OPPO Reno11 F 5G review: F for fun mid-ranger?

OPPO has established itself as a leading brand for Android smartphones, with its Reno Series being one of the most impressive lineups.

Known for its focus on camera features, sleek design, and fast charging capabilities, the Reno Series caters to users seeking stylish and powerful smartphones with exceptional photography capabilities.

The latest addition to this series is the OPPO Reno11 F 5G, and the question arises: Does it live up to the expectations set by its predecessors? After using the Reno11 F 5G for the past couple of weeks, this review aims to provide an answer.

In Kenya, the Reno11 Series comprises the Reno11 5G, the Reno11 Pro, and the most affordable option, the Reno11 F 5G, priced at KES 50,000.

While the meaning behind the ‘F’ in the naming convention is unclear, it suggests that this model is more budget-friendly of the bunch.

Compared to last year’s Oppo Reno 10 5G, the Reno11 F 5G forgoes the 2x portrait lens but boasts a brighter display, IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, and an intriguing ultra-low temperature charging feature.

With a strong emphasis on durability and longevity, the Reno11 F 5G could be an excellent choice for adventurous users seeking a long-lasting device.

OPPO Reno11 F 5G: Design & Build

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G boasts a massive 6.7-inch display and a boxy, flat-sided design reminiscent of the Galaxy S24.

Despite its sizeable screen, the device is remarkably lightweight, weighing just 177 grams – a feature that immediately captures the attention of most users upon first handling the phone.

While the display impresses, the phone’s construction is entirely plastic, an aspect that is unmistakably noticeable to the touch, particularly on the rear panel.

Plastic Build

This plastic build stands in contrast to the premium glass and aluminum designs found in higher-end devices. However, the trade-off for this plastic construction is not entirely negative.

Also Read: ColorOS 14: OPPO’s journey to ultimate smoothness

As mentioned earlier, the lightweight nature of the Reno11 F is a significant advantage. Additionally, the plastic build promises exceptional durability.

During my few weeks of testing the device without a case, it endured several tumbles without sustaining any visible damage.

Furthermore, the phone’s sturdy construction, despite its plastic back and frame, instills confidence in its ability to withstand inclement weather conditions.

Thanks to its IP65 rating, the Reno11 F 5G is effectively dustproof and can withstand water jets from all directions, making it resistant to rain.

However, it is not recommended for submersion, as the rating does not cover complete water immersion.

Deviating from Oppo’s recent lineup, the Reno 11 F 5G also lacks a notable feature that has been prominently included in many of the company’s previous smartphones – an infrared (IR) blaster.

One aspect that could be improved is the haptic feedback. The vibrations while typing feel somewhat mushy and lack precision, especially during rapid typing. As a result, I found myself disabling the vibration haptics entirely.

In the Kenyan market, the OPPO Reno11 F 5G is available in two color options: Palm Green and Ocean Blue.

My review unit is the Palm Green color, which features a shimmering back panel that shifts between different shades of green as light hits it.

This subtle color variation is my personal favorite among the available options.

OPPO Reno11 F 5G: Display & Speakers

The OPPO Reno 11 F’s display is undoubtedly one of the phone’s standout features. The large 6.7-inch flat AMOLED display boasts an impressive peak brightness of 1100 nits, which might not sound astounding in the current race for ever-increasing brightness among smartphone manufacturers, but it’s more than sufficient to compete with direct sunlight.

While the FHD+ resolution is adequate for smaller displays, on a screen of this size, I found the reduced pixel density (394 ppi density) to be noticeable.

Although still decent, it may feel like a slight step down in quality for those accustomed to higher-resolution panels from phone like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

HDR10+ Support

The screen supports HDR10+ playback, but during my testing, I was unable to get Netflix to play in HDR due to missing DRM certifications.

Hopefully, this issue will be resolved in a future update, but for the time being, YouTube’s HDR content looks superb, with dazzling highlights and deep, detailed dark areas.

Display Refresh Rate Options

The OPPO Reno11 F’s display also offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, but OPPO takes it a step further by providing users with three refresh rate options.

The first option, “Auto-select,” intelligently switches between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, adapting the refresh rate to the task at hand, ensuring optimal performance and power efficiency.

