The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage offer has now expired. You can now get it from Saturn for €269.
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- 108MP camera
- 67W charging
- 5,000mAh battery
In addition to the Redmi Note 11 Pro, there is now also a Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G in this generation. In the last generation there was a 5G version of the regular Redmi Note. Now the 5G version is also described as a 108 MP powerhouse. Is the difference only in the 5G compatibility or is the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G really the best that Redmi currently has to offer?
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G Review, Specs, Photos & Price
- Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (6/64GB)
- Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (6/128GB)
- Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (8/128GB)
- Specifications of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
screen | 6.67″ AMOLED (2400 x 1080p), 120 Hz, Gorilla Glass 5 |
processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 @2.2GHz |
graphics chip | Adreno 619 GPU |
random access memory | 6/8GB LPDDR4X |
Internal memory | 64/128 GB UFS 2.2 (expandable) |
main camera | 108 MP Samsung with ƒ/1.9 aperture 8 MP ultra wide angle camera (118°) 2 MP macro camera |
front camera | 16 MP with ƒ/2.4 aperture |
battery pack | 5,000mAh, 67W charging |
connectivity | 5G, LTE Band 20, Bluetooth, IR, USB-C, 3.5 mm jack, GPS, NFC |
features | Fingerprint sensor side, IP53 rating |
operating system | MIUI 13 based on Android 11 |
dimensions / weight | 164.19 x 76.1 x 8.12mm/ 202g |
Price | 6/64GB: $329 (€291) 6/128GB: $349 (€309) 8/128GB: $379 (€336) |
The Pro version is also edgy
In what is now the eleventh (!) generation of the popular Redmi Note series, the smartphones in the series show themselves from a new perspective. With an angular design, you look in the direction of Apple, but of course they don’t have a patent on this design.
It looks good on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G and once again emphasizes the pro character. It is noticeable that the two Pro models are even more angular, since the back and the black frame for the display panel are less curved. But this difference is very subtle. It is also very reminiscent of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G.
On the back you get a black and white colorway like the 4G version, the Atlantic Blue colorway in dark blue is new. With the right light irradiation, this should imitate the movements of the ocean, we find a similar light effect, only with lasers, on the POCO X4 Pro 5G. Also new is the 5G symbol next to the Redmi logo. The 202g heavy smartphone is 8.12mm thick and offers an IP53 rating, which is enough for protection against splash water.
The camera module on the back consists of two levels. The actual plateau houses two camera sensors, not four as it first appears. Apparently, Xiaomi dares to use the same camera module as the POCO M4 Pro 5G and simply labels the “fourth” lens with AI – I think that borders on deception.
Above that is the 108 MP main camera, which protrudes a total of 3 mm from the case. So you don’t pass the wobble test. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G has a good feel and does not actually make any mistakes in the processing.
120 Hz AMOLED display is still THE argument
The front measures 6.67″ diagonally, while Xiaomi or Redmi value an AMOLED display with FullHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. This results in 394 ppi sharpness, an average value. On the other hand, the 120 Hz refresh rate in combination with a 360 Hz touch sampling rate is not average, but it is also available in the 4G version and in the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The brightness is also very high here at up to 1200 nits, but this only works in extreme situations, 700 nits is the everyday maximum here. The panel is protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
If you compare the cell phone with the two-year-old Redmi Note 9 Pro, the brightness and the refresh rate are particularly noticeable. The Note 11 Pro 5G display is still easy to read in direct sunlight. Thanks to the 120 Hz, animations such as swiping appear very fluid, since the display updates twice as often as a 60 Hz display.
Since this is such a huge advantage, it’s still incomprehensible why Xiaomi doesn’t preset this option or at least integrate it as part of the setup process. One can also criticize that the viewing angle stability is not optimal, but in general I am surprised what good OLED displays Xiaomi uses in the middle class.
Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G with Qualcomm chip
Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11S rely on the same MediaTek Helio G96 chip, the Redmi Note 11 Pro does not. 5G is needed, so the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 sits on the board. Like the 680 from the Redmi Note 11, this was manufactured using the 6 nm process, so good efficiency is ensured.
