While MWC 2023 is home to all manner of new smartphone launches, OnePlus took the opportunity to reveal something that's not quite ready just yet. The brand debuted the OnePlus 11 Concept–a concept smartphone that features a new type of active cooling system, that just happens to be illuminated.Here, we take a look at OnePlus' new concept smartphone, and look at why the brand has chosen to work on this device.
OnePlus 11 Concept Smartphone Revealed at MWC 2023
OnePlus has officially revealed its OnePlus 11 Concept smartphone at MWC 2023. Right off the bat, the fact that this is a concept device means there's a high chance it'll never actually hit the market. That is to say, the device is something OnePlus is working on, rather than planning to send to the shelves any time soon.
On the whole, this new concept smartphone is pretty similar to 2023's OnePlus 11. It mirrors most of the features of OnePlus' latest flagship smartphone, including the main specs. This means the smartphone packs a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP triple rear camera set-up, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and a 5,000mAh battery. But that's where the similarity ends between the devices, as the OnePlus 11 Concept ramps things up a notch (or two).
You'll find a completely redesigned back on the concept smartphone. Gone is the regular glass back panel from the regular OnePlus 11, and instead you'll find one that lights up. Illuminated blue streams weave their way across the black back panel of the OnePlus 11 Concept. And these lights aren't just pretty to look at, they're actually part of a new cooling system for the smartphone.
Dubbed Active CryoFlux, this new active cooling method pumps blue cooling liquid around the rear of the device (hence the illuminated blue). Inside the smartphone, you'll find a small pump that pumps the cooling liquid around the OnePlus 11 Concept to reach all areas of the device. The pump is so small that OnePlus reckons it won't significantly impact the weight or size of the phone.
What Benefits Does the OnePlus 11 Concept Offer?
But what's the point of this new cooling system on the back of the OnePlus 11 Concept? The brand reckons that Active CryoFlux can actually cool down the smartphone by up to 2.1 degrees. Keeping your smartphone cool is important for performance, but especially when it comes to gaming.
OnePlus reckons that these extra degrees of cooling, will achieve somewhere between three and four fps improved graphics performance. This might not sound like a huge increase in performance, but these extra frames can keep motion smooth while the smartphone gets put through its paces. What's more exciting is how this cooling system could improve performance on dedicated gaming phones in the future, considering this is currently a concept.
On top of the real-world performance bump, there's no denying that the OnePlus 11 Concept is easy on the eyes. Thanks to the illuminated cooling liquid, the smartphone's rear panel is certainly a unique design choice. And in a market where most smartphones look rather similar, it's certainly a welcome change.
Lights Are Making Their Way to More Smartphones at MWC 2023
You can't help but draw similarities between the OnePlus 11 Concept, and 2022's Nothing Phone 1. Both feature illuminated rear panels, albeit for two completely different reasons. It begs the question of whether this is the next "thing" for smartphone manufacturers to include on devices.
There are plenty of other mobile announcements from MWC 2023, lights or no lights, that are sure to have smartphone fans itching to get their hands on the latest gear.