Skip to main content

The OnePlus 11 Concept steals the Nothing Phone’s best trick

OnePlus has teased a new special concept phone based on the OnePlus 11. The Oppo subbrand highlighted a slew of LEDs around the back of the phone as a standout feature. The LEDs were reminiscent of the approach used by Nothing, another phone brand built by former OnePlus CEO Pete Lau.

The company sent out a teaser of its concept phone showing off what appeared to be LED lightning around the back in a very striking image. “The images show the engineering breakthroughs of the OnePlus 11 Concept by highlighting the icy blue pipelines which run through the entire back of the phone, almost like OnePlus 11 Concept has its own series of blood vessels. OnePlus 11 Concept’s pipelines are housed inside a bold and futuristic unibody glass design inspired by the calm stillness and vast power of a glacial lake,” OnePlus said, as reported by The Verge.

OnePlus shows off a OnePlus 11 with rear LED lighting.
OnePlus

This concept strongly recalls the LEDs of the Nothing Phone 1, which debuted last year as a phone that drew attention primarily for its flashing LED rear and Glyph interface. It was a feature that’s more useful in theory than in practice, and the Nothing Phone 1’s strengths lay in everything else.

That said, there is a market for flashing, glaring features on tech. Anyone who has tried to purchase gaming PC accessories would tell you that. When it comes to phones, it’s not necessarily the biggest addressable market, but that’s why it’s a concept phone, after all.

Back of the OnePlus 11 Concept phone.
OnePlus

Meanwhile, as far as real phones go, OnePlus has recently launched the OnePlus 11, a phone that arrived to rave critical reviews. Digital Trends reviewed it (twice), and found the phone to be an excellent one that outcompetes the Pixel 7 and rivals the Galaxy S23 Plus. It’s even now competitive with the cameras of the best phones, something OnePlus struggled with in the past.

Editors' Recommendations

Michael Allison
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
Is this our first look at the OnePlus 12?
Leaked OnePlus 12 render

The next flagship from OnePlus might not serve much of an aesthetic surprise, but it just might win over mobile photography enthusiasts. SmartPrix (in collaboration with @OnLeaks) has shared purported renders of the upcoming OnePlus 12 "based on real-life pictures of a testing unit prototype."

Now, before we dig further into the juicy details, here's the standard disclaimer. The leak comes from a reputed source, but the renders depict a testing stage device, of which there could be multiple iterations. That means the final device hitting the shelves could look slightly – or much – different.

Read more
This is the most jaw-dropping Android phone I’ve seen in years
Angled view of OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey Edition.

“I’ll buy this one just for the looks,” remarked the barista at my favorite coffee shop as he saw me photographing the OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey Edition. I’d do that, too. Who wouldn’t buy an extremely well-rounded Android phone that’s got a marble-like back with gold accents but still comes cheaper than your bland-looking iPhone or Samsung Galaxy?

In the past few years, OnePlus has drawn flak for losing its edge, losing grip with the famed “flagship killer” mantra that won its legions of fans. Passionate fans, I’d say. The OnePlus 11, starting at $700, brought the brand back on track. In my own experience, I haven’t used a phone as fulfilling as the OnePlus 11 over the past year. Of course, a palatable price makes it immediately likable, too.

Read more
Is this our first look at the OnePlus Fold? I sure hope so
Purported front and rear view of the OnePlus V Fold

OnePlus recently gave a teasing glimpse of its first foldable phone. Well, that glimpse was actually turned into a high-resolution view of the upcoming device, thanks to leaker @OnLeaks (via SmartPrix). The leaked renders of the upcoming OnePlus Fold show a device that is unmistakably OnePlus, with some standout design touches and a promising camera perk.

But a word of caution before you start digging into your wallet. The leaked renders are reportedly based on “a prototype unit in the testing stage,” which means the final version hitting the shelves later this year might look a tad -- or maybe entirely -- different.

Read more