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[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Chic design
Thin and light
First-class workmanship.
Strong reception (network, WiFi, GPS).
Top performance
[/i2pros][i2cons]No jack connection
“Sometimes On Display” only
1 to 1 copy of the Mi 11 Lite 5G
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
At the beginning of the month, we already introduced you to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G. Even then, the smartphone was also available in a 5G version, which we have not tested yet. Rightly so, as it now turns out, because with the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, the 5G variant was relaunched just four months later.
The devices are almost identical—apart from the processor, the two 5G smartphones differ only minimally from each other. The smartphone also has a new name: the “Mi” was rationalized away without further ado, so the smartphone is now called NE (for New Edition). If the names were logical and understandable, it wouldn’t be boring.
Nevertheless, we will strictly adhere to this in this report in order to be able to compare the devices properly. Whenever “Mi” is part of the name, it is about the “old” models. When “Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE” is mentioned, it is about the new smartphone.
Visually, there are no significant differences between the Mi 11 Lite models. Xiaomi uses the color palette of the 4G and 5G versions equally and is launching the new Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE in “ Truffle Black,” “ Bubblegum Blue,” and “ Peach Pink.” With ” Snowflake White,” Xiaomi’s designers have come up with a new color that glitters slightly in the product images and doesn’t look bad at all (provided you like glitter).
Apart from the white option, all devices have a matte finish on the back, which is why the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE hardly attracts fingerprints. In addition, the back is scratch-resistant, although no special glass is specified here. However, the display uses Gorilla Glass 5 protection. In addition to the Mi 11 series logo at the bottom left and the usual at the bottom right, the back only adorns the camera module.
It consists of a double bump that houses a total of three lenses, a flash, and the signature “holo ring”. As already mentioned in the review of the Mi 11 Lite 4G, the entire module protrudes a full 1.8mm from the housing, which is quite a lot.
The frame of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is made of plastic and, unlike the back, has a glossy finish. Accordingly, it is also much more susceptible to scratches, which I, unfortunately, had to find out painfully when taking pictures. Nevertheless, the processing quality is good! The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE does not reveal any oversized gaps. There are no creaks, and the finish is of high quality. The keys also have a good pressure point and sit firmly in the case.
They are positioned in the same places as their predecessors. Xiaomi installs the volume rocker and a power button with an integrated fingerprint sensor on the right side. The latter works super fast and is always reliable. Alternatively, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE can also be unlocked using face recognition, a pattern, or a pin.
The top offers space for a microphone and an IR transmitter, which is mandatory for Xiaomi. On the left, the frame is completely uninterrupted. The SIM slot, the USB-C port (2.0), and the speakers are located on the underside. Together with the auricle, which is embedded between the frame and the display at the top, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has a stereo loudspeaker at its disposal.
The display is otherwise only interrupted by a punch hole at the top left. It is framed with a thin plastic frame that conceals the transition to the frame and has an approximately 3mm wide edge. Unfortunately, there is no notification LED. At 6.55 inches, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is one of the larger devices, and this is also reflected in the dimensions. Like its two predecessors, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE measures 160 x 76 millimeters. Nevertheless, with a thickness of 6.9 mm and a weight of 158 grams, it is pleasantly thin and light.
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE comes with the usual accessories from Xiaomi. These include the 33-watt charging adapter, a USB-C cable, a USB-C to jack adapter, and a SIM tool.
Also included is an instruction manual, a protective film (already applied), and a transparent silicone case. The quality of the accessories is, as usual from Xiaomi, absolutely impeccable.
The display is based-how could it be otherwise-also on the previous model. The only difference is in the glass because while the old 5G model used Gorilla Glass 6, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE uses Gorilla Glass 5. It doesn’t matter much-the displays are scratch-resistant in any case. Either way, the AMOLED panel is definitely something to be proud of! With a proud 6.55 inches, it is quite large and nestles wonderfully in the hand thanks to the rounded 2.5D glass.
The resolution is 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+). which corresponds to 402 pixels per inch. The aspect ratio is 20:9, and the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE again covers the DCI-P3 color space. Again, we have the choice between 60Hz and 90Hz refresh rates. The latter is, of course, at the expense of the battery, but the difference is still okay (more on that later). Inputs are even recognized at 240Hz on up to 10 touch points.
In practice, the display of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE cuts a fine figure. Manually, the maximum brightness reaches 660 lux, and in an automatic mode, even 950 lux is no problem. The Mi 11 Lite 4G managed a little more with 1150 lux, but the brightness is still more than sufficient. The photographers, gamers, and Netflix junkies among you will also get their money’s worth: With HDR10 certification, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE can display images with a color depth of up to 10 bits, and thanks to Widevine L1, films can be streamed in HD from all common platforms.
