Realme 11 Pro+ 5G Review: Affordable luxury with some rough edges

• Realme 11 Pro+ 5G launched at Rs 29,999 with a 200-megapixel camera setup.
• The device is scheduled to be released for sale on June 15th at 12 noon through various channels.
• It is available in three colours: Astral Black, Sunrise Beige, and Oasis Green.

Flagship phones are commonly associated with great looks, impressive camera specifications, and high performance. However, Realme aims to challenge this perception with the introduction of the Realme 11 Pro+. The Realme number series has always been synonymous with innovation, particularly in terms of design. Realme was among the first companies to introduce curved displays to the mid-range segment with the Realme 10 Pro Plus.

Now, with the latest Realme 11 Pro series, the company takes camera capabilities and design to an entirely new level. Priced at Rs 29,999, the Realme 11 Pro+ offers a remarkable 200-megapixel camera setup, a luxurious design, and more. Could it potentially overshadow flagship phones? Let's dive into the review to find out.

Realme 11 Pro+ 5G price and availability

• 8GB Ram + 256GB Storage: Rs 27,999
• 12GB Ram + 256GB Storage: Rs 29,999

The Realme 11 Pro+ is scheduled to be released for sale on June 15th at 12 noon through various channels, including realme.com, Flipkart, and offline stores. Similarly, the Realme 11 Pro will also be available in offline stores on June 15th, followed by its online sale on June 16th. Customers can take advantage of attractive offers, with discounts of up to Rs 2,000 for the Realme 11 Pro+ and up to Rs 1,500 for the Realme 11 Pro.

Realme 11 Pro+: Design

The Realme 11 Pro+ marks a distinct departure in design within the Realme Number series, and it's a change for the better. Collaborating with former Gucci designer Matteo Menotto, Realme has introduced a fresh Lychee Leather Design for both the 11 Pro+ and the 11 Pro. The most noticeable alteration from previous Realme mid-range models is the curved back panel that matches the curvature of the screen glass. The back panel features a faux leather cover with a Lychee-like texture and 3D-printed stitches encircling the zipper-like middle section. However, it's important to note that the zipper is sealed with transparent plastic, so it doesn't provide an actual tactile experience.

The camera module on the Realme 11 Pro+ is significantly larger but complements the overall design and resembles a high-end setup seen on Huawei devices. The vinyl-like middle section is also attention-grabbing and adds to the device's elegance. Although the Realme 11 Pro+ has a luxurious appearance, resembling a fashion accessory, its build quality is not of premium standards. The phone features a glossy plastic frame and a plastic back panel, including the sizable camera ring. The screen, on the other hand, is protected by tempered glass. The front of the device houses a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with minimal bezels and a small punch-hole cutout for the 32MP selfie camera. It's worth mentioning that while the camera cutout is small, the camera itself is not centered within the hole, which may bother some users. Additionally, the Realme 11 Pro+ incorporates stereo speakers, with the earpiece doubling as one of the speakers. Another speaker grille is located at the top of the phone to enhance sound dispersion.

Realme has implemented an optical fingerprint scanner beneath the display, and it functions flawlessly. The sensor is fast and reliable, although if you use a screen protector, you will need to rescan your fingerprints. The camera setup consists of the impressive 200MP main camera at the center of the large circular module, accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and an LED flash.

The plastic frame of the Realme 11 Pro+ is aesthetically pleasing and lacks any controls on the left side. The volume and power keys are situated on the right side, while the top of the frame features the second outlet for the top speaker and one of the microphones. The Realme 11 Pro+ is a thin and lightweight smartphone. Thanks to its unique design, it offers a secure grip, and there is no need to worry about snapping the included case. Furthermore, the vegan leather back is resistant to smudges and fingerprints, which is a rarity in today's devices.

Realme 11 Pro+: Display

The Realme 11 Pro+ features a remarkable 6.7-inch curved OLED display, offering an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 93.65 percent. The device boasts a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in enhanced animations, scrolling, and overall screen responsiveness.

The display provides an exceptional viewing experience with minimal bezels, making it a delight to watch movies and play games on the smartphone. The image quality is stunning, immersing users in vibrant visuals. Additionally, the screen brightness reaches impressive levels, with a peak brightness of 950 nits. This means that the display remains legible even under direct sunlight, ensuring excellent visibility in various lighting conditions.

One standout feature of the display is its touch haptic response, which enhances the user interaction. When navigating through options like power, back, and menu, especially with gesture control enabled, the touch haptic response mimics the sensation of pressing physical buttons. Users can experience a gentle vibration or feedback, adding a realistic touch to the overall interaction. This feature truly shines during intense gaming sessions, providing an immersive experience where the haptic feedback delivers a genuine feel of impact and responsiveness in the hands of the user.

Realme 11+ Pro: Performance

While the Realme 11 Pro+ excels in design and display, it is crucial for a smartphone to deliver strong performance, which is the essence of a device, isn't it? Looking at the specifications, the Realme 11 Pro+ is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7050 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Dimensity 7050 chipset is specifically designed to support phones with a 200-megapixel camera sensor, ensuring faster speeds and smoother gameplay.

