Xiaomi Mi 11X review: Lot of phone for a lot less money, but should you bet your money on it?

The Mi 11X begins at Rs 29,999 for a variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

The Redmi K20, although excellent worth for cash, had generated a whole lot of buzz in India for the unsuitable causes largely to do with its pricing. It was the primary time a “Redmi” cellphone had damaged the 20k barrier however sadly, it was not capable of break perceptions. The response from followers, let’s simply say, wasn’t significantly encouraging for Xiaomi, a lot in order that Manu Kumar Jain needed to pen an open letter to justify its worth and concurrently introduced it gained’t present any pesky commercials turning it round right into a product that remained Redmi solely in title. It turned a Mi cellphone finally. That was in 2019.

Xiaomi is without doubt one of the only a few corporations on the market that’s fast to study, adapt and normally, come again even stronger. It is without doubt one of the only a few corporations on the market that takes suggestions very significantly and, normally, doesn’t make the identical mistake twice. To today, it has not launched a single Redmi “flagship” in India. As a substitute, it selectively tweaked these telephones to go well with this market. The Redmi K30 was launched because the Poco X2. The Redmi K40, equally, has been launched as the Mi 11X. For the reason that Poco X2 was a “Poco” cellphone, you possibly can say the Mi 11X is in some ways the non secular successor to the Redmi K20.

Doing this serves a twin goal. Xiaomi doesn’t need to justify its pricing selections anymore, for now not less than, and it helps strengthen the Mi model in India — one thing that it has been attempting to do for some time now till final yr when it determined to change gears and go full throttle — although you possibly can argue that it is usually coming at the price of diluting the portfolio. Be that as it might, that’s a subject finest left for one more day. The rationale why I introduced up the Redmi K20 is as a result of I actually, actually appreciated that cellphone and I actually, actually just like the Mi 11X. Name it Mi, name it Redmi, name it Poco, it doesn’t actually matter. However what I like most about it’s, although the occasions have modified — the world isn’t the identical place it was once in 2019 — Xiaomi hasn’t misplaced its knack for providing a whole lot of cellphone for lots much less cash. In time, it has grow to be smarter with the positioning too.

X marks the spot

To say that the Mi 11X is loaded shall be an understatement. Proper from the design to the show, to the processor, to the battery, even the cameras are specced to impress. In spirit of all this indulgence, let’s rapidly undergo the specs of this cellphone earlier than diving into the way it fares in the true world.

You get a 6.67-inch E4 AMOLED show from Samsung. The panel has 120Hz refresh fee and 360Hz contact sampling. It might theoretically peak 1300 nits and play HDR10+ content material. The display screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and has a centrally aligned gap punch cut-out.

The cellphone has a again manufactured from Corning Gorilla Glass 5. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Underneath the hood, it has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 system-on-chip with as much as 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS3.1 storage. A 4,520mAh battery powers the cellphone. There’s help for 33W quick charging. Out of the field, it runs MIUI 12 based mostly on Android 11. Connectivity choices on the cellphone embody 5G (sub 6G: n77/n78), Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6. It has twin stereo audio system with Hello-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos.

On the again, it has three cameras: a 48MP important, 8MP ultra-wide-angle and one other 5MP macro. On the entrance, it has a 20MP digital camera.

The cellphone has a again manufactured from Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Its outer body is manufactured from plastic. It has a side-mounted bodily fingerprint reader for biometrics. The cellphone can also be IP53-rated which makes it mud and splash resistant.

The Mi 11X begins at Rs 29,999 for a variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. A model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage will set you again by Rs 31,999.

The X issue and what could possibly be higher

The design of the Mi 11X is a cross between the Mi 10T and Redmi Be aware 10 Professional — each very premium trying telephones to attract inspiration from — with a visibly distinct two-stage rear digital camera meeting. It’s basically two slabs of glass held collectively by a plastic body, and whereas this latter selection has chalked up some controversy, I feel it’s a bit of harsh. Use of plastic helps Xiaomi preserve the worth in addition to the burden of the cellphone in test. As a bonus, it makes it much less slippery within the fingers.

