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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]smooth (120Hz) and bright AMOLED display
good cameras (main, ultra-wide, and selfie).
Memory expansion, NFC, headphone jack
stereo speakers
good performance
only 19 minutes of loading time.[/i2pros][i2cons]”Sometimes On Display” only
no stabilized 4K recordings
Battery life is just average.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The global Redmi Note 11 series now includes a total of six models, three of which are “Pro versions.” The top smartphone is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus) 5G/Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge 5G. As an upgrade to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, the Plus/Hypercharge model now has a 120-watt charging function. But in addition to the loading speed, there is also a new Dimensity 920 processor. The camera setup, design, and display, however, remain the same. In this test, you will find out how well the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus)/Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge 5G performs in practice and whether it is worth grabbing the top model.
Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ retains the strengths of the other Pro models: There is a 108-megapixel main camera and a benchmark 120Hz AMOLED display. There are advances in the processor and loading speed. With a Mediatek Dimensity 920 processor, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ should be even more powerful and, of course, support the 5G standard. In addition, the battery should be fully charged in a quarter of an hour thanks to the 120-watt quick charge function. But the fast charge speed also has its price: at 4500mAh, the battery is slightly smaller than in the other models.
The design of the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro models has changed significantly compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The back is no longer rounded, which makes the entire smartphone appear much more angular. The look is probably inspired by the iPhone 13 series. However, I cannot claim that the ergonomics of smartphones have improved. Rather, the opposite is the case. The dimensions are 163.6 x 76.2 x 8.3 millimeters, with a weight of 204 grams. This smartphone is really large and heavy.
The smartphone’s frame is constructed of plastic, and the back is made of matte-coated glass. Mysterious Black, Forest Green, and Timeless Purple are the available color options.
It feels high-quality in the hand, but it is much more angular than its predecessor. On the right is the power button, which also serves as a fingerprint scanner. The position is easy to reach with the thumb, and unlocking is reliable and quick. In the settings, you can specify whether the unlock should take place when you put your finger on it or only when you press the button. Of course, Face-Unlock is also available via the front camera.
The back has a minimalist design. The Redmi logo has been stylishly placed in the lower corner and shimmers slightly when the light hits it. Unfortunately, the latter also applies. to the CE mark and the crossed-out garbage can, which could have been placed more inconspicuously.
The camera unit protrudes a gigantic 2.5 millimeters and ensures that the smartphone wobbles on flat surfaces. The front is almost entirely taken up by the 6.67-inch AMOLED display. A cut-out for the front camera is in the middle and is tiny. The same can be said about the display edges: they measure 5mm below, 3mm above, and 2mm on the sides.
On the bottom of the smartphone, there is a USB-C (2.0) port next to a SIM slot. Two SIM cards or one SIM and one MicroSD can be inserted into the slot on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus). It is therefore the same hybrid slot as the other Pro models. The Redmi Note 10 Pro still had a triple slot with dual SIM + MicroSD, so we can speak of a clear step backward here. However, fans of analog headphones can still breathe easily: There is a 3.5mm jack connection on the top. However, there is no notification LED.
This has now been replaced by an always-on display, but Xiaomi only sees this as a sometimes-on display (SOD). Furthermore, there is still an on-top infrared transmitter and a second microphone. The auricle is, of course, also on the top, but it is not used when making calls. More on that later under “Connectivity”. As with the other Pro models, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus) now also has a second speaker on the top. Real stereo sound is a unique selling point for Xiaomi in this price range. However, Xiaomi does not have an IP protection class.
In addition to a silicone case, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus) comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, a 120-watt fast charging adapter, and a quick start guide.
When the Redmi Note 10 Pro was presented last year with a 120Hz AMOLED display, people were amazed. Until now, a display with these specifications was only available in significantly higher price regions. There are now a few people in the middle class that have a 120Hz AMOLED. Nevertheless, it is nice that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus has adopted the flawless display of its predecessor 1:1. A 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz is used. The pixel density is around 395 pixels per inch, which means that the display is perfectly sharp. Since it is an AMOLED display, the contrast is infinitely high. The brightness of the display is excellent in automatic mode, with a maximum of 1300 lux.
Reading it outside in the sunlight is no problem. HDR content can also be played back by the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus), with the exception of HDR Dolby. There is also a Widevine L1 certification. Netflix and Disney+ can be used in HD quality, as an Amazon Prime Video with these instructions.
In addition to the excellent contrast thanks to AMOLED technology, the 120Hz refresh rate is the second highlight on the display of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus). Content is updated twice as often compared to standard 60Hz smartphone displays. This makes the display look much smoother.
In the settings you can, of course, also switch to 60Hz. For some applications that do not benefit from 120Hz, the display will be throttled to 60Hz even in 120Hz mode. Examples of this are YouTube and games without 120FPS support. Unfortunately, the 120Hz option is not used in the Google Chrome browser either, although it would definitely benefit from it. A workaround for this seems to be the Chrome Beta app, which is used at 120Hz.
