When Is a Budget Phone Pro?

Xiaomi has up to date its reasonably priced Redmi Note vary with the brand new Note 11 and Note 11 Pro 5G. The former is making its approach to the United Kingdom, whilst the latter will in finding its house in different territories.

So, what makes one thing a Pro instrument within the price range a part of the marketplace? Here’s the overall Tech Advisor assessment. 

Design & construct

• Square-edged design
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• IP53 ranking

It’s been a whilst since I’ve noticed a phone within the reasonably priced bracket that had a really fulfilling design. Most are completely serviceable permutations at the slab of glass and plastic that we all know so neatly, however this time round Xiaomi has inspired with a cultured that defies the instrument’s price-tag. 

Gone are the glossy surfaces, curved edges and jumbled digital camera bump of the Redmi Note 10 Pro, changed as a substitute with a extra delicate method. 

The squared off edges and chassis encompass give the Note 11 Pro 5G a an identical glance to the present iPhone 13 vary, whilst the straightforward plastic again and extra organised digital camera array stay the minimalist design intact. 

The entrance is house to a 6.67in AMOLED panel, with a central punch-hole opening for the selfie digital camera that still lets in the face release characteristic. On the precise aspect you’ll in finding the amount and tool buttons, of which the latter contains a fingerprint sensor. Throughout my time with the Note 11 Pro 5G I discovered the sensor used to be very dependable but when, like me, you’re left-handed then it will possibly take a whilst to retrain your instincts and achieve for the phone along with your non-dominant hand.   

Twin audio system occupy areas at the most sensible and backside edges of the 11 Pro 5G, joined by means of a 3.5mm headphone socket and IR blaster at the most sensible edge. Charging is by the use of the USB-C slot at the decrease edge the place you’ll additionally in finding the hybrid SIM/microSD card slot that permits the garage to be expanded by means of as much as 1TB whilst the usage of a unmarried SIM card, or you’ll be able to depend at the inbuilt garage if you wish to use two SIMs. 

The 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1mm dimensions, paired with the squared edges, make the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G a relaxed instrument to carry. Ok, the 202g weight does make it a little heavy, nevertheless it’s a balanced handset so that you don’t realize all of it that a lot. 

Xiaomi someway additionally contains an IP53 mud and splash coverage ranking, which is spectacular at this payment. There’s additionally a silicon case for extra grip and coverage, however actually it does cheapen the glance of this good-looking phone. 

Display

• 6.67in AMOLED panel
• 120Hz refresh charge
• Full HD+ answer

To praise the sublime styling, Xiaomi bestows a 6.67in Full HD+ AMOLED show at the Note 11 Pro 5G. The 2400×1080 answer and 20:9 side ratio imply that that is a tall phone, so it’s indubitably person who calls for two palms to perform with ease, however that’s just about the norm now. 

The panel could be very great, with numerous color and distinction, plus the solution to transfer the refresh charge as much as a most of 120Hz implies that players will benefit from the fluid scrolling and actions of graphically busy titles, particularly with the 360Hz contact sampling charge that’s incorporated. If you’re now not too afflicted by means of such issues, then you’ll be able to go away the default 60Hz surroundings on and acquire a bit extra battery lifestyles as a substitute. 

Brightness is fine, with the show achieving a most of simply over 400 nits in standard mode with auto-brightness disabled. The instrument does have a High Brightness mode that appears to be brought on mechanically by means of the device, and Xiaomi claims this most often reaches 700 nits and tops out at a lovely fierce 1200 nits. In any case, I didn’t stumble upon any issues the usage of the Note 11 Pro when I used to be out and about. 

Xiaomi additionally contains a to hand Reading Mode characteristic in its device, which you’ll be able to toggle off and on from the Settings menu. This cools the color temperature of the show, making it a little more uncomplicated at the eyes while you’re taking a look at lengthy articles or reading an guide. 

