Oppo F11 Pro Review: A Solid Mid-Ranger With Room for Improvement

The Oppo F11 Pro presents itself as a competent mid-range smartphone, offering solid performance, a long-lasting battery, and a visually appealing design. However, when placed alongside competing devices at a similar price point, it struggles to stand out due to several notable omissions and compromises.

Design and build quality are among the phone's stronger aspects. The Thunder Black variant features a unique triple-gradient color scheme that gives the impression of a glass back, despite being plastic. The Marvel Avengers edition, though slightly more expensive, provides an even more eye-catching aesthetic. The phone adopts a conventional layout with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, volume rockers on the left, and a power button on the right. Unfortunately, it retains the outdated micro USB charging port, a decision that feels outdated in 2019.

Camera capabilities are a mixed bag. The F11 Pro boasts a 48 MP primary sensor paired with a 5 MP depth module, but notably lacks an ultra-wide angle lens that has become common in this segment. While photo quality can be satisfactory in well-lit conditions, dynamic range and black level handling fall short when compared to rivals like the Vivo V15 Pro. The pop-up 16 MP selfie camera performs well, producing detailed and colorful images, although it cannot detect multiple faces in a single frame. Video recording is limited to Full HD at 30 frames per second and shows average quality, particularly in low-light conditions.

The display offers a generous 6.53-inch IPS LCD panel with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a high screen-to-body ratio, providing ample space for media consumption and gaming. However, the absence of an AMOLED or OLED panel, which is common among competitors, results in less vibrant colors and deeper blacks. Performance is handled by the MediaTek Helio P70 processor, comparable to the Snapdragon 660, which manages everyday tasks and casual gaming adequately but lags behind offerings such as the Snapdragon 675 found in other phones at this price.

Software runs on Android 9 Pie with Oppo's ColorOS 6 interface, which shows noticeable improvements over previous versions with features like an app drawer and a less intrusive developer mode notification. The phone's 4,000 mAh battery delivers impressive longevity, easily lasting two days with typical use, and VOOC 3.0 fast charging can bring the device from nearly dead to almost full in under an hour.

Despite its strengths in design and battery life, the Oppo F11 Pro faces stiff competition from alternatives that provide AMOLED displays, more powerful processors, in-display fingerprint sensors, and ultra-wide camera lenses. While it remains a capable device on its own merits, these comparisons highlight areas where it does not fully align with current market trends.