to me. The form factor is of course similar, but I am not complaining. Considering the new additions here are commendable especially in terms of the quality of materials here.

The Reno 11 Pro sports a glass back and front, with particularly the ‘Pearl White’ color standing out. I am usually not a big fan of patterns on a smartphone but the back on Reno 11 Pro has been executed beautifully. It has a matte finish to it which also encourages you to let go of a case. However, be careful since you do not want to drop it. I wish the phone also supported wireless charging considering brands like Nothing are now doing it at this price segment.

Moving on the back also houses the massive camera set-up housing three camera sensors here. While I am definitely impressed by the cameras I am not happy with the orientation here. Placed vertically the camera bump stands out like a sore thumb and tends to break away from the minimal design we enjoy on the rest of the smartphone. Oppo has tried to compensate by giving it a silver finish with toothed edges. And yet I have not been able to wrap my head around it.

Beyond that the design carries familiar elements. We have the volume rockers and power button on the right edge, and yes they are tactile. At the bottom we have the Type-C charging port next to the SIM card slot and speaker grill. The smartphone supports 2 micro SIMs.


On top we have the rejuvenated IR blaster here, a feature which has made a comeback in a big way across devices. And yes it's more useful than you can imagine. A universal remote in your pocket? I can vouch for that. It’s not unique to Oppo though for that matter Reno 11 Pro is the third device this year I have seen this on. Vivo X100 Pro & Redmi Note 13 Pro+ had this as well.

Display
The display experience on the Reno 11 Pro is strikingly similar to the Reno 10 Pro, this comes as no surprise since the displays are identical on paper. I am not complaining since the output isn’t bad by any means. But yes it does carry forward its minute yet noticeable weaknesses.

The Reno 11 Pro flaunts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display boasting a screen resolution of 2412X1080 Pixels, showcasing a brightness reaching up to 950 Nits.

The peak brightness is also similar to last year's Pro variant. Whether you're engrossed in content or merely glancing at the always-on screen, this luminous panel offers ease on the eyes, even under direct sunlight. With crisp details, natural colors, and a curved display that enhances the overall viewing experience, it's a standout feature.

However, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ at a lower price offers a brighter display with 1800 nits of peak brightness. And you will notice the difference between the two devices especially while watching content and at bright outdoors.

Oppo's implementation of the always-on display deserves praise. Its customisable and the wallpaper options are also commendable.

However, as with curved screens, occasional mistouches remain a slight inconvenience. Despite its excellent execution, inadvertent touches leading to accidental app openings or difficulties with the volume slider in portrait mode are minor trade-offs.

The display seamlessly integrates an optical fingerprint scanner. While it takes a split second to unlock the device, its consistent performance without misses is commendable.

The screen truly shines in the viewing experience, especially when coupled with the 120Hz refresh rate. The standard 120Hz refresh rate offers a smoother experience for gaming and content consumption, flawlessly delivered by the Reno 11 Pro. While switching between the standard 60Hz and 120Hz may cause a slight lag, the superior visual experience compensates for it. The bright, color-accurate panel is a delight, supporting HDR 10 & 10+ for HD content on OTT apps like Disney Plus Hotstar.

For instance, watching What If Season 3 on the platform provides a diverse range to evaluate the display quality, from bright outdoor scenes to dark indoors. Fortunately, the Reno 11 Pro excels in these tests. The display maintains accuracy throughout, showcasing deep blacks and minimal light leakage. For content consumption enthusiasts, the Reno 11 Pro stands out.

That being said, the auto brightness feature here is out of sync while watching content. With the phone really dimming down when it's not necessary. So I preferred keeping the auto brightness off throughout the day.

Oppo has also prioritized sound quality, evident in the stereo speaker setup that delivers loud audio output with retained detail even at lower volume levels, albeit with potential detail loss in super volume mode.

Software
The Oppo Reno 11 Pro arrives with Android 14 out of the box, showcasing the ColorOS 14 skin. While the overall user experience of the skin remains consistent, there are some classic features I should highlight.

Commencing with the general features, we see a considerable amount of pre-installed bloatware which stands out. Fortunately we have the ability to uninstall these apps. Notably, there are no questionable app recommendations, which is a positive aspect of the software.

Visually, Color OS 14 retains its strengths with vibrant colors and crisp text, offering a user-friendly and easily navigable interface. The array of customization options is extensive, enabling personalization of various screen elements, from widgets to icon designs and color schemes. However, integrating elements from stock Android 14, especially within the drop-down menu, akin to the larger tiles seen in default Android skins like the Pixel 8, could enhance the overall user experience, in my opinion.

Setting that observation aside, Oppo promotes ColorOS 14 as a more intelligent operating system with some standout features.

Firstly, auto pixelation is introduced, automatically blurring people in screenshots to safeguard their identity. While it may miss some instances when operating automatically, manual blur options directly from the screenshot menu are welcomed.

Another feature, Multi Screen Connect, facilitates connectivity between Oppo products like the Pad Air and enables Oppo smartphone connection with PCs. This feature is particularly useful for presentations, although the connection process might take some time.

The device also supports fast pairing with Oppo Buds, a feature increasingly common in modern devices, akin to OnePlus devices and Nord Buds using OnePlus Fast Pair.

