Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone 11: Which smartphone should you buy?

Despite the smartphone market being saturated with dozens of brands, there are still two brands that consistently dominate every year – Apple and Samsung. While both are recognized around the world, they each cater to a different audience. Whether it’s an iOS or Android smartphone you’re after, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and Apple iPhone 11 are perfect choices, especially when you consider their prices and features. So which phone is right for you? We can help you make a decision, breaking down the overall details of each phone, which should give you a better idea of which you might be interested in. So strap in, this is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G versus the Apple iPhone 11.

Navigate this article:

• Specifications
• Build and Design
• Display
• Performance
• Cameras
• Battery Life and Charging
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone 11: Which one should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone 11: specifications

	Samsung Galaxy A53 5G	Apple iPhone 11
Build	Plastic body Gorilla Glass 5 front panel IP67 water/dust resistance	Metal / Glass body Gorilla Glass front panel IP67 water/dust resistance
Dimensions and Weight	159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm 189 g	150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm 194 g
Display	6.5-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 1080 x 2400 pixels	6.1-inch LCD 60Hz refresh rate 828 x 1792 pixels resolution
SoC	Samsung Exynos 1280	A13 Bionic chip
RAM and Storage	6GB/8GB RAM 128GB/256GB internal storage microSD card slot (up to 1TB)	4GB RAM 64GB/128GB internal storage no microSD card slot
Battery and Charging	5,000mAh battery 25W Super Fast Charging  No charger in the box No wireless charging	3,110 mAh battery 18W Fast charging No charger in the box Qi wireless charging
Security	Fingerprint sensor	Face ID
Rear Camera(s)	64MP ƒ/1.8 Main (with OIS) 12MP ƒ/2.2 Ultra-wide 5MP ƒ/2.4 Depth sensor 5MP ƒ/2.4 Macro	12MP ƒ/1.8 Main (with OIS) 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra-Wide
Front Camera(s)	32MP ƒ/2.2	12MP camera ƒ/2.2
Ports	USB Type-C No headphone jack	Lightning No headphone jack
Connectivity	5G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4G+5GHz) Bluetooth 5.1	5G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 (2.4G+5GHz) Bluetooth 5.0
Software	One UI 4.1 (Android 12)	iOS 15
Price	$349.99	$499

Build and Design

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and Apple iPhone 11 are completely different when it comes to their build and design. The Galaxy A53 5G offers a sleek look that is mostly made of plastic. The sides are faux metal and the rear offers a satisfying grippy texture. The Apple iPhone 11 is built on an aluminum metal frame and has a glass rear panel. The result is a phone that feels quite premium. As you might expect, both phones have a glass display. For the iPhone 11, this brings things full circle. As you get a glass front and back, sandwiching an aluminum frame. With the Galaxy A53 5G, you get more of a contrast. A glass front, faux metal sides with a matte plastic back.

The matte plastic back of the Samsung A53 5G

The back of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a flush and flat look that is created using a matte plastic back. While it doesn’t exude a premium look, it does offer the functional benefit of being more resistant to scratches, and fingerprints, and also offering more gripe when in use. The iPhone 11 has a smooth glass back panel, which looks elegant and can also have the physical benefit of being more resistant to scratches. But the notable drawback with a glass back panel is its durability, especially when dealing with drops. There is also the claim that glass back can be a bit harder to hold thanks to its slick surface.

When it comes to design, both phones have a hump that accommodates the multiple cameras found on the rear. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a rectangular design that houses four cameras and a flash. The Apple iPhone 11 is a square shape that houses two cameras and a flash. While both humps are present, the Galaxy A53 5G is a bit more refined thanks to a seamless transition from the hump to the rear plate. The rear of the iPhone 11 is quite pronounced as if Apple is embracing the look. Of course, neither is bad, but this will be something to contemplate subjectively at the individual level.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. Since this is an AMOLED display, you can expect deep blacks and colors that pop. On top of that, it has an in-display fingerprint reader and it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, something that used to be reserved for higher-end smartphones. As for looks, you get thinnish bezels surrounding the display which makes it look modern.

The Apple iPhone 11 makes use of an IPS LCD display, one that Apple calls a “Liquid Retina HD” display. The 6.1-inch display is backlit by LEDs and offers a resolution of 1792 x 828. Since this is an LCD from Apple, you can expect colors to be quite balanced. As for its refresh rate, you’re looking at 60Hz, which isn’t great when compared to the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. But the 60Hz refresh rate was standard across all Apple iPhones until the release of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2021.

