Keeping track of Xiaomi's entire mobile phone lineup is practically impossible, because just when you think you've got it down, they go and release another smartphone. One of the latest we've had our hands on is the Xiaomi Mi 11i . Yes, another member of a very large family. Want to know what it offers? Then keep reading.
Xiaomi Mi 11i, video analysis and features
Now that you have seen the video, I will leave you with all the main features that you should know about this Xiaomi Mi 11i if what attracts the most attention is the technical sheet of a smartphone to be able to compare with others.
- Snapdragon 888 5G processor
- 8 GB RAM memory
- 128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage
- 4520 mAh battery
- 33W fast charging system, but without wireless charging
- 6,67” screen at 120 Hz
- Rear camera composed of three sensors:
- Main 108 MP f1,75
- Ultra wide angle 8 MP f2,2
- 5MP telemacro
- 20 MP f2,45 front camera
- Fingerprint reader on power button
- USB-C connection
- NFC, Wi-Fi 6 and BT 5.2 connectivity
- price from 649 Euros
As you can see and as we have told you, the Xiaomi Mi 11i is a full-fledged high-end phone.
A design that is as elegant as it is easy to dirty
As a member of the Mi 11 family, the Mi 11i is a phone that has many elements in common with the other proposals, especially on the back with that prominent camera module. And it is that, without being like the spectacular Mi 11 Ultra that we have already analyzed, it seems that Xiaomi has lost its fear of putting prominent modules.
However, in general, and despite being a generously sized phone , it feels quite comfortable in the hand. This is true whether you have it with or without a case, which is always appreciated. Although, admittedly, the back isn't quite as premium as some of the brand's other offerings.
I don't see this as a major problem because the quality is good and the feel is nice, but being plastic, it gets dirty very easily and attracts fingerprints and dust surprisingly quickly. So, if you're someone who likes to use their phone without a case and keep it shiny, you won't be able to do that with this Mi 11i unless you always have a cloth in your other hand.
Physically it is what you see in the images, a striking proposal that I think practically everyone will like and especially fans of the brand.
Large flat screen accompanied by good sound
Turning to everything related to the multimedia experience, the Xiaomi Mi 11i makes use of a 6,67-inch diagonal AMOLED panel that offers very good quality when viewing any type of content. Both indoors and outdoors the screen performs perfectly.
Among the standout features of this screen, three shine particularly brightly. First, with 900 nits of peak brightness , it provides an excellent viewing experience even in bright sunlight. Therefore, you'll have no problem using it even in direct daylight.
That high brightness level also helps improve contrast and make colors next to stock calibration look vibrant. Although this calibration is something that you can adjust to your liking thanks to the options offered by MIUI.
The second important feature is that the screen offers LTPO technology , which translates to the ability to display images with a maximum refresh rate of up to 120 Hz . Therefore, the fluidity is also very high, both when using the operating system itself and applications compatible with this refresh rate.
However, don't expect an in-display fingerprint reader underneath this screen, because there isn't one. The reader, which works well, quickly, and is as accurate as facial recognition, is located in the power button . It's a familiar placement, and once you get used to it, it doesn't pose any problems at all.
And finally, although this is more of a personal preference, the Mi 11i uses a flat screen . Yes, there are still high-end Android phones that don't use curved panels, proving that those rounded edges aren't indicative of a high-end device, much less a better smartphone.
Regarding the sound, everything is fine. No kind of problem, although I am not usually very demanding in this section and my only request is that when I connect headphones it offers me the experience I am looking for. Even so, the speakers sound powerful and at medium high volume they do not distort. So Xiaomi is very good in this section without being the one that would stand out the most from the phone.
Performance and battery: no surprises (or almost)
The Mi 11i is a phone with high-end specifications and a fairly competitive price, although it achieves this by cutting corners in some areas. Because, of course, you can't have everything. So, everyone has to decide what compromises they're willing to make if they want a much more affordable price.
In the case of the Mi 11i, performance is not one of the areas where it has been compromised. The device includes what the best Android phones currently offer: a Snapdragon 888 processor , 8GB of RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage that can be either 128 or 256 GB.
With these data, the experience obtained is outstanding in all kinds of uses, from games to demanding apps and the use of the operating system itself. If you are looking for performance, it is clear that you will not have any kind of unpleasant surprise here. And MIUI may like it more or less, sometimes be criticized because they should polish certain aspects, but in general it is true that it is already one of the great layers of customization on the market. So what, again, you get is a high-end experience.
The negative point is related to the battery. Its performance or capacity is not bad in terms of autonomy and time of use, but it is true that it is not a surprise. Even so, between six and seven hours of screen on I have achieved. With which the day of use meets it without problems
In addition, the battery is compatible with a 33W fast charging system , which isn't exactly record-breaking, but it's good enough to give you a quick boost when you need it most.
What surprised me most, though, is the lack of wireless charging. Yes, its 4.520 mAh battery can't be charged wirelessly because it's not supported. So, despite how popular these types of chargers have become, forget about charging the Mi 11i without plugging in any cables.
A solvent photograph in good light and adjusted in low light
The Mi 11i's camera is decent , but it's neither remarkably good nor nearly as brilliant as the Mi 11 Ultra. It seems Xiaomi has once again cut corners to keep the price down. While it does offer a 108MP main sensor , an 8MP wide-angle lens , and a 5MP telephoto lens, it's capable of producing some interesting photos, but many low-light shots are barely usable, even for social media.
As I say, the problem practically resides in low light photos. If not, if there is abundant light, you will be able to obtain striking images. But if you are looking for photographic experience you will have to look at another model.
Photos taken with the Mi 11i
So, keep in mind that it's a competent camera , but little more. It's far from being a benchmark in the high-end range.
A good high-end at a reasonable price
There's no doubt that the Xiaomi Mi 11i's greatest strength lies in its price ; it's a true high-end device, yet its cost is much more competitive than many other options on the market. However, the problem remains the same as always for Xiaomi.
Its catalog is so extensive that it's hard to decide which one is better or worse, which one has this or that characteristic, etc., just by looking at their names and release dates. Because there is no clear or logical order, so don't even try to understand it.
The Mi 11i is a phone designed to slot between the Mi 11 Lite and the Mi 11 , leaning more towards the latter in performance and closer to the former in camera capabilities. It's not a bad device, and its price makes it much more attractive than many other options on the market.
Even so, Xiaomi itself has phones that, although they cut a bit on the processor, are also cheaper and on the screen, camera, and user experience they are very on par. For example, the Poco F3 could be one of them, although also taking advantage of an offer for one of the Mi 11 variants could be valid.
So it's a good phone, I don't doubt it, but small details such as the absence of wireless charging may end up weighing you down too much if you see that the camera isn't anything special either. But the last word is yours, I liked it and I know that the unconditional fans of Xiaomi did too. Only, would I buy this Mi 11i? Well, possibly not, there are other models that appeal to me more and are not necessarily more expensive.