The second option is “Standard mode,” which locks the display to a conventional 60Hz refresh rate, making it the ideal choice for those seeking to maximize battery life.

Finally, the “High mode” option allows the display to refresh at a buttery-smooth 120Hz at all times, delivering an uncompromisingly fluid experience for those who prioritize visual fidelity over battery longevity.

Also Read: OPPO launches Stylish Reno11 series in Kenya starting at Ksh 67,999

Speakers

One area where the Reno11 F 5G falls short is in the speaker department. The phone is equipped with only a single bottom-firing speaker, lacking a stereo speaker setup.

Considering the KES 50,000 price tag, OPPO should have included stereo speakers, as even phones costing significantly less often feature a stereo speaker configuration.

While the mono speaker is decent, it’s nothing extraordinary. It lacks bass response but offers plenty of detail in the midrange and upper frequencies. Interestingly, the speaker can reach insanely loud volumes.

If you keep hitting the volume rocker, it can boost to an amusing “300%,” OPPO calls this “Ultra Volume Mode,”  but it distorts quite badly at such extreme volumes.

It’s unclear whether OPPO intended this feature to compensate for the lack of dual speakers, but in my experience, I did not find it particularly helpful.

OPPO Reno11 F 5G: Specs & Performance

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G is powered by the Dimensity 7050, a chipset that made its debut in last year’s Reno10 5G and is also found in the standard Reno11 5G.

As mentioned in my review of the Reno10 5G, the 7050 5G feels underpowered when compared to other SoCs found in phones within this price range.

While OPPO’s decision to include the 7050 in the Reno11 F, the most affordable model in the lineup, is understandable, the same cannot be said for the Reno11.

In the case of the latter, the Snapdragon 778G+ or the Dimensity 7+ Gen 2 would have been more suitable alternatives.

That being said, the 7050 is still a decent performer, but users should temper their expectations when it comes to blazing-fast performance.

The chipset is paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is a welcome sight, as some flagship devices still offer only 128GB as the base storage option.

During my testing period, apps launched relatively quickly, but I did encounter some stutters while navigating the user interface. Additionally, I noticed that it took a few seconds for the app icons to load every time I unlocked the phone.

The phone handles basic games without issue, and if you want to run something graphically intensive, it will do so, as long as you stick to a low preset.

I was able to run Genshin Impact at low settings in 30fps and had no issues apart from a few frame drops during intense battles.

What impressed me the most, however, was the fact that this phone barely heats up at all during long gaming sessions. Even while running benchmarks and stress tests, the Reno11 F remained cool to the touch.

OPPO Reno11 F 5G: Cameras

The rear camera setup on this smartphone consists of three lenses: an 8MP ultrawide, a 2MP macro, and the star of the show, a 64MP main camera sensor.

While the ultrawide and macro lenses offer nothing to write home about, the 64MP primary camera steals the spotlight with its impressive image quality.

The 64MP main rear camera captures vivid, color-rich photos brimming with crisp details. Even zoomed-in shots using the 2x digital zoom (cropped from the main sensor) maintain good quality in well-lit conditions.

 

The main sensor struggled a lot in areas with harsh or dim lighting conditions, often crushing the shadows or straight-up blowing out the highlights.

Lack of Optical Image Stabilization

Another key drawback of the 64MP camera is the lack of optical image stabilization (OIS), which can lead to motion blur, especially in low-light scenarios.

However, the dedicated night mode helps mitigate this issue, reducing image noise and graininess for improved nighttime shots.

The 8MP ultrawide lens provides a wider field of view, which is handy for landscape shots or group photos, although image quality suffers when viewed on larger displays. The 2MP macro lens, while offering close-up shooting capabilities, delivers underwhelming resolution.

Around the front, the 32MP selfie camera impresses with its detail capture, accurate color reproduction, and a variety of beautification modes for those who prefer enhanced self-portraits.

The portrait mode on this device excels, producing precise subject cutouts and a pleasing bokeh effect, albeit with the option to tone down the blur intensity for a more natural look. Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30fps on the main and selfie cameras, while the ultrawide lens tops out at 1080p.

OPPO Reno11 F 5G: Battery Life & Charging