As far as looks go, the Galaxy A53 5G offers something a bit sleeker and modern with its punch-hole design. Apple has maintained the same design for most of its phones since the release of the iPhone X in 2017. This is mainly due to Apple’s facial recognition system, Face ID, which offers industry-leading security technology, but requires numerous sensors to work. These sensors are housed in what has famously been dubbed the “notch”. While it was quite jarring when it first made its debut, it has been five years since, and with plenty of copycat designs from Android manufacturers, the notch in 2022 isn’t really that big of a deal.

With that said, looks are subjective, but the options are clear, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a higher resolution display with a small punch hole in the middle of the display, versus the iPhone 11 with a lower resolution display and large notch.

Performance

There are a lot of different aspects to consider when looking at the performance of a smartphone. Despite the iPhone 11 making its debut two years ago, at the time, it had a top-tier processor with its A13 Bionic. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is powered by an Exynos 1280 SoC produced in 2022. While you might be thinking to yourself that the newer processor is obviously better, you might want to think again.

The Samsung Exynos 1280 does offer some benefits due to its new 5nm architecture, but as far as performance goes, in a majority of the benchmarking categories, the Apple A13 Bionic is the clear winner. The A13 Bionic outperforms the Exynos 1280 in both single more and multicore tests. The Apple SoC also has better GPU performance.

But as stated before, there are benefits with the Samsung Exynos 1280. While it isn’t as strong a performer as Apple’s A13 Bionic, it can still perform quite well for most everyday tasks. It isn’t going to be the fastest since it is a mid-tier SoC, but it should perform more efficiently thanks to its 5nm chipset. To be fair, if you’re looking for more power, the Apple A13 Bionic is the clear winner, but the Samsung Exynos 1280 is no slouch either.

Cameras

Apart from looks, the camera is probably the next most important thing for a majority of people when considering a new smartphone. To be fair, Samsung is packing quite an arsenal with the Galaxy A53 5G, with the main camera sensor coming in at 64MP, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 5MP macro. The trio of lenses gives you the most versatility when it comes to shooting modes and provides the best overall experience when taking photos. Samsung has been known for its post-processing effects and things are no different here. While the images are sharp and the colors are punchy, they can look a bit overprocessed at times. Of course, this is a preference, but some might find a more natural look to be more pleasing.

That’s where Apple’s iPhone 11 excels, deriving color-accurate photos and videos with its 12MP main shooter and matching 12MP ultra-wide camera. Despite the lower resolution when compared to Samsung, the iPhone has always captured reliable and accurate colors. Of course, in order to accomplish this, you’ll need light and that is when things look great. But in darkly lit scenarios, the Galaxy A53 5G easily takes the cake, providing excellent night images with its advanced algorithm. Where the iPhone does pull slightly ahead is its video capabilities. The iPhone edges out the Samsung by just a bit as it can offer stabilized video even when shooting in its highest resolution of 4K. The Galaxy A53 cannot do this and can only provide video stabilization in 1080p.

Battery Life and Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G packs a monstrous 5,000mAh battery. This battery, paired with a mid-tier and efficient SoC can go on to provide all-day battery life with ease. Samsung states that the phone should last two days, with up to 18 hours of video playback and up to 60 hours of audio playback. Ultimately, it will depend on how you use your phone, but for most, this should definitely be enough. What might come as a surprise is that the phone does not offer wireless charging, and you will instead have to rely on the 25W fast charging via USB-C.

The iPhone comes with a much smaller 3,110mAh battery and slower charging speeds at 18W. But it offers wireless charging capabilities. Apple states that the phone can provide up to 17 hours of video playback, up to 10 hours of streaming video, or up to 65 hours of music playback on a single charge. The phone can charge up to 50 percent with a 20W charger. Unfortunately, Apple only includes a 5W charger in the box. With that said, the iPhone should also provide all-day battery life for most. The results of both phones are pretty close, but if you are looking for a battery monster, I think the Samsung would be a safer bet.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone 11: Which one should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G versus the Apple iPhone 11. Both of these phones are widely available around the world and can still be purchased brand new from carriers and retailers. Although this is a case of apples and oranges, there are clear differences when pitting each device against the other. Of course, what device is good for you depends entirely on how you use your phone. If you want a good all-around phone that has impressive battery life, you might want to consider the Galaxy A53 5G. If you want a good all-around phone that will be supported for much longer through software, choose the iPhone 11. Furthermore, if you’ve used a smartphone before, you might want to stick with what you know in the Android vs iOS camp. If this is your first smartphone ever, you might want to consider going to your local store to test each one out. The iPhone 11 starts at $499, while Galaxy A53 5G can be had for much lower at $349. If price is a concern, the answer is clear.