Specs & efficiency

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
• Up to 8GB RAM
• 128GB of garage (expandable by means of as much as 1TB)

Powering all of the options within the Note 11 Pro is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, which is a first rate decrease mid-range chip that’s extensively utilized at the (very in a similar way specced) Poco X4 Pro and Realme 9 Pro, and is predicted to seem within the OnePlus Nord N20. 

This is assisted on my assessment unit by means of 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 interior garage (which will also be additional greater by means of as much as 1TB by the use of a microSD card). Other configurations additionally to be had are 6GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB, with commensurate drops in payment. 

In common use the efficiency is pleasingly environment friendly. Apps open and run temporarily, navigating the menus and more than a few monitors is snappy, and I by no means in reality felt the lag that every so often seems in additional reasonably priced units. 

Playing graphically heavy video games like Asphalt 9 didn’t provide any issues or even after a thirty minute consultation the rear floor remained with ease cool to touch. To be fair, it’s arduous to search out a slow phone on this sector of the marketplace this present day, which is excellent news for people that don’t need to must shell out large dollars simply to make use of social media, message pals, pay attention to tune and flow the occasional video. If those sound like the type of issues you wish to have from a phone, then the Note 11 Pro 5G has were given you lined. 

Of route, it’s succesful of a few heavy lifting too, as you’ll be able to see from the consequences it returned in our same old battery of benchmark assessments: 

Cameras

• 108Mp f/1.9 primary digital camera
• 8Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
• 2Mp f/2.4 macro

A 3 digital camera array is well organized within the most sensible left nook of the rear panel, with the principle 108Mp f/1.9 shooter taking satisfaction of position. This is joined by means of an 8Mp f/2.2 ultrawide and 2Mp f/2.4 macro to provide a honest number of pictures choices for a instrument on this payment bracket. 

Results are one thing of a blended bag regardless that. There’s indubitably that you’ll be able to seize some in reality pretty photographs in this phone, with numerous element, color and distinction. Using the principle digital camera in shiny stipulations delivered very appropriate panorama pictures that didn’t blow out the highs and controlled to turn the sky and clouds in all their glory. Tap the 2x zoom choice and all at once there’s reasonably a lot of noise within the body, which makes it one thing you’d best use when there are not any different choices to be had. 

Low mild will also be high quality if in case you have a secure hand, however I did realize some bother specializing in the picture within the foreground now and then, which best changed into obvious on shut inspection of the overall symbol. There is a night time mode you’ll be able to use, nevertheless it does generally tend to overexpose slightly than produce balanced photographs. 

Macro is a an identical tale. When the digital camera specializes in the right kind space of the body you’ll be able to get some pretty photographs, equivalent to a shut up of a flower within the early morning sunshine. But, you’ll should be vigilant, because the digital camera doesn’t all the time make a selection the precise topic. 

Video photos tops out at 1080p/30fps, which is a step down from the 4K functions of its predecessor the Redmi Note 10 Pro. Footage is ok, however there doesn’t appear to be any specifically efficient stabilisation, as strolling across the lawn produced a delicate bump led to by means of each footstep. The 16Mp f/2.4 selfie digital camera returns good enough effects and will fit the entrance digital camera for video high quality, nevertheless it doesn’t in reality shine.  

You can get some superb footage and movies with this phone, however you’ll have to paintings for them. 

Battery lifestyles & charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 67W charger
• 50% price in quarter-hour

A 5000mAh battery occupies many of the Note 11 Pro’s innards, and does a high quality activity of supplying energy to the instrument. Throughout my time checking out it, I incessantly went to mattress with numerous price nonetheless left within the tank, even with heavy use. Switching to the 120Hz refresh charge clearly has a unfavourable impact to the longevity of the battery lifestyles, however even then it nonetheless made it to past due night time if I didn’t spend an excessive amount of time gaming. 

Xiaomi contains a 67W charger within the field (take that, Apple), which returns the unit to complete energy in round 45 mins, but when you wish to have a fast splash and sprint, then you’ll be able to get to 50% from simply over quarter-hour of charging.

