[REVIEW] Redmi Note 11: The basic model from the new series of affordable smartphones

In the newsroom, we tested one of the new, most affordable smartphones from the Redmi brand. This is the basic model Redmi Note 11which comes with a 6.43 ″ AMOLED display, Snapdragon 680 processor and 50 MPx main camera.

In the review, you will find out what changes it brings compared to last year's model, as it takes photos, and we will also look at endurance on a single charge and share our experience gained during testing.

Where to buy Redmi Note 11?

Several international retailers are coming up with a new product from Redmi. All smartphones are available in European warehouses with a standard 2-year warranty. You do not have to worry about buying outside the Slovak Republic.

Current coupons for Redmi Note 11

Technical specifications

Contents of the package

The package of the new Redmi Note 11 consists of the smartphone itself, a 33 W charging adapter, a USB-C cable for charging, a protective silicone case and a needle for opening the slot for SIM cards, along with paper documentation. In order to bring you this review before the smartphone goes on sale in bulk, our partner sent it to us without accessories.

So our test piece did not come in the official box, so you will only see the smartphone itself in the editorial photos. If you order the Redmi Note 11, the complete package with all accessories will be a matter of course, as we are used to.

Quality of workmanship and design

As it is a lower class smartphone, the construction is made of plastic. Despite the fact that it is a basic model, the construction is solid, it does not clog and we are generally satisfied with the quality of the design. Compared to last year's model, the design has not changed much.

The front side traditionally looks the same with relatively wide frames around the display. A small change took place on the back in the form of a redesigned camera module design, which is slightly similar to the POCO M4 Pro. We had Redmi Note 11 available in black. There are also two other shades of blue with the official names Star Blue and Twilight Blue.

As for the arrangement of individual elements on the edges of the smartphone, on the left side (when viewed from the front) we find a slot for SIM cards that can serve 2 SIM cards and a microSD memory card at the same time. The right side is home to a dual volume rocker and a button to unlock the smartphone with an integrated fingerprint reader.

The bottom side traditionally contains a charging USB-C port, a microphone and a speaker. The opposite, upper side brings a second speaker, sensors, as well as a 3.5 mm headphone port.

Display and its quality

Xiaomi's subsidiary, Redmi, has decided to use AMOLED displays in its basic models since last year. This is also not the case with Redmi Note 11. There is a 6.43 ″ AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 px with a pixel density of 409 ppi. Its refresh rate is 90 Hz, sampling frequency 180 Hz, contrast ratio 4: 500 with a brightness of 000 nits (max 1 nits).

Again, this is not a top AMOLED display, as is the custom with other cheaper smartphones. The weaker sampling frequency is known and the display does not stand out in general. It is a common, average display and AMOLED technology is more of a marketing attraction in this case.

However, you will enjoy the refresh rate of 90 Hz, which you must set, as the default value is 60 Hz. Visibility in direct sunlight is good due to the high brightness and the colors are sufficiently rich.

In the middle of the upper part of the display we find a selfie camera in the form of a shot, which is not one of the smallest. The same is true for the frames around the display - they are quite wide, but this is nothing special in this class of smartphones.

Performance and memory of the weakest version

We had the weakest version of Redmi Note 11, with 4 GB of LPDDRX4 RAM and 64 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. There are also two higher versions available, namely 4 + 128 GB and 6 + 128 GB.

The smartphone of the smartphone in this case is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor. It is an eight-core processor consisting of four Kryo 265 Gold cores (Cortex-A73) and four Kryo 265 Silver cores (Cortex-A53). Its maximum frequency is 2.4 GHz and is manufactured using 6 nm technology.

Compared to last year's Redmi Note 10 model, which had a Snapdragon 678, this is not a significant upgrade. Although the model designation of the processor has a higher number, if we compare the available benchmarks on the Internet, we find that the new processor is more focused on efficiency and does not bring any significant improvement. In AnTuT, the older processor even got a slightly better score.

In our case, we achieved 237 points in the popular benchmark, which is no glory. Of course, the smartphone is visibly slower compared to more expensive models, but you don't have to worry about any freezing.