Apple iPhone 11

The Apple iPhone 11 powered by an A13 Bionic chip remains a valid choice, thanks to its still powerful SoC and hardware, and Apple's software support

Purchase at Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is one of the latest mid rangers from Samsung, offering a phone that just works for more people.

Purchase at Samsung

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OnePlus Nord CE 2 receives June 2022 security patches with latest update

After rolling out the Android security patches for June 2022 to the OnePlus Nord 2 last week, OnePlus is now updating the OnePlus Nord CE 2 to the same security patch level. The company has started rolling out OxygenOS A.13 to the device, which includes the June 2022 security patches and some system stability improvements.

OxygenOS A.13 for the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is currently rolling out to users in India. According to screenshots shared by users over on the OnePlus Community Forums, the update is based on the OxygenOS 11 release like the one that rolled out to the OnePlus Nord 2 last week.

Credit: Nareshkp on the OnePlus Community Forums

Here’s the full changelog for the update:

• System
  • Improved system stability
  • Updated Android Security Patch to 2022.6

OnePlus is yet to announce the rollout on its forums, so it might be a while before the OTA notification pops up on your device. If you don’t wish to wait, you can download the incremental update package from the link provided below and flash the update manually. Note that OnePlus typically releases software updates in a phased manner in order to catch any bugs in the release ahead of the wider rollout. Therefore, we don’t recommend installing the update manually if you’re using your OnePlus Nord CE 2 as your daily driver.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 XDA Forums

Download OxygenOS A.13 for the OnePlus Nord CE 2

As mentioned above, we currently have access to the incremental update package from OxygenOS A.12 for the India region only. We’ll update this post with links to the full OTA package as soon as it becomes available.

• India
  • Incremental update from OxygenOS A.12

Have you received OxygenOS A.13 on your OnePlus Nord CE 2? Does it include any other changes? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Thanks to XDA Recognized Developer mlgmxyysd and XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the download links!

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Save big on Samsung products in the Summer Discover event

It’s that time again – Samsung has launched another sale designed to help you enter or expand in their ecosystem with a range of excellent deals on everything from the Galaxy S22 Ultra and other smartphones, to the Samsung Freestyle portable projector, new monitors, home appliances and even memory and storage.

If you haven’t bought the Galaxy S22 Ultra yet, now is definitely a great time as you can score $150 off the 1TB version of the phone, as well as up to $1,000 instant credit when you trade in a phone. Several months later, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is still my daily driver and it’s mainly because the camera is so good, it’s up there as one of the very best smartphone cameras right now.

While you’re buying the Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can also snag a great deal on a Galaxy Watch 4. During this summer event, you can get $60 off the LTE version of the Galaxy Watch 4 or the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Galaxy S22 Ultra

Save up to $1,000 with an enhanced trade-in on the Galaxy S22 Ultra 1TB, as well as $150 instant rebate! It's the best time to buy one of the best camera phones!

From $199 (with trade-in) at Samsung

Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

Get one of the best Android tablets right now, a free Galaxy Buds Pro, with $100 instant credit at Samsung and up to $675 enhanced trade in!

From $425 (with trade-in) at Samsung

Galaxy Z Fold 3

Embrace the future and save on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 with up to $1,200 trade-in even for a cracked phone and a free Galaxy Watch 4!

From $600 (with trade-in) at Samsung

The perfect way to round off your new Galaxy ecosystem is the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, which I really like. I’ve got all three of the Galaxy Tab S8 series, and they are the best Android tablets right now. During this summer event, you can save up to $675 with a trade-in, as well as get a $100 instant Samsung credit to spend on accessories and get the Galaxy Buds Pro for free.

The Samsung Discover sale is running all week until June 26th, with new deals and discounts to discover every day. Most deals are only for that day, but some of my favorite week-long deals include the Galaxy Z Fold 3 which comes with a free Galaxy Watch 4 and an enhanced trade-in of up to $1,200 including cracked devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best foldable phone right now so this is a great time to embrace the future!

If you’ve been holding off on buying a new appliance, phone, tablet, projector, monitor or most other popular Samsung products, now’s the best time!

