Redmi 11 Prime 5G: Xiaomi’s Budget 5G Challenger
Xiaomi has entered the fiercely competitive budget 5G smartphone market with the Redmi 11 Prime 5G, aiming to capture the attention of budget-conscious consumers seeking the advantages of next-generation connectivity without breaking the bank. Priced at an attractive Rs. 13,999 for the base model, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G promises a compelling package that includes a 90Hz display, a capable MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, and a dual-camera system. But is this phone truly the best value-for-money 5G option in India, or does it fall short in a crowded field of competitors? Let’s delve deeper and explore the Redmi 11 Prime 5G’s strengths and weaknesses, its key features, and its performance compared to other budget 5G contenders.
Design and Build: Familiar Charm with a Touch of Green
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G sports a familiar, modern design language, leaning towards a clean and minimalistic aesthetic that has become popular in recent budget smartphones. The Meadow Green variant, which we had the opportunity to examine, offers a refreshing change from the usual blue and white color schemes. The textured back boasts a matte finish, effectively minimizing fingerprint smudges and providing a comfortable grip. If green isn’t your preference, you can opt for Chrome Silver or Thunder Black.
While the phone features a plastic frame, a common characteristic of devices within this price range, the overall construction feels sturdy and robust. As per the prevalent design trend, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G adopts a flat frame design, while the rear panel offers a gentle curve for an ergonomic grip. The power button, conveniently doubling as a fingerprint sensor, is placed below the volume buttons on the right edge. The bottom edge houses a USB Type-C port and a single speaker, while the top edge provides a 3.5mm headphone jack for those who prefer wired earphones. A dedicated microSD card slot sits alongside the dual-SIM card slot on the left edge, offering ample storage expansion options.
The phone’s weight (200g) and thickness (8.9mm) fall slightly on the heavier side for a budget smartphone. However, Xiaomi includes a protective silicone case in the box to provide additional protection against bumps and scratches. The included 22.5W fast charger and USB Type-A to USB Type-C charging cable offer fast charging capabilities, though the phone itself supports only 18W fast charging.
Display: Smooth Scrolling and Viewing Pleasure
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G comes equipped with a 6.58-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz AdaptiveSync Display technology. While the 400 nits brightness level might not be the brightest available in the market, it proved sufficient for comfortable indoor usage. A waterdrop notch situated at the top of the display houses the front camera, while the thick chin at the bottom is more noticeable and might detract from the overall visual appeal for some users. The single-speaker configuration, though present, doesn’t contribute to an immersive multimedia experience. To protect the screen against scratches and drops, Xiaomi has implemented a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
The 90Hz AdaptiveSync Display technology allows the screen to dynamically adjust its refresh rate between 50Hz, 60Hz, and 90Hz depending on the displayed content. This adaptive approach ensures smooth scrolling and transitions, enhancing the overall user experience.
Performance: 5G Connectivity and a Familiar Processor
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, a chipset widely used in budget 5G smartphones, offering a balance of performance and power efficiency. The phone supports seven 5G bands and allows for both SIM slots to support 5G simultaneously, providing flexible connectivity options. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the phone’s day-to-day performance and gaming capabilities will be explored in our full review.
Camera: Budget-Friendly Image Capture
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G features a dual-camera setup on its rear panel, consisting of a 50-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For capturing selfies, an 8-megapixel front camera resides within the waterdrop notch. The camera performance, especially in low light situations and image quality, will be thoroughly analyzed in our upcoming review.
Software: Android 12 with MIUI 13
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G runs Android 12 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 overlay, known for its extensive feature set. However, MIUI is notorious for including bloatware, which may not be appreciated by some users. Fortunately, most of these third-party apps can be uninstalled. While the budget nature of the device suggests limited software updates in the future, Xiaomi might surprise us with its software support strategy. It remains to be seen if the phone will receive Android 13 in the coming months, as Xiaomi hasn’t provided any official details regarding software updates.
Conclusion: Compelling Value or Another Contender?
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G finds itself in a highly competitive budget smartphone segment, competing against rivals like the Moto G32, Moto G42, Realme 9i 5G, and Infinix Note 12, all vying for a slice of the market share. While some of these phones prioritize offering value-driven hardware with 4G processors, others like the Redmi 11 Prime 5G target affordability and 5G connectivity.
To determine whether the Redmi 11 Prime 5G truly earns its place as the top 5G smartphone under Rs. 15,000 in India, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary. Our full review will delve deeper into the phone’s performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and overall user experience. Stay tuned for our detailed analysis and verdict on whether the Redmi 11 Prime 5G provides the best value proposition or falls short against its budget 5G rivals.