Sadly there’s no wi-fi charging to be had, however that’s now not sudden taking into consideration the associated fee. 

Software

• MIUI 13
• Android 11
• Plenty of Customisation Features

Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 sits on most sensible of Android 11 within the Note 11 Pro. It’s a vibrant and cheery interface that for essentially the most phase is sweet to make use of. There are a collection of customisation choices that permit you to tailor the enjoy extra for your tastes, equivalent to a aspect bar (a los angeles Samsung), floating home windows and a mild mode that simplifies the whole thing and makes use of higher textual content and icons for many who may combat with a busy interface. 

There’s the now same old darkish mode, the aforementioned reading mode, in addition to more than a few changes you’ll be able to make to the color scheme, textual content measurement and the fast settings menu. 

I did stumble upon a few stumbles right here and there, with the fast settings menu particularly proving unwilling to let me swipe down and open up its prolonged choices on a large number of events.

There used to be additionally the truth that a few instances I discovered myself on a phone name talking to a buddy, best to have them say they couldn’t pay attention me. Checking the instrument I noticed that the display screen were on whilst I used to be preserving it to my face, and my cheek had touched the Mute icon, reducing off my microphone. This will have to have a proximity sensor telling the phone to forget about this type of happenstance, so I will best suppose the device wasn’t selecting up the command. 

Listening to podcasts and audiobooks used to be excellent because of the unusually first rate audio system, however a number of instances the playback stopped on its own. I puzzled if the phone used to be listening for a voice command and mistaking it from the audio that used to be enjoying, however regardless of the motive it used to be irritating. 

One primary downside is that, as discussed, the Note 11 Pro 5G ships with Android 11 – slightly than the more moderen Android 12, which is already to be had on different Xiaomi telephones. This is especially relating to as Redmi units most often best obtain two Android updates, that means this phone it will be up to date to Android 13 – due later this yr – however would possibly not obtain to any extent further device reinforce, as opposed to safety patches, past that.

Price & availability

The Redmi Note 11 Pro gained’t be freeing in Europe or the United States, however you’ll be able to purchase it from Xiaomi in India for ₹24,999 (roughly £250/$329/€299).

Europeans can go for the fewer robust Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, which begins from $179. Bear in thoughts that Xiaomi isn’t lately freeing telephones without delay in the United States, so for those who reside in that territory then you definately’ll want to import the instrument via every other seller. 

There are reasonably a few first rate possible choices to the Note 11 Pro regardless that, together with the bright Poco X4 Pro 5G which prices €299 (round £250/$340) and has a lot the similar specifications because the Redmi instrument. 

Check out our scores of the most efficient Xiaomi telephones and the most efficient price range telephones for extra reasonably priced choices.

Verdict

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is a cast mid-range performer that will get a lot of items proper.

Its design is more than likely the most efficient I’ve noticed on this payment bracket and the all spherical efficiency makes it simple to counsel. I did in finding the digital camera cast slightly than wonderful, and there have been a few system faults right here and there, however general it delivers just about the whole thing you wish to have from an affordable smartphone, together with 5G. 

Specs

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G: Specs

• 6.67in AMOLED HD+ show with 2400 x 1080 answer, 60 or 120Hz refresh charge, HDR10 and 20:9 side ratio
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor
• Up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM
  Up to 128GB of UFS 2.2 garage (expandable by means of 1TB by the use of microSD)
• 108Mp f/1.9 Wide
• 8Mp f/2.2 Ultrawide
• 2Mp f/2.4 Macro
• 16Mp f/2.4 Selfie
• Dual-SIM/microSD
• Stereo audio system
• IR blaster
• NFC
• GPS
• Bluetooth 5.1
• Wi-Fi 5
• Fingerprint sensor in Power button
• 5000mAh battery with 67W Fast Charge
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• USB-C charging port
• 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1mm
• 202g