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Does the MacBook Air M2 (2022) have a good battery life?

Apple expanded its Mac lineup during WWDC22. The latest addition to the line is the MacBook Air (2022). Considering that this redesigned MacBook packs the M2 chip, you might want to check the best apps for Apple silicon. That’s because these applications are built and optimized specifically for the family of M chips. Alongside the hardware announcements, the Cupertino-based corporation also revealed macOS Ventura — which introduces the all-new Stage Manager, in addition to improvements to Safari and Mail. If you’re planning to buy the new MacBook Air M2 (2022), you must be wondering how good its battery life is. Ultimately, it’s a potable computer — so it’s important for it to last for decent time period on a single charge. Here’s what you need to know regarding this matter.

What’s the battery life like on the MacBook Air M2 (2022)?

Just like the MacBook Air M1 (2020), 2022’s M2 notebook lasts for 18 hours when watching videos on a single charge — according to Apple. While you likely won’t spend 18 hours in a row watching video content, this piece of information gives us a solid estimation of the MacBook Air’s battery life. Assuming you don’t exhaust this Mac with intensive tasks, it’s supposed to last you all day. Whether you’re typing, reading, browsing, or watching series, you probably won’t need to charge this powerhouse more than once per day.

So yes, the MacBook Air M2 (2022) does have a good battery life. It’s worth noting, though, that — just like other laptops and phones — its battery will degrade as you use it. So in a couple of years you might notice that it’s no longer lasting you as much as it used to, and that’s totally normal. If it becomes unbearable, you could always replace the battery with a new one down the road.

M2 MacBook Air 13-inch

The 2022 MacBook Air offers the M2 chip and a redesigned chassis with MagSafe support. Best Buy can notify you when it's available.

View on Best Buy

Will you be buying the MacBook Air M2 (2022)? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

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These are the best chargers for the MacBook Air (2022)

Apple recently introduced the 2022 MacBook Air, featuring an all-new design, new colors to choose from, and the new M2 processor promising even more performance than before. We’re not yet at the point where laptops don’t come with chargers anymore, so the included power adapter and cable should be enough to keep you going for a long time. But accidents happen, and if you happen to lose or break the charger that comes with the MacBook Air, you’re going to need a replacement.

To help you with that, we’ve rounded up some of the best chargers you can buy right now that will work with the MacBook Air. The latest model comes with a 30W power adapter in the box, though you can also get a 35W dual-port adapter, or a 67W fast charging adapter. If you only care about the official options, we’ve also listed them below, but there are some great third-party options that are cheaper and equally functional (or even more so).

Apple 30W USB-C power adapter

The official charger

If you want the official basic charger that comes with the MacBook Air, this is it. It provides 30W of power and has a USB-C port, though you'll need to have your own cable or buy it separately.

See at Apple

Anker 713 45W Charger

Ultra-compact

If you want an extra compact alternative, the Anker 713 45W charger is a great option. It's even more powerful than Apple's official charger, but it's way smaller. It doesn't include a cable, so you need to have one already.

See at Amazon

Ifeart 30W charger

Cheaper option

Don't want to spend a lot on a new charger? This 30W power adapter might be a great option - it's much cheaper than Apple's charger while delivering the same power, and you also get a USB-C cable in the box if you don't have one.

See at Amazon

Apple 67W USB-C power adapter

Official fast charger

Want to charge your laptop faster? Apple's 67W charger can juice up your MacBook Air much more quickly than the standard 30W adapter. You'll need to use your own cable, though.

See at Best Buy

Baseus 100W charger

More speed than you need

Apple's official fast charger goes up to 67W, but if you want something even more powerful, this 100W charger from Baseus is a good option. It's faster than the MacBook Air needs, but 100W chargers like this can charge all kinds of laptops, too.

See at Amazon

Nekteck 100W charger

Fast, but affordable

If you want super-fast charging speeds for a more reasonable price, the Nekteck 100W charger is a more affordable option that also includes a USB-C cable. It will charge your MacBook Air, but it also works with more power-hungry laptops.

See at Amazon

Apple 35W dual-port charger

Official dual-port charger

For the first time, Apple has made a dual-port USB-C charger, so you can charge your MacBook Air and your phone at the same time. This isn't a very fast charger, but it has the benefit of supporting Apple's world travel adapter kit, which you might appreciate.

See at Apple

Anker PowerPort III 2-Port 100W

Super-fast dual-port charger

Apple's dual-port charger isn't very fast if you actually want to charge two devices at once. With this one, you can get much more power from each port, so both your connected devices charge quickly and at the same time.