Thanks to a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz and the Adreno 619, (graphic) power is also on board. Together with up to 8 GB LPDDR4X RAM and, depending on the version, 64 or 128 GB UFS 2.2 mass storage, which can be expanded, you get the best performance in the Redmi Note 11 lineup.
And yet it reads strange that the predecessor gets a chip from the Snapdragon 7xx series, the successor one from the theoretically weaker 6xx series, but the top model from this series. Unfortunately, I am a bit disappointed with the performance of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.
It’s not bad, and it’s not worse than its predecessor, but it’s not better either. In the direct speed test comparison with the predecessor and predecessor, there are hardly any differences when opening and closing apps. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is even slower in image processing of a 108 MP photo.
- You may interested: Xiaomi Redmi A1
Even within the series, there are no significant differences to the cheap Redmi Note 11, but this is more due to the fact that the animations are deactivated. But even the Redmi Note 11S with the MediaTek Helio G96 is not that far behind, but a bit. You can also see that in the benchmarks.
In the Geekbench 5 benchmark, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G achieves an expected, similar result to the POCO X4 Pro 5G with the same chip. In the single-core there is a small advantage over the Note 11S, just like over the Redmi Note 10 Pro. But that hardly translates into everyday experience. Nevertheless: With Xiaomi itself you get the significantly better chip with the Mi 11 Lite 5G NE, just like in the realme GT Master.
How long does the battery of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G last?
The battery is also just as big with a capacity of 5,000 mAh as with the Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G and can also be charged with 67W. So you can fully charge the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G in about 45 minutes – not bad! The charger required for this is part of the scope of delivery, but wireless charging is not possible.
The biggest advantage of the new Snapdragon chips is not so much performance, but rather efficiency. This credo can also be found in the top chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Performance has hardly increased, thanks to the 6 nm manufacturing process, the chip runs a little more energy-efficiently than the 8 nm chip from the previous year.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G / Accordingly, the battery life is simply a bit better, but cannot quite keep up with the top value of the Redmi Note 11 due to the larger 120 Hz display. A day and a half of use should actually be possible throughout, unless you gamble for a long time or initiate a longer photo session. The camera app consumes a relatively large amount of energy.
Xiaomi FINALLY understands this sensor
The slogan “108 MP Powerhouse” refers to the camera. With the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, three of the four Redmi Note 11 smartphones have the 108 MP Samsung HM2 sensor with ƒ/1.9 aperture and 9-in-1 pixel binning. Interestingly, the 2 MP portrait camera is omitted here, which in reality is more of a gimmick than an added value.
Instead, there is the same 2 MP macro camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture and the same 8 MP ultra wide-angle camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 118° shooting angle as in the other devices. Surprise: on the front there is the same 16 megapixel selfie camera as in the 4G version.
Actually, we really liked the camera of the Redmi Note 10 Pro, due to apparently better software optimization and slightly better image processing, an increase in image quality can be seen between the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. The exposure is significantly brighter, so the photos are not as rich in contrast.
Skin tones are still a construction site for Xiaomi, but are more natural. However, I like other colors and the sharpness is noticeably better now, which can be seen clearly in the example of the shoe despite the manual focus.
The focus is a small problem with the Note 11 Pro 5G, in some situations it is a bit stubborn. The dynamic range is also an issue, with backlighting the colors change slightly.
Ultra Wide Angle & Macro & Selfie Camera
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G – On the other hand, there is no change at all on the ultra wide-angle front. The 8 megapixel sensor is in more cell phones than pocket dust. You have to give up significantly more details, which is immediately evident in the dark areas of the image. Then it rustles visibly. On the other hand, the color matching between the two sensors is surprisingly good, so you can’t tell that they are different cameras. You can tell by the sharpness.
Maybe I’m a bit ruined for other “macro cameras” since the realme GT 2 Pro ‘s microscope camera, but the 2 megapixel sensor for macro photos is just as superfluous as the 2 MP portrait camera, which has been eliminated here.
The minimum should be the 5G telephoto camera, which was even in the predecessor. So there is a downgrade here, albeit a small one. Unfortunately, the macro photos are hardly usable, you can’t get close enough to alienate something and then you still get too few details.
