Redmi Note 11S vs 11 Pro 5G: A side-by-side review

While knowledge exhibits that Apple captured seven of the top ten spots for world smartphone gross sales in 2021, Xiaomi’s Redmi model secured two of the three remaining spots. For the previous few weeks, we had the prospect to check out two of the brand new Redmi Note 11 Series telephones, the

Redmi Note 11S

and

11 Pro 5G

.

These two telephones are priced slightly below $400 however have compelling design parts and stable specs. For these on the lookout for a extra reasonably priced telephone, one among these two could also be a very good match. There are a ton of similarities between the 2 telephones, with a few minor characteristic variations that will sway you to at least one over the opposite. The telephones are priced about $85 aside, however the decrease value Note 11S would be the higher purchase for US clients.

Despite the phrase Note within the identify of those two telephones, neither assist a stylus. The Redmi model is the extra reasonably priced collection within the Xiaomi lineup, and there are a number of specs that make them price range telephones. One of the perfect locations to seek out Redmi telephones is within the

Amazon Xiaomi store

.

Hardware

I used to be despatched each telephones within the Graphite Gray colour, and when they’re face down on a floor, I’ve to search for the 5G branding to determine the distinction. The

Note 11 Pro 5G

is bigger and has a flat again panel, whereas the Note 11S has curves across the edges that transition into the perimeters of the telephone. One different distinction on the again is that the

Note 11S

has 4 digital camera openings, whereas one of many openings on the Note 11 Pro has the phrases AI over the opening as an alternative. The 108MP essential digital camera is a big module on the prime, with the opposite supporting digital camera lenses showing under this digital camera on the again left facet.

Both telephones have a frosted again look that seems skilled and supplies a stable grip. The again of the Note 11 Pro is glass, and the Note 11S is plastic, however not a budget shiny materials you may see on different plastic telephones.

The edges of the telephones are sq. with rounded corners. The USB-C port, mic opening, and backside speaker is on the underside edge. There is a speaker, mic opening, IR blaster, and three.5mm audio port on the highest of the telephones.

There is nothing on the left with the quantity and energy/fingerprint sensor on the precise. Both telephones have a fingerprint sensor constructed into the facility button, which is my favourite safety setup for smartphones, and activating it’s dependable and fast.

The AMOLED shows are pretty, with good brightness ranges, stable decision, and excessive refresh charges. Higher refresh charges in price range telephones aren’t that widespread, and we see 120Hz within the Note 11 Pro and 90Hz within the Note 11S, so each supply a terrific viewing expertise.

Minimal bezels are discovered throughout the show, with a really tiny gap punch digital camera centered on the prime of the show. Similar to the

Galaxy S22 Ultra

, the entrance digital camera is below the glass panel however not below the viewable show.

Overall, there’s nothing notably exceptional in regards to the {hardware}, however neither telephone seems like a price range telephone within the hand. The deeper flat edges, barely denser really feel, and glass again of the Note 11 Pro means that is the one I might choose if I had to choose on the texture of the telephone in my hand.

Also:Best low cost telephone 2022: Flagship options for below $450

Each telephone has a big capability 5,000 mAh battery, so you may simply get via a full day of use. The Note 11 Pro 5G helps 67W turbocharging, whereas the Note 11S helps 33W quick charging. Xiaomi states that the 67W charger can cost up the Note 11 Pro 5G to 50% in quarter-hour and to 100% in 42 minutes.

The Samsung 108MP digital camera is the principle shooter on this telephone with 9-in-1 binning assist. An 8MP ultra-wide digital camera with a 118-degree field-of-view can also be discovered on each telephones. A 2MP macro digital camera wraps up the triple cameras on the Note 11 Pro, whereas the Note 11S additionally provides in a 2MP depth digital camera for improved portrait photographs. The digital camera efficiency was stable, particularly for price range telephones, however there is no such thing as a telephoto digital camera, and the cameras are challenged in low mild situations.

Both telephones assist widespread LTE networks, and I skilled stable mobile reception with my T-Mobile SIM card. The Note 11 Pro 5G helps 5G on many alternative bands, however with my T-Mobile SIM, solely band n41 (previous Sprint 2.5 GHz community) is supported, so 5G assist is proscribed within the US.

The IR blaster, 3.5mm audio port, and microSD card assist are relics of the previous on flagship smartphones, so if these options are vital to you, then you might need to think about a Redmi Note 11S or 11 Pro 5G.

