Smartphone Comparison: Realme 8 vs. OnePlus 11
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Realme 8 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | 163.1 × 74.1 × 8.5 mm | OnePlus 11 is slightly larger and thicker; Realme 8 is more compact, potentially better for one-handed use; OnePlus 11 has larger screen real estate. |
| Weight | 177g | 205g | Realme 8 is lighter and more comfortable for prolonged use; OnePlus 11 will feel heavier in hand and pocket. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.7" | OnePlus 11 offers a slightly larger screen for more immersive viewing; Realme 8 is more compact for single-hand use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3216 | OnePlus 11 has significantly sharper visuals and higher detail; Realme 8 is adequate for most users, but less sharp. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 411 | 525 | OnePlus 11 provides noticeably crisper text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; No major difference here. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | OnePlus 11 provides much smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming; Realme 8 may feel less fluid in comparison. |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 1300 nits | OnePlus 11 is easier to view outdoors under bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) | OnePlus 11 is significantly faster; app loading, multitasking, and gaming are far superior. |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 1,389,474 | OnePlus 11 is significantly more powerful, capable of handling intensive tasks and future software updates. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 740 | OnePlus 11 offers significantly better graphics for gaming and graphic-intensive applications; Realme 8 lags in demanding graphics situations. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2" | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56" | OnePlus 11's larger sensor captures more light and detail, resulting in higher quality images despite lower megapixel count; Realme 8 has high resolution, but smaller sensor size may limit low-light performance |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.13" | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.1" | OnePlus 11 has slightly wider aperture and larger sensor, resulting in better selfie quality in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74" | OnePlus 11 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots; Realme 8 lacks optical zoom, relying on digital zoom, resulting in quality loss. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.25 | None | Realme 8 has an ultrawide lens for landscape shots, while OnePlus 11 does not have a standalone ultrawide lens. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Realme 8 has a macro lens for closeup shots, while OnePlus 11 does not have a dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 48MP, f/2.2, 1/2" | OnePlus 11 combines wide angle and macro into one lens, resulting in higher quality and better flexibility |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Realme 8 has dedicated black and white lens, which the OnePlus 11 lacks |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@60fps (EIS) | 8K@24fps (HDR, EIS), 4K@60fps (HDR,EIS) | OnePlus 11 offers higher-resolution video recording with more features; OnePlus 11 video will look more professional. |
| DxoMark Score | NA | Main 127, Photo 134, Video 121 | OnePlus 11 has been tested, showing good performance for photos and videos; Realme 8 has no data. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer comparable battery life on paper; Real-world endurance will depend on usage patterns. |
| Charging | 30W fast charging | 100W fast charging | OnePlus 11 charges significantly faster; spending less time tethered to the charger. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 (upgradeable to 14) | OnePlus 11 has a newer version of Android and will receive future software updates; Realme 8 will likely receive fewer updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 7 | OnePlus 11 supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, offering faster and more reliable wireless connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.3 | OnePlus 11 has a newer version with improved efficiency and stability and added audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | OnePlus 11 is more reliable in difficult locations, with better accuracy; Both are suitable for everyday navigation |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | OnePlus 11 offers eSIM support for better flexibility while travelling. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB | OnePlus 11 has much higher storage options; better for users with large media libraries. |
| RAM | 4 GB, 6 GB, or 8 GB | 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB | OnePlus 11 offers significantly more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for external storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | OnePlus 11 offers a more immersive audio experience through stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Both phones offer standard fingerprint security; no difference between the two. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | OnePlus 11 offers better screen protection, leading to greater durability and scratch resistance. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | OnePlus 11 and Realme 8 have similar sensors for motion detection; OnePlus 11 has additional support for Compass, providing better orientation. |
| ## 2. Key Differences Analysis |
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Lighter and more compact: Easier to handle and carry, better for single-hand usage.
- Slightly wider main camera aperture: May offer better low-light shots in some scenarios, but is negated by the smaller sensor size.
- Standalone ultrawide and macro lenses: Offers more flexibility for different types of photography, though these are lower resolution.
- Lower price point: Provides basic smartphone functionality at a more affordable price.
OnePlus 11 Advantages:
- Significantly faster performance: Offers a much more fluid and responsive experience due to the superior chipset.
- Higher resolution and refresh rate display: Provides a much sharper and smoother visual experience.
- Brighter display: Easier to see in direct sunlight.
- Superior camera quality: Larger sensor, better processing, and dedicated telephoto lens yield much better results overall.
- Faster charging: Much quicker recharge times, minimizing downtime.
- Newer software with more support: Longer-term software updates.
- Better connectivity: Supports the latest WiFi standards and Bluetooth codecs.
- Larger storage options: Can store more files and apps.
- Significantly more RAM: Better for multitasking and intensive applications.
- Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers: Enhanced audio for media consumption and immersive experience.
- Better build quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for superior screen protection.
- eSIM Support: Can use two numbers without having to switch sims manually.
Trade-offs:
- Realme 8: Trades performance, display quality, camera performance, and future-proofing for a lower price point and lighter build.
- OnePlus 11: Is more expensive, heavier, and lacks dedicated wide-angle and macro cameras, though it does offer wide-angle and macro support through a single dedicated sensor.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Realme 8 Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users who need a reliable phone for basic tasks.
- Users who prioritize a lightweight and compact device.
- Users who value having a dedicated macro and wide-angle camera lenses.
- Users who do not do heavy gaming, video editing, or intensive multitasking.
Use Cases:
- Everyday browsing, social media, and communication.
- Casual photography in good lighting conditions.
- Media consumption.
OnePlus 11 Ideal Users:
- Users who demand top-tier performance and speed.
- Users who want the best display quality and smoothness.
- Users who need a capable camera for diverse scenarios.
- Users who value long-term software support.
- Users who want the best possible mobile gaming experience.
- Users who want more modern connectivity features like wifi 7
- Users who want the convenience of eSIM support.
Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming and intensive applications.
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Multitasking and productivity.
- Long-term software support.
- Media consumption with immersive audio
- Travel, allowing for more flexible number switching without physical SIM swapping.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Performance: How important is speed and responsiveness for your use case?
- Camera: How important is high-quality photography for you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If budget is the primary concern and you only need basic functionality: Choose the Realme 8.
- If you prioritize a high-end experience and performance is important: Choose the OnePlus 11.
- If you want an all-arounder, with top performance but can sacrifice a dedicated ultrawide and macro lens: Choose the OnePlus 11.
- If you are looking for a phone with specific camera needs like ultrawide and macro at the expense of overall camera quality: Choose the Realme 8.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the OnePlus 11.
Here's Why:
While I appreciate the Realme 8's lightweight design and lower price point, the performance and overall experience of the OnePlus 11 are simply on a different level. The significant improvements in display quality, processing power, camera performance (especially with the telephoto lens), charging speed, and software support make it a much more worthwhile investment.
As someone who uses a smartphone for both productivity and entertainment, the faster performance, smoother display, and more versatile camera system are essential for my daily use. Although the Realme 8 has standalone macro and wide-angle lenses, these are lower quality than the single ultrawide + macro lens on the OnePlus 11, and it is the overall camera quality that matters the most. The faster charging means less downtime, and the upgraded connectivity features ensure I'm future-proofed for new networks, making it the better long-term option. I also like the eSIM support, as it's useful for travel.
Ultimately, the OnePlus 11's advantages outweigh its higher price for me, providing an experience that justifies the cost.