Front Camera
The 16 megapixel shooter on the front is fun and provides enough detail for self-portraits. Portrait is a good keyword here, you can also use the effect with the front camera. But what always fascinates me is that Xiaomi manages to create much more natural colors for the face here, so the selfies are also really impressive due to the sharpness.
5G is needed
5G – that’s the headline of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, hence the name. Thanks to the new processor and the frequency bands n1, n28, n77 and N78, you can even receive 5G mobile communications with your cell phone in Germany.
If you don’t have a 5G contract, you can of course rely on all important LTE frequency bands including band 20. 802.11 Dual Band ac-WiFi provides local Internet, Bluetooth 5.1 provides for connecting headphones. Thanks to NFC, you can also make contactless payments via Google Pay.
In terms of physical connections, you get a 3-in-1 SIM slot that offers space for two nano SIM cards or one nano SIM and one microSD card. There is also a USB-C 2.0 port on the bottom, a 3.5 mm jack on the top, and an infrared blaster. It’s super handy if you’ve misplaced your remote control.
The power button on the side also functions as a fingerprint sensor, even though it would theoretically fit under the display thanks to the AMOLED display. However, it works faster than most optical sensors and reacts reliably.
Xiaomi has already integrated the stereo speaker across the board with the last generation, and the two speakers should not be missing from the Xiaomi Note 11 Pro 5G either. One sits below as usual, the second in the top, not in the ear cup. This has the advantage that there is more room for sound, and the sound is generally powerful.
MIUI operating system: is Xiaomi slacking off?
Like the cheaper models, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G comes without Android 12, but with the new MIUI 13 based on Android 11. We cannot fully understand why this is the case. But the first update came during the test period and the security patch was already updated to January. The OS is completely in German and comes with all relevant Google services, Widevine Level 1 and a certified Play Store.
Those who know MIUI will not be surprised by the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. So I don’t find the jump to MIUI 13 to be the biggest in history, which makes it easy to think that you have one of the older models in your hands. Nevertheless, this offers some new features, including the smart sidebar, which we already know from realme smartphones.
The other innovations are not so obvious, such as the smarter memory control. This works more in the background. However, what is still quite obvious are some bugs such as the “Always-On Display” bug . This can only be set for ten seconds and not “Always On”.
Unfortunately, the bloatware is also very obvious. In order to keep the “cheap” prices of the smartphones, Xiaomi is getting involved more and more with bloatware, i.e. third-party software. This includes some apps that you might use anyway, like Facebook or TikTok, but also games like PUBG or Lords Mobile. Fortunately, you can install them quickly, but they leave a bad aftertaste.
How expensive is the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G?
So far, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G has only been officially launched for Europe, not yet for Germany. The prices mentioned were all in dollars, it is possible that any German prices will differ slightly later. The basic version of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G with 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage costs $329, the equivalent of around €291. The middle variant then already costs $349 or €309 for its 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, and the largest version (8/128 GB) costs a whopping $379 or €336.
However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is already listed for pre-order at Saturn, where it is listed for €369.90 with 8/128 GB of storage.
Conclusion: Buy Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G?
The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the most powerful of the four Redmi Note 11 devices due to 120Hz AMOLED, 67W charging, the Snapdragon 695 processor and 5G. Nevertheless, it is very close to the Redmi Note 11 Pro, which in turn is not that different from the Redmi Note 11S.
You have to keep looking for the differences with a magnifying glass, there are at least a few significant differences between the 11 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. We have already clarified elsewhere why Xiaomi builds so many smartphones. But the differences are not only small in this series, compared to the predecessor, the Redmi Note 10 Pro, only the different processor and the 67W charging are actually significant.
Xiaomi apparently charges €70 more for this than the direct predecessor. This is also more expensive than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (NE), which is available for around €300. And then you have to make the comparison to the POCO X4 Pro, which looks different but otherwise only offers a different camera sensor. It also comes with a smaller price tag.
If you can’t keep up: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is a good smartphone with many arguments in favor of the phone. In Xiaomi’s own price structure, however, the RRP is too expensive for Germany. But I’m sure that will change pretty quickly, for less than 300€ this is a good all-round device. Just like the previous one.
Which is your favorite of the Redmi Note 11 smartphones? Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G Review ..