Of course, Xiaomi has also built-in useful display features again. These include, in particular, the dark mode, which swaps white and black in the many apps, and the reading mode, which filters yellow light. The black and white mode, which I personally like to use regularly, doesn’t seem to be available anymore-too bad. After all, the other two functions can be activated either manually or by schedule. The smartphone does not have DC dimming, but I did not notice any flickering in the test.
We have the same problems as with the Mi 11 Lite devices with the “ always-on display“. Although it shouldn’t really be a problem to illuminate the display permanently thanks to AMOLED technology, Xiaomi doesn’t manage to do it. Instead, the screen only activates for 10 seconds as soon as the touchscreen is touched. That alone wouldn’t be so bad if at least the time could be seen directly.
However, the device needs about 3 seconds to load the display. I unlocked my smartphone a long time ago, looked at my watch, and put it back in my pocket. Also, there is no adequate replacement for the notification LED either. Although Xiaomi offers the option of displaying an animation when a message is received, this disappears again after 5 seconds.
The bottom line is that the display of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is definitely convincing! The brightness is top-notch, the resolution and frequency are absolutely sufficient, and HDR10 and Widevine L1 are also on board. Only the limited AOD and the rationalization of the black and white mode are annoying.
Up to here, you could almost have read the report on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G, because, as already mentioned, the design and display are almost identical. But now it’s getting exciting because the processor is the only aspect with notable changes.
While the Snapdragon 732G was used in the Mi 11 Lite 4G and the 780G in the 5G version, Xiaomi uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G in the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. The most important difference is that the 780G is manufactured using the 5nm process, while the 778G uses the 6nm process. In theory, the old model should be a little more energy-efficient, although the performance is very close.
At this point, at the latest, the question arises as to why Xiaomi has relaunched the device. There is no official statement or anything like that. However, since the old Mi 11 Lite 5G is the only smartphone with 780G so far, it is reasonable to assume that Qualcomm simply no longer produces this processor and quickly had to find an alternative. This could have something to do with the current shortage of chips, problems with the (still quite new) 5nm production, and much more…
This change is definitely not bad because the two processors are like peas in a pod. So, in the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE we get the 778G octa-core processor, which is made up as follows:
A Qualcomm Adreno 642L GPU takes care of the graphics, which is easily sufficient for everyday tasks and all current games.
This is also reflected in practice. There are no stutters during operation; apps load in a matter of seconds, and even graphics-intensive games run smoothly. The heat development is within an absolutely acceptable range.
Of course, we also ran the common benchmarks on the test device, which also confirmed the practical impression. With around 443,000 points in the Antutu benchmark, the device doesn’t quite come close to the similarly expensive competition, such as the Poco F3, but this is definitely a premium mid-range device.
In Bangladesh, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is available in three different memory configurations: 6GB + 128GB , 8GB + 128GB, and 8GB + 256GB . An LPDDR4X chip is used for the main memory, which achieves a speed of 28.7GB per second. The UFS2.2 hard drive is also pleasantly fast, with 842MB/s of reading and 279MB/s of writing.
There are no surprises in terms of the software-the smartphone comes with the well-known MIUI 12 based on Android 11. Xiaomi has adjusted quite a lot here and offers a few options for customization, for example in relation to the AOD or the optional app drawer. Typical for Xiaomi, there is some advertising hidden in one place or another.
If that bothers you, you can get rid of them with the help of these instructions. The same goes for the innumerable pre-installed apps, most of which are simply unnecessary. Luckily, all apps can be uninstalled, or at least disabled. We have also prepared a guide for you in order to finally get rid of clingy apps.
There is no update promise from Xiaomi, but experience has shown that you can expect support for two Android versions or three MIUI updates.
Now we come back to the similarities because, apart from the selfie camera, the camera setup is identical to the previously tested Mi 11 Lite 4G. This means the camera uses three sensors and an LED flash. The main sensor has a resolution of 64MP and an aperture of F/1.79, the ultra-wide-angle camera comes with 8MP and an aperture of F/2.2, and the tele-macro lens reaches 5MP with an aperture of F/2.4.
In fact, Xiaomi uses the same sensors as in the Mi 11 Lite 5G. That means the main sensor is a Samsung GW3, the UWW sensor is a Sony IMX 355 and the Samsung S5K5E9 takes care of macro shots.
The operation of the camera app works smoothly and intuitively and is made easier by many practical functions. These include a scanner function, a Pro mode, a long exposure mode, and much more. A Google Glass integration is also included. In the following, we will go into the different areas of application individually.
Daytime shots are a real treat with the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE! The camera simply takes excellent pictures for this price range: the colors are well-matched, all images are pleasantly sharp right into the corners, and the dynamic range leaves little room for criticism. Of course, there is no image noise either.
The normal photo mode also includes AI scene recognition and an HDR mode. While the AI only provides brighter colors, the HDR mode can score more. It simply does what it is supposed to and ensures higher dynamics, true-to-life colors, and less noise.