Additionally Learn | Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G review: Out to eat OnePlus’s lunch

Conserving the cellphone “razor” skinny and lightweight is a acutely aware design selection. This cellphone was designed for practicality by way of and thru, to not be a weapon of mass destruction (one thing like say the Mi 10T or Poco X3 Professional). For some context, the Mi 11X measures solely 7.8 mm in thickness and weighs simply 196 grams. The Mi 10T weighs over 215 grams and measures over 9 mm in thickness. The considerably toned-down dimensions imply, the Mi 11X is a cellphone you should utilize for lengthy hours with little stress. As for the feel and appear, there’s little doubt that it could simply go toe to toe with the very best.

You get a 6.67-inch E4 AMOLED show from Samsung. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Nonetheless, if I have been requested to nitpick, I might have appreciated it extra had Xiaomi not opted for a Mi 10T-like piano black end on the unit I’ve for evaluation. I might decide the Redmi Be aware 10 Professional’s model of black any day over this. The Mi 11X’s different two colourways — silver and white — are a bit of extra proof against smudges and fingerprints, though once more, the Redmi Be aware 10 Professional hides them higher. Talking of which, the Mi 11X is mud and splash resistant with an official IP score which is at all times a pleasant factor to have.

Whereas it’s nice that Xiaomi has been capable of pack twin audio system — and an “precise” stereo setup at that — within the Mi 11X, together with an IR blaster, a headphone jack would have simply made this factor blow competitors out since all the pieces else about this cellphone is simply peak extra in relation to media consumption.

I’m after all speaking about that huge, stunning display screen. Xiaomi has sourced it from Samsung and it’s simply one among, if not the very best, at its worth with nice distinction and viewing angles and brightness aplenty. It’s additionally quick and fluid although it can’t alter refresh fee dynamically. Furthermore, Xiaomi has thrown in so many toggles contained in the settings, you possibly can actually tune the display screen to your particular requirement. Such a stage of granular customisation doesn’t exist in some other cellphone available in the market at the moment. There’s additionally a model of Apple’s true tone, for crying out loud.

The panel has 120Hz refresh fee and 360Hz contact sampling. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Not solely does the cellphone help HDR10+ content material natively in streaming companies like Netflix, however it could additionally upscale customary movies to provide them an HDR look utilizing synthetic intelligence. MEMC can also be accessible in case you’re into that form of factor. Once more, Xiaomi leaves some room for enchancment by not providing you with an choice for DC Dimming.

The Mi 11X has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, the chip that at present holds the title for the quickest CPU clock pace (3.2GHz) that tops even the Snapdragon 888 (2.84 GHz). There are clearly different components to it (purpose why SD888 is what it’s) however lengthy story brief, the Snapdragon 870 is a really highly effective chip which makes the Mi 11X a really highly effective cellphone. In reality, some would possibly say, it’s the strongest cellphone underneath 20k with the Dimensity 1200-powered Realme X7 Max coming actually shut not less than so far as benchmarks are involved.

Comparisons apart, there’s no denying that each chips maintain nice potential, however I don’t suppose it’s a good comparability contemplating how the Mi 11X and Realme X7 Max are packaged and positioned. Similar purpose why it gained’t be truthful to match it with the Samsung Galaxy A52 although it has among the most compelling cameras underneath Rs 25k. Don’t even get me began on the OnePlus 9R, frankly, I do not know why it exists (it is usually much more costly for some purpose). The Mi 11X’s actual competitor is the iQOO 7, a phone that packs the same SD870 chip and has much more in widespread with Xiaomi’s cellphone than anything available in the market at the moment.

The Mi 11X has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

In comparison with that cellphone, the Mi 11X’s efficiency leaves lots to be desired. The iQOO 7 someway feels extra optimised and is ready to squeeze extra out of the SD870 which tends to run sizzling when harassed. The Mi 11X tends to throttle extra typically and it exhibits in each benchmarks and real-world utilization as Xiaomi’s software program tends to decrease display screen brightness nearly instantly inside a couple of minutes right into a graphically demanding recreation like Genshin Affect and body fee dips are fairly widespread. Name of Responsibility: Cell is dealt with higher, however prolonged gameplay classes do take toll on system assets. Usually talking, the Mi 11X can get fairly sizzling when taking part in video games. Xiaomi doesn’t explicitly speak about any cooling answer however even when there’s one, it’s not maintaining properly with what the SD870 is throwing at it. Additionally, simply so you recognize, the SD870 doesn’t have an built-in modem and whereas the jury remains to be out on whether or not it might have destructive affect on energy consumption and finally, the thermals, the Mi 11X’s efficiency does increase a couple of considerations.