See at Amazon

HyphenX 100W 4-port charger

For all your devices

If you have a bunch of devices and you want to charge them all using one brick, this is the way to go. With 100W split across four ports, you can charge all your devices decently fast and save space on your wall outlet. The charger itself is fairly compact, too.

See at Amazon

And those are some of the best chargers you can buy for your 2022 MacBook Air if you happen to need a replacement. The official ones from Apple may be some people’s favorite, but third-party options can definitely be cheaper and more capable, too. That’s especially true of the multi-port chargers, since Apple’s own offering isn’t that fast when it comes to charging multiple devices.

The 2022 MacBook Air itself isn’t yet available to buy, but you can check it out using the link below. It’s expected to go on sale in July, and with all the changes it brings, it looks like it could be one of the best Macs you can buy right now. If you’re not fully convinced by the MacBook Air yet, maybe check out the best laptops in general to see what else is out there. There are some great options in the Windows world, too.

MacBook Air (2022)

The 2022 MacBook Air is powered by the new Apple M2 chip, plus it has a new taller display and an all-new design.

See at Best Buy

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OnePlus 10R Review: Barely latching on to the OnePlus spirit

The OnePlus 10R is a very easy phone to forget. In its flesh, it’s simply a rebranded Oppo phone with a weak set of cameras, a dissatisfying build quality, and an inconsistent software experience. But on the positive, the MediaTek chip delivers sustained performance, but the real showstopper is its blazing-fast charging speeds which is probably the only feature to keep its OnePlus spirit alive. The OnePlus 10R isn’t a bad phone, but it stumbles to leave a lasting impression, which is why I think it’s barely latching on to the OnePlus spirit as OnePlus did arguably set a high bar in the past.

Ignoring its association with the OnePlus or even the fact that it’s essentially a rebranded phone, is the OnePlus 10R worth your money? The only reasons I see someone buying this phone are its blazing-fast charging speeds and its solid, sustained performance for less than the price of full-fledged flagships. If that sounds good enough then this may be the phone for you. Being able to fully top up the phone in under 25 minutes is something I know I’ll miss the moment I take my SIM card out of this phone. But apart from that, I think the OnePlus 10R comes out as uninteresting. Read on to find out why I think the OnePlus 10R misses the mark.

OnePlus 10R

The OnePlus 10R is a decent phone that offers a reliable performance for day-to-day usage and gaming. The highlight of the phone, however, is its blazing-fast charging speeds.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

Buy from Amazon India

Navigate this review:

• Specifications
• Pricing and Availability
• Design & Build quality
• Display
• General Performance, Battery Life, and Charging
• Cameras
• Should you buy it?

OnePlus 10R review: Specifications

Specification	OnePlus 10R
Build	Plastic back and mid-frame No IP rating
Dimensions & Weight	163.3 x 75.5 x 8.2mm 186 grams
Display	6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate HDR10+ Corning Gorilla Glass 5
SoC	MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Max Arm Mali-G610 MC6 5nm
RAM & Storage	8GB/12GB LPDDR5 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 Endurance Edition with 150W limited to 12GB/256GB variant
Battery & Charging	5,000 mAh + 80W fast charging (charger inside the box) Endurance Edition: 4,500mAh + 150W fast charging (160W charger inside the box)
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP IMX766 Secondary: 8MP ultra-wide Tertiary: 2MP bokeh
Front Camera(s)	16MP
Port(s)	USB 2.0 Type-C port No headphone jack No microSD card slot
Audio	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G NFC Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 6
Software	Android 12 with OxygenOS 12.1

About this review: This OnePlus 10R Endurance Edition unit in Sierra Black was shipped to us by OnePlus India for testing. I got to use the phone for a couple of weeks before writing this review. OnePlus didn’t have any inputs in this review.

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OnePlus 10R: Pricing and Availability

The OnePlus 10R is now available to purchase in India:

• 8GB + 128GB, 80W/5000mAh: ₹38,999 (~$500)
• 12GB + 256GB, 80W/5000mAh: ₹42,999 (~$552)
• 12 GB + 256GB, 150W Endurance Edition/4500mAh: ₹43,999 (~$565)

It’s worth mentioning that the Endurance Edition is only available in the Sierra Black color option while the standard models can also be purchased in the Forest Green colorway. As of now, it looks like OnePlus has no plans of launching the OnePlus 10R outside the Asian markets.

