Full Review of the Redmi Note 11: What Does It Have to Offer?

Xiaomi has yet again released another solid smartphone to the market. The Redmi Note 11 has an extensive list of excellent qualities for a budget phone: it has a strong performance, an attractive screen, and a pretty impressive build.

The Redmi Note 11 is one of Xiaomi’s four additions to its sub-brand’s lineup. It can undoubtedly work as an entry-level smartphone to the Redmit Note 11 series, probably the best value for some. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s merely a low-end burner phone. No, the Redmi Note 11 sure does pack a punch for being a budget-friendly device.

Overview of the Redmi Note 11

• Redmi Note 11 (4GB/64GB): $179
• Redmi Note 11 (4GB/128GB): $199
• Redmi Note 11 (6GB/128GB): $229

It’s unsurprising how many Xiaomi fans were quick to dismiss the Redmi Note 11 upon its announcement, and we admit that it can be easy to write it off. When it was announced along with the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Note 11 Pro, and Note 11S, the Redmi Note 11 seemed so simple in comparison.

Nevertheless, the entry-level smartphone shares many characteristics with its more expensive counterparts, such as biometrics, storage configurations, a massive battery, Xiaomi MIUI software, and RAM. Not only that, the Note 11 offers a ton of improvements from its predecessor, the Note 10. For instance, this new version greatly improves the screen’s refresh rate and offers a better main camera resolution.

However, one thing that makes the Redmi Note 11 stand out from its kin is that it’s the only one with a starting price of less than $200. That figure alone gives the smartphone a psychological advantage over the others, not to mention that it makes it competitive to other formidable devices like the Samsung Galaxy A series.

Aside from the three different variants, it’s also available in three colors. Interested buyers can choose between Graphite Gray, Twilight Blue, and Star Blue. In other words, you’ll find the best storage and color combination that suits your budget and preferences.

The Good

One look at the Redmi Note 11, and you’ll see that the company didn’t stray too far away from its usual designs, which means it has the traditional conservative slab design that doesn’t make it stand out from the rest. Despite its simple design, the Redmi Note 11 has a solid piece of hardware.

Its rear panel and frame are made from polycarbonate, though it’s easy to mistake them for frosted glass and metal if you’re looking at the phone from afar. Although, it’s worth noting that the Graphite Gray color easily picks up fingerprints. The Redmi Note 11 also has excellent scratch resistance, thanks to its Gorilla Glass 3 display. Not to mention that the device also has an IP53 rating, which means you don’t have to worry about light splashing.

The Redmi Note 11 and the Note 11S have the same 6.43-inch AMOLED screen. According to Redmi itself, the FHD+ display can release 700 nits of brightness with peaks reaching 1,000 nits. Not only that, but the device also touts a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. It’s pretty incredible for a phone with its price point.

Whether you’re using the phone indoors or outdoors, its crisp display allows the colors to pop. Moving on, one of the Note 11’s best features is its 5,000 mAh battery life. Even with the display at 90Hz, the phone could survive over a day and a half of consistent use. If you drop the refresh rate to 60Hz, the device’s battery life also extends to almost two full days.

If the device’s battery does die, it powers up pretty quickly. Thanks to its 33W charger, the Note 11 can charge from 0% to 100% in more or less an hour. And keeping its price in mind, the Note 11’s performance is already top-notch. It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor with Adreno 610 GPU. However, it has some technical limitations as it uses older and slower components: the LDPPR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. Nevertheless, it’s a phone that’s more than capable of handling everyday activities and performances.

The Bad

Unfortunately, Redmi had to sacrifice the Note 11’s connectivity package to keep its price low. Although not having 5G support is pretty acceptable for its price, it, unfortunately, doesn’t support that many LTE bands. You’ll need to check with your carrier to ensure that it has the proper bands for the best possible performance.

Not only that, the Redmi Note 11 is still using Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, even though there are newer technologies available now. As such, this could mean that the Note 11’s wireless specs could quickly become outdated compared to other phones with the latest ones.

On another note, Note 11’s pricier kin have a 108MP main camera, but Redmi decided to downgrade Note 11’s pixel count to only 50MP. The main camera comes with an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. You should still be able to take clean and crisp photos during the day with attractive colors, but its contrast is next to nothing. If you take shots during low lighting, the photos will look noisier, softer, and won’t have as much color.

Redmi Note 11 Specs

Bottom line: Should You Get the Redmi Note 11?

While it’s true that the Redmi Note 11 is an entry-level model to the series, it does an excellent job at covering the necessities and the basics. Its hardware may not be as advanced as the others, but it performs well and has extensive battery life. While it does have its limitations and areas that Redmi could have improved on more, it’s undoubtedly a bargain.