Speaking of performance, the Realme 11 Pro+ impressed me with its snappy and responsive operation. I used it for various tasks, such as watching videos, listening to music, playing games, and using popular messaging and social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Even after using it extensively for over two weeks, I did not encounter any noticeable lags or slowdowns in my daily usage. The device handled everything effortlessly. It's worth mentioning that the phone did not have any significant heating issues, except when I used the camera app for an extended period of around 15-20 minutes. In that scenario, the phone did become slightly warm to the touch, but it was not a major concern.

Gaming on the Realme 11 Pro+ was a pleasant experience as well. I played Asphalt 9 at the highest settings for over 30 minutes, and to my surprise, the phone remained cool without any noticeable heating. Additionally, there was only a minimal drop in the battery percentage, which is quite impressive. Even during longer gaming sessions, the phone maintained smooth performance without encountering any stutters.

In terms of benchmarking scores, the Realme 11 Pro+ performed admirably. It achieved a single-core score of 926 and a multi-core score of 2214 on Geekbench 6. These scores indicate its solid performance, and I can confidently say that the phone delivers even better results in real-life usage.

However, the Realme 11 Pro+ does have its drawbacks, and one of them lies in its software experience. The phone comes with Realme UI 4.0, which turned out to be quite disappointing. It comes loaded with bloatware, making the home screen feel cluttered and confusing. I was surprised to find a plethora of pre-installed apps that were unnecessary and unwanted.

The issue didn't end there. Once I connected to the internet or enabled my data, I was bombarded with notifications from these unwanted apps. It became overwhelming, to say the least. The Game Center, for instance, continuously sent multiple notifications, and there was even a section called Hot Apps that Realme had neglected to remove. This section included apps like GB WhatsApp, which is a fake version of the popular messaging app, and even some explicit apps. This situation is concerning, particularly for users who are not tech-savvy and may unknowingly interact with these potentially harmful apps.

Realme deserves credit for the excellent design of the phone, but they urgently need to address the bloatware issue. It hampers the overall user experience and puts them at a disadvantage compared to other smartphones in the same segment. The focus should be on providing a cleaner, more streamlined software experience that allows users to choose the apps they desire, rather than being overwhelmed with unwanted notifications and pre-installed clutter.

Realme 11 Pro+: Battery

The Realme 11 Pro+ is equipped with a powerful 5000mAh battery, complemented by a 100W fast charger. To thoroughly test the battery, I utilized the LAB 501 battery app, which continuously played a high-resolution video while monitoring the battery percentage in real-time.

During the battery test, the Realme 11 Pro+ showcased an impressive performance. Starting with a battery level of 70 percent, I played the video on a loop for a solid 46 minutes. Surprisingly, the battery only experienced a 5 percent drop, which is quite remarkable considering the device's curved display.

In my day-to-day usage, the phone effortlessly lasted me an entire day on a single charge, surpassing my expectations. Furthermore, the included fast charger proved to be incredibly convenient. In just three minutes of charging, it managed to replenish the battery by approximately 17 percent. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the battery performance of the Realme 11 Pro+.

Realme 11 Pro+: Camera

When we come across a smartphone boasting a 200-megapixel camera sensor, our interest is immediately piqued, although we understand that megapixels alone don't guarantee superior picture quality. Nevertheless, it's intriguing when a mid-range phone like the Realme 11 Pro+ offers such a feature. The highlight of this device is its 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP3 SuperZoom sensor, complete with optical image stabilization. Alongside the impressive primary sensor, the phone also incorporates a 2-megapixel macro lens, an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 32-megapixel Sony IMX615 sensor for selfies. Notably, the Realme 11 Pro+ includes an interesting camera feature called Moon mode.

Under favourable lighting conditions, the Realme 11 Pro+ excels at capturing impressive daylight shots. The images exhibit vibrant colours, rich hues, and intricate details. The clarity and sharpness are evident, even when zooming in to explore finer textures. Whether you're photographing expansive landscapes or capturing objects up close, the camera delivers excellent results. Consider the image of the bunch of orange flowers, for instance—the colors are vivid and true to life, creating a visually captivating image.

However, the camera does encounter some challenges in dimly-lit indoor environments.. Consequently, some low-light images appeared grainy, particularly when utilizing the 20x zoom in such conditions. On the other hand, the camera performs better when ample lighting is available. The macro lens, in particular, shines in outdoor settings. The close-up image of the pink flower showcases vibrant colors and intricate details, impressing with its quality.

It's worth mentioning that even without using the dedicated macro mode, you can still achieve good image quality by simply zooming in on objects. This grants you added flexibility to capture close-up shots without relying solely on the macro lens.

Should you buy it?

The Realme 11 Pro+ presents a compelling package, combining a striking design, an immersive display, and dependable performance. It smoothly handles various tasks, be it multimedia consumption or gaming, without any noticeable lags or slowdowns. The battery life is commendable, easily providing a full day's usage, and the inclusion of a fast charger adds convenience.

However, the camera performance of the Realme 11 Pro+ has its ups and downs. It excels in capturing vibrant and detailed images under good lighting conditions, but struggles when faced with dimly-lit environments. Furthermore, the software experience falls short with Realme UI 4.0, as it comes bundled with bloatware and generates unwanted notifications, impacting the overall user experience.

Despite these limitations, the Realme 11 Pro+ manages to impress with its appealing design and reliable performance. It offers a solid mid-range option for users seeking an aesthetically pleasing device with satisfactory performance.

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