YouTypically, Printech focuses on cutting-edge gadgetry. This column is a little different. It focuses on something that will have a much wider appeal – the two smartphones are likely to catch the fancy of many, not only because they are ‘relatively’ affordable but also packed with premium features. I’m talking about the new OnePlus 11R, which was launched alongside the OnePlus 11 in February, and the Vivo V27 Pro, which was launched on March 1. Both the models start around Rs 40,000 and promise excellent cameras, premium design, performance and general overall capability. These two smartphones, specifically the OnePlus 11R, will be the phones of 2023. This will happen despite the minimal fanfare and grandeur surrounding these gadgets.
case for oneplus 11r
The OnePlus 11R looks almost identical to the OnePlus 11, which I thought was excellent and could be a headache for Samsung, Apple and Xiaomi. The design isn’t game-changing, but it certainly is attractive. The only corner that has been cut is that instead of glass and metal, this phone is a completely plastic case. Not as premium, yet it will add to the durability of the phone. The OnePlus 11R also packs the same basic camera hardware as the OnePlus 11, which had Hasselblad tuning. The former, for obvious reasons, isn’t a Hasselblad feature, but the cameras aren’t bad. Quite excellent for the price point, they are among the best, especially for still photography.
The OnePlus 11R uses last year’s flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which means the smartphone is a drag in day-to-day use. For most people, the combination of this chip and the ample RAM that OnePlus phones pack into will be more than enough — they won’t even notice the performance difference between the OnePlus 11R and the OnePlus 11. Only hardcore gamers, probably, will. Battery life is again excellent, lasting a full day on a single charge with moderate to heavy use. And then there is the reputed fast charging technology of OnePlus which can charge this device in less than 30 minutes.
The main AMOLED display is excellent too – the high refresh rate ensures that the Oxygen OS-based user interface feels very snappy and is a pleasure to use. For the average user, it has everything that costs almost half as much as the iPhone 14 and less than half of the latest Samsung Galaxy S23 series.
For once, it’s not a bad thing to settle for good.
Where Vivo V27 Pro Victory
The V series doesn’t have Vivo’s best technology, but it is geared towards an audience that cares a lot about photography and design. Sony IMX766V 50 megapixel camera has been used in Vivo V27 Pro, which has been specially tuned for Indian users. This means more vibrancy and pops of colour, especially if you are taking pictures at a large Indian wedding. The smartphone isn’t gunning for realism, but focuses on making everything you shoot look beautiful. And it does a tremendous job at it.
Vivo’s recent advances in portrait photography also mean that the V27 Pro can give tough competition to even the Google Pixel phones. There’s also a ring light for the flash for wedding-style portraits—a unique and very handy feature, which I recently used at a friend’s wedding.
Of course, this phone also comes with a unique design with color-changing back glass, which looks either absurd or brilliant depending on who you are. I like it but my mother thought it was gaudy. Before picking up the Vivo V27 Pro, I recommend checking it out. It’s sleek, which is a nice change since most phones are getting bulbous, and its curved screen is an acquired taste. Some will like it, while others won’t for usability reasons. Let me tell you, it has a polarizing design, which is a big USP. For them, the OnePlus 11R will do just fine.
With the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset, the Vivo V27 Pro has the necessary grunt for day-to-day performance. It’s also a very efficient chip as it uses Taiwan Semiconductor’s 4nm fabrication, which means battery life is excellent too. Yes, despite its battery being smaller than the OnePlus (4,600mAh), it lasts a little longer and also gets 66-watt fast charging, which will juice up the device in under an hour.
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Here’s of course the Google Pixel 7, whose 128GB model costs a bit more. If you have the budget and don’t care about memory, I’d recommend going for it. But 128GB is pushing it these days – so for most people, it’s a toss-up between the OnePlus 11R and the Vivo V27 Pro. The former is the straightforward choice, and the Vivo is the most left-field option – but if you want a killer camera, you really can’t go wrong with the Vivo here.
Sahil Mohan Gupta is Editor, Technology, at EcoDrive. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Hamra Like)