The touchscreen registers up to 10 points of contact at the same time. Entries are quick and precise. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 is used on the front to protect against scratches. Xiaomi does not reveal whether Gorilla Glass is also used on the back. However, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus) withstood a stress test with a key and screwdriver without any damage. Additional settings include dark mode and reading mode, but no DC dimming.
Both modes can be activated automatically at certain times of the day. Otherwise, the always-on display offers many setting options and themes. From different images to countless designs, you can put anything here. Unfortunately, there is still no option to permanently activate the always-on display. Instead, as with all other Redmi Note models, the always-on function can only be activated by tapping on the display for a short time.
It’s really a shame that Xiaomi didn’t bring a normal always-on function to the Note 11 Pro+ (Plus). Apart from that, it is still a simply excellent display, which could also be installed on a smartphone that costs twice as much.
Instead of a chip from Qualcomm, a MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor is now used in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus). This is a 6-nanometer processor that was only introduced at the end of last year. Two Cortex-A78 cores are clocked at 2.5 GHz in the performance cluster, and six Cortex-A55 cores are clocked at 2.0 GHz in the energy-saving cluster. A Mali-G68 GPU is used for the graphics.
The Mediatek processor definitely brings a performance improvement over the previous model and also over the other Redmi Note 11 Pro models. Compared to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, you get around 10% more CPU performance (Geekbench) and almost 60% more GPU performance (3DMark). Gamers will primarily benefit from higher performance.
All the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro models are fast in the system and normal apps. Waiting times are rare, and complex games can still be played well. I can’t see any significant improvement in performance compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro, but the smartphone has become a little faster. For the price range over 40,000 Tk, the performance is only average. A Realme GT Master Edition or a Poco F3 costs less and is significantly more powerful.
When it comes to storage, you can choose between UFS 2.2 and LPDDR4X RAM with 6/128GB, 8/128GB, and 8/256GB. The internal memory achieves good values with 993 MB/s reading and 730 MB/s writing. The same applies to the working memory, with 38 GB/s. Apparently, these are high-quality chips.
The new Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus) 5G comes with an MIUI 12.5 system based on Android 11. There will probably be an Android 12 update in the near future, and MIUI 13 should also appear for the device soon. Otherwise, you can usually expect 2 Android basic updates and 3 major MIUI updates from Xiaomi.
In the test, MIUI 12.5 ran very stably on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus, and there were no crashes or errors to complain about. It is definitely an advantage that the smartphone has been on the market in China for several months and that Xiaomi should have already eliminated small software errors. The Google Playstore is, of course, pre-installed; the smartphone has a certified Playstore; and, of course, it also passes the SafetyNet test.
However, over 20 third-party apps are installed on the smartphone upon delivery, which should be uninstalled first. You can do this under Settings/Apps/Manage apps with just a few clicks, but the sheer amount of bloatware is still open to criticism. Theoretically, there is also advertising in Xiaomi’s MIUI system in one or the other places, even if I didn’t notice it in the test. If you still encounter ads, you can remove them with these instructions.
Finally, a word about custom ROMs: This is not relevant for most users, but if you would like to install a different ROM on your smartphone, you should better use the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G or Poco X4 Pro. Because the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus), 5G is powered by a Mediatek processor, there won’t be many ROMs available on a Xiaomi. The EU ROM will definitely not appear.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus has three cameras on the back. The main camera is still the Samsung HM2 sensor with 108 megapixels. The ultra-wide-angle camera has an 8-megapixel sensor from Samsung. The 5-megapixel teli-macro camera has been swapped for a 2-megapixel macro sensor, and the depth sensor has been eliminated. The camera setup of the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus is summarized as follows:
We will now analyze whether the Note 11 Pro+ can build on the successes of its predecessor.
The 108-megapixel sensor delivers images with lots of detail that still look great on a large screen. The color reproduction is natural, and the contrast and white balance are also good. A typical weakness of the 108-megapixel sensors is also present in the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus: in close-ups, contours outside the focus area blur a little too much. All in all, you still get a photo quality that is worthy of the price range.
The night shots of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Plus) are good. Slight noise can be seen in almost every picture, but the colors remain quite natural. In some cases, the pictures appear a little blurry in detail. This effect was not as strong on the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The night mode with artificial long exposure usually brings an improvement, especially in terms of contrast and details. However, the images are occasionally blurred.
For its price range, the 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera produces vivid results. Color reproduction is a bit dark in difficult lighting conditions but otherwise accurate. In terms of details, too, the low resolution makes one expect worse than what one ultimately gets. The far too strong saturation of some mid-range UWW cameras is also not present.
Portraits are now generated purely via software. The separation of foreground and background is still excellent. The recordings have a very nice bokeh effect, and even complex scenes are implemented handsomely. Skin tones tend to appear somewhat pale.
While the Redmi Note 10 Pro had a usable 5-megapixel macro camera, the Note 11 Pro+ is now only equipped with a 2-megapixel snap. The image quality is abysmal, and the camera is in no way an added value. You can get much better close-ups with the main camera with a bit of zoom.