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Design & Build Quality

• Doesn’t look like any past OnePlus flagship: boxy design and no alert slider

Right off the box, the first thing you’ll notice about the OnePlus 10R is its design. I wouldn’t say it’s cut from the same cloth as the Realme GT Neo 3 because there are some subtle design differences. That being said, they both use the same reference design and the resemblance is uncanny. I like the OnePlus 10R’s dual-pane design better than the Realme GT Neo 3’s color stripe aesthetics, but I guess that comes down to personal preference. Like it or not, there’s no denying that it doesn’t look like anything OnePlus would make.

To my understanding, the OnePlus 10R also happens to be the first OnePlus phone (besides their special edition phones) to have any sort of design element at the back beside the camera island and the logo. But that’s not the only non-OnePlus thing about this phone. It also happens to be the first phone in the OnePlus flagship series to ditch the alert-slider. Add a plastic mid-frame and a back for a dissatisfying in-hand feel, and it’s easily the farthest thing from OnePlus’ other flagship offerings. Even the phones in the Nord range feel like they come from OnePlus, but not this one.

The OnePlus 10R is just as tall as the OnePlus 10 Pro but it weighs significantly less coming in at just 186 grams. As for the other basics, you get a USB Type-C port at the bottom along with dual stereo speakers and a dual nano-SIM slot. There’s no headphone jack, no IP rating for dust/water resistance, or a microSD card slot for storage expansion, so keep that in mind.

Overall, OnePlus has opted for a very unique look for the 10R. Personally, I am not a huge fan of the design but I won’t write it off as a bad design choice at the same time.

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OnePlus 10R review: Display

• 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate will not give you any reason to complain
• At par with many other high-end non-LTPO flagships

The display is one of the things that stands out to me about this phone. It’s on par with most other high-end flagships out there. It’s a massive 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate and HDR. It doesn’t support a variable refresh rate, mind you, so you only get the option to choose between the smooth 120Hz refresh rate or go with the more battery-friendly 60Hz option.

The OnePlus 10R has a great display

I set the display to ‘Vivid’ mode as I like to use on most smartphones, and I had absolutely no issues using it on a day-to-day basis. It also gets decently bright outdoors meaning outdoor visibility isn’t an issue either. Generally speaking, this is a very good display, be it for media consumption or browsing through your usual set of social media apps. Speaking of media consumption, I’d like to point out that the dual stereo speakers on the OnePlus 10R sound rather good. I noticed that the downward-firing speakers are louder than the one on the earpiece but I never felt the need to pull out my TWS to consume media when I am alone in my room. There’s not much bass but it gets decently loud with good stereo separation.

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General Performance, Battery Life, and Charging

• Great performance without any heating issues
• OxygenOS remains buggy
• Solid battery life, with insane 120W charging; although 80W should be fine for most people

The OnePlus 10R comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Max 5G SoC, making it the first (non-Nord) OnePlus phone to have a MediaTek chipset. For those of you who are curious, the Dimensity 8100-Max features the same CPU and GPU speeds as the standard variant that’s powering the Realme GT Neo 3. This means it has four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.85GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2GHz. For graphics, you get an Arm Mali-G610 MC6 GPU. So what’s the difference, you ask?

According to OnePlus, the Dimensity 8100-MAX gets an “AI performance boost”. The MediaTek APU 580 inside the chip is said to offer better AI performance. It works with the HyperBoost Gaming Engine to offer a more stable gaming performance with higher frame rates in games. That makes perfect sense considering OnePlus pitches its ‘R’ series phones for gaming. While I don’t play a lot of games on my phone, I did go out of my way to play Respawn’s new Apex Legends Mobile, Genshin Impact, and Call Of Duty Mobile. The OnePlus 10R managed to run all these games very well, albeit at a slightly lower than maxed-out settings.

Let’s take a look at some benchmark numbers to give you an idea of the kind of performance you can expect to see from this phone:

The OnePlus 10R, as you can see, performs better than the Realme GT Neo 3 in GeekBench 5 and PC Mark tests. It’s worth mentioning that I set the phone to favor performance (Settings > Battery > Advanced settings > High Performance Mode) while running these benchmarks to get the best output. These results also translate to a solid day-to-day performance. The OnePlus 10R doesn’t break a sweat even while handling a dozen apps at any given point. For the folks in the Snapdragon crowd who are curious, the Dimensity 8100-MAX comes close to matching the general performance of the Snapdragon 888, but without the heating issues.

