Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro and Pro+ 5G Full Review, Unboxing Part-I

Introduction:

The Redmi Note 11 range has made its global debut, and we’ve already received all four Notes. This year, each Note and Note Pro has a 5G variant, and it’s only suitable that we start with the most costly and influential of them all: the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G we’re looking at today is the worldwide variant with NFC support, characteristic of Xiaomi. In India, it’s available as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G (no NFC) and the Poco X4 Pro 5G (different back) from the Poco series. Here’s a link to a straight comparison of the three.

And don’t confuse these three phones with the Chinese Redmi Note 11 Pro, which has different chipset and video recording capabilities. Let’s get started on our review now that we’ve cleared that up.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the same size as the Redmi Note 10 Pro and looks identical. The new Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz display atop the same dual-glass IP53-rated shell as the Note 11 Pro.

Then there’s the rear camera, which has many similarities with the Note 10 Pro. The primary camera is the same 108MP, while the ultrawide camera is the same 8MP. The macro camera has been degraded to a cheap 2MP shooter with fixed focus, and there is no depth sensor.

Of course, there are a few noticeable improvements. The Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, a more powerful processor and a 5G modem is used in the new Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. While the battery capacity remains unchanged at 5,000mAh, the new Note supports 67W fast charging, improving above the Note 10 Pro’s 33W.

A thin screen protector is included in the retail packages of the Redmi Note 11, 11S, and 11 Pro, which you can apply afterwards if desired. Surprisingly, the Note 11 Pro 5G package lacks this feature. We’re not sure if this is due to a packing error, a regional restriction, or if it’s on purpose. Considering how cheap and smudgy the film is, we won’t hold this absence against the Note 11 Pro 5G.

Design, Construction Quality, and Handling

All four Redmi Note 11 phones have the same appearance, making a great family shot.

Since Series 10, there has been one notable design change: all phones now have an entirely flat back panel. The new Notes have a stylish flatform that many other companies have imitated. And we enjoy what we’ve seen so far.

In terms of appearance, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G and the Note 11 Pro are nearly identical in terms of size, weight, and colour.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is a dual-glass smartphone featuring a flat Gorilla Glass 5 screen and a flat tempered glass back. We like the matte surface on the back panel; it adds a great touch and makes the phone feel cool (both physically and symbolically).

The plastic frame is also flat, with a matte texture that matches the back glass. It’s extremely grippy, and even without a case, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G feels secure in the hand.

The dust and splash resistance of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is rated at IP53. Even while the phone’s card slot appears to have some strong rubber insulation, this does not indicate the phone is water-resistant. The IP53 rating means that the phone can be used in the rain, but it does not provide complete splash resistance; it only protects against diagonally falling water drops for up to 5 minutes. Of course, it’s better than nothing.

The 6.67-inch Super AMOLED screen takes up the majority of the front panel. It has the exact dimensions and specifications as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, including a 1080p display with 120Hz refresh, wide-colour support, and a small hole for the 16MP front camera. The spot is one of the tiniest we’ve seen so far, and it doesn’t bother us as much as it does on other models.

The display appears bright and colourful, and we’re excited to see how it performs in our display test.

The thin grill above the screen and the one on top of the phone are outlets for one of the speakers, and sound is coming from both. The second speaker is located at the bottom, and its volume appears to be nearly identical to that of the top speaker.

The back panel of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is attractive, with a flat surface and a matte finish. While it is slick, it appears to be smudge-resistant, at least more than usual, which we welcome.

On the back, the camera island is the only exciting feature. It’s a two-step jutting-out component with what appears to be an aluminium frame. The 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro cameras, LED flash, and a slew of labels are all found on the first level. The primary 108MP camera is encircled by an aperture-like texture on the top level.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G wobbles a lot when used on a flat desk due to the very tall camera portion. Using the included case will eliminate the wobbling.

Design:

The design and grip of the plastic matte frame appeal to us. However, although it appears to be flat, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G cannot stand on its own, indicating that it is not as flush as it seems.

There is nothing on the left side of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. The volume and power/lock keys are located on the right side. The power key’s surface also functions as a fingerprint scanner, which is always on and accurate. If you want to use the Redmi without a case, you should set the scan trigger from Touch to Press to avoid unnecessary palm scans and denials.