A 64MP mode is also available again, which uses the full 64MP of the camera. As a result, the resolution is logically higher, you can zoom in a bit more, and more details can be seen. However, the difference in quality compared to the normal 16MP images is so small that this mode is really only worthwhile if you want to make a poster out of the photo.
The device’s ultra-wide-angle camera also delivers good images, although the colors are a bit paler than those of the main camera (which can be seen further below in the video test), and the dynamic range is somewhat reduced. Nevertheless, the 8MP sensor delivers photos that are sharp up to the edges and barely show any image noise.
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE only zooms digitally, so that the image noise increases and the colors become paler after 3x magnification at the latest. This may be fine for occasional shots, but if you plan to take a lot of zoom photos, you should look for a device with a telephoto lens.
The macro mode is again hidden in the settings of the normal photo mode. You’ll find it there next to the Stabilization, Grid, and Settings buttons. But those who search will also be rewarded because the 5MP macro camera can convince with good pictures. It covers a range of around 3 to 7 cm and takes really good photos within this range for a 5MP camera.
Like the Mi 11 Lite 4G, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE does not have a depth sensor. Nevertheless, portrait shots with bokeh are wonderful. Objects and people are recognized well, and the AI separates the background largely reliably. Difficulties rarely arise in complex areas, but that’s okay too. The portraits in the Mi 11 Lite 4G were sometimes a bit pale, but this is not the case here, even though the same sensor is used.
The Samsung S5K3T2 selfie camera has a resolution of 20MP, which is the same as the camera on the Mi 11 Lite 5G. But the sensor does a good job: The colors are also well matched here, and the images are (almost) sharp right into the corners. Only the dynamic range suffers a little in the background.
Unfortunately, bokeh selfies only work really well in really good light. If this is not the case, the recordings quickly start to rustle and the face recognition no longer works properly.
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE can record videos with the main camera in 1080p or 4K. Both 30fps and 60fps are available in 1080p, but 4K only runs at 30fps. The macro and UWW cameras can also record videos at 1080p and 30fps. Fortunately, all recordings are electronically stabilized—including the selfie camera. The stabilization works best with the main sensor in 1080p/30fps, but it’s enough for the other modes to deliver usable results.
In 1080p/30fps mode, it is also possible to switch between the UWW sensor and the main camera during recording, whereby a strong color jump can be seen here.
The recordings of the selfie camera and the UWW sensor lack some dynamics and colors, but the main sensor is definitely for one or the other holiday video/school project/etc. to use. The autofocus works well in any case.
In this area, the Xiaomi Mi 11 5G NE is really up to par and leaves absolutely no room for criticism. 5G is, of course, also on board, as is 4G, and in all the necessary frequencies. In concrete terms, this means:
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has a hybrid slot. You can either use two SIM cards on all frequencies at the same time or expand the memory by up to 1 TB in addition to the SIM card. suitable MicroSDs at Amazon
Of course, telephony via VoWifi and VoLTE is also possible. The call quality is good, although the speakers sound a bit tinny and the noise reduction is not perfect.
In addition to LTE and 5G, the smartphone has many other interfaces. These include Bluetooth 5.2, NFC (for Google Pay, etc.), an infrared transmitter, and WiFi 6. The Internet reception is good-after about 7 meters and two walls, I still receive 14mb/s from my 16 lines (keep your fingers crossed-I wait for Telekom every day!). Navigation via GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS is also available. The accuracy of the sensor is also above average at +-3m inside.
Xiaomi equips the device with the standard sensors (acceleration, proximity, and brightness sensors). There is also a gyroscope and a compass. Unfortunately, we have to make do without a 3.5 mm jack connection. Here, too, Xiaomi has thought it through and at least includes a USB-C to jack adapter in the package.
Like the Xiaomi 11 Lite 4G, the test device comes with a 4250mAh battery. It lasts a whole 12:15 hours in 60Hz mode in PC Mark and still 11:15 hours at 90Hz. An hour of YouTube consumes 6% of the battery, while PUBG on the mobile phone consumes approximately 12%. These values were each measured with a display brightness of 200 lux. The smartphone will easily last you a day with approx. 7-8 hours of display-on-time. Afterward, it should be charged.
This is done using the included 33W fast charging adapter. This brings the battery back from 0 to 100% in just over an hour. After 30 minutes, roughly 64% of the goal has already been met.
All in all, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE really cuts a fine figure in the test. The display is great, the performance is more than enough for everyday use and also for gaming, and the camera takes excellent photos in almost every situation. The connection standards from 5G to Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC to WiFi 6 are also convincing, and the battery is sufficiently large. The purchase argument in comparison to the Poco F3 is probably the design, the workmanship, and the thin case. This costs Xiaomi a bit because the 29,500 Tk for the Poco is currently 36,000 Tk for the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE with 6/128GB.