Specifications

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (Note 11 Pro) or MediaTek Helio G96 (Note 11S)
• Display (Note 11 Pro): 6.67-inch, 2400 x 1080 pixels decision, AMOLED with 120Hz refresh fee
• Display (Note 11S): 6.43-inch, 2400 x 1080 pixels decision, AMOLED with 90Hz refresh fee
• Operating system: Android 11 with MIUI 13
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB with microSD card
• Cameras: 108MP rear f/1.9 wide-angle digital camera, 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide digital camera (118 levels field-of-view), 2MP macro, and 2MP depth (Note 11S solely). 16MP f/2.4 front-facing digital camera.
• Connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS/Galileo/GLONASS/Beidou, NFC
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, IR blaster
• Water resistance: IP53 splashproof safety
• Battery: 5000 mAh non-removable with quick charging.
• Dimensions (Note 11 Pro): 164.19 x 76.1 x 8.12mm and 202 grams
• Dimensions (Note 11S): 159.87 x 73.87 x 8.09mm and 179 grams
• Colors (Note 11 Pro): Polar White, Graphite Gray, Atlantic Blue
• Colors (Note 11 Pro): Pearl White, Graphite Gray, Twilight Blue

The show dimension and backbone, 2MP depth digital camera, 5G community assist, and glass again panel of the Note 11 Pro are the first variations between these two reasonably priced telephones. The Note 11 Pro has a flatter really feel to it than the 11S, however with the restricted 5G assist, the 11S would be the higher possibility that additionally features a value financial savings.

Software

One space the place it’s apparent these aren’t flagship telephones is the software program. Both telephones launch with MIUI 13 constructed on Android 11 despite the fact that Android 12 has been out for a lot of months. Both have been up to date to the February Android safety replace throughout our review interval, so that’s encouraging. Hopefully, Android 12 comes to those telephones within the subsequent couple of months, however we do not have excessive expectations for price range telephones getting dependable and long run software program assist.

MIUI 13 presents a principally inventory Android expertise with main variations noticed within the notification shade and extra settings. Special options out there in MIUI 13 embrace a sidebar, floating home windows, second area, and lite mode. There are further gesture shortcuts, fast ball, and different settings are additionally out there that can assist you create a personalised expertise with the telephone.

A few useful utilities are offered on the telephones, together with an FM radio app and the Mi Remote management app so you should utilize the IR blaster and three.5mm audio port. There are additionally fairly a number of further apps put in out of the field, together with WPS Office, PUBG Mobile, LinkedIn, Amazon Shipping, and extra. However, these may also be deleted as a way to optimize the telephone for the best way you roll.

Also:Best Android telephones: Top knowledgeable picks

Along with the 108MP digital camera {hardware} and different cameras, the Redmi Note 10 Pro contains superior digital camera software program with a plethora of capturing modes. These embrace 108MP with pixel-binning, video, photograph, portrait, clone, lengthy publicity (transferring crowd, neon trails, oil portray, mild portray, starry sky, star trails), night time, panorama, paperwork, vlog, gradual movement, time-lapse, twin video, quick video, and professional/handbook. With stable digital camera {hardware} and this software program, your skill to get artistic and spend plenty of time capturing with this telephone is available. The 5,020 mAh battery helps guarantee you may go all day capturing too.

Daily utilization experiences

I’m blessed to have the ability to take a look at out and write a couple of plethora of cellphones right here on ZDNet, so I have a tendency to buy the high-end flagship telephones for my private use. However, if I weren’t testing out so many telephones, I might severely think about one among these telephones priced below $400 since they supply a stable piece of {hardware}, responsive efficiency, pretty facet fingerprint sensor within the energy button, entry to all of the apps I would like, an satisfying media expertise, legacy options (IR blaster, microSD card, and three.5mm audio port), and battery life to final all day.

The Redmi Note 10 Pro

was examined final 12 months, and a 12 months later, the {hardware} hasn’t modified a lot within the 11 Pro. 5G is an apparent addition, however within the US, that has a restricted influence on mobile connectivity. Unfortunately, the Note 11 Pro remains to be presently being powered by Android 11, the identical because the Note 10 Pro in early 2021, so Xiaomi must step up the firmware recreation.

The Note 11S presents fairly a bit for its

$300 price

, and so long as you are not working 20 apps without delay or taking part in high-powered graphical video games, then you ought to be simply tremendous with the processor and efficiency of the telephone. It has nice seems, stable construct high quality and appears to be a way more succesful telephone than we used to purchase at simply $300.

Since we spend a lot time interacting with the show on our telephones, the excessive refresh fee in each of those telephones units them other than different telephones on this worth vary. The AMOLED show, first rate audio system, and headphone port make these stable telephones for media. As lengthy as you aren’t trying to seize skilled photographs in your telephone, then the Redmi Note 11 Pro or 11S are among the finest reasonably priced telephones we have now examined in 2022.