Will it ever end? Xiaomi‘s Mi 11 lineup numbers as many as 8 devices at the time of writing this review, spanning a wide range of feature sets and price points. It’s the Mi 11i we have for you this time, following a couple of Lites, an Ultra, and the Mi 11 proper, which we all reviewed recently.

 

 

 

 

 

A few more words on naming and market positioning are needed for the sake of clarity, though ‘clarity’ might be an unattainable goal. We’ll be referring to the phone as Mi 11i because that’s what it says on the box we have here, but essentially the same device goes by Mi 11X Pro in India, and the two are in turn nearly identical to the Redmi K40 Pro+ sold in China. Here’s how they compare specs-wise.

Looking at the specs of the Mi 11i, we’re pegging it as a member of the ‘flagship killer’ breed if we assume that’s still a thing. It’s got the top-end Snapdragon 888 chip to justify being mentioned in the same sentence as the big boys, but that’s coupled with little downgrades throughout to be able to fit the killer budget.

 

 

 

 

Little being the operative word. The display isn’t 1440p as on the higher-specced Mi 11s, but it’s still a 120Hz-capable Super AMOLED with HDR support and sky-high brightness. The camera system is almost the same as on the Mi 11 proper – an 108MP main unit (albeit a different, smaller sensor), an ultrawide (lower-res, but with equally fixed focus) and the same 5MP sort-of-tele macro that’s better than most. A few dozen milliamp-hours in the battery capacity and 33W charging instead of 55W or 67W, meanwhile, are the definition of little downgrades as is the GG5 protection instead of Victus.

Xiaomi Mi 11i specs at a glance:

• Body: 163.7×76.4×7.8mm, 196g; IP53 dust and splash protection.
• Display: 6.67″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 395ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm): Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680); Adreno 660.
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
• OS/Software: Android 11, MIUI 12.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.52″, 0.7µm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚; Macro: 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm, 1/5.0″, 1.12µm.
• Front camera: 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4″, 0.8µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+; Front camera: 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps.
• Battery: 4520mAh; Fast charging 33W, 100% in 52 min (advertised), Power Delivery 3.0, Quick Charge 3+.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); Infrared port.

Xiaomi Mi 11i unboxing

The Mi 11i ships in the same white box with copper lettering we got on the Mi 11 proper. That’s in contrast to the black box we got the Mi 11 Ultra in.

That said, the India-bound Mi 11X Pro comes in a black box with a different design that includes a likeness of the phone on the lid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For starters, the Mi 11 proper. For €50 to €100 extra, the series’ namesake will get you a more premium build (aluminum frame, Victus on the front), a higher-res display (1440p vs. 1080p) with a fingerprint reader in it and a couple of rear camera upgrades (bigger sensors on the main and ultrawide units). The Mi 11i, on the other hand, snatches a win for endurance, and that’s about it. We’re leaning heavily towards spending the extra money and getting the Mi 11 here.

The OnePlus 9 retails for €700, so another slightly pricier alternative to the Mi 11i. It has a superior set of main and ultra wide cameras but the Mi 11i counters with a more useful macro shooter. You’ll likely get slightly better battery life on the Mi while the OP is quicker to charge and features wireless charging. OxygenOS vs. MIUI is an entirely personal choice and feels like the only deciding difference between the two.

The Galaxy S20 FE can be had for anywhere between €500 and €700 depending on chipset version, storage level and retailer, and it’s not a bad idea to give it a shot if you’re eyeing the Mi 11i. The Galaxy has an IP68 rating and a tele camera, plus goodies like a microSD slot, wireless charging, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. The Mi 11i wins hands-down for performance thanks to its latest chip, but the Galaxy feels like a more well-rounded package.

Come to think of it, €700 buys you a Galaxy S21, the small one. Perhaps it wouldn’t be your first thought if you’re contemplating a Mi 11i, simply because of the size difference, but the S21 has virtues of its own. It uses a current-gen chipset, so the Mi’s performance advantage isn’t as pronounced. Victus on the front, wireless charging, IP68 rating, arguably better cameras overall – perhaps going small may not be such a bad idea.

 

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 • OnePlus 9 • Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G • Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

 

 

From the standpoint of the Mi 11X Pro, the competition looks different. OnePlus sells the 9R for the same price in India, and it’s got small advantages like a more premium aluminum frame, an under-display fingerprint reader, and NFC. The 9R’s SD870 chip isn’t as brawny as the Mi 11X Pro’s, however, so if performance is key, get the Mi.

The vivo X60 is in a similar position. With SD870 under the hood, it can’t quite match the Mi’s performance but offers a tele camera, NFC, and an under-display fingerprint sensor, though it has a single speaker. The vivo is the lightest of the three, which could be a consideration too.

 

 

OnePlus 9R • vivo X60

 

 

Verdict

The Mi 11i is a tough sell in Europe, pitted against marginally more expensive offerings from within or from the competition. While it has its strong points, it doesn’t really stand out in any particular way, and we’d pick one of the alternatives above.

 

 

 

 

As for the Mi 11X Pro, in its own local context, we’d say it makes more sense. It’s the best-priced entry into the world of SD888 performance, which can be reason enough for some buyers. And even if it’s missing NFC and a dedicated tele camera, it’s got enough merits in key areas to deserve your attention.

Pros

• Excellent display – bright, accurate, HRR.
• Top-tier chipset at a reasonable price.
• Battery life around the top of the class.
• Very good photo quality from the main camera in daylight and at night, okay ultrawide shots in good light.
• Great video quality from the main camera, excellent video stabilization from both.

Cons

• Plastic frame isn’t quite as premium, rear panel is a fingerprint magnet.
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor may not be to everyone’s liking.
• IP53 rating isn’t quite like proper IP68-grade water resistance.
• No wireless charging.
• No 3.5.mm jack, no microSD, no FM radio.
• No NFC on the Mi 11X Pro.