Xiaomi, the first major manufacturer to draw smartphones this year. During an online press conference, the Chinese giant unveiled the four terminals (phew…) that make up the Redmi Note 11 series. Mobiles that are a hit every year thanks to an unstoppable combo: a rather neat design, honest embedded technologies, and, above all, a price that defies all competition.
With this 2022 vintage, Xiaomi is clearly not making a revolution: the four new Redmi Note 11 furiously resemble their predecessors. A quick analysis of their technical sheet confirms it, they are modest updates of the smartphones presented last year. All four are based on Android 11, but benefit from the new MIUI 13 overlay.
Redmi Note 11: a minimum update
Let’s start with the least expensive of the four, simply called Redmi Note 11. His eldest had surprised by integrating an AMOLED panel. This once again offers a screen technology usually reserved for more expensive smartphones: a panel that benefits from a refresh rate of 90 Hz. A good surprise, but it is almost the only one. For the rest, the update is at a minimum.
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We especially note the replacement of the Snapdragon 678 by a Snapdragon 680. A SoC which has the advantage of being engraved in 6 nm, against 11 nm for the Snapdragon 678.
In other words, it should be more efficient from an energy point of view. But the rest of the specifications raise questions about its performance. Its processor (Kryo 265) has a very different architecture from that of the Kryo 465 of the Snapdragon 678. Its GPU (an Adreno 610) is also less powerful than that of the Redmi Note 10 (Adreno 612), as is its modem. On the other hand, its ISP (image processor) is more modern… In short, it’s difficult to form an opinion on this new SoC without passing it on our test bench!
For the rest, we are on familiar ground: the photo partition barely changes, with a main sensor of now 50 Mpix, the same ultra wide-angle and the same dispensable sensors of 2 Mpix for depth of field, and macro.
We still have a large 5,000 mAh battery, which had provided excellent results in our autonomy tests last year, a slightly improved fast charge, the same side fingerprint sensor… and 5G still available to subscribers. absent.
The prices* :
$179 (4GB RAM, 64GB storage)
$199 (4GB RAM, 128GB storage)
$229 (6GB RAM, 128GB storage)
Redmi Note 11 S, different SoC and better photo partition
Last year, we wondered what the “S” version of the Redmi Note 10 could be used for. It’s much clearer this year: the 11 S benefits from a really better photo module, with the integration of the same sensor than the Pro version, i.e. a 108 Mpix Samsung ISOCELL HM2. An interesting material at this price level… It remains to be seen whether the image processing will be up to par.
The 11 S has another major difference with its little brother: its SoC. No Snapdragon here, but a Mediatek Helio G96. A logical choice: this SoC is certainly engraved in 12 nm, therefore a priori more energy-consuming, but on the other hand has a much more efficient image processing processor, capable of managing the 108 Mpix of the main photo sensor, unlike that of the Snapdragon.
The 11 S also benefits from a few additional refinements, such as a minimum RAM of at least 6 GB and a better sensor on the front for selfies.
The prices :
$249 (6GB RAM, 64GB storage)
$279 (6GB RAM, 128GB storage)
$299 (8GB RAM, 128GB storage)
Redmi Note 11 Pro: 120 Hz and larger screen
The Redmi Note 11 Pro shares a good part of its specs with the 11 S (still following?), starting with its Mediatek Helio G96 SoC, and its photo partition.
However, it is distinguished by its slightly larger screen (6.43 inches) and better refreshed, since it reaches 120 Hz. But there is nothing new here: last year’s model already had this technology. A miracle of range segmentation, the 11 Pro benefits from a function that can weigh in the balance: a 67 W fast charge, which promises, according to Xiaomi, to go from 0 to 50% battery in 15 minutes.
The prices :
$299 (6GB RAM, 64GB storage)
$329 (6GB RAM, 128GB storage)
$349 (8GB RAM, 128GB storage)
Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, the only compatible… 5G
We end with the most expensive and most complete smartphone in the range, since it is the only one to be compatible with the new generation mobile network.
It looks like two drops of water to the 11 Pro, but has one fundamental difference: its SoC. The Helio G96 does not have a 5G modem, Xiaomi has chosen a Qualcomm 695 processor here a priori more interesting, because engraved in 6 nm and on paper a little faster both in terms of CPU and GPU. Again, it will be interesting to compare the two models in our lab.
Ah, we almost forgot: the Pro 5G may be the most expensive smartphone in the range, it has one less photo sensor than the others, the small 2 Mpix depth of field sensor, which mysteriously disappears. Should we deduce that it is not used for much?
The prices :
$329 (6GB RAM, 64GB storage)
$349 (6GB RAM, 128GB storage)
$379 (8GB RAM, 128GB storage)
*We only have the prices in dollars for the moment, Xiaomi has not communicated the prices for France.