The Dimensity 8100 performs great, and has no thermal issues too

What’s more interesting about this particular phone is that it doesn’t get hot while playing games or while running benchmarking apps. The OnePlus 10R managed to stay surprisingly cool to touch even when pushed to its limits. And unlike the Realme GT Neo 3, the OnePlus 10R doesn’t generate a lot of heat even while charging, which means you can continue using the phone while topping up the battery.

The OnePlus 10R is currently running Oxygen 12.1 based on Android 12. While this version of OxygenOS is better than the initial OxygenOS 12 release, it’s still far from perfect. I am happy to report that the OnePlus 10R doesn’t have much in the name of bloatware but the overall software experience still needs a lot of work in terms of stability. OnePlus 10R won’t let me install and run a third-party launcher, for instance. I tried it with multiple launchers and none of them worked properly.

Gif showing launcher error. Repeated screen flash warning.

I also don’t like how the only way you can access the OnePlus Shelf now is by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen? I don’t mind using Shelf because it can be useful at times but I am not sure if I want to swipe down from the top to access it over the notification center. Also, the OnePlus Shelf acts as a standalone app and not just an overlay akin to the notification drawer. This means it’s very easy to accidentally pull it down while, say, you’re watching a video on YouTube, only to have the video paused. I even had some widgets on the OnePlus Shelf crash on me while using them. We mentioned this along with some other issues in our OnePlus 10 Pro review, so be sure to check it out too.

I am not biased towards any particular Android skin because I think each of them is unique in its own way. However, OnePlus’ OxygenOS has got to be my least favorite Android skin right now mainly because of all the stability and minor UX user experience issues that are plaguing the OS.

Before moving on to the next section in this review, I’d like to talk a bit about the battery performance of the OnePlus 10R because that’s what makes this phone unique, in my opinion. The most expensive variant of the OnePlus 10R comes with a 4,500mAh battery and it’s accompanied by a 150W charger. OnePlus is calling it the ‘Endurance Edition’ and I’ve been using it for this review. I’ve charged the OnePlus 10R multiple times during my review period and only took about 22-25 minutes to fully charge this phone each time. Yes, 150W charging is as crazy as it sounds in real life and this is easily my favorite thing about this phone. Though, it is important to mention that the usual charging test that we use to create our charging time graphs ends up getting closed by OxygenOS after about 5 minutes of functioning in the background. Further, as we mentioned earlier the OnePlus 10R did not heat up as much as the Realme GT Neo 3 did when charging at 150W — though a valid concern could be where the generated heat is being dissipated.

You only get an 80W charger with the other variants of the OnePlus 10R but even that’s faster than a lot of other high-end flagships out there. Notably, the OnePlus 10R units bundled with an 80W charger have a 5,000mAh battery, which is slightly bigger than the one that I have. The battery life itself turned out pretty good. I was able to get through an entire workday without having to worry about charging the phone.

150W charging is as crazy as it sounds

It even managed to keep up with me on days with heavier usage when I played a lot of games or took the phone out for a spin to test the cameras. On days when you feel the need to charge mid-day, you can quickly top it off for five minutes and get enough juice to get through the rest of the night, which is very convenient. The 150W charging brick is massive in size, though, so keep that in mind. Between the 150W variant and the 80W variant, it makes more sense to pick up the 80W variant and get better battery life through the day versus shaving off a few minutes every charge, because 80W is fairly quick too.

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OnePlus 10R review: Cameras

• Good primary camera

As I mentioned earlier in this review, the OnePlus 10R sports a weak set of cameras. I’ve been using the OnePlus 10 Pro a lot lately to capture photos and this is definitely a downgrade over that. As for the optics, it features a triple camera setup at the back which includes a 50MP Sony IMX 766 main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor. It’s not the most versatile setup but that’s not even my main concern. Simply put, all three sensors on the OnePlus 10R are not in the same league.

The 50MP main sensor can give you some good-looking shots but I noticed that the images are processed to look warmer. It becomes evident when you compare the images captured using the OnePlus 10R with something like the 10 Pro or the Galaxy S22. The main sensor can capture good images even in low-light situations but that’s simply not the case when it comes to its ultrawide shooter. Ultra-wide shots captured during the night are, well, unusable, in my opinion. It does a pretty good job during the day but it’s an obvious downgrade compared to some other devices out there.

