The Redmi 11 Prime 5G: A Budget 5G Phone With Trade-offs
In the highly competitive Indian smartphone market, Xiaomi is constantly pushing the boundaries with its affordable offerings. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is their latest attempt to capture the budget 5G segment, aiming to offer a well-rounded experience at an attractive price point. Boasting the popular MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, a large battery, and a full-HD+ display, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G faces stiff competition from the likes of iQoo, Vivo, Realme, and Motorola. But does it rise above the crowd and become the king of the budget 5G segment? Let’s dive in and find out.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G Price in India
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G comes in two storage configurations:
- 4GB RAM + 64GB storage – Rs. 13,999
- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage – Rs. 15,999
Available in Meadow Green, Chrome Silver, and Thunder Black, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G looks to offer a good value proposition for those seeking affordable 5G connectivity.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G Design
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G adopts the popular flat frame design that’s become ubiquitous in 2022. The phone feels comfortable in hand thanks to the curved rear panel, which transitions smoothly to the edges. While the back and frame are constructed from plastic, a common practice at this price point, the textured design provides a good grip.
The left edge houses the SIM tray with two nano-SIM slots and a dedicated microSD card slot, offering expandability for storage. On the right edge, the power and volume buttons are located, but feel a bit too recessed for my liking. The top edge boasts a 3.5mm headphone jack alongside an IR blaster, catering to those who prefer wired audio or want to control their home appliances. The bottom edge houses a USB Type-C port and a single speaker grille.
The 6.58-inch display, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, is quite tall and features a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen boasts a full-HD+ resolution and Widevine L1 certification, allowing users to enjoy HD content on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. However, the display’s use of an IPS LCD panel instead of AMOLED is a noticeable drawback compared to some competitors.
The colors aren’t as vibrant compared to AMOLED displays, and the maximum brightness of 400 nits is adequate for indoor use but might feel somewhat dim outdoors. The phone’s waterdrop notch for the front camera also looks outdated, especially considering the trend toward punch-hole displays.
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is relatively heavy at 200g and a bit thick at 8.9mm. Xiaomi thankfully includes a silicone protective case in the box along with a 22.5W fast charger and a USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable. However, the phone itself supports only 18W fast charging.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G Specifications and Software
Powering the Redmi 11 Prime 5G is a 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, a popular choice for budget 5G smartphones. The device supports seven 5G bands, ensuring compatibility with most telecom circles in India. Other notable features include dual-5G, Bluetooth 5.1, and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac. While there’s no IP rating, the phone offers basic splash and dust protection around the SIM tray.
The phone packs a 5000mAh battery supported by 18W fast charging, providing ample power for a day and a half of moderate usage. Like most recent Xiaomi phones, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G runs Android 12-based MIUI 13, a highly customizable but potentially bloatware-ridden interface. While some bloatware can be uninstalled, the phone preloads various pre-installed apps, including Moj, Snapchat, Zilli, Spotify, and others.
While Xiaomi has not officially announced long-term software update plans for the Redmi 11 Prime 5G, it’s hoped that the company will at least push out Android 13 for the device.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G Performance and Battery Life
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC provides respectable performance for everyday tasks. Browsing the web, scrolling through social media, and basic productivity apps operate smoothly. However, gamers looking for top-tier performance may be disappointed. While games like Asphalt 9: Legends and Call of Duty: Mobile run decently on lower settings, stuttering can occur during gameplay.
Benchmarks reveal the phone’s performance:
- Geekbench: Single-core – 521, Multi-core – 1757
- AnTuTu: 3,37,683
The 5000mAh battery delivers excellent battery life. The phone easily lasts for over a day and a half with moderate usage. In the battery loop test, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G ran for 16 hours and 53 minutes, a commendable result. Using the bundled charger, the phone takes roughly two hours to fully charge from empty.
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner which is fast and reliable for unlocking the phone. While a 3.5mm headphone jack is available, Xiaomi doesn’t provide wired earphones in the box. The device’s single speaker is fairly loud, though a dual-speaker setup would have been preferable.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G Cameras
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G sports a dual-camera setup on the rear. This setup comprises a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, but lacks an ultra-wide-angle lens. For selfies, an 8-megapixel front camera is provided.
The main camera performs adequately in well-lit conditions. Photos generally exhibit neutral colors and good detail. However, in challenging scenarios such as backlit subjects or low-light settings, the camera performance diminishes, and the dynamic range suffers.
The Night mode feature is available, but its effectiveness is limited. Video recording capabilities support up to 1080p resolution at 30fps for both the front and rear cameras. Daylight videos shot with the main camera showcase neutral colors but suffer from a lack of stabilization. Low-light videos exhibit noticeable noise.
Selfies offer sufficient detail in daylight, but the software tends to alter skin tones, resulting in a lighter appearance with a pink hue. The front camera’s Portrait mode effectively blurs the background, focusing on the subject.
Verdict: A Mixed Bag for the Redmi 11 Prime 5G
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G presents a decent value proposition for under Rs. 15,000, especially for those seeking 5G connectivity. Its strong points include 5G support with seven bands and a processor capable of handling everyday tasks without significant hiccups. The tall screen and long battery life are also attractive for media consumption.
However, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G faces several drawbacks. The IPS LCD display feels underwhelming compared to AMOLED panels, and the maximum brightness could be improved. The camera performance is also average, particularly in low light and with video recording.
If your budget can stretch a bit further, the Redmi Note 11S offers a superior multimedia experience with a 90Hz AMOLED display. For those prioritizing cameras, the Moto G32 and even Redmi’s Note 11 (both 4G-only) provide better photographic performance.
In the 5G arena, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G, with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC, presents a compelling rival for those seeking performance at this price point.
Ultimately, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G is a decent option for budget buyers seeking 5G connectivity, but it comes with certain trade-offs. Consider your priorities and explore alternatives before making your final decision.
