OPPO R11s Launch Event + Hands On
OPPO just launched the R11s and R11s Plus in Singapore and I was able to get some hands on time with the smaller R11s at the press event. This is the first time going to a launch event as press and I would like to thank OPPO SG for inviting me.
Display - Taller, Like Everyone Else
I usually do not start my reviews talking about the display but I believe this is what the majority of people would be most excited about. Following the biggest smartphone trend in 2017, OPPO has equipped both R11s devices with 18:9 displays.
The R11s sports a 6.01" display while the R11s Plus comes with a larger 6.43" display. Both are AMOLED, with a resolution of 2160x1080. The displays sound huge, but they are actually similar in width to 5.5" and 5.9" 16:9 display, so they are manageable in the hand.
The display looks fabulous, with vibrant colors and deep black. The colorful icons of ColorOS complements this, giving the UI a really cheerful, youthful look. The new 18:9 ratio provides users with more room real estate and really improves video and gaming immersion.
Design - The Best Just Got Better
Ever since the R5, OPPO impressed me with their craftsmanship with every new R series device and the R11s (Plus) is no exception. While its design is really similar to the R11, OPPO made a few small changes that makes the R11s series feel a lot more refined.
As previously mentioned, the OPPO R11s is equipped with a 18:9 display. This allows for more display space, without having to increase the form factor significantly. As a result, OPPO was able to achieve an impressive 85.8% screen to body ratio.
Previously on the front, the fingerprint scanner has been shifted to the back to make way for the taller display. The capacitive navigation buttons has been removed, replaced by on-screen navigation buttons like on the older OPPO R7 series.
Don't want to waste space on the navigation bar? Want to make full use of the 18:9 display? OPPO has a solution - swiping. Swiping from different parts of the display will result in a different action and this allows you to do everything the navigation bar can.
Having used devices with fingerprint scanners on the back and on the front, I can say that they each have their advantages. The advantage to a rear fingerprint scanner is that your index finger will naturally land on it when taking the phone out of your pocket.
But when your phone is lying face up on a table, how do you unlock your phone quickly? Again, OPPO has a solution. The R11s (Plus) is capable of facial recognition via the selfie camera. I was unable to test it, but reviews online say that it is really fast.
My favorite change in the design is the new "crescent arc", found on the top and bottom of the phone. On top of looking super cool, this arc prevents your fingers from covering the bottom-firing speakers while holding it horizontally.
The OPPO R11s comes in three stunning colors: black, champagne and red. Meanwhile, the larger R11s Plus will only come in black and champagne. The champagne color looks pinkish gold, while the red looks slightly violet in real life.
The red color R11s comes with a little extra surprise on the front. It comes with what OPPO calls "Starry Star Screen", where the chins feature a red to black gradient. Take a closer look and you will be shocked even further. It is just too beautiful! (I shall not spoil it for you.)
Rear Cameras - Better Low-lights & Bokeh?
Like the OPPO R11, the R11s comes with a dual rear camera set up, 16MP on one and 20MP on the other. But unlike the R11, there is no "secondary camera" on the new R11s. Instead, both cameras are "primary cameras", used for different lighting condition.
Both cameras have f/1.7 aperture, so they should allow more light into the sensor. Previously, only the 16MP one was f/1.7, while the 20MP had a smaller f/2.6 aperture. Under great lighting conditions, the 16MP one will be used, while the 20MP will be used in low light.
But why use the 20MP camera for low-light when the 16MP one has larger pixels that takes in more light? (1.0μm vs 1.12μm) Under low light, the R11s series will fuse the 1.0μm pixels on the 20MP camera into larger 2.0μm pixel, resulting in more light per pixel.
(L - Cropped No Lossless Zoom, R - Cropped 2x Lossless Zoom)
With dual cameras, you can also take photos with bokeh effect. This isn't new on OPPO devices, but with f/1.7 aperture on both cameras, OPPO claims that bokeh effect on the R11s will look more natural. Due to poor lighting, the photo turned out slightly washed out for me.
Front Camera - Future of Selfies?
The front camera remains at 20MP f/2.0. But this time round, OPPO is using AI to analyze your face and perform beautify, producing results that are more personalized and natural looking. From my testing, the result doesn't disappoint.
I am not a selfie guy, but I am super impressed at how the photos turned out. It gets rid of my pimples really well, but not overdoing it to the point where it looks really fake. This is the first selfie camera that I am not afraid to use.
ColorOS 3.2 - Small Improvements that Makes a Big Difference
In the looks department, not a lot has changed in ColorOS. But there are actually quite a few changes that really improves the user experience, like the new search bar in the settings app, which makes using the confusing settings app a lot easier.
I also noticed a Gaming Acceleration feature, which comes with some nifty features for games, like disabling notifications. I am not very sure this is new to Color OS 3.2, but I was unable to find it on the older R11 due to the absence of a search bar. See, it is really useful.
Unlike skins by many other smartphone manufacturers like TouchWiz or MIUI, OPPO does not cramp every possible feature into ColorOS. Instead, they keep it as easy to use as possible, only implementing features that would improve the experience.
Other Specs - Not Too Different from R11
Both R11s and R11s Plus are powered by the Snapdragon 660 processor, which is powerful enough to run most games smoothly but is very efficient at the same time. With a 3200mAh and 4000mAh battery respectively, we can expect the battery to last very long on one charge,
Ran out of juice? Have no fear. OPPO's signature VOOC rapid charging is still here. It is a little disappointing that OPPO is still using the old Micro USB instead of the new USB Type-C, which can be found on many similarly priced phones. Fortunately, headphone jack is still here.
Dates & Price - You Can Get One Very Soon!
In Singapore, the 4/64GB OPPO R11s is available for preorder now for S$699 at OPPO's online store or the Orchard Road pop-up store. It will hit stores on 2nd Dec. Meanwhile, the larger R11s Plus with 6/64GB storage configuration is slated to go on sale on 9th Dec for S$849.