The system is smooth, but some of its responses are slower, which is common with a smartphone at this price level. The apps won't start immediately without waiting, and it also takes a while for your smartphone to process the photo when shooting at night.

Cameras and their specifications

New in the form of Redmi Note 11 received a 50 MPx main camera, which complements the 8 MPx ultra-wide angle, 2 MPx macro and 2 MPx depth of field sensor. We must say at the outset that it is not appropriate to have too high expectations. After all, it is one of the cheapest smartphones, so it is certainly not a photo car and it will probably not be bought by anyone who wants to take photos primarily with a smartphone.

Photos taken by the main sensor are very average. The camera is not goodnamirange, therefore even during a sunny day there are overexposed and underexposed areas.

You can see it most in the photos we took from the shadows on a sunny day. Areas in the shade are too dark for details to fade. Sharpness is also not the best, and if you open a photo on a large computer monitor, it's even worse.

The camera is thus adequate to the purchase price. He will serve, but no miracles can be expected from him. In poor lighting conditions, expect noise and an overall relatively dark photo with low sharpness.

There is no lack of a popular night regime, but we cannot praise it either. The photos lack sharpness and are most beautiful only on the smartphone display. The night mode slightly brightens the photos, but worsens their sharpness, which does not add to the overall impression.

The selfie camera has 13 MPx with an aperture of f / 2.4, and also ranks only among the average.

One charge endurance and sound quality

The Redmi Note 11 has a 5 mAh battery, which should mean decent endurance on a single charge. During the intensive testing, we usually discharged the smartphone within one and a half days, but with later, normal use, we got to 000 days without any problems.

As always, endurance depends on the style of use, but even 2-day endurance is quite real. In the package you will find a 33 W charging adapter, which will charge the smartphone in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

In terms of sound, the top edge has the same holes as the bottom, which means a pair of stereo speakers, but their quality is not the best. However, the speakers are adequate for the smartphone category.

Connectivity and unlocking options

The novelty from the Redmi workshop will delight with rich connectivity. As we mentioned in the introduction, the smartphone can support 2 SIM cards and even a microSD memory card. Although we do not have 5G support here, its usability is still very weak here.

There is support for WiFi 5 (802.11 ac), NFC and even IR. It will also please the 3.5 mm headphone port.

As for unlocking, unlocking is available in standard ways, using a face or a fingerprint. For the latter option, try a capacitive fingerprint reader integrated in the display light button. It works reliably and delays are minimal.

Android 11 and the latest MIUI

Redmi Note 11 is sold with the Android 11 operating system and the latest version of the extension from Xiaomi, MIUI 13. We have already published several articles about the MIUI 13 environment on our sister website. Xiaomi Planet, possibly also complete review.

However, we have not yet found perhaps the most attractive news from the new MIUI, widgets that we had the opportunity to see in the Chinese version of Xiaomi 12 smartphones. The new version of MIUI 13 brings a slightly modernized design and several optimization systems.

We appreciate the wide range of customization options, smooth operation without jams, as well as the proper functioning of notifications. There is also a popular always-on display function, which, however, cannot be left on at all times. As with other affordable Xiaomi smartphones with an AMOLED display, the always-on display turns off after 10 seconds.

Redmi Note 11: Final evaluation

Redmi Note 11 is the basic model of the affordable series from Redmi. The smartphone has a 6.43 ″ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a resolution of 2400 x 1080 px and is powered by a new Snapdragon 680 processor from Qualcomm. You can also look forward to 33 W charging, 3.5 mm audio port and memory card support.

However, if we compare the new product with last year's Redmi Note 10, it is not a significant improvement. We do have a 50 MPx camera here namiesto 48 MPx, a newer processor and a better display, but overall these are very similar smartphones. However, in the benchmarks, the novelty achieves even slightly weaker results compared to the Redmi Note 10.

Current coupons for Redmi Note 11

So who would we recommend Redmi Note 11 to? Especially for undemanding users who appreciate good endurance, connectivity and low price. On the contrary, if you expect good photos, you have to invest more.