The OPPO Reno11 F 5G is the latest entrant in the competitive midrange smartphone market in the country. OPPO Reno11 F is the smaller sibling in the new Reno11 lineup and it is relatively affordable at 50K but is it worth it?
There are many similarities and a few differences between the normal Reno11 and the Reno11 F. The F version shares the same design and performance features including the screen, processor, software, battery and charging. The only difference is the main camera where the OPPO switches the 50MP lens with OIS on the 11 with the 64MP on the 11F. It also misses out on the 32MP telephoto portrait lens but still manages to pull through when it comes to photography as you’ll see below.
It’s been three years since I last reviewed an F version and that was the Reno5 F – it was a great device. The Reno5 F had a sleek and attention-grabbing smartphone with incredible performance, powerful specs, refined software, crisp camera shots, high-quality display and excellent battery performance too and the Reno11 F builds on that.
UNBOXING
Reno11 F comes in a grey box and inside is a quick guide, a safety guide, a sim ejector tool, a back case, a Type-C cable, a 67W charger and the phone itself.
DESIGN
The OPPO Reno11 F 5G comes in three colours – Coral Purple, Palm Green, and Ocean Blue- my unit. The compelling design features azure waves and tilts it, shifting its hues to reveal what OPPO says are shining whitecaps on the sea.
We finally get an IP rating on the Reno11 F with the phone sporting IP65 ingress protection so it is water splash and dust resistance. I love the rectangular camera layout instead of the oval shape of its bigger siblings the Reno 11 series.
The flat design makes it stand on its own. The corners are rounded so they don’t dIg into your palm when using it one-handed.
This phone is slim and light for day-to-day use without feeling hefty on my hand and in my pocket.
We have a USB-C port, dual microphones, and a single-speaker grille for ports. On the right are the power buttons and volume rockers. On the left is the hybrid SIM card slot. We have a USB-C port, dual microphones, and a single-speaker grille. On the right are the power bottoms and volume rockers. On the left is the hybrid SIM card slot.
There’s face unlock and an under-display fingerprint reader for biometrics. The scanner is pretty fast and it supports quick-launch features. You can quickly launch apps or functions straight after unlocking by long-tapping the sensor.
The haptic feedback is really good– tight and precise and you also get an IR blaster to control some of your utilities including the TV remote and the Air conditioner.
Coming to the front is the 6.7-inch OLED screen sporting Full HD+ resolution, 1100 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ support, and 120Hz refresh rate protected by Panda Glass and a factory-applied plastic screen protector.
The screen was delightful to use, it’s bright and sharp enough even though it has been overcast lately. The 120Hz refresh rate is handy for buttery smooth animations and gaming. Watching HDR content on YouTube and Netflix was fantastic.
While it has a single speaker, the phone can increase its volume up to 300% in case you forget to carry wired or wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker so that entertainment doesn’t stop.
CAMERA
The OPPO Reno11 F 5G sports a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP depth sensor. You also have a 32MP selfie camera at the front.
The cameras shoot well-saturated, colourful, sharp, clear, crisp and bright photos including selfies. The phone does a lot of post-processing so you’ll have to be patient once you take a picture.
For videos, the phone shoots 4k 30fps for both the selfie and main cameras. Sadly, there’s no optical image stabilization so if you have shaky hands, you’ll have to use 1080p video recording as this mode offers electronic image stabilization. OPPO also includes a handy ultra-steady mode too.
The whole camera system is really good and you’re going to get dependable and stunning shots with the Reno11 F. You’ll love posting them on social media and sharing them with friends and family.
PERFORMANCE
Reno11 F is powered by Dimensity 7050 chipset(6nm) paired with 8GB onboard RAM and 256GB storage. It runs Android 14 and ColorOS 14 running straight out of the box. ColorOS 14 adds 8GB of extended RAM. The hybrid SIM slot space allows for expandable storage via an external microSD card.
It is worth noting that the Reno11 F will get up to three years of Android OS upgrades.
ColorOS 14 features OPPO’s anamorphic design language spread across elements of its user interface visible in the notification panel, apps and folders. The whole user interface was fluid and customizable as well.
ColorOS 14 is feature-packed and includes the Trinity Engine which makes the phone feel fast, AI-powered Smart Touch, Smart Image Matting, Smart Charging, Picture Keeper, Auto-Pixelate, Phone Link, Quick Launch Apps, Split View, Flexible Window, Smart Sidebar, File Dock, and Snapchat Shortcut.
Overall performance is great, I didn’t experience any lag especially when multitasking and gaming as everything was handled without a hiccup.
BATTERY
Reno11 F has a 5000mAh battery that supports 67W SuperVOOC charging that juices up the phone to 100% in under 45 minutes. A 30-minute charge can get it to 80%.
The battery held its own and it was enough for an all-day smartphone. I was getting around 7 hours of screen-on time and I had around 25% before tucking in. Battery life is wonderful with the Reno11 F and the endurance is unmatched.
The chipset is efficient enough to endure all your needs and the ultrafast charging gets you back up in no time.
VERDICT
Reno11 F is definitely worth the price. The performance is fast, the battery life is better, the design is attractive and the cameras are even better.
The Reno11 F is a solid midrange smartphone that delivers what you should expect on a phone at this price and is a better value buy which I can actually recommend.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Reno11 F can be purchased from official OPPO stores and partner retail stores across the country, and online on OPPO’s Kenya’s website, Jumia and Kilimall for Ksh 49,999.