The 16-megapixel selfie camera takes good pictures. The color reproduction, which is significantly warmer than that of the predecessor, is particularly pleasant. The camera can still cope well with a relatively large amount of light in the background, and the sky only burns out in very strong sunlight. In terms of detail, the camera is average. Visible grain can be seen on a large PC screen.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus records stabilized videos in Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second with all cameras. Unfortunately, 4K recordings are still not stabilized, which makes them useless in practice. With the Redmi Note 10 Pro, you could counteract this problem with the Google Camera Mod, but we didn’t succeed with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro due to the Mediatek processor.
Otherwise, the focus works reliably and quickly, and the color reproduction is good. Usable videos can also be recorded with the ultra-wide-angle camera and the selfie camera. Overall, the quality of the recordings is average. However, the waiver of 4K videos in the price range of over 40,000 Tk is a massive criticism of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G. Anyone who makes videos frequently should use a different smartphone.
At the time of its release, the Redmi Note 10 Pro had set new standards for photo quality in the middle class. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus can no longer claim this success. Although the ultra-wide-angle camera is really good, there is no further progress to be seen. The Redmi Note 10 Pro tended to deliver even better results in night shots and in low light. You get a usable camera for a price range of around 30,000 TK, but the competition has more to offer: the Redmi draws the short straw against the OnePlus Nord 2 or the Samsung Galaxy A52S 5G.
The new Mediatek Dimensity processor also gives the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G reception. Overall, the following main frequencies are supported:
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G, therefore, brings a large number of 4G and 5G bands for international use. Of course, all network frequencies required for Germany are also included, so that the smartphone can be used without restrictions. The network reception was good during the test. In addition to the good microphone, the features of VoLTE (telephony via the LTE network) and VoWiFi (telephony via WLAN) ensure high call quality.
The proximity sensor reliably darkens the display during calls. A disadvantage, however, is that calls are not output via the auricle but via the upper speaker. This means that you can clearly hear your conversation partner in a quiet room even if you are not using the hands-free function. The SAR value of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ is 0.59 W/kg (head) and 0.99 W/kg (body).
The latest standards for wireless connections are available with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. In addition to the standard codecs, SBC and AAC, Bluetooth also supports aptX, LHDC, and LDAC. NFC is also available for contactless payment and also works with Google Play. The problems of its predecessor with the proximity sensor are no longer present in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+. Other sensors include an acceleration sensor, brightness sensor, gyroscope, and e-compass. There is also an FM radio app.
Years ago, GPS reception was a weakness of Mediatek processors. In the meantime, however, the Taiwanese manufacturer has passed Qualcomm and offers flawless reception. With the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus, the location is determined in a flash with an accuracy of one meter. The smartphone uses dual GPS and the satellite systems GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC, and GLONASS. The GPS reception is excellent, and the dual GPS support is a special feature in this price range.
There are now two speakers on the top and bottom for playing sounds. The stereo sound is noticeable, and the sound is clearly superior to most of the price range. There is a good amount of detail revealed, and there is hardly any distortion. The depths are also rudimentary. The stereo sound is definitely a small highlight of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ has a 4500 mAh battery. The battery size is therefore 10% (or 500mAh) smaller than the other Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro models. This saving had to be made because the battery is split into two cells for the 120-watt charging speed. Unfortunately, the runtime is also weaker in practice: with barely more than 10 hours in the PCMark battery test, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus is clearly left behind by the competition. Also, consumption when watching YouTube is slightly higher than expected at 7% per hour and gaming at 16% per hour.
The somewhat weak battery life is particularly surprising because we had already tested the China version of the Note 11 Pro 5G with the Dimensity 920 processor and 5000mAh battery. The Chinese counterpart achieved the best values in the test (16 hours of PCMark at 120Hz). We suspect that dividing the battery into two will result in greater energy consumption because such a huge difference cannot be explained by the 500mAh alone. But it could also be a bad optimization of the software. For some reason, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G currently has the weakest battery life of the Note 11 series. We’ll keep an eye on whether a software update will bring an improvement here.
Although the battery life is not really convincing, there is a powerful upgrade to the charging speed. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G can be fully charged at 120 watts. In order to load at maximum speed, the “Increase loading speed” option must be activated. If you do not activate this option, the loading process takes a total of 23 minutes. With the 120W charging option activated, charging takes a total of 19.5 minutes.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus offers slightly more performance and a significantly faster loading time than the other Redmi Note 11 Pro models. In return, the battery life is weaker. In terms of design, workmanship, and camera quality, however, there are no major differences. In principle, it is relatively difficult to justify a surcharge compared to a Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G or the identical Poco X4 Pro. In addition, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus has some very tough competitors with smartphones such as the Poco F3, the OnePlus Nord 2, and the Samsung Galaxy A52s. In this respect, we can only make a buy recommendation if the price falls below the 40,000 Tk mark.