The meeting assistant stands out as one of the most useful features, allowing the device to switch to a mobile network for a stable internet connection during video calls. Tested and proven practical, this feature comes in handy, especially if your router is distant from your seating area.

Oppo emphasizes the future-proof nature of their devices, evident in their promised update cycles. The brand commits to offering three years of Android updates and four years of security updates for the Reno 11, ensuring users remain updated and secure over an extended period.

Performance
Oppo Reno 11 Pro runs on Mediatek Dimensity 8200, a respectable but older chipset. Oppo might get some flack for this decision, however I don’t see any blanket reason to complain. It’s efficient, enables SuperVOOC charging and works in tandem with the camera.

Before I explain my experience let's get into some numbers. I ran a Geekbench 6 CPU test on the Oppo Reno 11 Pro. The single-core score for the device is 1220 and the multi-core score is 3516. These are respectable numbers and should satisfy both power hungry and efficient users. This is higher than the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ which scored 1121 and 2630 respectively.

As anticipated, the Reno 11 Pro delivers consistent and dependable performance, thanks to the comprehensive package Oppo offers with this device. It boasts 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, more than adequate for most users. While it allows for internal RAM expansion using spare storage, I've yet to encounter a scenario where this feature is necessary.

Speaking of performance, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming, I rigorously tested COD:Mobile on the Reno 11 Pro 5G, playing for at least 2 hours daily. Even with settings maxed out at HDR graphics I didn't experience any glitches or frame drops.

The sizable 6.7-inch display enhances gaming, facilitating easy enemy detection and elimination. The blend of the high refresh rate and robust SoC ensures a seamless and fluid gaming experience. Compared to the Nord 3, the Reno 11 Pro 5G felt smoother, largely due to the superior SoC.

After continuous gaming for about 50 minutes, the phone does warm up, but discomfort becomes noticeable only after the 1-hour mark. However, it quickly cools down, allowing swift return to gaming without significant delays.

Efficient RAM utilization in the Reno 11 Pro 5G enables holding applications in the background for extended periods, including apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and heavier ones like COD: Mobile. Switching between apps is seamless, seamlessly picking up where you left off.

This performance isn't limited to gaming; everyday use remains smooth, ensuring general users won't encounter issues. For basic users not heavily into gaming or pushing device limits, the specifications and real-life performance of the Reno 11 Pro 5G might be excessive.

With 256GB internal storage (where the system utilizes around 25GB), the remaining 225GB suffices for most users. If additional storage is needed, considering extra cloud storage is an option as the Reno 11 Pro doesn't support external SD cards.

Before wrapping up, the battery performance of the Reno 11 Pro 5G deserves mention. Equipped with a 4600mAh battery, it's challenging to drain, especially for light users.

Impressive numbers indeed. With casual to heavy usage, I averaged around 7 hours of screen time, encompassing gaming, video calls, and YouTube consumption.

For light users, the battery life extends even further, comfortably lasting over a workday.

Supporting 80W SuperVOOC charging, the device excels in efficiency. The bundled 80W charger replenishes the battery from 0% to 100% in approximately 35 minutes, even with mobile data turned on.

Camera
Now the resolution on the cameras on 11 Pro are practically the same but their is a difference in results. Especially the low light performance. With its triple camera setup, comprising a 50MP primary camera, a 32MP telephoto portrait camera, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera, the Reno 11 Pro offers a versatile photography experience.

The 50MP camera impresses with its sharp imagery, vibrant colors, and exceptional dynamic range, particularly in bright outdoor conditions. Oppo's algorithm enhances these images, presenting final results that may differ from what's initially seen in the viewfinder. Even spontaneous shots retain detail when zoomed in. Utilizing the dedicated 50MP mode elevates detail and ensures accurate color reproduction.

Indoor photography, however, displays limitations, notably in noise and dynamic range, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Nonetheless, activating the night mode improves performance.

The 32MP telephoto sensor impresses with its ability to capture sharp shots indoors and outdoors. Portrait mode excels in edge detection, creating a pleasing bokeh effect around multiple subjects in a frame.

The 8MP ultra-wide sensor performs well by maintaining color accuracy without significant deviations. This aspect is crucial for an exclusive ultra-wide sensor, allowing a broader perspective without compromising color integrity.

In terms of video recording, the Reno 11 Pro pleasantly surprises with its capability to record 4K videos at 60FPS, complemented by clear audio. This setup proves beneficial for content creators.

Ultra Steady deserves your attention here for videos. I have shot a couple of videos with Reno 11 Pro and just with a single tap the videos are super stable making the footage much smoother even from a moving project.

On the front, the selfie camera, a 32MP shooter with Oppo's face filters, handles Indian skin tones accurately in most scenarios. However, it might struggle under specific lighting conditions, resulting in inaccurate colors. The device offers diverse face filters, catering to users who appreciate this feature. The smartphone can now record 4K videos at 30FPS from the front camera. This is a significant improvement over the predecessor, and comes in handy for video creators.

Verdict
Oppo Reno 11 Pro continues the legacy of what we expect from Reno devices - beautiful camera results, solid battery life and striking design. If you are looking for this trinity then Reno 11 Pro should be on your list.

However if you are not a fan of curved displays and want a more industrial look I suggest checking out the Nothing Phone (2).
Or if you want more performance and can take a hit on the camera performance then I suggest checking out the OnePlus 11R.
Notably both the above devices have a cleaner OS experience as well.