There’s not much to talk about the 2MP macro sensor either, so I’ll let you look at some camera samples that I captured during my time with the phone. The 16MP selfie camera is decent enough for some occasional selfies. On the video front, the OnePlus 10R can record 4K at 30 or 60fps but the 4K footage isn’t stabilized, so I’d recommend switching to 1080p if you want to get any usable footage out of this phone.

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Is the OnePlus 10R worth buying?

The OnePlus 10R bites the dust as a “OnePlus” phone because pretty much nothing about this phone reminds me of the brand. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for those who don’t care about a brand’s association with a device. The OnePlus 10R is a decent phone by itself that offers solid performance for day-to-day usage and even gaming. The 150W charging is the highlight for me but I am sure even the standard variants of the phone with 80W charging support will suffice for most users, especially considering the price differences and smaller value delta between the two.

There’s nothing to write home about the phone’s software experience, though. OxygenOS works for the most part but I was mildly disappointed with the occasional bugs and instability issues. The lackluster camera performance and the build materials used for this phone also make it look like a downgrade of sorts when you compare with it, say, the OnePlus 9RT. Last year’s OnePlus 9RT is slightly expensive, yes, but it offers a more refined experience overall. It’s also hard for me to recommend the OnePlus 10R over some other phones on the market like the Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G and the Realme GT 2, both of which can be had for a relatively cheaper price.

The Realme GT Neo 3 is also a decent option to consider as the “closest” alternative to the OnePlus 10R, but you will have to put up with its abysmal bloatware situation. On the iOS side, Apple is offering the iPhone SE (2022) for around the same price. It may not win any awards in the design or charging department, but it certainly offers great performance and an excellent software experience thanks to iOS. So, here’s a quick summary of the OnePlus 10R:

You should buy the OnePlus 10R if:

• Fast charging is your priority. I recommend getting the 150W charging variant for blazing-fast speed.
• You want reliable performance for day-to-day usage and gaming.

You shouldn’t buy the OnePlus 10R if:

• You want a premium device with good build quality. OnePlus 10R looks and feels like a budget phone in hand.
• You want a versatile camera setup.
• You want a consistent bug-free software experience.

OnePlus has left the 10R in a very awkward spot. My verdict would’ve been different if it was priced competitively to go against the competition. It’s not a bad phone but I think it doesn’t offer enough value outside of its fast charging trick, which I think will be challenged soon by other manufacturers. Xiaomi’s 11T Pro 5G is already bridging the gap with its 120W Hypercharge, so it’s only a matter of time till we see other devices getting the same treatment in this price range.

OnePlus 10R

The OnePlus 10R is a decent phone that offers a reliable performance for day-to-day usage and gaming. The highlight of the phone, however, is its blazing-fast charging speeds.

Buy from Amazon India

So, are you planning to buy the OnePlus 10R? If not then which alternative are you looking to consider? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below.

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WBA OpenRoaming can bring free and fast Wi-Fi to entire cities

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has announced that it has successfully completed a concept trial that will see Dublin, a tech hub of Europe, receive free and fast Wi-Fi across the city. The WBA has board representatives from the likes of AT&T, Intel, Google, Comcast, and Deutsche Telekom. Users who were in Barnardo Square on Dame Street or Dublin City Council’s amphitheater on Wood Quay were able to avail of free Wi-Fi that once logged in, would stay logged in. It was possible to move between the two areas and maintain connectivity.

For context, the WBA’s OpenRoaming initiative is already rolled out to one million hotspots globally, but this would see the first major city powered by the OpenRoaming initiative. It’s expected that over 150 access points will be rolled out across the city, employing Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technology to ensure a “carrier-grade experience” that residents and tourists can effortlessly avail of. The trial was initiated by Dublin City Council’s “Smart Dublin” program and was supported by both the WBA and Virgin Media.

Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said that “Wi-Fi is the foundation for smart cities. This successful proof-of-concept trial shows that that the City of Dublin and its residents, businesses and visitors all can depend on the WBA OpenRoaming standard to ensure that they always have convenient access to seamless, secure, carrier-grade Wi-Fi connectivity.” While it’s not confirmed, this seemingly paves the way for the WBA to look to bring this initiative to other cities at the same scale across the globe.

WBA’s OpenRoaming is now in release 3 and was launched in May 2020. It’s aimed at allowing businesses, device OEMs, service providers, and others to offer business users and consumers friction-free access to Wi-Fi. It was developed as a global solution based on a common set of standards to bridge gaps between cellular and Wi-Fi.

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