Oppo R11 preview: First look

Unboxing the Oppo R11

The Oppo R11 comes in a regular paper box, which contains everything you need to get you started. There is a 20W VOOC charger, a VOOC-compatible microUSB cable, a pair of headphones with integrated mic, and a transparent silicone case.

Oppo R11 retail box • its contents • the contents • the silicone case

There is a pre-applied screen protector on the Oppo R11, and it's up to you whether to keep it or choose to rely solely on the Gorilla Glass 5.

Design

Oppo R11 is made entirely of metal, something we are already accustomed to in the mid-range class. The phone is just 6.8mm slim, with sleek profile, refined antenna lines, and a small camera hump.

Oppo R11

The highlight of the new design are the refined antenna lines, which now flow with the top and bottom edge. Those are carved out of the shell during the manufacturing process and they don't intervene with the unibody part at all. It's only naturally for Oppo to adopt this design shift as most of the makers have already switched to the new trend.

The entire metal piece has matte finish, including the antennas. There camera hump is accented with a tiny metal rim, polished for a mirror-like effect. There is a similar polished chamfer serving as a border between the screen glass and the metal back cover. While those two are very good at accenting on the camera and the screen, they are prone to scratches and the effect may be eventually ruined over time.

Oppo R11 employs a familiar combination of controls - two capacitive Task and Back keys flanking a centered clickable Home key. The fingerprint scanner is embedded within the Home key's surface and is of the always-on kind. It worked flawlessly and blazing-fast during our time with the R11.

The 5.5" AMOLED screen, one of the R11's key features, is bright and punchy. It looks sharp even with its 1080p resolution, which creates a pixel density of 401 ppi. It's far from the VR-friendly and flagship-grade 1440p, but it's more than enough for the R11.

Everything else about the R11 is business as usual - the volume keys are on the left, the power button, and the hybrid SIM slot - on the right. The top is rather clean, while the bottom hosts the 3.5mm audio jack and the good ol' microUSB port. At first we frowned when we saw that Oppo still hasn't transitioned to a USB-C port but we suspect it may have to do with their VOOC quick charging solution in which case the tradeoff is worth it.

The sides of the Oppo R11

Handling the R11 is nothing short of a premium experience with good grip and the feel of sturdiness. We are not that keen on the sharp chamfers just before the screen glass, though, even if they look good or improve the grip - they just felt oddly pointy on our fingers.

Oppo R11 vs Oppo R11 Plus

The R11 Plus has a bigger 6.0" screen over the regular R11. It's 1cm taller, half wider, and 1mm thicker. It has also gained some noticeable 33 g over the R11's fine 150 g of weight.

Oppo R11 Plus vs Oppo R11

Sizing those two next to each other reveals not that of a shocking difference and we can confirm in real life the R11 Plus didn't look or feel bulky at all. It's a well done, upsized version of the R11, which gets to keep all the design's highlights and feels equally sleek and comfy.

Oppo R11 Plus

Oppo didn't appear to be as keen on pushing the Plus model as much as some other makers, but if you dig the R11 but want a bigger screen - Oppo has you covered. We're yet to hear the pricing of this one though.