To be clear, all this could concern energy customers solely. Primary day after day duties are dealt with effortlessly by the Mi 11X. There’s a lot of RAM and storage onboard although in contrast to Xiaomi’s most worth price range telephones, there isn’t a expandable storage within the Mi 11X and 128GB is all you get by default — a 256GB choice would have been good.

On the again, it has three cameras. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

That SD870 might be additionally why the Mi 11X doesn’t have chart-topping battery life like a majority of Xiaomi telephones do. It’s good, lasting 11 hours and 35 minutes in our video loop check, however not nice. The Xiaomi cellphone additionally performs it protected with quick charging, capping solely 33W at a time when the iQOO 7 can prime whopping 66W.

The cellphone ships with MIUI 12. On the time of penning this evaluation, my unit is operating Xiaomi’s newest MIUI 12.5 replace although it’s not the best model since Xiaomi nonetheless doesn’t allow you to take away many system apps prefer it guarantees, sort of like the Redmi Note 10S, so I’m assuming the Mi 11X can also be based mostly on an “interim” model proper now. From a safety perspective, it’s rocking the Could patch.

The obvious good thing about MIUI on a Mi cellphone is that there are not any adverts. There’s a whole lot of bloat/duplicate apps and spammy notifications however except for these quirks, MIUI is well some of the feature-rich Android skins with tons to discover. Funtouch OS contained in the iQOO 7 appears naked bones as compared although there isn’t a purpose why it shouldn’t attraction to inventory Android aficionados. An space of concern for Xiaomi units is the replace rollout. MIUI 12.5 has been a very long time coming to India. As for main “OS” updates, Xiaomi doesn’t have a wonderful observe document at this.

It’s a whole lot of cellphone for some huge cash. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Transferring on, I gained’t get the Mi 11X for its cameras. These are its weakest hyperlinks. It’s disappointing as a result of extra reasonably priced Xiaomi telephones are pulling extra element and dynamic vary in scenes than the Mi 11X. For some curious purpose, images taken with this cellphone additionally lack punch and appear boring and lifeless, in sharp contradiction to how most Xiaomi telephones often work. The principle Sony IMX582 sensor (similar sensor that Xiaomi additionally used within the Redmi K20 by the best way) takes barely serviceable images whereas images taken with the ultra-wide-angle, although it produces barely higher colors, come out mushy. The macro digital camera is enjoyable to make use of, however it has restricted scope and attraction. Low-light images taken with the Mi 11X are a step beneath being serviceable. The Mi 11X tops out at 4K@30fps and movies shot with it are nothing to put in writing residence about. The entrance digital camera shoots comparatively higher images and saves the day for this cellphone.

Conclusion

The Mi 11X has lots going for itself. It’s a typical Xiaomi cellphone punching method above its weight class with top-of-the-line specs and a mouth-watering worth. It’s bought a premium appear and feel and mainly nails all the basics wanted for a slick multimedia expertise. The identical is true about basic all-round efficiency, it simply works, relatively, it flies until you’re doing a whole lot of gaming on it. Battery life is nice too and the cellphone fees rapidly. The one situation I’ve with this cellphone is the digital camera expertise, it’s so in contrast to Xiaomi, it makes me really feel if this was a deliberate try to preserve the price down.

Additionally Learn | Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review: Setting a new benchmark for value for money

Regardless, it’s vital to handle the elephant within the room. Again in 2019, Xiaomi didn’t have any competitors. Quick ahead to 2021, and it has a lot of it. Furthermore, competitors is getting higher at among the issues that Xiaomi has been doing since what seems to be ages now. Each every now and then, a darkish horse will rise and attempt to beat Xiaomi at its personal recreation. There shall be occasions when that competitor will beat it too and I’m assuming Xiaomi is wise sufficient to know that. That’s exactly what has occurred with the Mi 11X. It’s a whole lot of cellphone for some huge cash, but when I have been to wager my cash on one thing proper now, I’d do it on the iQOO 7.

Professionals: Glossy design, Lovely show, Quick day-to-day efficiency, Good battery life

Cons: No headphone jack, No expandable storage, Heats up when harassed, Disappointing cameras, Sluggish Android replace rollout