The 3.5mm jack, top speaker grille, IR blaster, and one of the microphones are all located on the top.

The other primary microphone, the USB-C connector, the second speaker, and the ejectable card tray are all located on the bottom. The SIM slot is a hybrid kind, meaning it can hold two nano-SIM cards or a nano-SIM and a microSD card.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the same size as the Note 10 Pro, weighing 9 grams more at 202 grams. The Note 11 Pro 5G is a good size for a phone of this grade, measuring 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm.

When handling the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, it feels solid and grippy enough, the size is ideal for those used to 6.6-inch devices, and the Note 11 Pro 5G receives an A- for design and build. It would have been wonderful if the Redmi had been fully waterproof, which is not reasonable to expect in this price range, at least not yet.

Display:

The AMOLED screen on the Note 10 Pro was a significant improvement over the previous model. And, because it was such a significant change, it doesn’t appear that it was necessary to upgrade it for the Note 11 Pro. As a result, the Note 11 Pro 5G has the same 6.67-inch Samsung AMOLED display with enhanced 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate as the Note 11 Pro.

The actual resolution of the panel is 1,080 x 2,400px at 395ppi. The selfie camera cutout is exceedingly small, and it’s identical to the one on the prior model. On top of that, the Gorilla Glass 5 remains unchanged from last year.

The 120Hz refresh rate and DCI-P3 colours are supported by the Redmi 11 Pro 5G display.

Although certain hardware reading apps classify the screen as HDR10-capable, Xiaomi does not advertise it, so don’t anticipate any HDR features.

So, let’s get started with our display demonstration. Xiaomi claims that the display can provide 700nits of brightness with sunshine boost and 1200nits of peak brightness.

According to our tests, the display has an average brightness of 470 nits and high maximum brightness (sunlight boost) of 746 nits. These figures are consistent with Xiaomi’s claims and the Note 10 Pro’s display.

The minimum brightness we recorded at point white was 2.3 nits, which is very good.

Colour Fidelity:

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G supports the DCI-P3 broad colour gamut. Vivid (default, DCI-P3), Saturated (DCI-P3 with saturation enhancement), and Standard are the three colour models available in the phone’s settings (sRGB). Each mode’s colour temperature can be adjusted.

Except for the slightly bluish-white and grey tones, the Vivid default option is designed to recreate DCI-P3 faithfully, and we found it to be reasonably realistic. On the other hand, Standard provides excellent sRGB colour fidelity, including white and grey.

Rate of Refresh:

Both the 60Hz (Standard) and 120Hz (Maximum) refresh rates are static on the screen. If you choose 120Hz, as most users will, 60Hz is solely used for video playback and in apps that can’t handle more than 60Hz screens. The screen operates at 120Hz for anything else.

The Rate of Charging:

The 67W Mi Fast Charging is one of the most noteworthy advancements the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G delivers over the Note 10 Pro. This power adapter and a charging cable rated at 6A come Standard with the phone. The previous model could handle up to 33 watts.

According to Xiaomi, the charger should be able to recharge 50% of the battery in 15 minutes, and a full charge should take around 42 minutes. Of course, we’ve put that to the test.

The 67W charger charged the battery from 0% to 46% in 15 minutes. After 30 minutes on the charger, you’ll have a 74 per cent charge, which is pretty fast for a budget mid-ranger.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G has one of the fastest charging options in its price range, which is a feature that will undoubtedly sway many buyers.

Speakers:

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G includes a dual sound system. There are two symmetrically placed speakers on the top and bottom sides, each hidden beneath dotted grilles. The top one, which also serves as an earphone, includes a second outlet right above the screen.

The sound is well-balanced, and both speakers are equally powerful and capable in terms of the frequency range.

In our loudness test, the phone, like the Note 10 Pro, received a Very Good rating. However, the sound quality has improved since the previous generation; we can hear rich mid and high tones and a significant thump. As a result, we’d give the audio quality an Excellent rating.

Various media apps, like Gallery, Mi Video, YouTube, and others, have an automatic Dolby Atmos boost so that you can expect a superior sound experience there.